Look around your home and tell us what you see. Yes, it isn’t spring but you’ve got to dedicate a day to do some general cleaning and decluttering.

Come to think of it, do you really need that many framed photos and knickknacks on display? And let’s not ignore how many artworks are pinned against your walls. Yes, they’re worth-displaying individually but as a whole, with everything going on, it might only come off as clutter.

Photo by Annie Spratt

Look around. If you see a ton of accessories and other displays only placed to make the room feel “complete”, chances are those are clutter you don’t really need but to get rid of. Make no mistake in making your home complete, ditch these things your home doesn’t need.

Too many framed-pictures

We understand your desire to display your wedding photo and family pictures; it’s important to showcase these sentimental photos in a home and completely normal to do so. However, the mismatched frames and more than a handful of photos displayed are just too overwhelming.

Instead of putting on display a lot of photos, select a few favorites. Put them in nicer frames and display them in a designated place where it will get noticed and has purpose. For instance, your staircase wall lined with your favorite photos, or on your table cabinet showcasing solely your framed photos.

CDs and DVDs

If you’re the type that collects CDs and DVDs, this may be harder to deal with for you. But honestly, in this day and age, you really no longer need to keep these anymore at home. It only takes up a whole storage worth of space, more so if you live in a small home or rental.

See, all the latest and old music and movies can be viewed and bought online—which you can access in your smartphone or laptop. You can also store these on a hard drive. We understand how valuable these are to you but these are no longer a necessity; it takes a lot of space you can otherwise use for more important stuff.

Books

If you already own a Kindle or store e-books on your phone or tablet, this wouldn’t be a problem. But if you’re still one of those who choose physical copies over electronic ones, this might be a problem.

We’re not really that much of a fan of eBooks. We still prefer the physical copies which boasts a longer life-span. There’s just something about physically turning a page and highlighting sentences and paragraphs that keeps us thrilled.

We’re not asking you to throw everything; we’re asking you to select the books worth keeping. These are those with sentimental value, books you reread regularly and books that are signed by the author. With the rest of your books? Donate it or sell it. Allow other people to get lost in your books.

Outdated curtains

Seriously, your curtains already faded out due to long sun exposure. Also, not every room and window needs blinds and covers. If you have beautiful windows to begin with, skip the curtains. Look at your own, do they seem flattering to you or are they a little outdated now?

Toilet seat cover and rugs

We just don’t get those who covers their toilets with a carpet-like seat lid cover with matching toilet base rug. Just, why?

There are other ways to decorate your bathroom, avoid putting these kinds of decor on. The fact that these things makes a breeding ground for germs should be enough to convince you to get rid of it. Furthermore, it’s just an extra wash. You can still place a rug just right by the door if you want. It’s just better to keep the toilet naked and as it is.

Fake displays and artificial plants

Fake displays and flower arrangements are not all bad. Some actually looks great and creates an outdoor ambiance in a home. Those of which that are worth getting rid of or replacing are the dusty and dated ones. Why don’t you consider having low-maintenance houseplants? They make a room far more lively and fresh-looking. You may also want to consider displaying fresh fruits as an alternative to houseplants.

Other knickknacks

No, don’t flip your house empty. Take a look at your space, does the unnecessary and non-functional miniature display above your cabinet makes you happy or think about its purpose? If it makes your heart sing and great for aesthetics, you may as well keep it.

But if these other strange things makes a clutter out of an otherwise good-looking space, you might want to get rid of it.

Basically, know what items to keep and where to put them so they won’t sit around as clutter; and know which items aren’t worth keeping around to free up more space.

What things have you taken out and how did it affect your space and daily living? Share it with us!

 

About the Author: Chie Suarez is a passionate writer for PAAL Kit Homes, a company that manufactures and supplies steel-framed kit homes that help Australian families build their dream home. Chie has a deep interest in home design and decoration.