Clutter Free Home: Six Useful Tips
I’m a minimalist.
You can tell from my blog, I think.
I hate clutter more than anything. I certainly hate clutter more than I love buying stuff.
Which makes the entire dilemma very easy for me: yes, I live in a consumerist society. I am surrounded by media and advertising messages that promise me the world if only I buy their product, whether it’s a wrinkle cream, a shampoo, or a new mattress.
I prefer not to buy their stuff. I used to enjoy shopping. But over the years I came to realize that shopping results in stuff, and that stuff takes place and creates clutter, and that clutter upsets me. So I would buy things, but then after a few months I would donate them, because they were cluttering my house.
So I stopped buying things.
I make a real effort these days to only buy things that I really need. Of course, “need” is often “want,” and even if it’s a real “need,” it’s still a need that reflects American standards of living. So I could probably get rid of at least half of what I own, and I would still have a lot.
Still, by those same American standards, my house is clutter free. I like it this way, because clutter stresses me out while a clean, clutter-free house calms me down. My cleaning person loves it too, because it makes cleaning the house a breeze.
Almost every visitor to our house comments on two things: the modern design and the lack of clutter. They all want advice on how to maintain a clutter free house, especially in a household with kids. Here’s what I tell them.
Six Tips For Creating A Clutter-Free Home
1. Don’t buy things unless you need them. Once you stop the habit of recreational shopping, half the problem is gone.
2. Everything has its designated place. Look at the kids’ playroom: it’s certainly the room in our house that contains the most stuff relative to its size, but everything there has its place. They have cubbies and baskets and containers and bulletin boards to hold everything, and once in a while we go over their things and decide what needs to be tossed and what can be donated.
3. I straighten up the house every day, several times each day. I don’t wait for clutter to build up – as I walk through the house, if I see something out of its normal place, I immediately put it back where it belongs.
4. We never just put stuff on surfaces. The kitchen counter is clutter free, because there’s no reason to put anything there – everything has its designated place, including drawers and cupboards and a basket for mail.
The dining table is clutter free, because there’s absolutely no need to put items on it when everything in the house has its place.
5. I donate stuff twice a year. I use the “2-year” rule, which says that if you haven’t worn or used an item for two years, you must get rid of it. I apply this rule to everything – even pots and pans – not just to clothes.
6. I never store anything in the garage long-term, and certainly not at a rented storage space. If you can allow something to sit at a remote storage space, then you don’t need it. Stop wasting your money on storage and donate or sell it. As for the garage, it has the 2-year rule as well. So yes, my garage is clutter-free too, although it’s certainly more cluttered than the main house.
My house is clutter-free, but it’s not completely bare. That would be boring! I do have art on the walls, and a few items that I love as decorations.
The reading area has a small table that holds a few beloved items:
And I really like the large bowl on my dining room table:
Since the table is otherwise clutter-free, the bowl stands out even more.
–
In the interest of full disclosure:Yes, I straightened up the house right before taking these photos. 
Loved this Comment: “These tips would work great for me if I lived alone and didn’t have the clutter nutters running around. Socks? Under the kitchen table. Husband’s mail? On the kitchen counter. Sneakers? You never know where they’ll turn up. Phone chargers, tv remotes, flyers from school, jackets cast aside, beloved Lego crafts . . . well you get the picture!” Lawyer Mom.
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The Stiletto Mom responds:
Posted: January 12th, 2010 at 9:01 am →
I’m drooling…so envious! I am working to de-clutter this year. Each week a new room, yesterday I worked on my daughters room. Three bags of garbage and one bag of donations later, I am almost ready to work my way into her closet! Your house is lovely!!!!!
Marelisa responds:
Posted: January 12th, 2010 at 9:45 am →
What a great playroom for your kids Vered! Your whole house looks like an awesome place to live. We must be in sync because I was just thinking of writing a post on how to declutter and organize the kitchen. I was just going through mine and it’s amazing the stuff that can build up when you’re not looking (yes, I realize the stuff didn’t just wander into my kitchen, I must have bought it and put it there at some point). You definitely feel lighter after decluttering.
Mike Goad responds:
Posted: January 12th, 2010 at 9:56 am →
Looks nice.
