How to Have a Clutter-Free Home When You are Messy at Heart
If you’re looking for clutter-free home ideas but happen to be a messy person at heart, you’re in the right place!
I know what it’s like to spend time cleaning up a room only to find it messy again a few hours later. For years, I thought I needed to get better at putting things away. What I really needed was a few simple habits that worked with my messy personality instead of against it.
Today, I’m sharing the five changes that helped me keep a less messy home without spending my entire day picking things up.
When learning how to declutter, tips are great, but what really makes progress stick is having a system you can actually keep up with. So, let’s get started!
How Do You Keep a Clutter-Free Home When You’re Naturally Messy?
The secret to keeping a clutter-free home isn’t cleaning more often. It’s creating simple habits that make it easier to put things away. Start by setting up a system for incoming papers, keeping dishes out of the sink, using drop baskets for everyday clutter, making laundry easier to manage, and doing a quick room reset each day.
These small changes can make a big difference, especially if you’re naturally messy like me!
I’m a Messy Person at Heart, Too
Few people know this about me, but I am a messy person at heart, and keeping a clutter-free home does not come naturally to me.
For the longest time, I thought there was something wrong with me because I just couldn’t seem to keep my home picked up.
No matter how hard I tried, there was always something that needed to be put away.
I remember having a friend when I was a young mother whose home was always spotless. And I mean ALWAYS. She had four kids, just like I did, along with pets, a husband, and a busy family life.
Yet her kitchen was never a mess, there were never toys scattered everywhere, and her house seemed to stay mess-free without much effort.
Whenever I would visit, I would look around and wonder…how?!
Then I would go home, look around at my own house, see all the mess and chaos, and think, why is my home so different from hers?
But here’s the thing. I have always been a messy person.
Even as a teenager, my bedroom was a disaster. My mother would threaten me with everything she could think of to get me to clean it, so I would spend an entire Saturday getting everything put away.
And for a few days, it looked amazing.
But before long, the mess was back, and I was right where I started.
The funny thing was, I actually loved having my room clean and organized. I just couldn’t seem to keep it that way.
The problem wasn’t that I didn’t know how to clean a room. I was actually pretty good at that part!
The problem was that I didn’t have habits that helped me keep it that way.
And once I figured that part out, everything started to change.
The problem was that I didn’t have habits that helped me keep it that way.
Habits are the Answer to a Clutter-Free Home
What I finally realized was that keeping a clutter-free home wasn’t about spending more time cleaning. It was about changing what I did with things throughout the day.
Instead of leaving something on the counter because I might need it again later, I needed to get into the habit of putting it away when I was finished.
Sounds simple enough, right?
Well, when you’ve spent most of your life dropping things wherever you happen to be, changing that habit takes a little practice!
But here’s what made the difference for me. I stopped trying to change everything at once and started focusing on the areas where clutter showed up most often.
The kitchen counter, the sink, the laundry, and all those papers that seemed to multiply overnight.
Once I had a simple system for each of those areas, keeping my home picked up became so much easier.
And that’s what I want to share with you today.
Here are five clutter-free home ideas that helped me go from constantly picking things up to having a home that was much easier to keep that way.
Idea #1. Stop Paper Clutter
Paper clutter used to be one of the biggest problems in our home. Between the mail, school papers, bills, and all those little notes I needed to remember, it seemed like there was always a pile sitting somewhere.
And once one paper landed on the counter, more seemed to follow!
What helped was creating one designated place for incoming papers instead of letting them pile up wherever they landed.
Here’s how you can set up a simple paper system:
- Choose one spot. Find a convenient place for papers that come into your home, such as a basket on your kitchen counter or a tray near the door.
- Sort papers as they come in. Recycle junk mail right away and put important papers in their designated spot.
- Keep action papers separate. Bills to pay, forms to complete, and appointments to schedule should be easy to find.
- Go through your papers regularly. Take a few minutes to handle anything that needs attention so your basket doesn’t become another pile of clutter.
When my boys were younger, school papers were a big part of our daily mess. Having one place for everything made it easier to find what we needed without searching through piles on the counter.
Now that my boys are grown, the papers coming into our home have changed, but the system still works.
The goal isn’t to create a complicated filing system. It’s to give incoming papers a home so they don’t end up scattered throughout yours.
Even today, with our boys all out and on their own, we still use this updated system. Whenever they visit they go into the office and grab their bin to see if there is anything inside they need to take with them.
Idea #2. Stop Sink Clutter
There is something about an empty kitchen sink that makes the entire kitchen feel cleaner, don’t you think?
But if you’re anything like me, it’s easy to leave a coffee cup or a dirty plate in the sink, thinking you’ll take care of it later.
And before you know it, that one cup has turned into a sink full of dishes!
One habit that made a big difference in our home was learning to deal with dirty dishes right away instead of letting them pile up.
Here are a few things that can help:
- Keep the dishwasher ready. Empty clean dishes as soon as you can so there is room for dirty ones.
- Load dishes as you use them. Instead of setting a plate in the sink, put it directly into the dishwasher.
- Wash things that don’t go in the dishwasher. Take care of pots, pans, and other hand-wash items before they start piling up.
- Reset your sink each evening. Spend a few minutes finishing up any dishes so you can start the next morning with an empty sink.
I know these sound like pretty simple things, but that’s exactly why they work.
When you’re naturally messy, the fewer things you leave for later, the less there is to deal with when later finally comes around.
And waking up to an empty kitchen sink? That’s a pretty nice way to start the day.
Idea #3. Stop Counter Clutter
Kitchen counters seem to attract clutter, don’t they?
You set down your keys, the mail, a pair of sunglasses, or something you need to take upstairs. Before long, you have a collection of things sitting on your counter that don’t belong there.
This was a big problem for me because I was always leaving things out with the intention of putting them away later.
