23 Ways To Declutter Your Home And Destress Your Life At Once

Sometimes, we wish we could do just do a “Mary Poppins” and magically turn a messy space spick-and-span with just a few flicks of the wrist.

15 Nifty Ways To Cut Clutter And Organise Your Living Space

It’s easy to let things pile in your home without you noticing. We are often so caught up in the day-to-day grind and so sentimental about our physical possessions that before long, we find ourselves suddenly stuck with 10 pots, 30 food containers, an overflowing wardrobe and a coffee table piled high with catalogues, old magazines, loose change and random knick-knacks.

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Before the mess becomes worthy of an episode in Hoarders, here are some tips to help you declutter and organise your stuff so it can be a space you actually want to spend time in:

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23 Ways To Declutter Your Home And Destress Your Life At Once

1. Invest in a good bed

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Get a bed that has storage space so you can conceal all the bulky and unsightly things cluttering your bedroom. Depending on your tastes, you can get those that have drawers or shelves built into the bed frame, or one that allows you to lift up your mattress for concealed storage beneath. Perfect for stuff you rarely use, such as extra sheets and comforters, pillows, occasion dresses and winter wear.

Photo: Shutterstock

2. Minimalist is best

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Flip through any design or home décor magazine, and you’d notice they all have one thing in common: The rooms are pared-back, fresh and neat as a button. Ultimately the rule is this: Simplify, simplify, simplify. Keep surfaces of night stands, tables and cupboards clear of clutter. Throw things you do not need and keep out of sight others you do need. Contain messes by storing them in baskets, trays or bowls. Which brings us to the next point…

3. Be disciplined

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Set aside some time every week (at least 15 to 30 minutes) decluttering your house – that means getting rid of bills, pamphlets, loose change, newspapers, plastic bags and other random items lying around the house. Arrange your stuff neatly and put things back to where they belong. Also, try throwing out or donating one item a week.

4. Control your shopping

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Before you hand your credit card over, always think about whether you need the item or whether it’s simply an impulse purchase. If there’s a constant inflow of objects, all your decluttering efforts would come to a naught. If you must get it, exercise a one-in-one-out policy, where if you’re purchasing a new outfit or a new book, you’d have to get rid of a similar item in your home.

5. Don’t fall into a trap

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Trust me, when you tell yourself “it might come in handy one day”, it probably won’t. The next time you see it will be five years later, buried under more items and gathering cobwebs. So be ruthless and practical when you’re assessing whether to throw things out. Don’t be afraid to let go, and don’t be tempted to over-equip your home, especially your kitchen. Rid that space of excess – maintaining just one or two items for each use is enough to keep your home functioning. Any more, and you won’t be able to find it anyway.

6. Know your storage needs

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If your space is really messy, it can be hard to figure out how much storage you really need, or have. First, clear out everything to survey how much space you have to work with.

Design: Ju Design Studio

7. Part with "memory clutter"

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This includes memorabilia and mementos you’ve acquired from various events, trips, conferences, the list goes on. You may feel bound to it sentimentally, so you can consider snapping a photo before getting rid of it.

Photo: Pixabay

8. Think about what you haven't worn

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Use this as a guide: If you haven’t worn a piece for six to eight months, get rid of it. Or, if you are hoping to lose weight to fit into a dress and realise it has been far too long, get rid of it.

Design: The Carpenter's

9. Chuck out obsolete items

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Recycle old CDs, DVDs and tapes. More on that here. Throw unused cables, especially if they belong to obsolete gadgets. Pick out a few free hotel toiletries and throw away the rest.

10. Fill your suitcases

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Keep seldom used objects like wide-brim holiday hats and winter clothing in neat boxes or luggages. The only time you’ll wear them will be on your next vacation, anyway.

Photo: Pixabay

11. Neaten your displays

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Get a new shelving unit. Sometimes throwing away items is not possible, especially if you are a collector of shoes, hats or toys. The least you can do is display or store them in a neat and organised manner.

Design: Ottimo Spazi

12. Group your clothes by category and then by colours.

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This will make it easier to find what you are looking for. Fashion director Furqan Saini, 36, says: “I wear only a certain palette and it creates a sort of uniform for me. I have another rack of coloured clothes for when the mood strikes.”

13. Opt for seats with storage

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Get handy multi-functional ottomans. Your belongings will be within easy reach, while staying out of sight.

Photo: Ikea

14. Make use of walls, which are often under-utilised.

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“Choose rails and baskets that are the same colour as the walls to keep things from feeling too cluttered,” says Jo Ong, Communication & Interior Design Manager, Ikea Singapore.

Photo: Ikea

15. Peg It Up

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Install peg boards on the inside of your wardrobe doors or behind your bedroom door. You can customise the layout with hooks, plastic cups or shelves to hold sunglasses or extra buttons.

Design: Hello Embryo

16. Get creative

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Why not use a cake stand to hold bottles of salt, pepper, oil and other forms of seasoning close to the hob, conveniently at hand during cooking, and with space round the pedestal to store herbs and spices?

17. Vertical storage

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A bamboo steamer, which lets in air, is an ideal storage device for onions, garlic and shallots. You can also stack a few of them into tiers, so that you can store other types of food that do not need refrigeration, such as potatoes or dried noodles, on the other levels.

18. Go for smaller pieces

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Instead of a traditional coffee table, opt for smaller side tables that do the same job of holding your drinks without the bulk.

Design: Akihaus

19. Hanger talk

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Maximise wardrobe space by using thin hangers for shirts and light jackets, and folding T-shirts, to save space. Use thicker hangers to retain the shape of your blazers.

20. Sell your wares at a flea market

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Package your clothes as a set, e.g. three pieces for $50, instead of selling it piece by piece. It will move a lot faster! Here are some more clever ways to make some cash from your unwanted items.

21. Buy storage items only after decluttering

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Don’t be fooled by buying a new cabinet or a new wardrobe just because it is overflowing with your clothes. Delve into the deep end by going through each piece of clothing to see if you have reached out for them in the past six months. Chances are if you have not done so, it’s time to decide to donate to a local charity or to give them to someone you know who would use it more than you.

Olivia Gonzalez from Pixabay

22. Bring in indoor plants

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Having indoor plants at home will help to improve your home environment by improving air quality by releasing fresh oxygen into the air. Also, they can even help to eliminate harmful toxins. Extensive research by NASA has showed that indoor plants are able to remove up to 87 per cent of air toxin in 24 hours, as reported by NASA. Not only will these plants help you to destress with their calming green presence, they will also help to improve your overall well-being.

23. Use storage boxes

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To further declutter, try adding a storage box with dividers into your drawer. This will minimize the need to rifle through the mess in the drawers to find what you need. With such a storage box, you can easily see what you have at a glance. This will help to reduce stress especially in the morning mad rush to get ready for work.

Text: Eliza H, Home & Decor Singapore, and Joy Fang / Additional Reporting: Elizabeth Liew & Seah Pei Jun

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23 Ways To Declutter Your Home And Destress Your Life At Once

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