A welcoming home may have perfect Feng Shui and the trendiest furniture, but we think creating a home you’re proud of has more to do with good habits than decorating. That’s why we’re sharing with you five of our best tips for keeping your home as neat and uncluttered as possible.
Some of these tips may seem obvious, but even the neatest of us sometimes need a refresh! Here are some of the things that neat people will NEVER get caught doing.
1- They never procrastinate when it comes to cleaning, organizing or downsizing.
We all know how tempting it can be to put off dusting until the weekend, right? Sometimes life gets in the way and you end up placing a lot more importance on your sleep than your shiny old table presentation.
While we’re all for getting as much rest as possible, we think keeping a clutter-free environment is just as beneficial for the mind. Unless you live in a mansion – in which case, we highly recommend hiring a maid! – it shouldn’t take you more than 20 minutes a day.
2- They don’t save old mail or bills.
Unless your gas bill from two years ago has sentimental value to you, throw it away! These days, almost everything is digitized, so there’s no need to keep the paper.
If you want to take note of what’s on the paper before you shred it, run it through a scanner and keep it with your files. If you don’t have a reliable scanner at home, there are many wonderful apps that can organize your bills, receipts, etc.
3- They don’t try to make their home look like the Taj Mahal.
Not sure if you are a compulsive “over-decorator” or not? If so, here’s a test for you: Invite a new friend to your home and carefully observe his reaction when he walks through your door for the first time. If their eyes dart around like they’re watching an action movie, you have TOO MANY OBJECTS!
We’re not saying you have to resign yourself to a life of minimalism to be considered a “clean person”; it’s just a matter of being mindful when it comes to decorating. If an item has no use, functional or otherwise, get it off those walls!
4-They don’t save all of the hard work for Spring Cleaning.
If you ask your child to help you wax your wooden tables, you are doing something wrong!
While we think it’s a good thing that people tend to purge at this time of year, there’s no denying that most people get rid of things because they have to, not because they want to.
After the holidays, there is usually so much stuff in the average household that downsizing is the only way to stay sane. We don’t think there’s any reason for you to live in discomfort for six months of the year before waiting to get rid of your unwanted items.
Instead, consider monthly shopping trips to the local charity of your choice for furniture or clothing. That way, you can take advantage of the open spaces in your home.
Tip: If you have a particularly hard time getting rid of clothes, for example, add a container to your closet and throw away items you don’t wear, then wait 6 months. If you don’t open the container during that time, go ahead and donate the contents. This is a much less emotional way to part with your prom dress!
5- They always have a place for each item— and it’s never the floor!
It goes without saying that storing your clothes, unhung photos, shoe boxes, etc. on the floor is a no-brainer. These items will only attract dust and make your space even more cluttered. If you don’t know where to start, click here for some inspiration.
Now that you know how to keep your home as tidy as possible, it’s time to discover a few things you should be cleaning every day. Watch the video below to see how a little daily elbow grease can help your furniture stay beautiful longer!
What do you think of these storage tips?
Do you follow all 5 rules?
Are there any rules that you think should not be on the list?
Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comment
