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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Clutter free, how??

87 replies

Times10 · 08/09/2019 10:29

I was looking on rightmove earlier and most of the houses had completely bare surfaces, and nothing out of place. Obviously, I know that most of them are staged that way, but I don’t know how we’d ever managed that, without hiring a storage unit and putting everything in there!

We’ve been decluttering with more or less results, but are still far away from a clutter free house! The photos look so relaxing though, compared to what we’re living in at the moment. It is just a question of getting rid of more, or is there tricks to keep surfaces clear? I think we have enough storage, but maybe we’re not using it effectively.

I’m not quite sure what I’m asking (except for someone to come and get rid of everything for me Grin )

OP posts:
TheQuaffle · 08/09/2019 10:38

I’m convinced that’s just for the pvotos

TheQuaffle · 08/09/2019 10:38

*photos

Original poster
Times10 · 08/09/2019 10:42

I imagine so, but we’d have to fill up a cupboard with all the random stuff to achieve the look. And then if there’s viewings, we would have to do all that again, making things pretty complicated to use.

OP posts:
Original poster
Times10 · 08/09/2019 10:46

We aren’t planning on moving for a few years, but I’d like to achieve that look on a day to day basis, instead of having bits and bobs everywhere!

OP posts:
Hoviscats · 08/09/2019 10:47

Well it is true that for the photos most people will put some extra bits away but to be honest I think it just comes down to being generally ruthless in day to day life as to how much 'stuff' you have lying about! We are pretty clutter free (1 preschooler, 1 primary age and 2 adults in the house) and I definitely make sure we have the right storage but also I just regularly cull our possessions by selling things, donating etc.

I think it is a mindset really. My parents are pretty similar whereas my in laws are the total opposite.

Ultimately I just can't relax when there is stuff everywhere. I find it too claustrophobic!!

TowelNumber42 · 08/09/2019 10:50

You don't need more storage, you need less stuff. It is that simple!

EdtheBear · 08/09/2019 10:52

My mum has always had a clutter free house. Honestly I think it is a daily commitment to deal with stuff 'move it or I'll bin it' attitude.

EdtheBear · 08/09/2019 10:54

I did view a house and asked to open a cupboard - stuff literally fell out to meet me.

The family said they needed more space. We were convinced they just needed to do a massive declutter.

Shittiestdayinalongtime · 08/09/2019 10:54

They are definitely for photos! We've just had our photos done and everything was stripped, all stuffed in cupboards and in the sheds!

8by8 · 08/09/2019 10:57

Last time i staged a house to sell I had some massive storage bags filled with clutter and just moved them from room to room so they weren’t in any photos :)

But if you really want to go clutter free then Marie Kondo is a good place to start.

LollyBeebee123 · 08/09/2019 11:01

8by8 I agree Marie Kondo is the way to go. I have completely decluttered and rearranged my whole home since the beginning of the year after watching her Netflix show. I feel so much less stressed these days, and house work takes much less time too. Start by watching these OP. 🍀

Original poster
Times10 · 08/09/2019 11:26

I’ve read MK, and got rid of loads and loads of stuff a few years ago, and again did a big declutter in the bedrooms and cupboards last week, we filled the car with stuff for the charity, and all our bins are full, but yet, you couldn’t tell if you came in. Well, I guess if people had seen the before, they might be able to tell, but if this was your first visit, you would think we were messy/had too much stuff.
The worse is that I don’t think we buy that much, but the house is saying a different story!

OP posts:
Croquembou · 08/09/2019 11:32

Live somewhere tiny for a while. We moved from a three-bed, three floor terrace to a one-bed shoe box. It's amazing how much shit that you don't need you can fill a space with!

Original poster
Times10 · 08/09/2019 11:41

We seem to get rid of more as we have lived in bigger and bigger houses. There’s photos of my oldest as a baby, where you can just see clutter all around the background. With the youngest the photos are slightly neater. Due DC3 in a few months, and I’d like the photos to be even neater Grin
We still have far too much stuff realistically, for the size house we live in, and our house isn’t even tiny!

