The Simple Guide to a Clutter Free Home

I have lived most of my life in a cluttered home. Closets were full, drawers wouldn't shut, things weren’t put away, and unfinished projects could be found in most rooms. That was, unless somebody was coming over. Then, the entire family would pitch in to make sure the house was presentable. Looking back, the problem with clutter wasn't that we didn't notice or care. Instead, the problem was we could never get ahead of the mess or ever seem to develop a system that would keep our home clutter-free. But that is no longer the case. no matter how far away from clutter-free your home may seem, consider implementing these three steps.

• Believe it is possible. 

Most of us know it is entirely possible to live in a clutter-free environment. I imagine that is what attracts you to this guide. You are just looking for some extra help to get there. Your house has been cluttered for so long, you have given up all hope of ever living any other way. For you, the first step to living in a clutter-free home is to take heart and believe it is entirely possible. Realize that you will never get there if do not resolve in your mind that you can accomplish it. So find some hope and begin with a step.

• Remove the excess.

Our homes are full of things. Clutter begins to appear most prominently when we own too much stuff. Conversely, the fewer items we own, the easier it is to keep clutter at a minimum. The first (and most important) step in keeping your home clutter-free is to remove the excessive possessions that are stealing our lives, time, and energy. In your process of removing the excess, it can be helpful to find a working definition of clutter to aid you in this step. Early in our journey, we began to define clutter as too much stuff in too small a space which can comprise of anything that we no longer used or loved, anything that led to a feeling of disorganization.

With this as a guiding filter, slowly move from room to room, removing everything that fit the definition above. Start with the small and easy projects before tackling the larger cases of clutter in your home. If you still do not feel fully capable on removing the excess possessions from your home, for example, put the items you can’t quite part with in a cardboard box out of sight with a date on it. Getting rid of unnecessary possessions is essential, but it doesn't have to be a race. After dealing with the excess clutter, it is essential to develop habits that would keep your space clutter free so as to maintain a clutter free life. Some of the habits you would have to embrace would be cleaning the kitchen after each meal, placing daily-use items (clothes, books, toys) back in their designated homes, fully-completing projects around the house and more.

• Slow the accumulation of possessions.

 To live is to consume. It cannot be avoided – especially in our society and culture. But if the influx of possessions into our homes can be slowed, clutter can be managed efficiently.

To slow the accumulation of things in our homes, we need to change our mindset and begin evaluating our purchases differently. Realize that your purchases cost far more than the price on the sticker. Each one will also require time, energy, and effort once they enter your home. Before making a purchase, begin asking yourself these questions:

Is this item really needed?
Do I have a place to store this when I get it home?
How much extra work will this possession add to my life?
Am I buying it for the right reasons?
This thought-process isn’t designed to keep you from making purchases ever again – at least, it’s not supposed to. Again, to live is to consume. But these questions are designed to bring intentionality into your life. They raise in your mind the awareness that some purchases take more from our life than they offer. They help you know the difference. And slow the accumulation of clutter-causing items into your home and life.

Again, it is completely and entirely possible to live in a clutter-free home. With this simple guide, you’ll be well on your way. From somebody who has lived both, I can quickly attest that once you begin to enjoy the physical and mental freedom that accompanies clutter-free living, you’ll make extra effort to ensure your home does not slip back into the home it used to be.

Source: Becoming Minimalist