Front Porch Today

Imagine yourself as a guest walking into your home for the first time.  What do you notice?  Are you tempted to linger in this room for awhile or is the clutter prompting you to keep moving?  Can you see the furniture or is it covered with papers, clothes, blankets, toys, and knick knacks?  Your home is meant for you to live in and enjoy, not your things.  If your home is looking more like a garage sale than a relaxing retreat, then it’s time to take charge over the clutter.  Don’t be afraid to sift through your belongings.  Take the step of deciding what’s worth keeping and what’s not.  It’s a step in the right direction.  Here are some tips to help get you started.

      1.  Purchase multifunction furniture

Adding or replacing a few furniture pieces with built in storage is a great way to eliminate clutter.  Look for tables with drawers, ottomans with removable lids, trundle beds for kids rooms, decorative trunks that can house toys, etc.  These pieces still provide their main function but also make a place for things that should be stored away when they are not in use.  Avoid using cabinets with glass doors for storage unless you are displaying a minimal amount of decorative items.

     2.   Keep decorations and accessories simple

We all have and continue to acquire those decorative pieces that hold sentimental value and memories but it is possible to display too many at once.  The fewer displayed, the more noticeable they will be and the more you will appreciate them.  Change out older knick knacks with new to keep yourself in the present but leave a few of your favorite older pieces out as a reminder of your past.  Pack the ones taken off display in a keepsakes box where they are still safe and easy for you find.  Go through them every once in a while and change them out.  Change out older photos in frames with new and store them in a scrapbook or photo album.

    3.  Your counters are not meant for storage

It’s very easy to use bathroom and kitchen countertops for storage but it doesn’t mean we should.  If it seems as though your countertops are doing a disappearing act, maybe it’s time to evaluate what they are being used for.  Countertops are meant to be used as workspaces but it is very practical to use them to house small appliances.  If you find yourself using your toaster or blender a few times a month, it’s not practical to keep them out on your counter year round.  Don’t crowd your bathroom counters with hair care products, toothbrushes, lotions, etc.  Store these items away to keep your room clean and spacious. and most importantly sanitary.

A simple cleaning goes a long way, whether you’re getting your home ready to sell or are simply looking to spruce up your existing home.  There are not many benefits to having a cluttered home.  Ok, there are NO benefits to having a cluttered home.  Benefits come from having a decluttered home.  With the clutter out of the way, a potential buyer will be able to see a house, perhaps a vision of themselves in your house, not your belongings.  With the clutter out of the way, you’ll find it easier to maintain a clean and fresh home.  With the clutter out of the way you can develop a clearer picture of what your home needs to function better.  You might find yourself asking, “Do I really need to invest in that addition?”  Start small and take it step by step.  With clutter out of the way, any project is easier to accomplish.

Tags: clean house

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