We have made it to 2020 and left 2019 in the dust. As we start this new year (and new decade!), it’s important to think positive about everything that’s possible and what’s to come. But creating a plan for success very much starts with a clean state of mind – and a clean home! Here is a short guide for taking on each cluttered area in your home in an approachable and practical way that will have you feeling more relaxed at home than you have in the past ten years.
Embrace a Simple Entryway
This is the first space you see when you walk into the home, along with your guests’ first impression. Simplify! Wipe off all counters, invest in some stylish storage baskets for stowing away shoes and other items if needed. Consider a coat rack or key ring to hold smaller on-the-go pieces and then implement a plant or a photo you love that will give this small space some big life.
Kitchen Pantry Reboot
It happens to us all – whether we live alone, with just our partner or have a big family – an overfilled pantry and overflowing junk drawer just develops over time. Start with the pantry, pulling everything out, checking the expiration date and chucking everything that’s no longer usable in to the trash. Donate old items that haven’t expired and you know you won’t use. Then, wipe down the pantry shelves before restocking your fresh, new space. Do the same with junk drawers and the Tupperware storage!
Closet Clean-out
Start with the hall closet, going through in a similar fashion to what you did in the pantry. Pull everything out getting rid of or donating things that haven’t been used over the past year. This could be a surplus of dish rags or towels, old board games, outgrown snow coats, old sporting equipment – purge and donate everything you don’t use. Then, challenge each member of the family to do the same with their own closet. Everyone will benefit from the end result!
Home Office Overhaul
Everyone’s office might be used for different tasks, you may even have a tech space instead of a traditional office room. But where papers gravitate to, clutter gathers. Start by getting a good filing system that will keep important paper documents out of sight. Then, see what can go digital! Scan old documents that you want to hold onto and store them on the cloud. Sign up for autopay for all your bills, and you’ll already be protecting the space from future mess.
Living Room
Our living rooms all probably look differently depending on our lifestyles. If you have young children, it’s very likely toys manage to share the living space as much as the family does. Identify areas where clutter gathers and what your top storage and organization issues are. Use baskets to keep loose items accessible in a way that looks great and feels organized. If you’re still holding on to DVDs or CDs, consider donating them. Almost everything is available to stream now – from music to movies and TV.
