Do you ever wonder where all the stuff in your home came from? I do, almost every day. While that’s a valid question, it’s more important to know how to start attacking the clutter in your high traffic areas and how to maintain it.
When my family decided to say goodbye to our debt, we embraced the snowball method for those quick wins! For us, quick wins in decluttering mean taking on the visual chaos in the high traffic areas of our home. Our kitchen counters, coffee table, and dining room table are like magnets for items that have no business being there, and let’s not forget the floor—because, toddlers! The common link? Yep, they’re all flat surfaces begging for attention (and a good dusting). You can get creative with a few strategies for these catch-all zones:
Basket Method
Think of it as the lazy person’s magic trick: grab a basket (or really any container for that matter) to collect all the rogue items. It’s the ultimate “one-stop-shop” for the items that seem to think they can live anywhere but their homes. Downsides? Well, you won’t be earning any Fitbit badges for steps, but at least your living room might think you’re a minimalist!
Pile Method
Instead of tossing everything into a basket like a yard sale gone wrong, you create delightful little stacks for each item’s owner to claim. Once all those pesky items are in their piles, let the owners embark on their backwards scavenger hunt to put their stuff away!
Implement the “One Touch” rule
You know that feeling when you set something down only to have it stare at you accusingly for days? Yeah, just give it a one-way ticket to its proper place the first time! You’ll save time and avoid the daily guilt trip.
Create Drop Zones
Maybe your struggle is that your stuff is running wild with no home! Your mail should have a designated spot—no more love letters from your pizza delivery guy getting lost! And let’s give those keys a comfy residence, too; they deserve a break from their adventurer life. When all your important items have a home, they won’t play hide-and-seek in the chaos of high traffic areas!
At the end of the day, clutter should never dictate your life or your sanctuary! By embracing a new habit or two, you can transform even the most chaotic spaces back to peaceful areas of relaxation. Choose a method or two—why not embrace them all! Rally your family and start attacking the chaos— one flat surface at a time. Remember, it’s all about progress over perfection as you embark on this exciting journey of change. Happy decluttering!
2 Corinthians 4:16
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
Decluttered Living 