How to turn your home into a clutter-free zone

Feb 08, 2012 11:40 AM by Rebecca Merriman

Posted in Home / Organizing & Cleaning

Tips On Organising Your "Bits And Bobs"

Over the years you are inevitably going to accumulate clutter in your home. But don’t let that stop you from having a clean and tidy house. With these organising tips you can deal with those bits and bobs in no time at all.

Organised house

Have a clear-out

It's time to get ruthless with those things you don't actually need. If it doesn't have a home or a purpose then you probably don't need it. Sometimes it is hard to throw things away just in case you want it later, but be honest about what you use and what you could potentially use in the future.

What's the use?

When you have a variety of bits and bobs that you don't necessarily have a home for, try to organise them by use. Dedicate a box or a drawer in each room to "bits" and sort out your things appropriately. Label the drawer so that people know it has a purpose and is not just somewhere to dump clutter.

Where do they go?

Things such as wallets, keys, watches and jewellery are often left around the home and inevitably get lost. Who hasn't mislaid a ring after the washing-up, or lost their wallet down the back of the sofa? While you never know where things will be left, you can try to guess. Put a decorative bowl or box on a side table, in the hallway or wherever things get left in your home. This way, when things are lying around you can move them to the bowl, so they do not get lost.

Where to store things

It can be annoying if you have something small such as a tape measure or sewing kit but your storage space is too big. Putting things into one drawer will inevitably mean things will get lost or mixed up. Instead, use several plastic boxes to separate drawers into smaller compartments to keep items apart. This is a perfect way to divide small personal things such as jewellery, make-up or stationery and can be used in every room in the house.

Who does it belong to?

One of the most irritating thing about trying to organise your home is when you are not sure whose stuff is what. It is impossible to tidy things away if you do not know whose shoes or other personal possession belong to who. The best thing here is to have a tidy-up box out of sight – perhaps under the stairs or in a utility room. Anything that does not have a current owner can be tidied away there. If everyone in the house knows it is there then they can check that box when looking for the items later.