Our house is cluttered, but clean.
san responds:
Posted: January 12th, 2010 at 10:56 am →
Thank you for this article. Your house is beautiful. Do you have any tips to keep things neatly in a small space? My problem is that clutter (bills, papers..) build up, because I don’t have a designated place to put them… because I have a very small apartment.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: January 12th, 2010 at 12:29 pm →
The Stiletto Mom, decluttering feels really good, doesn’t it? It’s like a cleansing ritual.
Marelisa, I know what you mean – as much as I avoid buying, I guess I end up buying more than I intend to, because I do have to declutter and donate periodically.
Mike, don’t tell anyone, but my house is uncluttered AND unclean.
I’ve certainly relaxed my cleanliness standards over the past few years. I let the cleaning people do their magic once a week, but in between their visits, I so absolutely nothing. I used to vacuum the floors every day.
san, I used to live in a small apartment. It does take more effort, and you can obviously accumulate even less stuff than you do in a large house, but it can be done. I might write a separate post about it later on. If your main issue is paper clutter, my best advice would be to get a scanner (they take very little space) and scan all your documents (make a backup so that you have 2 electronic copies). Select paperless banking if you can so that you view your statements online instead of getting paper statements, and pay your bills online.
Carla responds:
Posted: January 12th, 2010 at 1:15 pm →
You home is absolutely beautiful! I tend to be clutter free, but its not easy when your partner is not. EVERYONE who shares the same living space with you has to be “clutter free” too or it just wont work, period. I had to make peace with the fact that I wont have a “zen” like living space.
Hayden Tompkins responds:
Posted: January 12th, 2010 at 2:56 pm →
You’ve made me homesick! Even though we are back in the Love Bungalow, our house sitters have not left yet. And APPARENTLY, instead of being organizationally awesome, they think I am “anal retentive”.
Sigh.
Kelvin Kao responds:
Posted: January 12th, 2010 at 5:19 pm →
Alright, maybe it’s time to clean my room. That’s what I thought reading this, and that’s what I thought this morning when I tripped over stuff in my room.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: January 12th, 2010 at 6:27 pm →
Carla, I agree – it’s harder when you live with someone who hates to get rid of stuff or who simply doesn’t notice mess.
Hayden, hang in there.
Kelvin, sounds like it IS time to clean your room!
Lawyer Mom responds:
Posted: January 12th, 2010 at 6:27 pm →
These tips would work great for me if I lived alone and didn’t have the clutter nutters running around. Socks? Under the kitchen table. Husband’s mail? On the kitchen counter. Sneakers? You never know where they’ll turn up. Phone chargers, tv remotes, flyers from school, jackets cast aside, beloved Lego crafts . . . well you get the picture! I think it’s why I so love hotel rooms — there’s no clutter until the suitcases are unzipped.
But the not-buying-stuff tip? That one I’ve been doing for a while now. ; )
Hunter Nuttall responds:
Posted: January 12th, 2010 at 6:57 pm →
Wow, I can’t believe how uncluttered your home is! Mine’s very cluttered, mainly because I tend to maintain a to do list in the form of physical objects strewn about. Anyway, you’ve inspired me to start a new decluttering campaign!
Daphne @ Joyful Days responds:
Posted: January 12th, 2010 at 7:23 pm →
Vered,
I remember just a short while ago you posted that you were not a ‘personal’ blogger, and so it was a surprise to see so many pictures of your private living space. I love this post, as it tells me so much about who you are. Thanks for sharing, as I know it isn’t easy for some of us to put ourselves out there like this!
MomGrind responds:
Posted: January 12th, 2010 at 9:09 pm →
Lawyer Mom, I’m sure my kids will have many sessions with their therapists when they grow up where they will complain about their mean mommy who made them pick up after themselves.
I guess I’m lucky that my husband, although certainly not as anal as I am, does like order.
Hunter, I’m glad I’ve inspired you! Maybe you can do a “before” and “after” post.
Daphne, I went back and forth on whether to share photos of my actual home, then decided that the post would be much more authentic if I did. Strangely, I don’t feel too exposed. Maybe I’m finally getting used to the blogosphere.
