Create Space: Clean up your clutter

Clutter can cloud your life.  It is, of course, subjective – and everyone has a different tolerance level.  At one extreme the totally intolerant will have completely clear surfaces and sparsely furnished rooms.  At the other extreme is the compulsive hoarder – with wall to wall collections of things that others think is junk.    Whatever your level of tolerance, once you’ve reached it there can be psychological consequences. It can lead to distraction, disorder, anxiety… and perpetually increasing clutter and disorganisation!


There are 2 simple things you can do to help reduce visual pollution in your house:
- Discard whatever you can (preferably by recycling, upcycling, or giving away for reuse), or even better - don’t obtain it in the first place.  This can be tricky these days, with so many of our consumables having individual packaging – as well as simple things like the kids’ paintings that come home from school.  If you have it top of mind, though, you’ll be surprised what an improvement you can make. TIP: buy in bulk and decant things into smaller reusable containers (e.g. yoghurt); have a rule that only 2 or 3 pieces of artwork can be retained at a time – so the art on the wall will have to come down if you want the new one to stay.
- Get creative with your storage solutions to house the things that you do need to keep.  Here are some ideas….

1. CHESTS

• Decorative / statement pieces: use the opportunity to enhance your décor.  Don’t feel you have to choose something that will detract from it.
• Functional or multi-functional – they come in so many different sizes that you can use them to store large items (dress-ups) or small items (jewellery).  You could even choose them to perform more than one function e.g. storage for shoes as well as seating people whilst putting their shoes on.
• Add interest and accessibility - your bedroom could appear more interesting by placing a chest at the end of your bed where it can be used to store linen and pillows. Extra blankets are now easily accessible during those cold winter nights, plus your bedroom will always appear in ship-shape without much effort.
• Child friendly – the most reliable way to make sure toys (or sports gear) are put away is to avoid the need for folding, stacking, sorting etc. Piling items into a chest is so easy even the pre-schoolers can be expected to do it!   VAST TIP: Choose a chest that is sturdy enough to withstand the rigours of childhood.  Consider styles that are unlikely to be outgrown in 5 years’ time.  You may also then be able to continue to use it when they leave home, in that guest room / office / home gym you’ve always wanted!  

2. COFFEE TABLES

• Think about how they’re used: coffee tables have become a staple of living room décor and are used in a variety of ways. The one you choose will need to meet your usage requirements: what does it need to store now and what about in a few years’ time?  Does it need to completely hide things, or do you like to have your stack of magazines visible?  Will you have TV dinners around it? Does it need to be child-proof? Would a table with drawers or shelves work better – or would you be better off considering the use of a chest?
• Size: if you want to create a central focal point to your furnishing arrangement, a square coffee table works well to unify different seating areas. A rectangle fits best in areas where there is just a 3 seater sofa, and sometimes the use of side tables will work with the space more successfully. VAST TIP: If your coffee table tends to get a lot of use, a solid hardwood table is the most beneficial choice: durable and versatile, they can withstand the wear-and-tear of daily use. Choose a distressed look to enhance the character of the piece rather than detract from it.

3. VERTICAL STORAGE

• Reclaim your floor space: vertical storage solutions (like cubed bookcases, shelving, and cabinetry) will allow you to free up the floor space.  This can give the illusion of more space, and make your room more functional. 
• Visual effect: you can choose vertical storage that displays your decorative items (collectibles, vases, photos) and keeps books tidy but on display (open shelving), or you could opt for something that hides the things you want to store (cabinetry).  If you do want to hide your items, either go for a cabinet that blends in with its surroundings, or one that makes a bold statement all on its own-which can be seen as art rather than solely being utilitarian.  VAST TIP: make sure you place items at appropriate levels in open shelving – high shelves for items that rarely need accessing, low shelves for things that are OK for the kids to touch. Don’t forget your earthquake brackets!

4. BASKETRY

• Similar in nature to a chest – basketry lets you avoid folding, stacking, sorting things: everything can reasonably be dumped into a basket and still look tidy from the outside.
• Use for any purpose and in any room – just make sure the baskets are strong enough to withstand the use they will get (water resistant if being used in the laundry, tough if being used by the kids and strong enough to hold heavy objects).  VAST TIP: fill one or more cavity in open shelving with a basket to create an interesting look and provide ‘hideaway’ space while retaining some open display space at the same time. 

5. OTTOMANS

• Economy of space: if you’re getting an ottoman or footstool, consider one with a secret storage cavity, it will take up no extra space in your living room and you’ll have an additional hidey-hole.
• Dual purpose: ottomans also make good coffee tables (add a tray on top for stability), or side tables (some even come with a reversible top cushion that becomes a fitted tray), or even for extra seating.

Whichever option suits you best, be it a new coffee table or a storage cabinet, keep these tips in mind when searching for that new piece, and you should be well on your way to a clutter free life!