How to declutter your home with clever storage solutions
• Will Norcross
They say a tidy home is a happy home. We all crave calm and order, a space free from stress and chores, to unwind after a long day. But with the demands of modern life - caring for pets, running a household, and juggling work - keeping a tidy home can feel like a distant dream.
Your home is the last place you want to feel stressed, so whether you are planning a huge clearout or just looking to make life easier, here are our top decluttering tips, from key rules to follow to clever storage solutions.
How to declutter your home:
Create dedicated spaces for items
Use multi-functional furniture
Decide what to keep, donate or throw
Remember the benefits of decluttering
1. Create dedicated spaces for items
Perhaps the most simple but often overlooked way to reduce clutter around the house is to ensure your belongings have their own dedicated storage space. This prevents furniture storage from becoming the dreaded junk drawer, which can become another clutter nightmare.
Before you start to tidy things away, ensure everything you use has a sensible place to live, where it is easily accessible and won’t be distracting.
2. Use multi-functional furniture
When thinking about where to tidy things away, hidden storage pieces are a great option, especially if your home lacks built-in storage or you don’t have the space to add storage furniture. Consider these handy pieces:
- Ottomans with storage: An ottoman or window seat looks great, provides extra seating, and doubles up as hidden storage space. As well as keeping things out of sight, an ottoman provides a comfortable place to put your feet up or even creates a makeshift coffee table.
- Storage beds: Storage beds are a great way of harnessing underutilised space. They are perfect for storing off-season clothing, extra linens, shoes, accessories, or even kids’ toys, keeping your bedroom clutter-free without needing additional furniture. Available in various styles, from lift-up ottomans to beds with drawers, they combine practicality with aesthetics, making them an ideal choice for any home.
- Lift-up top coffee tables: Coffee tables with lift-up tops are the perfect addition to living rooms. Blending storage and style, you can stash items like remote controls, magazines, books, blankets, or even snacks to keep your space clutter-free while keeping items within easy reach.
- Hide cable clutter with TV cabinets: One thing that can easily clutter any home is cables. Put away any charging cables, unused devices or gaming accessories in a TV stand drawer so they are easily accessible when needed. Hide pesky wires using a TV stand, fit with cable access holes that help hide away wires whilst keeping them accessible.
3. Add stylish storage furniture
There is plenty of storage furniture that can help keep your home clutter-free while doubling as a stylish addition to your decor.
- Storage units: Storage units come in all shapes and sizes. Cube storage is a versatile option as you can use baskets in the compartments to hide clutter and keep open shelves for displaying decorative items like books, plants, or photo frames.
- Ladder shelves: Ladder shelves are a trendy and practical way of organising books, folders, or displaying ornaments. Making use of vertical space, they take up minimal floor space, ideal for smaller rooms.
- Floating shelves: For a minimalist and space-saving approach, floating shelves are a clever storage choice. They can be mounted on walls in any room, offering storage for everything from kitchen jars and bathroom toiletries to living room decor. They can be great for use in corners to make the most of nooks and crannies that don’t usually get used.
- Drawer storage: Drawer storage is essential for keeping everyday essentials tucked away and organised and can be put in any room of the home.
4. Start with small areas
Decluttering can feel overwhelming, so begin with a small and manageable area, like one drawer, shelf, or corner at a time. This gives you a quick sense of accomplishment, which motivates you to keep going.
5. Dedicate time to decluttering
Setting a timer can be a great way to declutter quickly and in chunks. Set a timer for 15 minutes to force yourself to make quick decisions without overthinking.
6. Donate your old belongings
As you declutter your home, you’ll probably find many things you don’t want or need any more as you make way for new storage.
Avoid waste wherever possible by donating your clothes or other goods to charities. Most organisations will accept a range of goods! This is a great way to tidy your space and help out others while doing so.
7. Use the one-touch rule to keep clutter at bay
Once you’ve finished decluttering your space, it’s down to you to keep the space clear. The one-touch rule means putting an item where it belongs when holding it. Throw it out or put it in its place but don’t put it somewhere to deal with later. For example, when you take your coat off, hang it on the coat rack or in the wardrobe; don’t leave it on the chair or bannister to sort out later.
How to decide what to throw, donate or keep
Follow these questions or rules to decide what to keep, donate or throw away. If you don’t want to keep an item and it’s still in good working condition, consider donating it. If it's broken, damaged, expired, or no longer functional, it’s time to throw it away.
Have you used it in the last year? A simple rule for decluttering is to let go of anything you haven't used in the past year. If you haven’t needed or used something in that time frame, the chances are you won’t in the future. This mainly applies to items like clothes, gadgets, and kitchen tools, not seasonal clothes or holiday decorations.
Does it bring joy or hold sentimental value? If an item sparks joy, holds sentimental value, or enhances your happiness, it should be kept. If not, it’s time to donate it or throw it away.
How many do you need? If you have multiple items in the same category, decide how many you actually need.
Use the 12:12:12 rules: Find 12 items to throw away, 12 to donate, and 12 that can be put away or returned to where they should be.
Follow the 5-second rule: Decide whether you want to keep an item or throw it away within 5 seconds. If you can’t remember the last time you used it or decide if you want to keep it within 5 seconds, it’s time to let it go.
The benefits of decluttering
It can be difficult to keep on top of a tidy room, but there are plenty of benefits of decluttering that will inspire you to get started.
- Less distraction: A clutter-free space reduces distractions, fostering a sense of calm and minimising feelings of overwhelm.
- Boosts mood: Decluttering provides a sense of accomplishment and can be therapeutic.
- Saves money: By recognising what you already own, you avoid unnecessary purchases and consider new purchases more.
Shop storage solutions from Big Furniture Warehouse
By following our top decluttering tips, you’ll transform your space into a haven of peace and organisation. Decluttering makes your home look better, improves your mood, and enhances your daily life.
Shop our selection of storage solutions from Big Furniture Warehouse. Whether you want stylish pieces of furniture with hidden storage spaces, baskets for storing items, or shelving options for you to display treasured possessions, our affordable furniture offers designs to suit every home.
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