Avani Mehta responds:
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 12:06 am →
I absolutely love kids playroom. It looks neat and is very functional. The design is in such a manner that kids can pick after themselves, you don’t have to do it for them.
urbanvox responds:
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 6:37 am →
u sure u got kids???????
LOL!
Dot responds:
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 7:51 am →
Your house is beautiful, with great views from every room! I’m not a minimalist, but my house is cluttered even for a “maximalist” like me!
Memarie Lane responds:
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 8:54 am →
I am the same way, I can’t stand having STUFF. I even got rid of my coffeemaker because I hated how it looked taking up space on the counter. I use a small Melitta one-cup thing to make my coffee now. I do have long term storage, but that consists of important documents, photographs, and the kids’ art work, things like that. I think your home is beautiful. Yet my first thought upon seeing your reading area is that you must not read much. I am a voracious reader and I don’t think I could be very comfortable sitting in those hard chairs for more than a few minutes.
Jannie Funster responds:
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 8:56 am →
FREAKING GORGEOUS, Vered!!! Just beautiful.
I too am a minimalist, but my husband seems to be a maximalist.
Yet I persevere!
I wonder if as we age, we just get to desiring less stuff and know not to buy into consumer hype?
I too agree on surfaces being kept clean, makes such a difference.
Bravo!! A beautiful, useful post, Vered. Thank you.
Barb Hartsook responds:
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 9:52 am →
Hi Vered.
I don’t do well in clutter either. But I’m not a minimalist. I just like order, in order to think or relax.
When my space is ordered, I’m at peace and re-energized and ready to work. Or in the evenings, ready to light the fire and a few candles and settle in with a good book or movie.
As for shopping as a form of recreation — I keep my wallet deep inside my purse for such times. I do love to browse about. For me it’s a creative boost, or as Julia Cameron says, an artist’s date I keep with myself. But I don’t need to take anything home with me — just color or design inspirations. Ideas for drawings or paintings. I do love still life and vignettes, and the stores are filled with some great three-dimensional ones!
Your home is beautiful. I love the hard wood floors — I’d like to do that in ours. I also LOVE the photo gallery in the kitchen! Cool.
J.D. Meier responds:
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 10:30 am →
It really is a golden rule to have a place for things and things in their place. I like the breathing room it creates.
John Hoff - WP Blog Host responds:
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 10:57 am →
Really nice, Vered. I am much like you and in a way a clean freak. I like to be organized and in the past I’ve always been set up for efficiency. As I walk through the house, I tend to grab things all the time.
Now that I’m married with 2 kids (1.5 and 3), my problem is getting everyone on the same page. My youngest we call “Mayhem Ethan”. He lives to make a mess and throw things. My wife also gets depressed at times because the house gets to be such a mess, but yet I can’t seem to get her to understand that if she never makes an effort to clean it up, it doesn’t get done unless I do it.
As you can see, it’s a little source of frustration for me. The house gets out of hand when I’m too busy with work to spend much time cleaning.
Ok… bartender, I need a drink! Double Scotch on the rocks, hold the rocks.
Diana responds:
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 11:12 am →
Love your house! I would have more art around but that’s just me. I wish I could get my kitchen cupboards organized to get everything off the counter! Maybe I’ll make that my goal this first quarter of the year. I crave empty kitchen counters (and dining table). Thanks for the boost.
Wendi Kelly~Life's Little Inspirations responds:
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 11:51 am →
Sigh…first my house has no clutter. Then the little buggers sneak back in…then I go on the warpath. War against Clutter. Then it has no clutter. Then the little buggers sneak back in…..
it never ends I tell you. I’d need an armed guard at the door.
Very inspiring. I think I’ll go on the warpath again.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 12:06 pm →
Avani, ha, theoretically that’s very true, but since my standards of cleanliness are the highest in this house, I do pick after them… they are required to clean up their room at the end of the day though.
Urbanvox, I’m pretty sure that I do have kids.
Dot, Thank you!
Memarie Lane, I LOVE those single-cup coffee makers! A friend of mine has a small round one – sleek and beautiful. Re the reading area, I admit it’s not very functional… we do most of our reading in bed.
