6 Clutter Hotspots in Your Home

#Collaborative post

Clutter can sneak up on us, transforming once-organised spaces into chaotic messes. Identifying your clutter hotspots is the first step in banishing them. While certain areas in the home are notorious for becoming cluttered, we all tend to have individual problem areas. Once you can recognise the common areas, it’s easier to spot when things are going wrong elsewhere.

 1. Entrance Hall

The hallway is often the first place clutter piles up, and the first thing you notice when you get home. It’s not exactly welcoming, with shoes, bags, keys, and sometimes unopened post creating visual clutter. There are a couple of ways to start controlling things:

  • Designate a Spot for Everything: Use hooks for bags and coats, a small table or basket for keys and a letter rack for mail until you can get round to sorting it.
  • Shoe Storage Solutions: Invest in a shoe rack or a decorative bin to keep footwear organised and out of the way.
  • Regular Maintenance: Make it a habit to clear the entryway daily. A quick five-minute tidy can prevent clutter from building up, but get others in the household to do their bit too. You might need to nag a bit, especially with children and shoes, but they’ll soon get the message.

 2. Kitchen Counters

The kitchen is often called the heart of the home, but it can also be a major clutter zone. Countertops often become catch-alls (or dumping grounds) for various items, from appliances to groceries. Here’s how to keep your kitchen counters clutter-free:

  • Only keep appliances you use daily on the work surfaces. We all have individual preferences, such as a coffee maker or toaster. Store the ones you use less frequently in cabinets or drawers, and if you have favourites but sometimes go months without using them, consider local self storage where they’re handy but out of the kitchen.
  • Designate a specific area for mail, keys, and other essentials if your kitchen is a common entry point to the house. Use trays, hooks or baskets to keep everything organised so they’re not thrown down on the counter.
  • Have a quick reset each evening after doing the dishes or loading the dishwasher, so you can get right on with breakfast in a tidy space each morning.

 3. Living Room

The living room should be for relaxing and entertaining, but it can also be a stressful magnet for clutter. From toys and books to tech and hobby stuff, miscellaneous items can quickly take over. To keep your living room tidy, try these tips:

  • Invest in decorative baskets or bins to store items like toys, hobby WIPS, or magazines. Or use storage furnishings, such as ottoman footstools or side tables with drawers for random items you want close to hand.
  • While it’s nice to have personal touches, too many decorative items can create visual clutter. Choose a few key pieces to display and rotate them periodically. Learn how to group items for greater impact, such as in groups of three or by using height differences.
  • Have a quick tidy-up before bed. Just tossing items in their designated drawer or basket, plumping the cushions and folding blankets or throws will see you greeted with a lovely tidy living room each morning.

 4. Bedroom

Your bedroom should be a sanctuary, but all too often it becomes a chaotic mess of items that make it anything but. Here’s how to reclaim this special place and keep it serene and organised:

  • Use organisers, shelves, and baskets to maximise wardrobe space. If you have lots of clothing, consider seasonal self storage swaps to keep only what you need accessible. Maybe twice a year, as the main seasons change, clean and pack away the items you’ll no longer be wearing and move them into a self storage locker or room. You can have freestanding rails or drawers installed to help keep everything neat and pristine.
  • Keep only the essentials such as your clock, lamp and maybe a phone charger or book on your bedside table. You could use trays to corral smaller items you might need, but don’t allow random bits and bobs to take over.

 5. Home Office

If you work from home, your office area can quickly become a clutter zone. Papers, office supplies, and tech gadgets can rapidly accumulate. To maintain an organised workspace, consider these strategies:

  • Create a Filing System: Use folders or a filing cabinet to keep important documents organised. Label everything clearly for easy access.
  • Limit Desk Items: Keep only the essentials on your desk. Store other supplies in drawers or organisers to reduce visual clutter.
  • Schedule Regular Clean-outs: Make it a habit to review your workspace weekly. Discard unnecessary papers and reorganise as needed.

 6. Bathroom

The bathroom is another notorious clutter magnet.

  • Use Drawer Organisers: Invest in organisers for drawers and cabinets to keep toiletries and makeup sorted.
  • Limit Products by regularly assessing your beauty and hygiene products. Dispose of anything expired or that you no longer use.

For busy families, staying on top of clutter can be a major headache. The trick is to constantly have little tidy-ups so messes never pile up into major chaos. Consistency is key, and often making just a few small changes to storage and organisation can have a massive impact on how your home feels and looks.