Top 3 Ways To Make Your Room Feel Less Cluttered
Looking to get the most out of your space? Or have the stashed boxes of this and that finally started to feel like they're going to swallow you up? Then it's time to get serious about making your space feel cleaner, more open, and comfortable. Clutter can take on a lot of forms beyond stacks of papers stuffed into drawers. Even that gallery wall you painstakingly hung can feel like visual clutter, making the room feel more closed off and overfilled.
KonMari Method has practically become a sacred text, revered for its advice on decluttering and discarding what no longer brings joy. While this principle seems simple enough, it can still take a lot of emotional energy and elbow grease to put it to the test. To help you jump into the task of making your space feel less overwhelming, we've put together some of the best concrete advice for a less cluttered, more relaxed home and lifestyle.
1. Ruthlessly declutter
It's tempting to make a run to the home organization store, buy a hundred contraptions for finding order in your home, and leave with a much lighter wallet, but the first step to making your space feel lighter is to purge mercilessly. While it seems like keeping what sparks joy is all you need, consider what just doesn't make sense to keep anymore. Paid parking tickets, old health insurance brochures, and receipts may seem small enough, but over time can become overwhelming. If you are nervous about losing important info, consider downloading a phone camera-PDF scanner app, like the Scanner App from Cleaner LLC.
Purging can also be difficult when it comes to sentimental items like kids' clothes and toys, gifts, and cards. This can result from a psychological phenomenon known as the endowment effect. The endowment effect, as noted by The Huffington Post, is the experience of valuing something more simply because you own it. Merely having it in your possession makes you feel loyalty and need to keep the object, but that's just not true. Instead, try to keep in mind that some objects are just that — nothing more.
2. Find double-duty furniture
You don't need to get another filing cabinet to stack against your wall when it comes to decluttering. Adding new, large pieces of furniture strictly for storage can make a room feel even more stifling. Instead, look for furniture pieces that can work double-time as storage and function, per Decorating Den Interiors. Comfort pieces like couches, ottomans, and beds can come with hidden storage with top-hinge lids or pull-out drawers. These are great places to store blankets, throw pillows, board games, and even books. For more hidden storage furniture inspiration, check out these recommendations.
On the other hand, think about what pieces of furniture are just taking up room. If you're tired of your bulky working desk and find yourself favoring the couch over the dining room table, consider eliminating these pieces. Instead, consider installing a Murphy table on the wall that can be folded flush against the wall with ease.
3. Camouflage with paint
Beyond decluttering, which is the cost-free solution, and buying new furniture, the high-cost alternative, you're probably hoping for something in between that can make a significant impact in decluttering your space. A can of paint can go a long way to making your room feel bigger and less oppressive. If you have dark, bulky wooden furniture like a stool or entry table, or an eyesore of a radiator, consider slapping a coat of paint over it in the same shade as your wall.
When working with a narrow room, Idea by Sico recommends employing a subtle illusion with contrasting paint colors. Use a light shade on the side walls and a darker tone on the wall farthest from the entry. This can make the room feel bigger and less confined. Accent walls are also a great way to add character and color to a room without taking up any space, making them a great part of your decluttering plans.