7 tips for a Clutter free space

7 tips for a Clutter-free space that will help to reduce stress and anxiety in an active household

I prefer to keep a clean and clutter-free home. Nothing against people who don’t, I just find that a lack of clutter reduces my anxiety levels and keeps me calm. Yes, I’m the oddball that actually relieves stress by cleaning the house, even though a cleaning service sounds dreamy.

Growing up I was raised in a household like this and it kinda stayed with me.   I  enjoy the freedom I feel in a clutter-free household. A place where things can be found easily and I can really enjoy the items that I have. 

Welcome to  June and another Cozy Living post. I’m joining my cozy blogging pals to bring you inspiring ideas for your own home. Links will be at the end of the post.

Today, almost every room at Duke Manor is in a state of order and free from the sight of physical clutter.  (It has been a process to get to this point) My ‘almost’ is my storage room which I am currently purging and redesigning….. so I can fit less clutter.  Over the past several years, we have found a system that works well for my family. Tweaks are made as needed. Clutter-free doesn’t have to feel like a chore or an impossible feat to tackle. These are 7 tips for a clutter-free space that I have basically incorporated into our family’s lifestyle in our home.

7 tips for a Clutter-free space

Make a choice to reduce clutter

Lucky for me my spouse is wired a lot like me (that helps a lot), so this mindset of clutter-free is a bit easy. But if this is not you currently, the first step toward a clutter-free space is to make a commitment to change the manner in which you live. Start by saying no to a trip to the store for those impulse purchases for stuff that you don’t actually need or don’t really love. Make a commitment to not let clutter in. This is not an overnight process, so do this in baby steps.

Stay on top of your stuff

Let’s define stuff as your mail (both electronically and in the mailbox) as well as your kid’s school stuff,  work stuff, and house stuff. Having a system to prevent “stuff” from piling up can change your life….and reduce the clutter. I’m more traditional with paper  (vs using technology) so I realize I can never eliminate it all, but following a system that works for you will help to reduce the “stuff” clutter.

One system that I follow is, that as soon as I get the daily mail I eliminate the junk immediately before coming into the house. The stuff that needs my attention goes in a basket and at the end of the week I will sit down in my office to take care of it. 

Have a place for everything

Regularly I will take inventory of what I have. If it doesn’t fit in the space it was allocated it gets gifted out or donated. I only keep what I know we will use and try to be realistic with the “just in case” stuff. A lot of times I found that I  used that as an excuse to hold on to more of my things when I really never end up using them anyway. Has that happened to you as well?

Go ahead and create a junk drawer. We have two of them in our kitchen. If something doesn’t have a home, it can live in the drawer for a month. After a month it either gets put away in its proper place in the house, gets donated, or is thrown out. 

Be content with what you have

I recently took down a wall of bookshelves because I was tired of just styling them with things that had no significant importance to my household. Honestly, I was just filling the shelves with things that quite frankly didn’t move me. All the stuff from the shelves was put in a box and put away. In 6 months, if I have not used any of the items in the box they will be donated. A lack of clutter in my house means I have to be mindful of the surroundings to make sure that my home still has a cozy and warm vibe to it. I certainly don’t want the absence of “stuff” to evoke a cold and unloved home.

Be creative with stuff that you would have stored

A couple of years ago I had to draw a line on the artwork the kids were bringing home from school. Although I love the idea of preserving all the special drawings, it wasn’t realistic. One thing I began to do is frame the “special” pieces in their bedrooms or on a gallery wall in our den. When it’s time to change it out I will put it in a small folder. I also started to take pictures and create photo books. The books will showcase all of their work, awards, and art for each school year.

Purge Often

Even though things seem to have a place to live in my home, stuff has a way of accumulating. I have major purges at least 4 times a year where I  will go through our things and get rid of the stuff that we no longer use.  Not only does my home feel lighter, but I am also giving back to those who have more of a need by donating. During my purge sessions, I will take everything out of all of our drawers. If I haven’t used it, read it, or wear it in a year, it is donated. 

Get everyone in the house involved

Getting my kids on board with an organized and clutter-free home started early. I have a chart with at least 3 chores on it a day for them to do. These can be anything inside or outside of the house. Even if it’s a lame task they expect to do something every day. Instead of an allowance, they are rewarded with privileges around the house ( tv, technology, etc). The kids realize that the program is flexible and can change based of course…..on the clutter.

What tips do you have to be clutter-free?

Be sure to visit my other Cozy Living pals with other tips, ideas, and inspiring stories.

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