Needing to declutter your house can be an overwhelming task, especially when there are so many areas to consider. Regular use makes it easy to forget the small spaces that can build up and cause a mess. Whether you live in a large home or a small apartment, you should address these easily overlooked areas of your house during any decluttering project. Doing so will help keep your living space feeling organized & tidy. This post will outline some specific parts of the home you may not have considered and offer tips for ensuring they stay free from unnecessary items.
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Decluttering Vs. Cleaning
Deconstructing your living area by eliminating unnecessary items and organizing other belongings is a great way to achieve the feeling of serenity many strive for in their living environments. Decluttering differs from cleaning, which involves tidying up your house, wiping down countertops, sweeping and vacuuming floors, taking out the garbage, etc. Decluttering involves a more psychological approach to reorganizing your living space and bringing focus to the few items that spark joy or hold value.
Though both activities require physical effort, decluttering is an exercise in organizing with purpose rather than marinating the status quo. Engaging in regular decluttering sessions can simplify life and gain greater freedom from oppressive materialism.
Overlooked Areas Of Your House To Declutter
Obvious areas of your home, like bedrooms and the living room, come to mind when decluttering, but plenty of other small corners and nooks can cause your house to become cluttered. Here’s a list of places you should consider during your next purging session to keep your living area neat and organized:
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are a perfect example of out of sight, out of mind: it’s easy to put decluttering this area on the back burner in favor of more visible spaces. However, with busy lives and overflowing cabinets, clutter can take over the kitchen quickly. Taking the time for regular decluttering sessions can help keep your space calm and functioning efficiently. For starters, sort through all your food items and throw out anything expired.
Then, consider spices, utensils, and cookware that you don’t use often or no longer need. While these may not go bad, they can take up valuable space in your kitchen. Lastly, don’t forget the cleaning supplies: tossing out empty bottles and containers that are no longer necessary will help you better handle all the items within your cabinets.
Bathroom Shelves
Unfortunately, bathroom shelves may store the most out-of-date and unused products. This area can fill up from old beauty supplies to nearly empty shampoo bottles. To properly go about decluttering, start from top to bottom. Begin by assessing what you rarely use and discard it if you don’t plan to use it again soon. If an item contains any remaining product or is nearly full, consider donating what’s unused or recycling instead of tossing them away.
Finally, you can move on to accessories and beauty supplies that have exceeded their expiration dates. You should throw these away in the trash so they are not wasting valuable space on your shelves! With some dedication and organization, you can finally regain control of your shelving area and ensure all items are properly stored or discarded.
Refrigerator
The refrigerator may not be the first space that comes to mind when decluttering, but it’s important not to overlook this area. Think of it as an extension of your pantry – if you don’t take regular inventory of what’s in there and get rid of expired items, this can quickly become a disorganized mess. Start by disposing of anything past its expiration date, tossing empty containers, and wiping the shelves with a damp cloth.
If you’re feeling motivated, you can also make photo inventories of what’s inside your fridge and pantry – that way; you’ll always know if something is missing or running low without having to do an extra search or create endless grocery lists. With some simple steps, your refrigerator will stay clutter-free and organized!
Garage
Garage organization is often one of the last things that come to mind when clearing your home. It can be easy to overlook as a cluttered and disorganized space, but it should take just as much time and effort as decluttering any other part of your home. The best way to tackle it is similar to any other room – start by sorting through everything and creating categories like holiday decorations, seasonal sports gear, tools, etc. Once you’ve sorted all the items into separate piles, it’s easier to decide what stays or goes.
You can use shelves, cabinets, and drawers to contain more oversized items like power tools. Use hook racks for smaller items like garden tools and bins and boxes for storing bigger collections such as gift wrap or paint accessories. You can also use organizational products such as peg boards and tool organizers to help keep everything neat.
Front Porch
A front porch is usually a place you pass through without giving it much thought. But taking the time to clean up an untidy porch does have practical rewards: it can help create order in a chaotic-looking home that visitors see at first glance. Additionally, decluttering your porch can make outdoor gatherings more enjoyable if you love outdoor activities and entertaining. Fortunately, you don’t have to tackle this daunting task alone; there are some helpful ways you can start restoring order.
For example, investing in weatherproof storage bins for items such as pillows and blankets will keep them neat and organized even when not in use. A hanging pot rack is a great way to store planters out of the way while providing easy access when needed. And last but not least, consider finding creative solutions to store shoes, sporting equipment, and other items that tend to accumulate near the door.
Nightstands
It’s amazing how easily your nightstands can get filled up with knick-knacks and items we no longer need, despite them often being the most overlooked areas of our home when we set out to declutter. As insignificant as they may seem, regularly cleaning and organizing the contents of your nightstand is a great way to open yourself up to fresh energy and a sense of order.
Start by giving it a thorough dusting, then get rid of any items that no longer serve you – whether that be old books, expired coupons, or gifts you’re keeping out of guilt – take note of what works for you in terms of storage options and streamlining your possessions. Finally, don’t forget to tidy your drawers as well – if everything has a place where you easily find it, the clutter will stay far away from your nightstand!
Remember The Overlooked Areas Of Your House When You Declutter!
When it comes time to declutter and organize your home, there are no hard-and-fast rules – the process can be complex or simple depending on what works best for you. The key is to take things slow and start with one room at a time. By gradually tackling each space as needed, you’ll eventually find that restoring order to your home is a rewarding and satisfying experience. Just don’t forget to check the easily overlooked areas of your house!