OP posts:
NewName54321 · 08/09/2019 11:51

Staged photos. My kitchen photo was taken by the photographer standing in front of the table - which was piled high with clutter.

Have an open day - it's a pain but viewers come one after the other with only one set of decluttering to do.

Start decluttering as you’re moving anyway.

Box up stuff and store in garage - tell viewers you're serious about moving and you've started packing already. If you don't use it, give it to a charity shop when you really do move.

Fill up the car boot.

Juog · 08/09/2019 12:01

I hate clutter, don't get me wrong I love my precious bits around me but I have OCD and it's a constant battle in my mind, I declutter on a daily basis, I wish I could let go a bit.

BringMoreCoffee · 08/09/2019 13:56

Some people actually do hire a storage unit. We put a load of less essential kitchen stuff and contents of whole bookcases up into the loft. You can also store stuff in your car.

Wannabegreenfingers · 08/09/2019 14:03

Its definitely a mind set. I'm not comfortable with clutter (mine) other people's doesn't bother me. We have some nice bits a bobs that mean something to us and these are displayed and it feels homely. Everything is is either sold on, given away or taken to the tip (only if broken or of no use to anyone else).

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 08/09/2019 14:09

I don't like unnecessary clutter, other people's doesn't bother me. You just need less stuff, donate or chuck out if it's not charity shop worthy. Ask yourself if you actually need it when you buy something, make sure you haven't got 2 or 3 of an item.

Original poster
Times10 · 08/09/2019 15:23

Since doing MK, I have been really good at trying not to buy duplicates, although ever so often, I find a new notebook I just have to have (and then not use for years to come) I have been trying really hard not to bring more stuff in the house, but we must have just accumulated so much before that it just seems like a never ending job!

This afternoon, I’ve decluttered the top of my wardrobe and chest of drawers and started a new «donations» box. It’s a tiny start, but it’s a start. I think I need to look at all the flat surfaces in the house to see what exactly is there, and if I can create a new home /get rid of it for each item. We have a few ornaments I want to keep, but honestly, we hardly ever look at them, due to the mess around them.

OP posts:
MikeUniformMike · 09/09/2019 11:26

Someone recommended a book that said to only keep what you have space for.

Original poster
Times10 · 09/09/2019 12:59

That’s the key, isn’t it?! I used to buy some storage until I had no space left! And still have more stuff than storage, but over the years I’ve slowly been getting rid of stuff + extra storage, so the house is definitely more liveable, but we’re still far from everything having a home, and that home being neat looking! It’s scary how much we’ve accumulated, and the money wasted!

OP posts:
Koloh · 09/09/2019 13:05

I think a lot of it is habits. I don't have any clutter on surfaces (for serious medical reasons rather than some deep committment to minimalism) and the way I got there was:

  1. actually getting rid of all the nonsense, including elaborate storage "solutions" -- really you cannot tidy when you have too much stuff. You have to get rid of it!
  2. finding a place for everything and putting it there
  3. saying to yourself "don't put it down, put it away" until it sinks in
  4. clearing every single surface, completely, and getting used to that being what clean looks like. Not 90%, all!
Koloh · 09/09/2019 13:06

Oh and if it doesn't have a home to go to it doesn't come in the house at all!

Cyw2018 · 09/09/2019 13:26

First you need to ruthlessly declutter, and then make this a habit for life!

Then make sure every item you keep has its own designated storage place which is suitable accessible for the frequency with which you use the item, and isn't in a cupboard so full that it requires jenga skills to get it out/ put it away.

You then need to get in to a routine of going around the house at set times during the day to put everything back in its correct place (eg first thing, DD naptime, after DD bedtime). So that there is never too much to tidy at any time.

I live in a 75m2 cottage (with DH, DD and a dog) and whilst it isn't show home perfect (needs new kitchen with decent laid out storage and some more shelving in the chimney alcove in the living room) it is possible to achieve a slightly relaxed version of the decluttered look you are describing,