Thanks for joining me in the pursuit of a clutter free home!
As a busy working mom of 7, I GET MESS. I also get that with some systems and new behaviour patterns, clutter can be conquered. So let's do it.
Thanks for joining me over the next 7 days- you're just 15-minutes away from a cleaner house. If you happen to be able to sneak in 60 minutes- I've got you covered too.
7 Day Declutter Bootcamp
Day 1: Front of House
The front of the house can be a *crazy *space for families. Like full of stuff, bottle-necked, insane, messy, chaotic, bursting at the seams mess. It's an important area to streamline to ensure coming home is not a chaotic experience as soon as you step in the door.
15-minute quick win:
Take everything out of the closet. Wipe it down. Put back ONLY 2 items per family member- so 2 coats, 2 pairs of shoes, 2 bags if space allows. Store everything else in other closets in the house.
60-minute declutter deep dive:
Do the above and then take it one step further by creating a dedicated drawer or shelf per family member in the closet for things that end up strewn around the front of the house like wallet, keys, library books, hats, school projects. For more inspiration check out my Front Door Declutter Hacks board on Pinterest.
Day 2: Create a Paper Command Centre
Paper is the greatest source of clutter in my house- and so much of it can be controlled with great systems. Never lose a permission slip, forget about a bill, or misplace an invitation again!
15-minute quick win:
Put a 3-inch, 3 ring binder and 3-hole punch as close to the front door (or wherever you sort mail) as possible. Use dividers and label categories according to your needs. I have a tab for each of my kids' for school forms, phone bill, credit card statements, coupons and utilities. I also keep a plastic re-sealable envelope at the front of the binder for lose receipts I need to file. Get into the habit as soon as paper comes into the house to either hole punch and file it, or recycle it.
60-minute declutter deep dive:
Create a permanent filing system where paper will go when the binder gets too full. Either a portable file box, a stationary piece with lateral files or even just large envelopes will do. Get into the habit of emptying the binder regularly so that nothing gets lost in the shuffle. I struggle with this area BIG TIME. So if you do too, you're not alone.
Day 3: Kitchen
This is often the family command centre- so let's make it an enjoyable place to make memories in- instead of a landing pad for clutter.
15-minute quick win:
Take everything off your counters. Wipe them down. Now commit to only have 1/3 of them covered with small appliances, accessories, flowers, etc. 1/3 ensures there is a bit of visual "breathing room", and ensures you actually have a productive place to work.
60-minute declutter deep dive:
Tackle the pantry- this is an area that can become a bit of an abyss if not maintained on the regular. I like to group things into like items in large wire mesh baskets- so you can see into them, but they somewhat conceal things so it's not overly visually cluttered. Batch all your baking supplies, your snack food, your spices, etc. into individual containers which makes it easier when you're looking for something or performing an activity- you can take the individual basket out and bring it on to the table, rather than rustling about for the one thing you need.
Day 4: Bathroom
The most common request from clients during one of my 2-hour consultations to give them a spa-like bathroom. One of the elements of this look is a lack of clutter! So let's start today!
15-minute quick win:
Completely empty any drawers or cabinets that have become junk drawers. Ruthlessly dispose of old beauty products, hair products you never use, medication that is expired.
BONUS quick win- corral all the bath toys and store them out of sight in a cabinet. If you don't have a cabinet, check out some clever ideas on my Bath Toy Storage page on Pinterest. The key to the spa-like feeling in the bathroom is to try and keep the toys out of sight- so think behind the door or in an opaque bin so you're not met with a sea of neon toys when it's your turn to relax in the tub.
60-minute declutter deep dive:
Repeat the process above with every single cabinet. Be ruthless! Then organize the interiors of the drawers with small clear bins grouping like items together. Once you've got your decluttered bathroom I'd love to know how you love it. If you need some inspiration for a new bathroom, check out these family friendly baths I created here.
Day 5: Bedroom
This is the place my clients are often ashamed to show me during a consultation- because often times, busy parents don't invest any time or money into their own space. Well I argue busy parents deserve a retreat- so let's get yours off to a decluttered start.
15-minute quick win:
Go nuts with editing your clothing. Be ruthless!
Likely if you have not worn something in 6 months to a year you won't ever wear it again. So get it gone. If there are items that you might need again (maternity clothes, specific active wear, etc.) let's store it elsewhere just so you can make your primary closet as simple as possible. The idea here is if you've got less stuff, you don't have to rustle or sort through stuff to find what you actually need.
60-minute declutter deep dive:
Invest in dividers for your drawers. I own an IKEA PAX at home and I just love all their inserts particularly for jewelry, belts and little things like socks and underwear. I find if I don't see something, I don't remember I own it- so it makes assembling outfits more fun to see my options, and saves me time by not searching through boxes.
Side note- I have also embraced my love of black and neutrals. I have a few colourful pieces in there for sure but the majority of my clothing is neutral. I used to fight this and try and buy things to force colour in there- but if you're like me, and you like what you like- let your closet be dominated by that! Be authentic to your own style. : )
How are you feeling?!?! You've made it 5 days! I hope the momentum has been great and you're enjoying a less cluttered home.
Day 6 - Basement
I have 7 kids, 9 and under. My basement gets TRASHED on the regular. But it can be restored to how it looks above relatively quickly when everyone pitches in!
15-minute quick win:
If space allows, move the permanent storage of toys from your main entertaining space (like your living room or kitchen). Put them in a play room, your kids' rooms, or elsewhere. It doesn't mean that toys won't migrate in to your main space and kids won't play there- but when you move the main storage area I promise, it will help reduce the number of times you have to bend over and pick up stuff exponentially. Keep one bin (it can be a large one) in a style that matches your room's decor and allow this to be the catch all that houses toys every day. Commit to putting all the toys back into the permanent storage as often as your life will allow- but definitely when the bin gets too full.
60-minute declutter deep dive:
Separate toys into like bins. I like these wire mesh bins from Solutions, as since they are light weight and slim kids can lift them no problem, and they aren't totally see through so even when the cabinets are open it's not a huge chaotic visual mess. I like separating toys into bins as I can give each child a bin to fill and make it a race. I'll be the first to admit, clean up with kids requires adult motivation and help- there's no secret weapon except to be persistent and develop good systems you commit to.
From one busy mom to another, this one takes a lot of work. But the results are so worth it if you keep on top of it.
Excited to be with you on the journey to a more beautiful home,
Day 7: Laundry room
I do SO MUCH LAUNDRY with 9 people in the house, and one baby who creates enough laundry for a small army. Laundry for me used to be a chore, now it is a joy in an organized space!
15-minute quick win:
Throw out mismatched socks. Don't keep them as rags, don't reuse them for crafts- just get rid of them. I used to keep them all in hopes the pair would turn up- but I would say after 6 months just give up hope.
60-minute declutter deep dive:
Invest in a wall system- even if it is just hooks into drywall, or something more complex like my Zobal system by Cutler, use a full length of wall to organize things like tape, tools, laundry supplies, craft supplies, etc.
To see the full tour of my laundry room check it out here!
Thanks for coming along with me- I'd love to know how this has impacted you and your home! Snap me a photo on instagram @lisacanning or send me a note on twitter @lisa_canning!
Here's to creating a beautiful home!
Lisa