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Declutter and organise


How to Declutter Your Home: 6 Best Room-by-Room Methods

Set the overwhelming feeling aside by starting with small steps

By

Elizabeth Larkin

Elizabeth Larkin

Elizabeth Larkin is a professional organizer with a strong interest in productivity, time management, and process refinement. She used her organizational skills and effectiveness to pen articles with helpful information on cleaning, organizing living spaces, and decluttering.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 09/27/22

Reviewed by

Katherine Picott

Reviewed by Katherine Picott

Katherine is a professional home organizer, certified KonMari consultant, and member of The Spruce's Cleaning and Organizing Review Board. She launched her own professional organizing business, Tidy Milso, in the summer of 2020, to help reorient those feeling overwhelmed with both clutter and disorganization in their homes.

Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board

​The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

Whether you're downsizing or just trying to simplify your life, figuring out how to declutter your home is a big job. The best way to start decluttering when you're overwhelmed is to do it in stages. Make a "declutter your home checklist" to prioritize clutter areas. Focus on one room, or even one zone within a room (e.g., kitchen cabinets), at a time. And complete each job fully before moving on to the next space.

Before you start to declutter your home, have containers defined for the following purposes to sort items:

Here's how to put these containers to use while decluttering each room in your home.

Click Play to Learn How to Get Rid of Stuff With These Pain-Free Strategies

Creating a Decluttering Timeline

If you don't have a lot of stuff, it might be possible to declutter your house in one day or on a weekend. Or you might want to create a longer timeline to declutter your house in 30 days, for example. You can also plan a decluttering schedule just for the weekends you have in a month if you wish.

Keep your goals realistic and attainable, so you can declutter your home without feeling overwhelmed. Break down the spaces you need to declutter, estimating how long each will take. And then organize that into your overall timeline. Give yourself some buffer time in case something doesn't go according to plan.

What you should not do when decluttering is pull out all of your stuff without a plan for how you're going to sort it. If you do that, you'll likely just waste time wading through all of your disorganized items. In addition, it's often best to clean first before you declutter, so your everyday items are tidy and out of the way.

Consider starting in a room or space with only a small amount of clutter. That way, you can get it done quickly and feel like you're making progress on your overall decluttering timeline, which should in turn motivate you to keep going.

Where to Dispose of Clutter

For the items you aren’t keeping when you declutter your home, you have some options regarding how to dispose of them. This is where it can be extremely helpful if you’ve already sorted appropriate items into recycle, trash, and donate bins.

Make sure you are aware of your local recycling guidelines, as certain items, such as electronics, often can’t go in the regular recycling. Keep a separate bin for those items to bring them to an appropriate recycling center. Moreover, if you know you’ll be undertaking a major decluttering project, you might want to rent a dumpster in advance for unusable items that must be thrown away. 

Remember that items in good condition can be donated or sold. Besides a donation bin, you also might want to start a collection of items to sell in a garage sale. Furthermore, if you plan to give away certain items to friends and family, it can be helpful to start bins for each person to fill as you declutter.

30 ways to tidy and organize your home |

(Image credit: WeThrift)

Decluttering is a job that should be done regularly – but of course, most of us don't have the time to rationalize and reorganize our drawers, cluttered corners, over-stuffed rooms that often. In fact, for many of us, it's a once-a-year, post-Christmas event.

Decluttering a whole house so you can implement your home organizing ideas can seem an incredibly overwhelming task, but if you approach it a little at a time and bit-by-bit, and invest in some excellent storage ideas, it immediately becomes more manageable. 

Here, we bring you a range of room-by-room decluttering tips from experts in the field. 

Decluttering tips

Decluttering isn't just about clearing your home of clutter, period. For many of us, decluttering can have a positive impact on mental health. A recent survey of homeowners showed that 44% of us experience ‘mess-stress’ at least weekly and 72% of ‘naturally tidy’ people have experienced stress from an untidy home over the pandemic*.  Furthermore, a cluttered house will make your house look cheap.

This is where our decluttering tips come in. Before you start decluttering, get yourself set.

1. Allocate decluttering time 

'Start off by allocating some time each day that works within your daily schedule, it could be five, 10 or 30 minutes. I find setting a timer and putting my phone down helps keep distractions at bay and allows me to work through the area swiftly,' advises organizing guru Nicola Lewis of This Girl Can Organise .

'Establish a plan that you will stick to,' say the interiors experts at WeThrift. 'Sit down and have a good think about how you are going to tackle your home organization; think about the day and time you would like to get this done. It would also be ideal to add some achievable and realistic goals – it can be as simple as scheduling 20-30 minutes to clear out a single drawer.  

'This is a very productive start to a decluttered home and can help combat procrastination.' 

2. Nominate 5 critical areas to declutter

It may be that you don't need to declutter your entire house –  or that the thought is overwhelming. In which case, create a critical clutter list to tackle.

'Choose five areas in your home that you want to review,' says Nicola Lewis. Still overwhelmed? Start with just one. 

'We recommend starting by dividing clutter into priority categories,' say the experts at WeThrift. 'For example you could start with the bathroom cupboards or your bedroom drawers. Start small and build your way up. 

'Once you have created and established this plan, stick to it. It might be tempting to go to another room and start decluttering elsewhere but avoid this as it can decrease your chances of actually getting the job done.'

