New Year Tips for Clearing Your Home
Christmas is over and a renewed motivation for ‘getting on’ has been gifted to us as we pass the milestone of a new year. It’s the perfect opportunity to declutter and let go of anything that is holding you back, both physically and mentally. Clearing the clutter can help you to feel more in control and minimize stress and anxieties, ultimately improving your mental wellbeing
2022 was a hectic year, and it’s time to take a break and recharge. Instead of taking on an overwhelming task of decluttering your whole house, why not try these simple, manageable tips for a quick clutter clear-up? By doing so, you can create a calming energy in your home as the new year begins.
By taking these simple steps, you can easily declutter your home and welcome in a sense of calm as the new year begins.
The Hallway & Stairs
Hallways – and not just the entrance – are the arteries of your home. If they’re blocked, it affects the flow of energy and, on a practical level, how easily you can physically manoeuvre around your own house.
Your hallway is unquestionably one of the most important spaces to keep uncluttered. It is usually the first room anyone entering your home will see, so a neat and tidy hall gives a pleasant and inviting impression. Coming home to a disordered hallway after a long day at work can be quite disheartening, and can leave you feeling overwhelmed and flustered.
Hallways are the pathways of your home, and if they are blocked or congested, it can have a negative impact on the energy of the house, as well as the practicality of navigating your way around. Keeping your hallway free from clutter ensures that the energy in your home is positive and that you can move around easily and quickly.
Keeping your Hallway Clutter-free
If you’re looking to store items in your hallway, make sure to find ways to be organised and efficient. Take a look at what items are continually ending up in this spot and make sure any organising solutions you find only address the items you need to store in this area.
It’s also a good idea to contain storage in one section rather than having it spread out along the entire length of the hall. This way, if clutter is inevitable, you can contain it to one area, making it easier to manage. Additionally, think about using furniture pieces with multiple functions, such as a storage bench or a narrow console table with drawers, to limit the number of items taking up floor space. With a bit of creativity, you’ll be able to find the perfect storage solution for your hallway.
The Heart of the Home
The kitchen is the heart of the home and can quickly become cluttered with papers, post, food packaging, dishes and laundry. An organised kitchen is not only safer for young children, but also aesthetically pleasing.
Keeping your kitchen organised allows you to quickly find what you need when you need it, and the neat and tidy atmosphere will even encourage you to create even more meals from scratch.
It’s easy for kitchens to become cluttered and look messy – so here’s some tips for keeping it clutter-free.
Clearing the Kitchen of Clutter
When it comes to creating a functional and aesthetically pleasing kitchen, keeping the work surface clutter-free is paramount. Keeping items on one side of the worktop provides a clear space to cook and a more visually appealing space overall. If your cupboards are full, you may need to get creative with storage.
Consider using the space above your cupboards, but avoid overcrowding them. Utilizing the tops of corner cupboards is a great way to keep items tucked away and to make it look neat. It’s important to remember to not spread things out over the tops of all your cupboards, as this can make the room feel cramped and they’ll likely just be a magnet for dust. Instead, focus on one or two cupboards and make sure the space is both organized and visually pleasing.
In the Living Room
Nowadays, it’s become quite common for people to have open-plan ground floors in their homes. This means that living rooms, kitchens, and play areas are all connected and visible from one another. Unfortunately, this often results in a lot of clutter from all of the family members scattered across the surfaces in all of the rooms. This is not what you want to see after a tough days work when you arrive home!
The good news is that there are a few simple steps you can take to make the space more organized and less cluttered. First, set aside a few minutes each day to put things back in their proper place. Doing this regularly will help to prevent the mess from building up too much. Secondly, invest in a few storage solutions that can help you hide away items that you don’t want to see lying around all the time. Things like ottomans with storage, shelving units, and baskets can all help to keep things organized and out of sight. Finally, keep in mind that open-plan living does not have to mean cluttered living. With a bit of effort and strategic organization, you can make your home look neat and tidy even with an open-plan layout.
