5 Trouble Spots Around the Home You Need to Organise Now
Some parts of the home seem to attract clutter – here are five spots to sort out now before they become mess magnets
Jo Carmichael
16 January 2020
Houzz Australia contributor. I am a professional organiser and the founder of All Sorted Out.
Houzz Australia contributor. I am a professional organiser and the founder of All... More
In a busy home, clutter can quickly accumulate – and some spots are more prone to mess than others. In my work as a professional organiser, I find the five main trouble spots in clients’ homes are the kitchen benchtop, pantry, laundry, garage and hallway. Location is probably the main reason these areas attract clutter as many of us tend to drop whatever is in our hands as soon as we enter the home – whether it’s in the middle of the kitchen benchtop or on the hallway floor.
Allowing clutter to build up in these busy spots can affect the smooth running of your home, and make it harder to enjoy spending time there. The key is to put some smart decluttering and storage strategies in place, and get everyone in the household onboard.
Allowing clutter to build up in these busy spots can affect the smooth running of your home, and make it harder to enjoy spending time there. The key is to put some smart decluttering and storage strategies in place, and get everyone in the household onboard.
Sort smart
- After decluttering what you no longer need or use, create a dedicated storage space for everything. Depending on how many items you have, this can be a big job – enlisting the help of members of your household can help you power through it.
- Add in appropriate storage in each of these five hotspots, such as a cupboard by the front door for shoes, umbrellas and coats, baskets in the laundry, and clear plastic storage containers in the garage.
- Rather than dipping in and out with your decluttering, it’s far more efficient to carve out time to fully organise each hotspot in turn. Only when you’ve finished one area should you move onto the next.
- Once you’ve whipped your home into shape, adopt a new household mantra: ‘Don’t put it down, put it away’.
1. Kitchen benchtop
Ideally, the items on your benchtop should only relate to cooking or eating. But with today’s kitchen performing multiple roles, such as a work-from-home space, kids’ homework station and somewhere to pay bills, this can be hard to achieve. As a result, the kitchen benchtop ends up as a dumping ground for school notes, unopened mail, half-drunk water bottles, appliances and more.
Start your benchtop declutter by removing anything that is not for cooking or dining. Return items to their appropriate rooms (or owners) or create a storage space for them in the kitchen.
I like to set up a nook near the kitchen with magazine holders – one for school notes and another for incoming mail and bills to pay.
If you have the space, consider setting up a study nook next to the kitchen where the kids can do their homework, store their books and recharge their laptop or phone.
Can’t face doing it alone? Find a local organising expert on Houzz to help get your home back on track
Ideally, the items on your benchtop should only relate to cooking or eating. But with today’s kitchen performing multiple roles, such as a work-from-home space, kids’ homework station and somewhere to pay bills, this can be hard to achieve. As a result, the kitchen benchtop ends up as a dumping ground for school notes, unopened mail, half-drunk water bottles, appliances and more.
Start your benchtop declutter by removing anything that is not for cooking or dining. Return items to their appropriate rooms (or owners) or create a storage space for them in the kitchen.
I like to set up a nook near the kitchen with magazine holders – one for school notes and another for incoming mail and bills to pay.
If you have the space, consider setting up a study nook next to the kitchen where the kids can do their homework, store their books and recharge their laptop or phone.
Can’t face doing it alone? Find a local organising expert on Houzz to help get your home back on track
When it comes to kitchen appliances, only keep out those that you use on a daily basis, such as the coffee machine and toaster. Or, better still, set up an everyday appliances station in another spot in the kitchen for these items, which can be concealed behind a roller door.
Look to store those appliances you only use occasionally in deep drawers under the benchtop. Keep all the little pieces that go with these appliances in a container nearby so you don’t have to waste time searching for them later on.
You can free up precious drawer space by rehoming any appliances that you rarely (or never) use. Do you only use that donut maker once a year, for example? Why not sell or donate it and buy donuts for special treats instead.
Look to store those appliances you only use occasionally in deep drawers under the benchtop. Keep all the little pieces that go with these appliances in a container nearby so you don’t have to waste time searching for them later on.
You can free up precious drawer space by rehoming any appliances that you rarely (or never) use. Do you only use that donut maker once a year, for example? Why not sell or donate it and buy donuts for special treats instead.
2. Kitchen pantry
Do food packets and containers slide out every time you open your cupboard doors or pantry? If so, you’ve got a clutter hotspot on your hands. And if many of the packets are open, you may have also unwittingly created a breeding ground for pantry moths, which makes the food inedible and ends up wasting money on replacing food.
A disorganised pantry does not encourage healthy eating habits either as many of us get impatient while we’re searching for a good snack and end up munching on junk to tide us over.
