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15 Things That Make Homes Look Cluttered

We all want our homes to be the ultimate oasis of tranquility, a neat and organized place where we can relax after a long day. However, sometimes we unintentionally create clutter, turning our spaces into a chaotic mess. Clutter not only hampers the aesthetic appeal of your home, but it also affects your mental health by inducing stress and anxiety.

Let’s highlight 15 things that make homes look cluttered, and offers practical solutions to combat this issue. If you want to maintain a clutter-free home that exudes calmness and serenity, keep reading.

1. Unused Items

Ron Lach/Pexels
Image Credit: Ron Lach/Pexels

Unused items are the biggest contributors to clutter. We often buy things impulsively, only to forget about them later. These unused items, whether they are clothes, gadgets, or decorative pieces, start piling up and make our homes look messy.
Instead of letting these items accumulate, you should periodically sort through your belongings and discard items you no longer use. You could sell them online, donate them to charity, or recycle them. Additionally, try to avoid impulsive purchases by giving yourself a cooling-off period before buying something new.

2. Too Much Furniture

Retro-themed living room, vintage wooden sideboard, record player, vinyl records on display, red blanket-covered daybed, large windows with cream curtains, wooden floor, eclectic decor
Image Credit: Charlotte May/Pexels.

While furniture is essential, having too much can make your home look crowded and cluttered. Many of us have the habit of buying furniture just because it looks good, without considering whether we have enough space for it.

Before purchasing new furniture, measure your space and visualize how the new piece will fit. Consider multifunctional furniture that provides storage to keep your surroundings tidy. For example, ottomans with storage space can be used as seating, a coffee table, and storage.

3. Overloaded Shelves

Pixabay/Pexels
Image Credit: Pixabay/Pexels

Shelves overloaded with books, DVDs, or knick-knacks not only look messy but also make your room appear smaller. It’s essential to keep your shelves organized and not crammed.

Adopt a minimalist approach by only keeping items you regularly use or love. If your bookshelf is overloaded, consider donating books you’ve finished or don’t plan to read. For DVDs, you could switch to digital versions or use a DVD binder to save space.

4. Cluttered Countertops

Wallace Chuck/Pexels
Image Credit: Wallace Chuck/Pexels

Countertops cluttered with appliances, utensils, and other items make your kitchen look untidy. They also reduce your workspace when cooking, which can add to your stress levels.

To declutter your countertops, only keep appliances you use daily on them. Store the rest in your cabinets or pantry. Use wall-mounted racks or hooks for utensils and mugs, freeing up valuable counter space.

5. Excessive Decorations

Pavel Danilyuk/Pexels
Image Credit: Pavel Danilyuk/Pexels

While decorations enhance your home’s aesthetic appeal, too many can create visual clutter. Overloading walls with pictures, or shelves with figurines, can make your home feel chaotic.

Opt for fewer, larger pieces to create a focal point and open up your space. Also, leave some areas bare to give the eyes a place to rest. Remember, sometimes less is more.

6. Piles of Paperwork

Hands flipping through documents, teal file box, organized folders, paperwork sorted in compartments
Image Credit: Anete Lusina/Pexels.

Whether it’s bills, letters, or children’s artwork, piles of paperwork can quickly make a space look cluttered.
Establish a filing system for important documents and discard unnecessary papers. For children’s artwork, consider scanning and storing them digitally.

7. Overflowing Closets

koensweers/Unsplash
Image Credit: koensweers/Unsplash

An overflowing closet not only looks disorganized but also makes finding what you need a challenge. It’s easy for clothes, shoes, and accessories to pile up over time.

Regularly sort through your clothes and donate, sell, or recycle items you no longer wear. Utilize closet organizers to efficiently store your items, making them easy to find and reducing clutter.

8. Cluttered Entryway

Image Credit: Darcy Lawrey/Pexels.

A cluttered entryway, filled with shoes, coats, and bags, gives a poor first impression and feels chaotic.
Use a shoe rack to organize footwear, and install hooks to hang coats and bags. A small table or shelf can hold keys and mail, keeping your entryway tidy and welcoming.

9. Excess Toys

store wit different toys
Photo by Huy Hung Trinh on Unsplash

Children’s toys can quickly pile up, creating clutter in living areas and bedrooms.
Encourage your children to regularly sort through their toys, donating or recycling those they’ve outgrown. Use storage bins to keep toys organized and out of sight when not in use.

10. Unruly Cords

Paul Seling/Pexels
Image Credit: Paul Seling/Pexels

Cords from electronics create visual clutter and can be a safety hazard.

Use cord organizers or cable management boxes to keep cords tidy and out of sight. Consider wireless devices to reduce the number of cords.

11. Multiple Remote Controls

Three different TV remotes placed on a wooden surface, each with various button layouts and colors
Image Credit: Santeri Viinamäki – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons.

Having multiple remote controls for different devices contributes to a messy living area.
Consider a universal remote to control all devices, reducing the number of remotes cluttering your space.

12. Unnecessary Appliances

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Appliances you rarely use take up valuable kitchen space and create clutter.
Consider whether you really need that yogurt maker or sandwich press. Donate or sell appliances you don’t use regularly to free up space.

13. Excess Bedding

Stack of neatly arranged white pillows, brown cushioned headboard, soft grey and white patterned blanket, minimalistic bedroom setting
Image Credit: Castorly Stock /Pexels.

Extra pillows, blankets, and bed linen can make bedrooms look cluttered.
Keep only what you need and use regularly. Store extra bedding in a linen closet or under-bed storage to keep it out of sight.

14. Unfinished Projects

Close-up of hands crocheting with white yarn and a purple 7.0mm crochet hook, forming a blanket pattern
Image Credit: Castorly Stock/Pexels.

Unfinished projects, like half-knitted scarves or incomplete puzzles, create clutter and can be a source of stress.
Finish one project before starting another. Keep project materials neatly stored away when not in use.

15. Unorganized Pantry

Image Credit: RF._.studio/Pexels.

An unorganized pantry, with items haphazardly placed, makes finding what you need difficult and creates clutter.
Use pantry organizers, like bins and lazy Susans, to keep items neat and easy to find. Regularly clean out your pantry, discarding expired or unwanted items.

By addressing these 15 areas, you can significantly reduce clutter in your home, creating a more organized, serene, and inviting space. Remember, maintaining a clutter-free home is an ongoing process, but the benefits are well worth the effort.