5 Clutter Hotspots to Conquer

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Many of us have those common trouble spots in our homes where clutter tends to pile up.

Otherwise known as clutter hotspots.

Interestingly enough, they tend to be similar across households.

Here, we’ll focus on 5 common clutter hotspots and some strategies to combat them.

Let’s dive in.

1. Flat surfaces in the kitchen

The kitchen counter and kitchen table are popular and convenient places to dump all kinds of things, such as paper, art supplies, and perhaps even rubber bands.

On top of that, if your kitchen is on the smaller side, it’s not unusual to store items on the counter, due to the limited space.  And, before you know it, you have zero counter space.

I don’t know about you, but, walking into a kitchen with cluttered surfaces does not inspire meal prep!

So, what can be done about this?

• Move any small appliances that aren’t used daily to the bottom cabinets.  
• Select what will be remaining on your counter, such as your coffeemaker, toaster, microwave, dish rack. And, identify where they will be placed on the counter. For instance, store the coffeemaker near the cabinet containing the mugs, for easier access.
• Re-home the random items that don’t belong in the kitchen to their proper spots. Remember this is not a dumping ground for miscellaneous items.  In your process of returning items to their respective homes, this is a good opportunity to trash or donate what you’ve decided not to keep.
• Cultivate a habit of wiping down the counters and table as part of your daily routine. This way these surfaces will look fresh and clean.  And, there will be less inclination for the piles of paper to collect.  
• Make use of some kitchen space-saving ideas, such as floating shelves, hanging racks, pullout shelves, and over-the-door organizers, to maximize space.

2. Entryway

The entryway is another common hot spot that has too much clutter.

It’s not surprising for this area of your home to attract clutter. 

After all, this is the first area we enter when we come in the front door.  And, who among us has not thrown our keys, junk mail, loose change, or other random items on top of the table, as we’ve entered? 

Furthermore, the typical shoe pile collects in the entryway or front hall, if there’s no spot for them, once the shoes are removed.

None of this aligns with the tidy home that you want to create.

So, here are some suggestions:

• Make use of shoe cubbies or a shoe rack to store shoes so that they don’t pile up at the front door.  There are plenty of good shoe organization ideas to solve this issue. 
• Organize inside the entryway closet and add extra space by installing wall hooks for backpacks, bags, etc.
• Put into practice a clean surface rule for the entryway table. Reserve the surface for display items, for instance, a decorative vase, plant, timepiece, etc.
• Use drawer dividers inside the hall table.  This way, when you place items in the drawer, you can easily identify what’s there. And, not spend a lot of time looking for them.

3. Coffee Table

It’s amazing how quickly items can pile up on top of the coffee table.

In addition, when going through the drawers, don’t be surprised by what you find. 

I recall helping someone pack in preparation for a move and finding all kinds of trinkets, old candies, and other items that didn’t belong in the living room when cleaning out the drawer.

It’s so important to have systems of organization in our home.  Despite our best efforts, there are times that we will put something in a drawer for safekeeping and forget all about it.  Once we have systems in place, this is less likely to occur.

Let’s look at some strategies for the coffee table:

• Similar to the entryway table, it’s a good idea to have display items only on the surface of the coffee table. For instance, the type of items like a coffee table book, your wedding album, flowers, etc.
• If your coffee table has good storage space, store items such as your remote controls, extra cords, DVDs (some of us still have these!), etc., rather than storing them on the surface. 
• If your coffee table does not have good storage space, use a decorative basket to house those items and store the basket underneath the coffee table.

4. Nightstand

Here is another perfect place for clutter to collect.

Your nightstand, AKA bedside table, can be challenging to keep clear of clutter. 

It’s all too easy to wind down for the night with items such as water, a book, or your tablet. 

Perhaps even some scrolling through your phone helps you to relax for the evening – NOT a good idea, according to the experts.

As well, there’s a tendency for the drawers to become a catchall. And, before you know it, you’ve got a junk drawer beside your bed.

Let’s take a look at a few ideas:

• Use a bedside storage organizer to place things such as notebooks, books, hand cream, and other items that tend to collect on the surface of the nightstand.
• Only keep essentials on your nightstand, such as a lamp, a box of Kleenex, eyeglasses, whatever you need at night. If you place them in a small decorative tray, it’ll be easier to clean the surface on a regular basis as all you need to do is lift the tray to wipe down the top of the nightstand.
• Keep only one book on your nightstand – the one you are reading at the moment, rather than accumulating a pile of books you intend to read.
• Once again, drawer organizers are great for containing the contents of your nightstand drawers.

5. Bathroom Counter

The bathroom counter is one of the top clutter hotspots that can quickly get out of control!

Particularly if you’re rushing to get ready in the morning.  

Therefore, it’s no surprise that this is one of the common clutter magnets.

Let’s take a look at some ways to tackle this:

• Soap dispensers typically take up less space on your counter than soap dishes and are easier to clean.
• Store your everyday makeup in vanity organizers to quickly see and use what you need.
• Utilize under-the-cabinet shelving for storage, placing the items you use most often towards the front for easy access.
• If you have limited space, consider installing floating shelves to increase the amount of storage.

Recap

Of the many ways that you can start to eliminate clutter in your home, identifying the hotspots where clutter tends to accumulate and taking action, is key. 

These common clutter hotspots are:

1. Flat surfaces in the kitchen
   Clear countertops make for a more pleasant meal prep environment.
2. Entryway
   Eliminating the clutter here helps to set the tone as soon as you enter your home.
3. Coffee Table
   Use built-in storage or add storage space to keep your coffee table neat.
4. Nightstand
   Keep it to the essentials.
5. Bathroom Counter
   Make use of storage to keep your counter looking clean.
   

Try out these tips and you’ll be working your way to a clutter-free home.