Decluttering Inspiration

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Stella L'Eclaire's ideas for a clutter-free home

Here you get some decluttering inspiration...Aaaaaaahhhh, nothing feels as great as a good decluttering session (talking about housework here, not sex or shopping!). Every house, apartment or cabin can need a great declut from time to time. here's how:

Throw stuff away

Get a load of garbage bags. You might want to get some boxes for stuff you can give away to charity shops, too.

If you find you've got a whole pile of leftover junk and no idea what to do with it, considering giving a call to a junk removal service. They'll take your old and unneeded clutter and haul it to the dump, take it to a recycling center or donate it. It's easier, quicker (and probably cleaner) than taking a trip to the junkyard yourself.

Start with your wardrobe:

Throw out every item that is faded, discolored, has lost its original shape or that has a broken zip/loose button or other things you plan to repair. (Repair the latter right here, right now or get rid of them).

Throw out everything that is too small. By the time you�ve lost weight and those skinny jeans finally fits they will be out of fashion anyway.

Color-code your wardrobe: hang all black trousers together, white shirts together etc. You�ll get a a-ha moment and see where are the gaps in your wardrobe and - not at least - what you don�t need, but tend to buy anyway.

Continue to the bathroom cabinet:

Throw out everything old, expired by date and all those lipsticks/eye shadows/nail varnishes that turned out to be a mistake. No, if you didn�t love that turquoise nail varnish when you came home with it five months ago you won�t tomorrow or next month, either.

Kitchen next:

Start with spice cupboard � throw away everything that is out of date, that garam masala you bought for the Indian meal you cooked three years ago and everything else that has a mysterious smell that you don�t recognize.

Continue to the cupboard where you keep canned food � check expiry dates. Throw out everything you never feel like eating, too. Isn�t it typical that we fill up with canned food that never really is tempting � it�s like those trousers that there�s something wrong with and that you never wear. Salmon in dill sauce, cucumber soup, pickled beans�Get rid of it!

Move on to the cupboard where you keep the cleaning stuff: throw out old, almost empty bottles, sponges that are stiff of dirt and � again � the stuff you bought or got as a freebie, but never use.

Books, CD's and DVD's

How much place do your books occupy?

I used to collect every book I bought or was given. Then suddenly I realized they were only collecting dust. Now I keep my favorites and give away the others.

The main thing about books is that they are being read! I don�t need my own private library to show that I can read.

The same counts for DVDs and CDs. Why keep CDs you never listen to? To impress someone with your collection?

The danger of flat surfaces

It�s a fact of life that any flat surface in your home easily gets filled with clutter. The solution: Get rid of the flat surface or put something on top to prevent anyone from putting clutter there.

I had a huge trunk in my bedroom, and of course, that�s always where clothes were put. Even dirty clothes � and that despite the fact that the dirty laundry basket stood next to it! Try to put a chair in your bedroom and you�ll have the same result. Unless you�re extremely tidy (and you�re not, because then you wouldn�t need to read this) avoid chairs, trunks and even tables in the bedroom.

Identify the dangerous surfaces in the other rooms in your home: the table in the hall? The dining table? Can you put a huge flower decoration or something else decorative on that spot to prevent yourself and people you live with from putting their shopping, envelopes, magazines, screwdrivers and empty glasses there?

I have a huge bowl of shells on my hall table, a stack of baskets on the top of my fridge and some decorative boxes to keep cotton and make up on top of my bathroom cupboard.

The danger of cupboards

It seem to be most people�s dream to have more cupboards. More cupboards mean more clutter. The most dangerous thing is those kitchen cupboards that reach the ceiling. Unless you live with three kids in a block apartment of fifty square meters, when they probably are useful for storing ski shoes and swimming gear off season. Otherwise, I don�t even want to think about what�s in there: Empty jars, some with a lid, some without a lid, the fish pan you never use, the horrible ceramic bowl you got from aunt Maud as a wedding gift � I bet you�re not even sure yourself.

Same goes for walk-in wardrobes. Unless you're a royal or otherwise for career reasons need a huge collection of clothes you don't need a walk in wardrobe. If you already have one throw out all those clothes you never use (which will be approx. 70 percent) and turn that little room in to your sacred meditation spot or secret little place where you can hide with your favourite book or magazine and be left in peace... That will benefit you more than a clothes collection.

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