If you’ve decided that it’s time to get your pantry (and eating habits) in hand, give yourself up to four hours and have the right containers and labels ready before you start. I favour clear, plastic containers in a square or oblong shape that are roughly the size of a shoebox – they’re easy to see through, stack and organise. Add in stackable canisters for open packets.
Do food packets and containers slide out every time you open your cupboard doors or pantry? If so, you’ve got a clutter hotspot on your hands. And if many of the packets are open, you may have also unwittingly created a breeding ground for pantry moths, which makes the food inedible and ends up wasting money on replacing food.
A disorganised pantry does not encourage healthy eating habits either as many of us get impatient while we’re searching for a good snack and end up munching on junk to tide us over.
If you’ve decided that it’s time to get your pantry (and eating habits) in hand, give yourself up to four hours and have the right containers and labels ready before you start. I favour clear, plastic containers in a square or oblong shape that are roughly the size of a shoebox – they’re easy to see through, stack and organise. Add in stackable canisters for open packets.
Start by taking everything out of the cupboard or pantry. Bin anything past its use-by date and group remaining items into categories – for example, baking items, pasta, biscuits. Store each category in a labelled clear plastic container.
Store open packets of food in stackable canisters on one shelf and unopened goods together on another shelf. This makes it easy to see what is already open and needs to be used up.
Before you return items to shelves and drawers, wipe each shelf and drawer and dry thoroughly.
If you suspect you have pantry moths, check every packet (both open and sealed). Bag up any contaminated items and bin them. Clean existing plastic containers in hot soapy water and wipe down shelves with a solution of vinegar and water.
Keep track of what you need to buy by storing a shopping list and pen inside the pantry. When you empty or finish an item, write it on the list so you can restock it next time you shop.
And before you unpack the shopping, cast your eye over the pantry shelves – if there’s a canister containing just one biscuit or a few crumbs, throw it out, clean the canister and use it to store fresh products.
Store open packets of food in stackable canisters on one shelf and unopened goods together on another shelf. This makes it easy to see what is already open and needs to be used up.
Before you return items to shelves and drawers, wipe each shelf and drawer and dry thoroughly.
If you suspect you have pantry moths, check every packet (both open and sealed). Bag up any contaminated items and bin them. Clean existing plastic containers in hot soapy water and wipe down shelves with a solution of vinegar and water.
Keep track of what you need to buy by storing a shopping list and pen inside the pantry. When you empty or finish an item, write it on the list so you can restock it next time you shop.
And before you unpack the shopping, cast your eye over the pantry shelves – if there’s a canister containing just one biscuit or a few crumbs, throw it out, clean the canister and use it to store fresh products.
3. Hallway
The hallway is usually the first area guests see when they enter your home, so you’ll want to keep it clear and inviting.
Only store items here that pertain to the area. Keep the floor and hallway table free of clutter by creating a storage space for everything.
If you keep shoes in your hallway, consider adding in a shoe cupboard or basket where you can store them neatly away.
Hooks can be a godsend in a hallway, allowing you to hang everyday essentials such as keys, dog leads and handbags neatly on the wall.
The hallway is usually the first area guests see when they enter your home, so you’ll want to keep it clear and inviting.
Only store items here that pertain to the area. Keep the floor and hallway table free of clutter by creating a storage space for everything.
If you keep shoes in your hallway, consider adding in a shoe cupboard or basket where you can store them neatly away.
Hooks can be a godsend in a hallway, allowing you to hang everyday essentials such as keys, dog leads and handbags neatly on the wall.
Prevent your hallway table from becoming a mess trap by placing a bowl on it for keys and smaller items. A lamp and a potted plant make for welcoming touches.
Minimalist Storage Solutions to Hide Your Naughty Clutter Secrets
Minimalist Storage Solutions to Hide Your Naughty Clutter Secrets
4. Laundry
If the washing in your laundry is jostling for space with old tins of paint, craft items, and clothes that no-one in the household wears anymore, it’s time for an overhaul.
Start by removing everything from the laundry shelves, under the sink and the floor. Dispose of anything you no longer need or use, or return items to their proper homes. If you’ve been hanging onto cleaning items that you know you’ll never use, now’s the time to donate or dispose of them.
Assess whether your laundry storage is working as hard as it could. My favourite, practical laundry set-up includes wall brackets for mops, brooms and the vacuum-cleaner wand; open shelves that laundry baskets and plastic baskets can slide into so they resemble drawers; and a hanging rail to air dry delicates.
If the washing in your laundry is jostling for space with old tins of paint, craft items, and clothes that no-one in the household wears anymore, it’s time for an overhaul.