3. Make a list – and take before and after photos

'Decluttering and organizing can seem overwhelming at first but the good news is, the more you do it, the easier it gets,' advises Kathryn Lord a Home Organiser from More To Organising

'Start by writing a list of the rooms and prioritize the ones you use the most or that cause you the most difficulties. Then within that room, do the same. 

'Decluttering is a marathon and not a sprint. It’s easier to break it down into chunks and do little and often rather than try to do everything and lose motivation part way through. 

'It is going to look worse before it gets better but if you do before and after photos, you will be able to see the amazing progress you have made.'

4. Decluttering phobia? Ask for help

'Setting yourself the task to declutter your home can be very difficult if organizing is new to you. Find comfort in knowing you can confide in close family and friends to help you to complete this,' advise the interiors experts at WeThrift.

'This decluttering tip can be very helpful since your friends won’t have the same attachment to items like you do, it might help you detach yourself from those said items which will ultimately speed up the process to a clutter free home.'

5. Get donation, recycle, rubbish or 'sell' bags ready

Once you’ve determined the items that no longer serve you, remove them and place them into a donation, upcycle, mend, or sell bags.  

'It’s important to ensure your donation bag leaves the house,', says Nicola Lewis, while interior specialists at WeThrift say, 'You can sell unwanted items online, donate them to those in need, upcycle or mend older pieces to make them current and on trend, or recycle your items responsibly.'

'One thing I always do before I start is make sure I have three bags ready: Donate, Recycle and Rubbish,' says Kate Ibbotson, founder of decluttering and organizing service A Tidy Mind . 'I always tell my clients not to have a "maybe" bag instead have an "Action Box" for items that need mending, returning, etc, and a "Memory Box" for anything with a sentimental value.

'Move your decluttered items out of the area and place them in a car (if possible) or at least by the front door. You should aim to donate/recycle/tip your decluttered items as soon as possible,' she continues.

6. Avoid the decluttering to sell cycle?

'It’s perfectly understandable to want to sell second hand items if they promise a good return,' remarks Kate Ibbotson of A Tidy Mind. 'But, be honest about the time it takes to do so and whether you are willing and able to invest the energy. Don’t be one of those people who has bags hanging around for months (or years) containing items which they intend to sell.'

7. Set the scene with music

Before your start, Nicola Lewis recommends you put on some music or play a podcast for motivation and feel good vibes: 'This will take you to your happy place and will make the task more enjoyable.'

8. Shop for storage to neatly organize what you keep

Storage to organize what you keep really varies depending on your needs – and it might be that you don't quite know what you need – from Mason jars to vacuum storage bags – until the decluttering is done. And that's okay – the decluttering is the important part; after it's done, you can assess closet-by-closet, room by room, the storage buys you need to put everything away neatly and in the right place.

9. Find new places for better storage at home

Decluttering isn't just about throwing items away – it's about looking for opportunities to organize and store away everything you want to keep. So ask yourself, is the storage in my home maximized?

The answer to this question might range from rethinking the fittings in a walk-in closet so that it's more efficient and can fit more in, or it may be that you need to utilize areas, such as under a bed, that haven't been used before. Either way, you will certainly need to look for clever storage buys to keep the clutter neat. 

The best storage is arranged in subject groups – all out-of-season clothes in one place, for example – and is easily identifiable: labelled or see-through for quick identification. Space-saving options are a must – stackable boxes, vacuum-pack bags, furniture that doubles up as storage, such as an ottoman with lift-up lid. Bear in mind that lids or covers offer better protection from dust, dirt and bugs than open storage, too.

'When space is tight, it’s important to be clever with your storage. Thinking vertically and using space you wouldn’t usually think of, such as some wall-mounted or over-door storage, frees up space on shelves and in cupboards,' advises Simon Glanville, managing director of A Place for Everything .  

'Messy wardrobes are a common space waster. Using a modular system that fits the size and shape of your room can help make the most of available space and avoid clutter.'

Another way to approach decluttering via storage is to think big picture. 

'Decluttering a cramped room will make it appear larger and free up the floor area. The right choice of storage is key – opt for an open shelving unit with a minimalist frame, which keeps the wall space visible and adds to a tidy, uninterrupted scheme,' advises Victoria Atkin of Atkin and Thyme .

'Choose a larger unit than you think you might need, and place accessories sparingly to maintain a flowing display that draws, but doesn’t pause, the eye. For maximum effect, pick a unit crafted from light, organic materials like natural wood to create a clean, nature-inspired feel that will instantly uplift a tired space.'

10. Take note from Marie Kondo: does it 'spark joy'?

Marie Kondo , the worldwide decluttering maestro, teaches that, though it's hard to part with items we've owned for a long time, working out whether they spark joy can make it easier to let them go.  

To do this, ask yourself: why did I keep this in the first place?; does it have sentimental value?; do I use it and will I ever use it again? 'Asking these key questions and being honest with yourself can help you make the choice to keep or let go,' say the experts at Packmate .

However, inevitably, there will be items that you still find hard to let go of. Ms Kondo has a solution that doesn't involve you throwing it away: failing to have a permanent home for your possessions is the most significant (and most common) problem when it comes to keeping your home tidy. This is primarily because it increases clutter – which in turn harms your cleaning efforts, she told us exclusively. 

