The thing that I hate most about finally taking the time to really sort and declutter an area in the home is just how quickly all the clutter appears again! Sometimes, I work so hard just to feel hopeless again in a week.

Are you also stumped on how to maintain your newly clutter free space?

If you’re the shopper of the house, it’s easy to bring in some extra clutter when you find good deals. Whether you are stocking up because the deal is so good, or you just can’t resist buying an item that is 90% off! I share with you a few simple rules to help control more of the clutter BEFORE it comes into the house!

One in, One out!

It seems too simple, but it is a good rule! If you buy something, something else has to leave. If you take this rule to heart, it will make you rethink your purchases and should ensure you don’t get to the point of having WAY too much again. The kicker is that the item going out must be in a like category as the new item. You can’t get rid of a mug because you bought a new pair of shoes! If you buy new shoes, you gotta get rid of another pair of shoes! Just like if you buy a new notebook or planner, get rid of an old one! If you discover a new awesome kitchen gadget, find one in your kitchen you no longer use and toss or donate it! This rule is all about maintenance of the space! (Pro tip: bring the item you’re replacing with you on your shop so that you can donate it before you buy or at least before you get home!)

Don’t buy doubles!

This is another maintenance rule. If you like something that you have, great! But don’t buy two of them! (Or even more than two!!) Use up what you have. Some items are so great that I want to buy a second in case something happens to the one I love and I can’t find a replacement when I need to! BUT, this often leads me to storing two, or more, for a long time. The first one finally breaks, then I grab the second one – thinking that I am so smart for having a back up – only to find that it was stored in a way that damaged it, or it breaks the first use because it’s old too! Most of the time, you can actually get your hands on the item again if it does break. We live in a time when things are just available, especially if you’re willing to hunt for it! Sometimes, you don’t even need to spend an arm and a leg! So use the one item! Love that one item! Protect that one item! When its usefulness is over, either get a new one or get whatever the new and improved thing is!

Find it a home!

Sometimes, you just need to buy the item anyway! Once it enters your home, you have to find it a home. It can be tricky, especially if your home is already pretty full. Storing things with care will keep them in better shape for the long haul. When you store your cluttered stuff, it can get ruined. Things get squished because the bin is too full, or they get damaged by the heat or the cold, or they get stinky from storing the items for way too long. If you can take the care to find your items permanent homes, you can get a slew of benefits. You always know where it goes. You can always find it. Everyone can put it back where it belongs! AND you know it’s going to be just as great and useful each time you pull it out because it’s not surrounded by clutter!

Sorting the clutter after it builds up is great, but ensuring the clutter doesn’t even get into the house to begin with can have a monumental impact!

Thanks for coming home!