Jannie, “I wonder if as we age, we just get to desiring less stuff and know not to buy into consumer hype?” – absolutely. I do find that I’m learning not to equate “happiness” with “buying things.”
Barb, you’re stronger than I am! If I browse stores, I am tempted to buy. So I don’t do window shopping.
J.D., exactly.
John, you and your wife need to talk about this and create a system! Really. It can work. Us neat freaks often assume that no one will ever cooperate, but it’s been my experience that if you have a serious talk, people do get it. They will never clean up to your standards f course… you will have to do that. But the house will never get to a state of total chaos.
Diana, getting rid of unused stuff that just takes up space in your kitchen cupboards and then using that space to clean out the kitchen counters is like deep cleansing… so much fun. Just do it!
Wendi, it’s true – it never ends! which is why, I think, some just give up. But I refuse to.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 12:07 pm →
I’m a little surprised that no one thinks my red chairs and my blue sofa are hideous.
Diana responds:
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 12:15 pm →
Ok Vered, I’m ready but I just have to convince my husband to help install those cupboard slide-out things to get to stuff in the pantry and cupboards. My back won’t let me stoop. But I really really want a kitchen as clean as yours.
John Hoff - WP Blog Host responds:
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 12:22 pm →
@Vered – I know. But every time I try to talk about it she gets depressed and says she knows and that I do everything. It’s hard getting past that at times and because I don’t want to depress her, I just avoid the topic. My bad, I guess.
Dr. J responds:
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 1:11 pm →
I have been known to save a few things
I’ve also done some minimalist art. Your home has a very Scandinavian look to me, which I like.
I agree with, and basically follow, all your suggestions, and really, although I have a lot of art on the walls, my home is very tidy.
Diana responds:
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 2:02 pm →
“I’m a little surprised that no one thinks my red chairs and my blue sofa are hideous.
”
But they are so mod!
On some home improvements « theinbetweenismine.com responds:
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 5:31 pm →
[...] like there is NO space for anything… but I need to make space. For my own sake. After reading Mom Grind’s article about a clutter-free home, I again realized how much more important [...]
wisegirl responds:
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 7:06 pm →
that is a beautiful home you have there
MomGrind responds:
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 7:42 pm →
Diana, go ahead and convince him! BUT you don’t need to wait for him.. start with what you can do by yourself, and begin by getting rid of anything you haven’t used for the past 2 years. I’m sure you’ll find plenty of stuff to toss/ donate, which will clear room in your cupboards.
Re the mod furniture… yes, I guess it is. Some people like it, others hare it. I like it, of course.
John, in that case you are a good husband and friend for not bringing it up. It should get better as the kids get older – young kids have unbelievable amounts of stuff.
Dr. J: I grew up in Israel, where homes are decorated very differently than here in the U.S. and yes, Scandinavian is good – clean lines and light colors.
Wisegirl, thank you!
Michelle @ Find Your Balance responds:
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 8:50 pm →
Please come declutter my house! As much as my husband and I try to keep things clean, we are admittedly not neat freaks and could use some serious help organizing and getting stuff off of surfaces
Patricia responds:
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 9:50 pm →
Oh a gal after my own heart…I like more Scandinavian design things, but no clutter. Now I have spent years with folks who put things on the dining table – with so many gone – it is almost free. And I have several collectors in my family who have not moved to their own locations yet…Their rooms look like storage boxes.
with my knee problems as of late, my kitchen counters are also not clear because I can not get up on the stool to get down my good tools – as I am juicing oranges this week for a party next week, I leave the juicer on the counter until the job is done – then place it back up high until next year.
As I let go of the old life activities and embrace my life activities, I am busy cleaning out the bathroom cupboards, children’s sheet sets and all those things I never use. (half empty bottles of shampoo drive me crazy!
I have to prune the fruit trees right now…so am unsatisfied that the job is not completed when I would like it done, but it will be by the time company arrives on the 23rd…
All that said….my desk looks awful right now because, I am filing tax material and putting away paperwork for the 7 or 5 year throw away dates…. No cleaning person but accountants and lawyers to deal with this time of the year…for 2 businesses – It is so messy for several weeks, even though I am neat.