'The biggest reason why people fall back to clutter is because the items that are used aren't put back in their proper place,' she adds. 

'Remember to ask yourself prompts like: Do I use this? Do I own something similar? Is it fit for purpose? Could someone else make better use of it?' says Kate Ibbotson of A Tidy Mind.

11. Make space by decluttering storage areas first

'Attics, basements or hard to reach areas at the top of closets are prime locations to stash something quickly to avoid dealing with it. If you’re serious about clearing your clutter, start with these areas first and then you'll have enough space to store things that you actually need,' suggests Kate Ibbotson of A Tidy Mind.

12. Think: decluttering in seasons

Much of your decluttering might well be about looking at what hasn't been packed away but is out of season. 

'Take your winter or summer duvet for example, over the months it’s not used, it would be a better solution to store this away in a space-saving and practical way,' say the experts at Packmate. 

The same goes for out-of-season coats and clothes, shoes and outdoor or sports' wear. Any of these that can be stored neatly away when they're unlikely to be used for weeks or months will help you declutter your home, even without throwing anything else. Or, with little storage space elsewhere in the house, a closet organized by season can mean you spend less time looking for clothes that suit the weather every morning.

That said, as you swap items into storage boxes by season – from summer to winter and back again – you have a great opportunity to sort what you want to keep for the season ahead from what you don't and can pass on. 

13. Work decluttering into your daily routine

'Placing bags or baskets around the home is a great tip for those who lead busy lifestyles and struggle to dedicate time each week to decluttering,' say the experts at Packmate. 'Using this method will help you to keep clutter under control and incorporate it into your daily routine.

'We often come across things we no longer love but have no idea where to put them until we have the time to sort through properly. Clothes, DVDs, toys and much more often stay put. Even with the best of intentions, it can take months to get around to it.

'Simply placing a bag inside your wardrobe to store clothes you don’t wear anymore will keep your hanging space clear, which will make it easier to choose an outfit. '

Use this idea around the house. Once the bags are full it is time to donate or sell them. 

14. Invest in good-looking 'clutter' baskets

If the donation-bag-in-closet idea appeals but you want something more permanent and aesthetically pleasing, think: baskets. 

'Baskets are perfect for hallway storage of items like hats, gloves, scarves – they’re probably the only ‘breathable’ type of box storage so useful to get the air flowing,' says Craig Sammells of storage specialists Orthex . 

'They’re really handy too for items you want to grab as you’re going out of the door, like tissues, sunglasses or wipes. Look for baskets with lids as they’re great for stacking and also those that come with reusable labels – they take the guesswork out of reaching for items when you’re in a rush.

'Think about having a labelled basket for each member of the family, particularly the kids, then they can find their own hats and mittens! If they’re too young to read, you could use their favorite stickers to mark their label or mark with a color.

 'Search for baskets that have smooth interior walls – this will help ensure your delicate hats and scarves don’t get snagged when you remove them.'

15. Divide belongings by category before room

'When decluttering, a good piece of advice is to divide your belongings by category, not by room. This would be really helpful when you have all your books, for example, in one place and have the option to evaluate which to take and which to leave,' says Kate Windleton, relocations manager at Strong Move . 

'Don't try to declutter your whole house in a week – you'll exhaust and overwhelm yourself,' advises Kate Ibbotson of A Tidy Mind. 'Declutter in bite-size chunks of between 30 minutes and a couple of hours. Focus on contained spaces such as a drawer, cupboard or shelf. Arm yourself with paper and a pen to make notes of "actions" and designate rubbish, recycling and donation bags.'

17. Have a decluttering area

'The easiest way to start decluttering is to completely empty the space you are decluttering onto a flat surface,' advises Kate Ibbotson. 'This gives you the opportunity to give the area you are decluttering a quick clean before your start.'

18. Declutter the kitchen

'Before you do anything, open up all the cabinets and take a good look,' advises Vicky Silverthorn, professional organizer from You Need A Vicky .  'Why? Many people start organizing a kitchen by taking everything out of the cupboards and putting on the countertops. Trust me this will fill the space quicker than you think. 

'Instead, take a look at what you have in the cupboards and think to yourself, "Do I really need that serving platter in that space all year round? Or should I put it into home storage and put something more practical there instead for easy access as I use them more frequently?"' 

19. Arrange your kitchen like a shop

'Organize your kitchen like a shop – rearrange your cabinets so that you have items with the closest use-by date to the front, and push items with longer dates to the back,' says Vicky Silverthorn, professional organizer. When you do a shop, put the new items at the back. And if you find food that’s about to reach its use-by date that you can’t use, don’t forget to take it to the food bank.'

'With dried foods, I love to have see-through containers as you can easily see what you are running low on,' says Kathryn Lord. 'Always rotate the food within the container so the oldest food gets used up first.'

20. Declutter kitchen appliances

'Any appliances that you don’t use, either commit to using it or get rid,' says home organizer Kathryn Lord. 'That smoothie maker? When did you last use it? Why not always have a smoothie for breakfast with your children on a Sunday, pull out the recipe books or invent your own?'

