Get Organized by Eliminating Clutter

We say it time and again on this blog: clutter is the enemy of an organized household.  Not only is clutter visually distracting and practically difficult to navigate while performing small tasks, but it is the enemy of a clear, relaxed state of mind.  Below are some tips to help you quickly banish clutter in the main rooms of your home: 

The Kitchen 

Are your kitchen countertops cluttered with plates, spices, small appliances, and notes?  The key to maintaining a clutter-free kitchen is twofold: you want to prevent family members from leave things lying around, and you want to provide enough storage for the items that belong. 

As a start, be sure cooking and cleaning items are replaced after every use.  Wash dishes or place them in the dishwasher, return spices to the spice rack, replace food items in the cabinets and refrigerator, and wipe off small appliances before returning them to their space.  Make it a family policy to avoid leaving books, mail, gloves, and other items on the kitchen island or dining room table.  At the end of each day, retrieve any stray items that have found their way into the kitchen, and put them in their proper place. 

Storage solutions are the key to a clutter-free kitchen.  The afore-mentioned spice rack, for example, allows you to store spices in a way that is neat, efficient, and visually appealing.  Opt for a kitchen island that offers storage compartments.  Make sure cabinets are cleaned out regularly so there is always enough storage for fresh foods, pots, and pans.  Many cabinetry companies offer creative storage accessories such as lazy Susan’s, pull-out organizers, dividers, tip-out trays and door-mounted organizers.  And don’t forget the option of a rolling cart with shelves or drawers.

Dining Room Organizing 

If your home includes a dining room, nothing beats beautiful cabinetry or free-standing furniture pieces to store, and even display, your best dishware.  Storage is also important for cloth napkins and placemats, and for holiday items such as candlesticks or table centerpieces.  If your dining room is an extension of the kitchen, consider installing between-room dividers with countertops and shelves or other storage options.

Family and Living Rooms 

It can be a major challenge to keep family and living rooms clutter free, especially if your family includes children and/or pets.  Everyone loves to relax in these rooms, and relaxation often includes reading books or magazines, playing board games, studying with notebooks, listening to music on CD players or electronic devices, chatting on cell phones or snuggling up in warm blankets on cold winter evenings.

Just as with the kitchen, the key to a clutter-free living room is limiting the presence of items that don’t belong there and providing enough storage for the items that do.  Coffee tables or chests that incorporate storage space can be great places for board games.  Book shelves large enough to handle the family’s collection are handy for preventing book overflow.  Magazine racks can control the spread of magazines and newspapers, and a shelf designated for folded blankets can discourage leaving these items on the couch or a chair.  You can expect, however, that it will take prodding and reminders to encourage family members to return their electronic devices, notebooks, and other personal items to their rooms.  When all else fails, consider cabinets that provide storage for electronic devices, and for CDs, DVDs, and other entertainment.

The Bathroom

The key to bathroom organization is to limit your belongings to items you truly need and use.  Avoid collecting soaps, bath salts, sponges, exotic shampoos, and other items you’ll never use.  Limit yourself to one bottle of each necessary toiletry, perhaps allowing for a spare in case your current bottle runs out.  Then store your toiletries in closets with shelves, beneath the sink in a vanity, or on a shower wall organizer.  Store medications inside a medicine cabinet.  Be sure to check all storage spaces regularly; it’s amazing how much clutter can end up at the bottom of a vanity drawer or in a bathroom closet, for example.  Dispose of expired medications, damaged band-aids, used cleaning sponges that have probably collected bacteria, and empty bottles of cleaning solutions.

Laundry Room

If you have a laundry room, be sure to install enough shelf space to fit detergent, bleach, fabric softener, and other laundry supplies.  Just as with toiletries, limit yourself to one bottle of each.  Colored bins will help you separate garments before or after washing, and a hanging rack will prevent shirts, dresses and other clothing items from piling up.  Get in the habit of returning clothes to closets as soon as they’ve been laundered and dried, so they don’t pile up on your folding table, or in laundry baskets on the floor.

Maintaining a clean, organized home takes planning, commitment, and discipline.  If your rooms include enough storage space for necessary items and your family members develop the habit of putting their things away after use, your home will become an inviting, relaxing space – every time you walk through the door.