Clear and Declutter Horizontal Spaces
March 5, 2008 by Maricar
Filed under Organizing and Clutter Control
One of my recent de-cluttering goals has been to clear and maintain horizontal spaces. It’s simple to remember, yet it’s applicable to all the rooms in my home.
When I look at neat spaces, all of them have one thing in common. I see a lot of horizontal space. I see table tops, counters, and floors. I made it my goal to remove as much stuff from horizontal spaces as possible, and give them a permanent home elsewhere. Obviously, it is impossible to remove everything. So, I set a maximum number of items I would like on a horizontal space. For example, on my kitchen island, my goal is to have only two things: a fruit bowl and a filing system. I can tell you now that that still remains a goal (the island is such a clutter magnet!). But it’s something I can work toward, and give myself a pat on the back once achieved.
Other things I’ve done to clear horizontal spaces are:
- using a caddy to house bathroom essentials
- moving my laptop off the dining room table … a clear dining room table does wonders for the room, regardless of the state of its surroundings.
- throwing away papers that have been on my “will get to” pile for a long time
- discarding old spices that I’ve never even used, and removing the spice rack from my kitchen counter
image by absolutwade on Flickr
I’m with you, i hate clutter but it seems to always be around. I too aim to at least keep tables and work surfaces clear as they do make a room look much tidier and bigger.
The funny thing is i am doing the oposite in my bathroom at the moment in an atempt to make it feel warmer and more inviting. I am trying to buy simple things like candles and glass jars fill with coulored pot pourri and placing them on window ledges etc. I shall see how it goes, or will i be clearing it all away in a months time.
Decluttering is never a one-off task in my home too. I did the candles/potpourri in my bathroom once. Let us know how that works for you.
I’m always surprised at how clearing off and vacuuming the floor can make any room look much cleaner and less cluttered.
Great tips – thanks!
~Eva