21. Declutter kitchen drawers and cabinets

The best way to organize kitchen drawers and organize kitchen cabinets is to empty them onto a clear, flat surface, putting aside items you no longer want. Once you have vacuumed and wiped out the drawers, improve the kitchen storage ideas within them to ensure clutter can't get out of hand again.  

'Always use kitchen organizers like a utensil divider for organizing kitchen drawers. There’s nothing worse than opening a drawer to items that don’t have a home,' advises Juliette Thomas, Founder & Director, Juliettes Interiors . 'Make sure you organize in a way that will have you finding the things you’re looking for instantly – no one has time to go rummaging in drawers. Have separate sections for utensils that cut, cutlery, graters and zesters.

'Keep the top drawers for the items used the most, and lower drawers for items not so often used. Keep items in sectional order, ie, what their use is by department. This way you can easily know where to quickly find what you’re looking for.

'Have a large pan drawer built into your kitchen to organize pots and pans, preferably close to where you’ll be cooking. Ideally you want your kitchen to function as best as possible, so try to organize your cupboards in an efficient way – for example, having glasses near the drinks area and utensils near the stove. Use pan protectors so you can stack your plans neatly without scratching them which will mean you have more space.'

22. Declutter kitchen countertops

If you want to organize kitchen countertops, decluttering first is essential. 'Keep out what you use on a daily basis. Otherwise, put away other items,' says Juliette Thomas. 'Kitchens are at their best when decluttered giving more surface space to use and an overall tidy, contemporary look to show off the kitchen rather than the clutter. Put away spices, coffee/tea and oils, and so on. Completely declutter.

'Keep surfaces tidy! Make sure there’s a home for everything so nothing gets left on the side.'

23. Declutter the pantry

Organizing a pantry, particularly a large one, and especially organizing deep pantry shelves, is the biggest challenge when tackling kitchen decluttering. The solution is good visibility, says Juliette Thomas, which will stop you buying more than you need.

'Label everything! I love to use jars to store large commodities such as pasta and flour. These look great on the shelves and are practical too. Watch out for the expiry dates and declutter the out-of-date items. Don't over stock. Too much is wasted – we only need one of each item or a refill on the way!'

24. Declutter a bedroom by working out what you have

Decluttering first is crucial when you’re organizing a bedroom and whether you’re looking for closet organization ideas or clothes storage ideas. 'A bedroom should be a clean, calm sanctuary-like retreat. If you have a wardrobe that is brimming over, drawers that won’t close for clothes and a bedside creaking under the weight of bedside books, it’s not going to make you feel relaxed or in control,' says Georgia Metcalfe, co-founder and creative director at The French Bedroom Company , who has teamed up with founder of Declutter on Demand 's Lizzie Grant.

Start simple, says Georgia: 'Empty your drawers. Easy, just get everything out, without editing.

Next: 'Categorize. Gather similar items together, lingerie, tops, jumpers, etc. This is the point where you realize what you have and how much of it you actually want – edit if you need to.' 

Decide what goes where when organizing clothes, comments Lizzie, 'Whether your clothes should be folded or hung will be dictated in part by what kind of storage you have in your bedroom. However, where possible, delicate materials that are prone to wrinkling should be hung. Bulky items like sweaters and jeans might work better folded in an armoire, and you might have enough drawers to allocate one for each of your underwear, socks, and tights, for example.'

25. Use separators to keep bedroom drawers organized

Lizzie says: ‘Bedroom organizers like drawer dividers are the best organizing tool for your bedroom. They are an essential storage product if you have bedroom drawers.' 

This equipment will help you maintain your structure and keep you from straying when in a rush to put away the laundry.

Now, make sure to put everything back. If you’ve devised a new system, expect some teething problems as you get used to it as you may forget where things now live, or even find that you need to move things around. Georgia and Lizzie both stress that 'this will be a work in progress but completely worth it as you begin to get the hang of things and restore peace to your bedroom.'

26. Declutter children's bedrooms

'Always start with the eldest sibling's room first, that way, anything (clothes, toys, books) too small or young for them can be labelled in a box ready for the next child to be ready for them,' advises Kathryn Lord from More To Organising astutely.

27. Declutter children's toys

Organizing toys is always a challenge. 'Rotating toys means you have many fewer toys "in action" and you swap them out,' continues Kathryn Lord. 'This means there is less mess to tidy up but also, too many toys cause overwhelm. It’s hard to know what to play with when there is so much choice and when you swap the toys out, they are more excited to play with the new toys.

'For example, when having small world toys, they don’t need the zoo and the farm out at the same time (unless you want to do a sorting activity)

'I also do this with books. One client texted to say her child has picked up books that he hasn’t for a very long time.

'Checking electronic toys are actually usable makes such a difference to their play. If they do not work, they are taking up valuable space in your home and causing frustration. Storing batteries up high is essential as they are very dangerous when swallowed.'

Good toy storage ideas are vital to keeping decluttered items neat and organized too.

28. Declutter bookshelves

Your once beautiful arranged bookshelf ideas can quickly become overwhelmed and over-stuffed, so it is worth going through them every now and then to discard books you are not going to read again. 

Organizing a bookshelf by author or subject can help ensure books stay decluttered and easy to locate, but if you want a decluttered 'look' for them, think color coordinating.

