According to health professionals, too much clutter can drain you. What one person calls "clutter", another calls "treasure", but one thing's for sure - if you have so much stuff in your home that you can't even get in some drawers, or whole rooms, you need a clear-out!
Treasures are important items that you keep as a pleasant reminder of past times and events, while clutter is general junk that you can't be bothered to throw out, or stuff you think you "might" need one day that's just taking up space.
© aleutie / Adobe Stock
When you start feeling so overwhelmed by clutter that it drains your energy, you can't find things and it's interfering with your everyday life, it's time to do something!
There's nothing more satisfying than decluttering your home. Helping you to feel more energised, it will help your physical health, as nothing is worse than living in a house so full of clutter that you can't function properly.
Rather than embarking on Mission Clear-out without a plan, follow some handy decluttering tips from the experts to avoid running out of steam part-way through.
- Kitchen storage
When it comes to the kitchen, it might be useful items that you leave out because you don't have enough cupboard space. By storing your small culinary items properly in smart purpose-made containers, this can make all the difference to the functionality of the hub of the home.
- Cabinet storage
Make the most of your existing cabinet space in the kitchen with a quick DIY fix. Try mounting a rack on the back of a cabinet door, or add a roll-out rack in a floor-level cupboard that might normally be hard to access, to boost your space. Bulky pots and pans could be hung from S-hooks or a suspended pot rack on the wall.
- Tidy your bathroom
The bathroom can look very untidy, with half-full bottles and jars of toiletries in every corner.
First, check the expiry date - face-cream, sunscreen and other toiletries can go out of date. Throw away anything that's old and store the remainder of your items in plastic boxes, rather than leaving them dotted randomly around the bathroom. If you choose clear boxes, it's easy to spot what's inside.
- Storing towels
If your home is short of cupboard space in general, turn towel storage into an art by making it look decorative.
Place a wicker basket in your bathroom and store towels inside. If you choose one without a lid, the colour-coordinated towels, that can be folded or swirled, can be a decorative feature as opposed to an eyesore.
- Storing make-up
Take a tip from the top models and keep your make-up and cosmetics in a clean, dry environment by storing them in a tool box. There's no need to spend a fortune on a vanity case when a simple toolbox is cheaper and has all the compartments you need.
- Decluttered bedroom
It's important to keep your bedroom clutter-free, as it's the place where you go to relax and unwind. Carelessly discarded clothes could be placed in a lidded container – to make the room look instantly more appealing.
- Clear your wardrobe
If your wardrobe is crammed full of stuff you never wear, have a clear-out. If there are clothes and shoes in there that you haven't worn for a year or more, there's a good chance you'll never wear them again. Get rid of the unused items by donating them to a charity for homeless people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has pledged to care for these vulnerable members of society, so more clothing is always welcome.
- Under-bed storage
If you don't have a divan bed, but have storage space available under your bed, make use of it to store bedding, footwear and other items. Choose a storage box with a large capacity that's also fairly flat, so it will easily slide under the bed.
- Living room
You spend a lot of time in your living room - sitting among clutter isn't the most relaxing experience.
One of the main places where clutter accumulates is the coffee table. It may be stacked high with magazines that are never read. Using a coffee table with a shelf underneath can help clear the clutter from the top - but even better, throw away old magazines before they start gathering dust.
- Detangle cables
From phone and laptop chargers, lamps, TVs and other appliances, if you have a lot of electrical cables, they will likely look a right mess! By using a cable box, this will not only make things look a whole lot tidier, it will also improve the performance of your electric appliances.
When you've finished decluttering, don't send the unwanted items to landfill sites - ensure you recycle and send suitable items to charity shops.
As a responsible plastic product provider, Solent Plastics never advocates single-use plastics. Our products are made to last a lifetime and we also offer a range of high-quality used plastic boxes, crates and containers. Give us a call on 01794 514478 for details of our products.
Ready, steady… declutter!