Barbara Swafford responds:
Posted: January 14th, 2010 at 12:26 am →
Hi Vered,
I LOVE you home and am not at all surprised it’s so neat and tidy as you’ve often eluded to that and not liking clutter (in comments and/or posts).
One thing I do when I go shopping is ask myself if I have a spot for “whatever”. If I don’t, I won’t buy it. The only time I break this rule of mine is if it’s to die for. Then…I’ll find a spot – which usually means getting rid of something else. Fortunately that doesn’t happen too often.
Adrenalynn responds:
Posted: January 14th, 2010 at 12:32 pm →
I love these tips – and the fact that you actually posted photos of your house; very personal! And I really like the bowl
MomGrind responds:
Posted: January 14th, 2010 at 2:07 pm →
Michelle, before becoming a blogger I was actually thinking about becoming a professional organizer.
Patricia, no doubt keeping a clutter free house is much harder when you have kids.
Barbara, it’s totally legit to get rid of something in order to fit something else that you really love. It’s good that you know to get rid of previous items before adding new items.
Adrenalynn, thank you! I thought that posting photos of my own home would help to prove that when it comes to decluttering, I actually walk the walk rather than just talk the talk.
Kim Woodbridge responds:
Posted: January 14th, 2010 at 7:14 pm →
I don’t like stuff either – or buying stuff. But I’m not the minimalist that you are. Everything has a place but that place may be overflowing, such as my bookcases.
It’s a good thing you didn’t live during Victorian times – you would have felt claustrophobic in those rooms …
Thanks for sharing personal photos
Davina responds:
Posted: January 14th, 2010 at 11:28 pm →
Does anybody even live in this house?
I looked for even a jacket on the back of a chair or a crayon on a table. Not even a cookie on the counter. Vered you should see this friend of mine’s place. He’s an older, retired gentleman and during the spring and summer he goes to garage sales almost every weekend. His garage is so full of things that no vehicle can park in it. He has 4 microwaves and 3 tvs. He is single, no children. He has thousands of CDs. My place is relatively clutter free, but there are a few corners and drawers where “stuff” accumulates. The older I get, the less I clean.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: January 15th, 2010 at 9:39 am →
Kim, I agree that I’m lucky to live today when minimalism is considered a valid option.
Davina, the house doesn’t look like this all the time – during the afternoon especially, as the kids play and I cook dinner, things do get a bit messy and books and crayons do find their way out of the play room… but then after dinner we pick it all up before heading upstairs.
RC - RC Rambling responds:
Posted: January 16th, 2010 at 10:46 pm →
I love this, but it illustrates yet another difference between the lives we lead. I’m a clutter bug. I like some clutter around me – not in the “must buy more items” sense, but in way of the artwork done by my son hanging in various places, mail/magazines I’m reading are on the counter and table, child’s beloved stuffed animal on the couch, cozy blankets within easy reach, etc… I feel comforted when surrounded by these pieces of our lives. The minimalist approach just isn’t me.
Also, I’ve found that if items (when it comes to organizing current projects) are out of sight, than they are completely out of my mind.
That is just me, though. I do love the look of your home, and wish we had such a nice play area. (And like you, I make a point of sorting through various areas of our home and donating what isn’t being used, what is outgrown, etc. Also, when we moved into this home, I made many of our family/friends promise to stop getting us knick-knacks, since I was refusing to fill this home with them. For those who haven’t listened, we’ve donated many of their gifts. I like my clutter, but I like it to be useful clutter.)
Booties, Chickens, and Link Love Oh My! | Squawkfox responds:
Posted: January 17th, 2010 at 3:24 pm →
[...] Clutter Free Home: 6 Tips | Blogger For Hire [...]
MomGrind responds:
Posted: January 17th, 2010 at 10:10 pm →
RC, “The minimalist approach just isn’t me” – completely legitimate!
Diana responds:
Posted: January 17th, 2010 at 10:16 pm →
Vered, Ok, so far, I’ve made it through 2 kitchen drawer reorganizations (the hardest ones!) and found a place to put the mail mess instead of on the kitchen table. My husband has agreed to put in lower cabinet slideouts so I can clear the counters and still get to things I use daily. Won’t happen instantly but progress! I want that empty counter and things put away so it’s easier to clean counters too. Progress…I shall continue. Thanks for the inspiration.