'Color coordinating books makes your place instantly look better,' advises Kathryn Lord, who also goes on to say: 'It helps your child become more independent, too. They know the color of their favorite book and they know where to put it back. As with the toys, rotate them. They don’t all need to be out at once. Even this is just rotating from a high shelf to a low shelf so it’s more accessible for little hands.'

29. Declutter your desk spaces

Organizing a desk for an adult after decluttering ensures they can work efficiently – and feel happy about being at work for long hours. Children's work spaces are no different.

'When your children are doing their homework, to support them to try their best, their desk space needs to be clear from clutter,' advises Kathryn Lord.

'Going through pens can be done together, binning any dried up felt tips. Some pencils need binning if their nib can not be sharpened. Creating a space where they know and can easily find paper and stationery means they can be more successful at their work.'

30. Declutter a bathroom and laundry spaces

Bathrooms get cluttered quickly – half-used shampoo and conditioner, soap dispensers, toothpastes and shower gel, not to mention out-of-date medications, can quickly build up, while old towels tend to languish at the back of a linen cupboard for years. Kathryn Lord suggests these tactics for organizing a bathroom:

'The medicine cupboard always seems overlooked. Checking the dates on these is important. The last thing you want is to have a poorly child and not be able to find the right medicine, or worse, out-of-date medicine that might make your child more ill. It’s best to keep this topped up with all the essentials and go through it every three months. But don’t buy too many of the same thing. After Sun and insect bite cream often expires before it’s fully used.

As for decluttering and organizing a laundry room, Kathryn says:

'This space often gets messy quite quickly because family life is so busy. Having the things you need to hand makes this easier. In the cupboards, store everything so it is visible when you open them. Stain remover is essential with young children's clothes, but if they ever crayon on the walls, toothpaste and elbow grease is the way forward.'

What should you not do when decluttering?

What not to do when decluttering is to begin without a plan – and a realistic vision for what you want to achieve. It's vital to start small in one room and work through that room – or that category, ie, clothes, before you move on. You shouldn't assume that decluttering will be quick – which is why you should attempt small areas at one time; it can take time to declutter properly, and you can only do so properly if you give yourself time. 

What else not to do when decluttering? Keep a 'maybe' pile – if you start one of these every time you declutter an area, you will have multiple piles of clutter hanging around. If you find decluttering difficult, don't even think of starting without help – from a friend or professional organizer who can help you be more dispassionate.

How can I stay clutter-free after decluttering?

'Now you’ve removed your home of clutter, you need to keep your home as clutter-free as possible. Take some time to show your family their clutter-free home and set some ground rules for putting stuff away, whether that be with some clutter baskets in each room to sort out on a weekly basis,' advises Chris Wootton, Managing Director of Poppies , a domestic cleaning business.  

*Survey by Kantar on behalf of Serenely Sorted

Lucy Searle has written about interiors, property and gardens since 1990, working her way around the interiors departments of women's magazines before switching to interiors-only titles in the mid-nineties. She was Associate Editor on Ideal Home, and Launch Editor of 4Homes magazine, before moving into digital in 2007, launching Channel 4's flagship website, Channel4.com/4homes. In 2018, Lucy took on the role of Global Editor in Chief for Realhomes.com, taking the site from a small magazine add-on to a global success. She was asked to repeat that success at Homes & Gardens, where she has also taken on the editorship of the magazine. 

37 tips and ideas on how to clean up anywhere

You can listen to the article. If it's more convenient for you, turn on the podcast.

Competent organization of space is priceless. It makes the house more spacious, allows you to do less cleaning and even helps to maintain order in life. There is only one problem - learning such an organization is not as easy as it seems. Here are some tips and ideas on how to do it.

1. Correctly define what garbage is

We spend a lot of time at home and quickly get used to the things we see all the time. We no longer notice the pile of papers that grows on the table day after day, or the clothes that lie in the armchair for a week. This is becoming the norm. We understand that something is wrong only when we can’t find what we need or we buy a new thing, and then we find a similar sweater under the bed.

Space experts advise taking pictures. Take pictures of your desk drawers, closet shelves, and other cluttered areas, then zoom in on the photos. Do you use all the things you see? How often? Do you want to tidy up and put things away? The answers to these questions will help you understand that out of a pile of things - real garbage, which is high time to throw away. nine0007

2. Come to terms with the fact that garbage has always been, is and will be

Perhaps you now think that there is nothing unnecessary in your house. And no trash either. But such things certainly exist, and this is absolutely normal.

Life throws us more and more new objects every day. We can buy an unusual figurine, and after a week ask ourselves why we did it. You will always have to get rid of garbage, which means you need to figure out how to make this process interesting and exciting. For example, turn on peppy music while cleaning or divide unnecessary into categories. nine0007

3. Do not get attached to things

In today's world, the value of owning anything is too exaggerated. We often think that we can only enjoy a thing if we buy it.

In fact, it is enough to rent some items for a while to understand that we do not need them so much. For example, if you have been dreaming about a coffee machine for a long time, borrow it from a friend for a week. You may not use the device as often as you thought.

In addition, for everything that we already have, it is necessary to allocate space and keep it clean and tidy. It takes energy and strength. Therefore, it is worth surrounding yourself with only the most necessary and favorite items. nine0007

4. Include children in cleaning

It is better to allocate time for cleaning the nursery every day. At the same time, experts advise not to say phrases like "Get out." Children perceive them as “putting beauty in the room”, so they simply diligently shove things into the nearest lockers.