What finally helped was using something I call a drop basket.
A drop basket is simply a basket where you can put things that belong somewhere else in your home. Instead of letting those things spread across the counter, they all go into one designated spot.
Here’s how to make a drop basket work:
- Choose a basket that fits your space. It doesn’t need to be large or fancy. You just need enough room for the everyday items that tend to get left out.
- Keep it where clutter collects. For me, that was the kitchen counter. For you, it might be a table near the front door.
- Use it for things that need to go elsewhere. Sunglasses, a book, or something that belongs upstairs can go into the basket until you’re ready to put it away.
- Empty it regularly. This is the important part! A drop basket is a temporary holding spot, not a permanent home for your stuff.
I love this system because it works with my naturally messy habits instead of expecting me to become a completely different person.
But remember, the basket isn’t the solution all by itself. You still need to take those things and put them where they belong.
The difference is that instead of having things scattered across your counters, you have one place to collect them until you can take care of them.
And that makes keeping your kitchen picked up so much easier.
Idea #4. Stop Laundry Clutter
Laundry is one of those chores that never seems to end. Just when you think you’re caught up, someone comes along with another pile of dirty clothes!
And if you’re naturally messy like me, it’s easy to let laundry become another source of clutter.
Dirty clothes on the bedroom floor, clean clothes sitting in baskets, and that pile of clothes on the chair that you’re not quite sure are clean or dirty. Sound familiar?
What helped me was making laundry easier to deal with from start to finish.
Here are a few habits that can help:
- Give dirty clothes a home. Keep a hamper where clothes usually end up, whether that’s the bedroom, bathroom, or laundry room.
- Make sorting easier. If separating clothes is part of your routine, use divided hampers or separate baskets to save time.
- Finish one load before starting another. Washing and drying clothes is only part of the job. Getting them put away is what keeps laundry from becoming clutter.
- Make putting clothes away easy. Keep drawers and closets manageable so you aren’t fighting to squeeze clean clothes into an already full space.
One thing I’ve learned is that sometimes the problem isn’t the laundry itself. It’s that we have more clothes than our drawers and closets can comfortably hold.
When that happens, even a simple chore like putting away a load of laundry becomes frustrating.
Take a look at the space you have and the clothes you actually wear. Keeping what fits your life today can make laundry day a whole lot easier.
The goal isn’t to have a perfect laundry routine. It’s to keep clean clothes moving back into their homes instead of living in baskets for days.
Idea #5. Stop Every Day Clutter
Even with good habits in place, everyday clutter is still going to happen. That’s life!
A blanket gets left on the couch, shoes end up by the door, and a coffee cup sits on the end table long after the coffee is gone.
And before you know it, your family room looks like everyone came through, dropped their stuff, and walked away.
One of the easiest ways I’ve found to stay on top of this is with a quick room reset.
A room reset is simply taking a few minutes to put things back where they belong so you’re not starting from scratch every time you clean.
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Here’s how to do a quick room reset:
- Start with the things that don’t belong. Look around the room for dishes, shoes, papers, or anything that belongs somewhere else.
- Put everyday items back in their homes. Fold the blankets, return the remotes to their spot, and put books or magazines where you keep them.
- Check the surfaces. Look at the coffee table, end tables, and any other spots where things tend to collect.
- Take care of your drop basket. If you’re using one, this is a great time to empty it and return those things to their homes.
You don’t need to spend half an hour doing this. In many rooms, five minutes is enough to make a noticeable difference.
And here’s something important. If you’re constantly picking up the same things, pay attention to that.
Maybe the basket for your blankets is too far away, or the spot where you keep your shoes isn’t convenient.
Sometimes the answer isn’t another reminder to put things away. It’s finding a better home for the things you use every day.
The easier your home is to use, the easier it becomes to keep it picked up.
And for someone who is messy at heart, that can make all the difference!
Frequently Asked Questions About Keeping a Clutter-Free Home
Absolutely! I’m proof that you can be messy at heart and still have a home that’s easier to keep picked up. The key is finding simple habits that work with your personality instead of expecting yourself to become naturally organized overnight. Start with one problem area and create a system that makes putting things away easier.
Start by noticing where you tend to leave things. Are your shoes always by the door? Do papers pile up on the kitchen counter? Rather than trying to change everything at once, find a convenient home for those items and practice putting them there when you’re finished. The easier your system is, the more likely you’ll stick with it.
First, remember that a home is meant to be lived in, so everyday messes are going to happen. Instead of trying to keep every room perfect, focus on a few daily habits that help you stay ahead of the mess. A five-minute room reset, an empty kitchen sink, and a designated spot for incoming papers can make a noticeable difference.
Focus on making your home easier to take care of rather than spending more time cleaning. Keep everyday items close to where you use them, make sure everything has a convenient home, and take a few minutes to reset your busiest rooms. Also, pay attention to spaces that are difficult to maintain. Sometimes having fewer things to manage is what makes the biggest difference.
A Clutter-Free Home Starts With Simple Habits
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that you don’t have to be naturally organized to have a home that’s easier to keep picked up.
I’m still a messy person at heart. I still catch myself leaving things on the counter or putting something down instead of putting it away.
The difference is that now I have simple habits that help me stay on top of those everyday messes before they get out of hand.
And you can do the same!
Start with one of the five ideas we talked about today. Choose the area that’s giving you the most trouble and find a simple way to make it easier to manage.
Remember, the goal isn’t a perfect home. It’s creating a home that fits the life you’re living today.
And that starts with keeping what you use, giving things a home that makes sense, and building habits you can actually stick with.
Want to take this a step further?
If you’re ready to make your home easier to manage, my free Right-Sized Living Guide is a great place to start. It will help you look at your home differently and make decisions about what deserves space in it.
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