Ivy responds:
Posted: January 25th, 2010 at 3:28 pm →
I enjoy your blog a lot, and I look forward to more homemaking tips!
MomGrind responds:
Posted: January 25th, 2010 at 6:10 pm →
Great, Diana! Please keep updating me on your progress. So glad I’ve inspired you.
Ivy, thanks! I do plan to publish a post with general organizing tips soon.
Shannon responds:
Posted: January 26th, 2010 at 11:44 am →
Oh I wish my house was clutter free. Ugh, I wish! I love this post.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: January 26th, 2010 at 11:57 am →
Shannon, how about tackling just one room in your house this weekend… you can do it.
Kelly@SHE-POWER responds:
Posted: January 26th, 2010 at 11:36 pm →
I am not sure I am as much a minimalist as you, Vered, but I do hate clutter. I go through my clothes a couple of times a year to clear them out and give to the Salvos. This is partly because I tend to need a couple of goes before I can face the fact that some items are not worn and will never be worn no matter how much I used to think they were perfect for me. I am sentimental, however, so while I declutter the house every 12 months at least, some items will become keepsakes. Especially crafts, home made cards and drawings from Bunny. Obviously, I can’t keep them all, but I keep the best work or stuff which is the most special to me in a big box downstairs. Same with old photos and love letters.
Unfortunately I am married to a hoarder and we have now reproduced a hoarder. Spring cleans with MusicMan are pure torture – the things he thinks he needs! Record players that don’t work, but “could be fixed” one day.Yes, musos love their vinyl. Books that were his grandmothers and “could be worth a fortune”, but alas we’ll never know while they sit in the wardrobe of the playroom. Bunny meanwhile goes through my toss out box, exclaiming “This is great. Can I keep it?” Sometimes I dream of living alone next door to them….
Brie responds:
Posted: January 29th, 2010 at 7:03 pm →
I am really good about no clutter..it always amazes me how much can be thrown away even with how little we have/buy. As a side note…we have the same wood play kitchen set:)
MomGrind responds:
Posted: January 29th, 2010 at 8:41 pm →
Hehe Kelly, I’ve heard the “we could fix it someday” argument from my husband.
Brie, we will soon donate the play kitchen. The kids are 8 and 10 – they’re not really playing with it anymore. I actually held on to it for longer than I should have!
Brie responds:
Posted: January 29th, 2010 at 8:45 pm →
My older two are (almost)12 and 10 but my younger two are 3 and 9 months. I think I got the kitchen because *I* love it ’cause the kids aren’t really playing with it. *sigh* I might sell it(I donate a ton but the resale is really good on these…like $150!) soon just to free up space.
DebraC responds:
Posted: February 22nd, 2010 at 9:45 pm →
Very impressive. Wouldn’t think you would need to straighten up your house too much every day. It looks in pristine condition. Hooray for us minimalists.
Organizing Tips | Blogger For Hire responds:
Posted: March 23rd, 2010 at 7:02 am →
[...] Organizing comes naturally to me. I hate clutter and crave space and order. I don’t become attached to stuff and I have weaned myself off the habit of recreational online shopping, so I don’t need to deal with finding places for the items I own. The result: I live in a fairly clutter free home. [...]
Shawn responds:
Posted: June 12th, 2010 at 8:41 am →
I have to be careful only to buy project materials when I’m going to actually use them. I’ve got a guitar and a telescope for which I had good intentions, but not the time. Now they are clutter and run the risk of damage or becoming outdated…
"I don't remember": Cognitive Dysfunction and short-term memory loss in MS | beyonditall.net responds:
Posted: June 30th, 2010 at 3:37 pm →
[...] Decluttering my home. The less I have laying around, the better my mind can function. I make sure that my desk is clear and organized. The only thing on my dining room table is a set of plates and candles. My bathroom is clear and is set up in a way where I can get what I need in the nick of time. I’m still working on my kitchen, though I do try to keep surfaces clear. I like open space so furniture is reduced to items I really like and that is functional. I make sure everything has a place. Clutter not only clogs my home, but also my mind. [...]