Instead, explain that each toy or book has its own place, and cleaning means putting them in those places. Also try to teach your children to clean up the room at certain times, such as before dinner. nine0007

5. Properly sort papers and stationery

Experts say it's best to sort and file paper vertically rather than horizontally. Even if you rarely work with documents and write down something, select a drawer or shelf for papers. Sort them into files every week using categories and subcategories. And don't put important documents too far away.

If you have space to work at home, try to separate the work area from the storage area. Most often, we buy stationery sets, such as 20 pens or several packs of stickers. Don't keep it all on the table. Put the supplies in the closet, leaving one or two handles. When they run out, you just get new ones. nine0007

6. Put things away right away

When we hold a cup in our hands, it is easy for us to convince ourselves to leave it on the bedroom table. Well, what, because you still have to go to the kitchen, and you can remove the cup later. As a result, she stays by the bed until the evening, and even until the next morning. Try to avoid this and immediately put things in their places.

7. Be mindful of functionality

We often choose the visual component of the order, not the functional one. For example, when we sort out a closet full of clothes, we are more likely to want to arrange things in a way that looks beautiful, like on Instagram* blogs, and not so that it is easy to find what we need. Of course, this is the wrong approach. nine0007

The point of organizing a space is to satisfy our needs, not to put things in nice looking piles. If the “picture” is important to you, add nice tags, labels, or other identifying marks that will help you navigate the storage system without any problems.

8. Take your time

If you start transforming the entire apartment at once, interest and patience will quickly disappear. It is better to allocate half an hour every day, but do not skip cleaning. Organization of space is not an end point, but a continuous process of acquiring and applying new skills. nine0007

9. Organize mindfully

If you've just returned from the store with full shopping bags, take the time to unpack them right away. This will help reduce the amount of debris that would otherwise be left in the hallway, kitchen and other rooms.

10. Disassemble the wardrobe in three steps

The first is to remove all unused hangers. They can be given to friends or put aside in reserve. Then you need to choose the things that require washing. Finally, set a timer for 10 minutes, or whatever time you need, and quickly sort out your clothes, setting aside what you definitely won't be wearing. These things can be donated for recycling or for charity. nine0007

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11. Determine a place for each item

Before you buy something, experts advise you to clearly imagine where you will put it. Each item should have its own little "home" and its own place. If you do not understand where you will "live" a thing, you should not bring it from the store. nine0007

12. Starting a difficult cleaning wisely

When we have a huge amount of things to sort out before our eyes, it's easy to panic. In order not to panic, first divide the cleaning into blocks, for example, by room: entrance hall, living room, kitchen, and so on. And then you can divide each room into zones.

The most important thing is to force yourself to get down to business. As soon as you start taking things apart and finding something that you have long forgotten about, you will immediately feel inspired. You can also ask friends or family members for help. nine0007

13. Reduce the amount of things on the bedside table

Usually you can find glasses, hand cream, a charger, a book or a magazine on it. If you need something else, make your own list, but don't get too carried away. Often in the drawers of the bedside table, unnecessary trash and garbage collects.

To avoid this situation, keep certain things in each compartment. For example, store wet wipes and other personal care items in the top, and put the book you are reading or planning to read in the bottom. nine0007

14. Tidy up your desk

Keeping a notebook and a pen handy always helps to organize your thoughts or leave small reminders to yourself. Headphones - conventional or noise-canceling - allow you to turn off external sounds and focus. And according to the calendar on the table, it is convenient to compare and supplement the schedule.

But do you really need colored pencils, old postcards or a few decorative figurines? If not, it's time to get them off your desktop. Use the same principle as with the bedside table - leave only the essentials. And do not forget to disassemble the drawers. nine0007

15. Pack smartly

First, make a list of things you need. It is better to save it on your computer or phone. A ready-made list will help you remember important things when packing for future trips.

Plan your wardrobe for every day of travel. Try to choose things that combine in different ways, and avoid clothes from the “what if” category. Usually it just takes up space, and you never take it out of the suitcase. You can also set a certain limit, for example, four sweaters, two pairs of jeans, and so on. This will allow you not to overdo it with extra outfits. nine0007

It is better to pack things in layers, the first of which is heavy, such as shoes, jeans or sweatshirts. And so that the clothes do not wrinkle, you can shift them with paper napkins or towels. Small items, such as underwear or small electronics, are best packed in separate bags.

Experts recommend packing your suitcase the weekend before your trip. So you will feel calmer, besides, you will have enough time to buy something. nine0007

When the trip includes air travel, use the “fractional rule”: if your family has four people, put a quarter of each person's clothes in all suitcases. In case one of them gets lost, everyone will have something to wear until the luggage is found.

16. Read useful books

To learn how to maintain order in the house and life, experts advise reading literature not only on cleaning, but also, for example, on time management. You can start with David Allen's How to Get Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity and The Power of Habit. Why do we live and work this way and not otherwise?” Charles Duhigg. nine0007

17. Reduce the amount of paper

In today's world, almost all information is available online, which means there is no reason to keep useless papers. Get in the habit of immediately throwing away unnecessary leaflets, such as advertisements that are often put in the mailbox. Important and necessary documentation can be kept in files, but try to keep it to a minimum.

