Why your house still feels cluttered after decluttering

You’ve done it all. You’ve evaluated every item of your clothing, shredded dozens of papers, and reached into the back of cabinets to unearth old party supplies and unused cookie cutters. You’ve believed in decluttering before organizing. You were here for it. 

But, now you still find your counters covered in things and there is always stuff on the hallway floor. Your house doesn’t have the sense of calm you were so deeply wanting. You think you must just be different. You worry that you will never have one of “those” houses. 

Fear not. You are closer than you think. The good news is that you probably don’t need to declutter more- you need to find a home for every item you chose to keep. Follow these five tips to finally create your serene space.

1. Select a permanent, out-of-the-way drop spot for your daily drivers. 

This includes your purse, computer bag, wallet, keys, shoes, coat, umbrella, water bottle, and anything else that you take out of the house with you on a regular basis. Too often, we choose the back of a kitchen chair, our counter, or the floor as our de facto storage for these items. But, we are left with a space that feels scattered and we also risk losing something important. Locate a permanent spot that is easy to access and makes you feel like things can be put away when you return home. Create the space, get in the habit of using it, and you will always know where your keys are!**

2. Abandon the visual reminders.

Your shirt needed a new button so you set it on top of the dresser. Your mug needs to be reglued so you placed it on the corner of the counter. You need to pay two more bills so you put them on the breakfast bar. All with the intent of giving yourself a quick, visual reminder. Yet, your tangible to-do list is creating both visual and mental noise. As you go through your day, you are forcibly confronted by all of the things that have to get done. Instead, place “to-do” items in a drawer or cabinet out of sight and set a reminder on your phone. You won’t forget but you also won’t let the task rob you of your calm in the meantime.  

3. Just because a category of items is new, doesn’t mean it is temporary.

Online shopping has created a new category in organizing- package storage- but most of us haven’t realized it yet. It used to be enough to have a pretty bowl by the door in which to drop mail. Now, most of us need a location to store packages that are coming in and out of our homes on a regular basis. Just like cars need parking spots, our packages need designated spots to wait.

You can store your incoming packages in an attractive wicker basket by the front door or on a shelf in a hall closet. Returns might go in a pretty tote that you take in and out of the house with you. Whatever system works for you is the one. Be sure to create enough space for the volume you have- if you are a home that gets multiple packages a day on average, own that and make space for it. By acknowledging that this is an organizing category that’s here to stay, you will reduce the feeling of daily chaos.

4. Cell phones and computers need a home, too.

We can fall into the trap of believing that the items we use often (ok, hourly) do not need a permanent home. But, if your house is anything like mine, leaving personal electronic devices out could mean upwards of ten different items lying around. Your computer and your cell phone deserve a spot, too. I place my laptop in a cabinet in which the power cord is also hidden. While my laptop is relaxing out of sight, it gets charged. For your cell phone, you might choose a charging station on the counter, a pretty wood stand on a desk, or a designated drawer. Whatever your preference, find a place for these items to provide them with well-deserved protection and rest and to give you a break, as well.

5. Beautify daily chores.

I am not always ready to fold the laundry immediately after it is ready. I bought two large wicker baskets at a home goods store and started using those as my clean laundry baskets. If the laundry needs to wait for a few hours or a day, it looks good while doing it.

This same principle applies to any household chore that might create visual clutter. Use a beautiful vintage platter for drying dishes or a wood tray to hold art projects. Beautify items that are in your space even temporarily and you will immediately enhance the joy factor.

So, fear not. An organized home is not an empty home. You are so close to achieving the serenity you are longing for. If you live only with what you love and you still find your space cluttered, you may have overlooked items that need a place to call their own.

**Footnote- If you regularly use a bag or a purse, I recommend trying the KonMari method of creating a space for each item that goes into the bag. Then, get in the habit of refilling the bag or purse each time you leave. When I first read about this in Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (2011), I thought it sounded too time consuming. But, I decided to give it a try since Marie Kondo had been right about so many other things. Almost instantly, I loved it. This habit actually helped me remember to take things with me (e.g. I needed my sunglasses because I was going on a walk but I didn't need to take my make-up). I could switch bags effortlessly. And, I got to travel with less. I used to take both my work bag and my purse to the office each day and now I can pack my work bag with everything I need.