Things I know about cutting clutter

Operation: Cut the Clutter has been underway here at Née Say HQ for the last couple of weeks. Nothing too earth shattering, mind. As much as I would have liked to tip my house upside down, shake everything out & start afreash, instead I have focused on tackling a few little trouble spots that weigh me down with their blatant unruliness.

 

There’s a couple of things I know about clutter:

• A small house gets cluttered very easily
• Small children + small house = triple the clutter (at least)
• There are way to many “bits” in life. You know those miscellaneous odds & ends that have no home but you keep because they may be required at a later date? I detest bits.
• I place way to much sentimental value on “stuff”. Particularly clothes & books.
• Talking through the decluttering process with the Wilful One has been a valuable way of reigning in my little hoarder-in-the-making.
• Getting rid of clutter can be overwhelming but also kind of fun.
• So many bloggers out there have inspiring ideas on storage & organisation.  The Organised Housewife & Super Organiser Mum  are great places to start. Plus Kate Says Stuff has some super giveaways with her Systems Junkie series at the mo!
• And I know it’s stating the obvious, but IKEA truly is a declutter-er’s mecca!

Now, I’m not much of a “how-to” blogger but I couldn’t resist a little show & tell (or should that be shame & tell?)

In the last couple of weeks I’ve:

• culled 75% of my recipe book collection (I use google most of the time anyway)
  

  Yes my recipe books do reflect my food likes - curry, chocolate & sushi! At least Vegie Smugglers is front & central 🙂

• culled & reorganised my pathetic excuse for a pantry
• decreased the contents of my Tupperware drawer  by 1/3 – it now closes without eating plastic
• revamped & reorganised my office space to look a little less like a man cave & more like a creative space (as you can see the office used to be the nursery)
   

Everything from IKEA (apart from lappy & modem)

•  organised our important personal documents into one single file – suitable for grabbing prior to fleeing a burning house (just sayin’)
• created labelled action folders & files to organise the plethora of paper that’s currently stored on the bench & fridge. Still waiting for The Man to hang this folders above the desk.  

I used scissors & glue people!!

• sorted the boys outgrown clothes & reorganised their drawers

Loving these drawer inserts from IKEA!

• eBayed 3 boxes of toddler toys & donated some to daycare
• donated 4 bags of crap stuff to LifeLine

Phew! Actually, it does seem like a lot when I write it all down. On the surface it doesn’t seem to have made much of a difference (I’m sure The Man thinks I’ve spent my entire holidays drinking coffee & faffing on the computer) but I’m feeling pleased with my efforts, nevertheless. It’s nice to open a cupboard or drawer safe in the knowledge that it isn’t booby-trapped.

One thing I know for sure about cutting clutter: I’ve got a hell of a lot more to do!

Are you good at keeping on top of clutter at your place or are your cupboards booby-trapped too?

Linking up with Shae from Yay for Home for Things I Know.

PS This post has not been sponsored by IKEA. Unfortunately, obsession does not automatically qualify you for sponsorship.