18. Keep track of memorabilia

Do not keep sentimental souvenirs around the house. Experts advise having a separate drawer or container for meaningful items - postcards, letters, and any other memorabilia. But it should also be kept in order. If you notice that the lid is already barely closing, think about what is really important to you and leave only the most valuable. nine0007

19. Avoid unnecessary surfaces

The more surfaces in the house, the more likely it is to fill them with unnecessary things and garbage. Experts urge to act radically and remove unnecessary pieces of furniture from the apartment as much as possible. Such minimalism will allow you to easily maintain order.

20. Optimize your wardrobe

If you see the back wall when you open your wardrobe, you are not using it to its full potential. To get an idea of ​​how much space you need, try separating your clothes first by style and then by color, and hang things in the direction from light to dark or vice versa. And if you have a large collection of hats or caps, don't put them on the shelves, but add stylish hooks to your wardrobe and hang your hats on them. nine0007

According to experts, 80% of the time we wear only 20% of our wardrobe. Find your 20% and give away the excess. You can even put a special bag for charity in each closet - this will reduce the time for sorting.

21. Pay attention to the bedroom

This is one of the most "tasty" places for garbage. Here we are drawn to leave a travel bag, which we will sort out a little later, throw things that are long overdue to be washed in a corner, or spread papers all over the room.

Review and remove everything from the bedroom that is not related to clothes, sleep, relaxation and romance. Beautiful flowers and candles do not count. The rest is better to remove to other rooms.

22. Use labels and stickers

Stickers, dividers and other "markers" are indispensable in the household. They make it much easier to find the right papers, products, things. Stickers can be attached to files with documents, drawers in the wardrobe and garage or back walls of lockers, so you can immediately understand whether you will find what you are looking for there or not. nine0007

23. Be ruthless

Most of us have too many things. And all because we do not know how to “let go” and give them away. As a result, there are more and more objects, and there is almost no place left for us in our own home. Experts advise to be tough and carefully select things. Make a list of what you absolutely need and give or throw away the rest.

The same applies to the goods you plan to buy. Ask yourself if you really need them, if there is room for new things in the house and what you are willing to sacrifice to make room for them. If the answers are inconclusive, you should think again before making a purchase. nine0007

24. Do not scold yourself

As soon as we start cleaning, we often start scolding ourselves. “How did I bring (s) the apartment to such a state”, “What did I think (s)”, “I am a real slob” - these are more harmless remarks from those that we release in our address.

Do not forget that restoring and maintaining order is hard work. Focus on how you want your home to look like in the future, not on the mistakes you made in the past.

25. Change attitude to workspace

Any items that are needed for work should be at arm's length. Try to organize your workspace so that you can find everything you need for daily tasks. This will not only clean your desktop, but also increase your productivity.

26. Clean out the bathroom regularly

Every six months, check the expiration date of cosmetics and care products and throw away expired products. Organizers also help keep order. You can put medicines, hygiene and other accessories in them. nine0007

27. Clean up immediately during cooking

Wash and put away dishes while lunch or dinner is still cooking, and return ingredients to their places immediately after use. The amount of cleaning after cooking will be significantly reduced.

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28. Use glass containers for food

Ordinary plastic containers are not always convenient. They are often cloudy, making it difficult to see what is inside. Experts recommend taking glass containers and even putting them upside down in the refrigerator so you can see at a glance what they are filled with.

29. Keep wastebaskets in the right places

It is best to place them where waste is most likely to accumulate. For example, where you parse correspondence from the mailbox. Half of the papers usually have to be thrown away right away - a trash can nearby will not let you forget about it. nine0007

30.

Attach more hooks

Hanging clothes on them is much more convenient and faster than putting them away on a hanger in the wardrobe every time. Hang more hooks for yourself and for the kids so they can easily leave outerwear or backpacks in the right place, and not scattered all over the apartment.

31. Divide kitchen cupboards into zones

Experts propose to proceed according to the following scheme. First, take everything out of the cabinets and lay it on the table. Throw away or give away things that you definitely won't eat or use. nine0007

Then divide the cupboards into zones: ingredients for baking, spices for second courses, food supplies, kitchen utensils, dishcloths, dishes themselves, and so on. Thoroughly wipe the shelves and arrange everything in zones.

At the end, add stickers so that you don't forget what is where - at first it will be unusual for you, but gradually you will get used to it and understand how convenient it is.

32.

Do one thing at a time

The modern world is crazy about multitasking. We try to do everything at once, and any delays and interruptions annoy us wildly. Try a different strategy - perform tasks one at a time and in order. nine0007

For example, if you open a program on your laptop and it's been loading for five minutes, you don't have to reach for your phone to take that time. Take a deep breath, exhale and just wait. This will bring peace of mind and help you do things better.

33. Trust in space

In order to keep things from filling up the house, it is important to decide in advance how much space you are willing to allocate for each item. For example, you will have only one drawer in your closet, in which you will put only sweaters. This means that you should not buy more sweaters than this box can hold. If you still bought a new thing, and the drawer is no longer closed, you will have to get rid of one of the old sweaters. You cannot move clothes to a new place. Such a strict selection principle will help keep the wardrobe in order. nine0007

34. Increase vertical space

Experts suggest adding more shelves for books and decor, placing small baskets throughout the rooms for a variety of items, and even hanging things in the wardrobe on top of each other. This will help increase the vertical space in the apartment and make it a little more spacious.