Start by removing everything from the laundry shelves, under the sink and the floor. Dispose of anything you no longer need or use, or return items to their proper homes. If you’ve been hanging onto cleaning items that you know you’ll never use, now’s the time to donate or dispose of them.
Assess whether your laundry storage is working as hard as it could. My favourite, practical laundry set-up includes wall brackets for mops, brooms and the vacuum-cleaner wand; open shelves that laundry baskets and plastic baskets can slide into so they resemble drawers; and a hanging rail to air dry delicates.
Group items that do belong in the laundry into like-with-like categories. You can save space by decanting any half-empty bottles of similar items into one bottle, and recycling the empty ones.
Set up a cleaning bucket or caddy with frequently used cleaning cloths, sponges and cleaning liquids. Separate products for washing clothes from general cleaning products, and keep them in different spots in the laundry.
Wipe down shelves and allow them to dry before returning items.
Set up a washing system with three or four hampers or baskets for different items: whites, darks, towels or delicates, for example. If you don’t have room to store multiple hampers, consider keeping a couple of decorative baskets near the laundry and pulling them in when you’re ready to wash.
Set up a cleaning bucket or caddy with frequently used cleaning cloths, sponges and cleaning liquids. Separate products for washing clothes from general cleaning products, and keep them in different spots in the laundry.
Wipe down shelves and allow them to dry before returning items.
Set up a washing system with three or four hampers or baskets for different items: whites, darks, towels or delicates, for example. If you don’t have room to store multiple hampers, consider keeping a couple of decorative baskets near the laundry and pulling them in when you’re ready to wash.
5. Garage
Most garages double as storage zones and house so much more than cars – think sports gear, tools and Christmas decorations… the list goes on. Many of the items commonly stored in the garage are bulky and can be hard to contain, such as lawnmowers, bikes and suitcases. As a result, the area quickly descends into a clutter zone, with items on top of items, so it’s impossible to find anything when you need it.
When reorganising your garage, start by ensuring there is enough room to open the car doors when it is parked. Then allocate a wall or two for sturdy and deep open shelving.
Most garages double as storage zones and house so much more than cars – think sports gear, tools and Christmas decorations… the list goes on. Many of the items commonly stored in the garage are bulky and can be hard to contain, such as lawnmowers, bikes and suitcases. As a result, the area quickly descends into a clutter zone, with items on top of items, so it’s impossible to find anything when you need it.
When reorganising your garage, start by ensuring there is enough room to open the car doors when it is parked. Then allocate a wall or two for sturdy and deep open shelving.
After removing anything from the garage that you no longer require, group similar items and put them in clear plastic tubs, which can be stored on the open shelves.
Allocate storage real estate mindfully; store those items you use once a year or less (such as Christmas decorations) or bulky, lightweight items (such as suitcases) at the top of shelves. Store heavier items at the bottom of shelves. Put items you use regularly, such as camping gear, picnic gear or tools, on more accessible shelves.
Items such as bikes and helmets that you or the kids use every weekend should be stored near the garage door (a dedicated bike rack makes great use of space).
Bulky items that you use once a month or less, such as the lawn mower or leaf blower, can be stored further back in the garage where they are still accessible but out of the way.
Keep your garage floor as clear as possible by wall-mounting lightweight items, such as balls, tennis racquets and long-handled gardening tools such as rakes.
Allocate storage real estate mindfully; store those items you use once a year or less (such as Christmas decorations) or bulky, lightweight items (such as suitcases) at the top of shelves. Store heavier items at the bottom of shelves. Put items you use regularly, such as camping gear, picnic gear or tools, on more accessible shelves.
Items such as bikes and helmets that you or the kids use every weekend should be stored near the garage door (a dedicated bike rack makes great use of space).
Bulky items that you use once a month or less, such as the lawn mower or leaf blower, can be stored further back in the garage where they are still accessible but out of the way.
Keep your garage floor as clear as possible by wall-mounting lightweight items, such as balls, tennis racquets and long-handled gardening tools such as rakes.
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More
Want more organising tips? Don’t miss A Decluttering Expert Reveals: 3 Things I Wish My Clients Knew
Did you find this story useful? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Want more organising tips? Don’t miss A Decluttering Expert Reveals: 3 Things I Wish My Clients Knew
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Couldnt agree more - having somewhere handy to write the shopping list & dinner menu ideas is gold - I live by this mantra too.
Great to see some slatwall in the garage for hanging tools. Slatwall can also be used for bikes and bulkier items like ladders and even wood and other workshop items. Shelves can be great but they also make items hard to see and then access. Shelves should be used for items that are not regularly needed. You are quite correct about cleaning up the floor and keeping it clear. It's not only about decluttering its also a safety risk.
Agree - love the Storewall technique to hang tools, bikes, ladders etc.