Keeping it Tidy
A living room can be easily overwhelmed by too much furniture – it can feel cramped and cluttered. Removing one large item can make a huge difference in the amount of space in the room. Consider which pieces of furniture you hardly use and consider either selling it or trading it out for something smaller. The start of a new year is an excellent time for selling, as many people are looking for new furniture for their homes.
If there are toys present in the living area, it is important to create a designated zone for them. This can be done by utilising an alcove or by moving the sofa away from the wall and creating a small nook behind it. During the day, the toys can be placed in the middle of the floor, but can easily be hidden away at night.
In addition to creating a designated space for toys, try to keep the surfaces in the living room clear. This includes the coffee table, mantelpiece, windowsills, and side table. Start by taking everything off each surface and only returning the items that you want to be seen. Find new homes for the items that you don’t want to keep, or clear out anything that you don’t need. If you are unable to keep the surfaces clear then consider purchasing some organising boxes to keep everything looking tidy.
Working from Home
If the busy pre-festive activities have left your workspace feeling cluttered and chaotic, it’s a good idea to take a few moments to tidy things up before you get back to work.
Even a little bit of time can help you start the new year off on the right foot. If you don’t have a lot of time, there are some quick, easy steps you can take to get your workspace organised.
Tidy Workspace Tidy Mind
To get your workspace back in order, start by tidying the desk surface and floor. Once that’s done, it’s time to get organised! Create a to-do list for the next couple of weeks and prioritise each item by numbering them. Just getting your thoughts down on paper can help to reduce stress. If you want to take on some decluttering, focus on filing. Don’t feel like you have to read each item you come across in depth, just scan read and sort them into categories.
Put all the tasks you need to do this month in one pile and longer-term projects in another. Don’t forget to shred anything you don’t need to keep or won’t ever act on. Last but not least, back up your computer if you haven’t done it in a while or don’t have an auto back-up system in place. It’s a simple task that doesn’t take long and can be done while you’re doing something else.
The Bathroom
Similar to your kitchen, the bathroom is one of those rooms which can go from clean to messy in no time at all. The good news is it’s just as quick to reverse the mess.
Washing your Washroom
To prevent your bathroom from looking cluttered and disorganised, start by giving your toiletries an edit. Anything you don’t use daily can be stored away in a cupboard or storage basket. Place the items you use daily near the bath or shower, in a wall caddy to keep them organized. If you don’t have the right caddy for the shower, look for one that will contain the items better.
To maintain a neat and tidy appearance in the bathroom, keep a sponge and bathroom cleaner on hand. Take a few minutes every now and then to give the basin and tap a good polish. This small effort will make a huge difference in the overall look of the room. In addition, adding a few decorative items such as a shower curtain or a colourful bath mat can add a touch of style and character to the bathroom. Finally, hang a mirror on the wall to create the illusion of a larger space and to bounce light around the room. With these simple tips, you can keep your bathroom looking organized and clutter-free!
Bedtime
Your bedroom should be a relaxing space where you can rest in comfort. Despite being used mainly for sleeping, it is still going to become untidy if left. You’ll use your bedroom to store many of your belongings and sometimes space can come at a premium. If you’re fighting to keep your bedroom clear and tidy then here’s some tips.
The Haven You Deserve
Having a chair in the bedroom can be a great way to add a cosy, inviting atmosphere to the room. However, chairs can easily become a major source of clutter, and if yours has become a dumping ground for random items, it might be time to reconsider your furniture placement. A chair should only be in the bedroom if you have the space to easily accommodate it, and if you don’t mind taking the time to clear it out regularly.
Be sure to also tidy the tops of bedside cabinets and make sure you’re clearing behind them and the bed as well. Over time, dust can accumulate in these areas and items can easily be lost or forgotten. So, it’s important to keep these spots clean and clear to avoid any unwanted clutter. For a quick and easy way to spruce up the bedroom, replace any bedside jumble with a small vase or a glass with a few stems. This small addition can make a big impact in the overall look and feel of the room!
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