35. Sort bags

Admit it, how often do you painfully long dig in your bag in the hope of finding the keys to the apartment, chewing gum or antiseptic? To prevent this from happening, try to "demarcate" things. Buy several small multi-colored zipper organizers and use for different items: one for cosmetics and hygiene items, the second for electronics, the third for other small items, such as a notebook and pen. So you will always easily and quickly find any thing. nine0007

36. Move wisely

Keep a “moving diary” and enter everything you need into it: a list of things, tasks, contacts of companies involved in transportation, and any other information. As soon as you finally move in, first of all equip the most necessary rooms: kitchen, bathroom and bedroom.

Prepare the box to be opened first. It should contain the most basic things: hygiene items, food, medicine, clothes for a few days while you get used to a new place, documents, electronics, bedding, towels, kitchen utensils, and so on. nine0007

37. Take care of the decor

Minimalism is great, but the surrounding space should be filled with things that you like and create comfort. Add more plants, posters, or your own photos, books, and magazines. Beautiful places always want to be maintained in order, which means that you will not have problems with motivation.

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*Activities of Meta Platforms Inc. and its social networks Facebook and Instagram are prohibited in the territory of the Russian Federation.

20 simple ideas to clean up your home and everyday life

It is better to start organizing your life with little things, then more global ideas will be carried out much easier.

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Do you know such people who always have order in the house, and in general everything in life is captured? It's your turn to be one of them with these simple and cost-effective ways to organize, clean up and prevent chaos.

1 Gather bags and other packing materials. Use magazine holders to vertically store bag rolls, aluminum foil, plastic wrap in the cabinet.

2 Twist the cords. Roll up spare chargers, cables, extension cords and place each in the cardboard tube left over from the toilet roll. If you store these tubes vertically in a box, you will avoid tangles in the wires later.

3 Double the space under the sink. Cleaning products are always organized and at hand, if you hang them on the railing by the "trigger" of the spray gun.

4 Organize a clothes folding system. nine0248 To keep your drawers tidy, try stacking them horizontally, filling each one from front to back. This way you can see all your belongings, including your favorite T-shirt that you thought you lost two years ago.

5 Store your kitchen utensils wisely. Who said that a paper organizer is only an office accessory? Use it for quick access to baking dishes and cutting boards.

6 Hang your scarves like a pro. nine0248 Thread the scarves through the shower screen rings and hang them on a hanger so they're all clear and visible.

7 Store bed sheets in sets. Don't lose your pillowcases anymore! When you fold your laundry, tuck all the pieces into one pillowcase so they'll be right there when you need them.

8 Display toys in plain sight. Hang toy baskets at child's height. You can use wire garden beds for this purpose. Agree, seeing the floor in the nursery is wonderful! nine0007

See also:

  • Dry cleaning of furniture and carpets: professional services
  • 10 Ideas for Living in a Bathroom in a Rented Apartment
  • 7 places for a mirror in the bedroom

9 Store accessories upright. In boxes and caskets, decorations fall into a state of chaos. And if you put the bracelets on, for example, a paper towel holder, then all of them will be in sight, and it will not be difficult to choose the right one. nine0007

10 Keep your essentials within sight. Keep the things that you usually take with you when you leave the house (keys, umbrella, leash) in a transparent wall cabinet.

11 Collect the invisibles. Usually you have to look for them at the bottom of the bag. Meanwhile, a Tic Tac box is perfect for keeping stealth in one specific place.

12 Tame the extension. Attach labels to identify the power cords on a fully occupied PFU. nine0007

13 Stop paper supply. Sort incoming correspondence into important (bills, invitations, notices) and unimportant, which can be used for various household purposes (advertising booklets, free newspapers). Switch to getting your utility bills online.

14 Pack instruction manuals. Do you have a perfect order in the house, and you know exactly where everything is? Can you tell me right now where the instruction manual for your microwave is located? The next time you buy a new appliance, seal the technical documents in a ziplock bag and attach it to the back of the device. nine0007

15 No more split socks. The fact of abduction of earthlings by aliens is easier to explain than the general disappearance of single socks. To avoid this, wash them in a special zippered bag.

16 Align the knives. Replace your clunky, bulky knife holder with a sleek, wall-mounted magnetic strip that keeps them clean and out of the reach of curious little hands.

17 Save children's creativity in limited quantities. nine0248 Children bring home a lot of crafts and drawings. Give your child a large plastic container where he can store all his creativity. And when the container is full, select the most interesting projects with it. Throw out the rest to make room for new work.

18 Place the plastic bags in the box. Usually an endless number of such bags from supermarkets lives somewhere under the sink. Put them all in one box.

19 Optimize apps on your smartphone. nine0248 Finally, order has reigned in your house, but if you organize your life, then in everything. Tidy up your smartphone too by categorizing applications (there are even special free programs for this purpose). Let frequently used applications be displayed on the home screen. And those applications that you have not used for several months, it's time to delete.

20 Do away with the mess in the trunk of your car. Eggs will never break and a can of tomato paste will never run away with a laundry container in the trunk of your car.

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