The primary reasons for homes to become cluttered are having too much stuff and placing items in inappropriate locations.
The average American household possesses approximately 300,000 items. While you consider it essential to find space for all this, ideally, you should eliminate many of them. However, equally crucial is ensuring that things are placed in their designated spots.
Common clutter culprits include mail on the kitchen counter, hobby items on the dining table, clothes on the lounge chair, cleaning supplies mixed with pans in the cabinet, and the infamous junk drawer (or two).
One of the first pieces of advice you’ll receive from a professional declutterer is to have a clear understanding of how your space should serve you. For instance, your reading nook, kitchen cabinets, and linen closet should only contain items that enhance their intended function and purpose. Everything else needs to find a new place or be discarded.
Begin by selecting one space to declutter. Thoroughly clean it out and return only the items that fit the function and your intention. Assess whether the space feels organized and functional. If the remaining items don’t have a designated spot, either let them go or place them in a box until you can make a decision. Repeat this process for each subsequent space.
As you progress through each round, it will become easier. This is particularly true if you develop the mental fortitude to discard items that you no longer use or no longer add value, essentially eliminating clutter.