How To Declutter A Flat Surface (And Keep It Clutter-Free)

Are you struggling to keep clutter out of the flat surfaces (such as floors and kitchen/bathroom counters) in your home? Clutter seems to have a knack for attracting more clutter and accumulating quickly, wouldn’t you agree?

But don’t worry, if you are looking for effective ways to keep clutter out of flat surfaces of your home, you have come to the right place.

In this blog post, I will explain the 5 steps to declutter flat surfaces and keep them clutter-free.

How To Keep Clutter Out Of A Flat Surface

The 5 steps are:

1. Set a goal.
2. Inspect your current behaviors.
3. Inspect your storage solutions.
4. Declutter
5. Establish habits to prevent clutter from piling up.

As you can see, steps 1, 2, and 3 involve preparatory work leading up to the actual decluttering task. Once the decluttering is complete, additional efforts are needed to form habits to prevent clutter from accumulating again, saving you from the need to declutter repeatedly.

Let’s take a closer look at each step:

Step 1: Think About Your Goals

Picture how you want the flat surfaces in your home to look. Consider both the practicality and visual appeal of each space.

Counters

Are you leaning towards a minimalist vibe? Do you want to keep only a few decorative objects, like vases and photo frames on the surfaces, and stash everything else in drawers or cabinets?

Or do you allow daily essentials (such as skincare products and toiletries for bathroom, coffee maker and tea kettle for kitchen) on the counters for for easy access?

Floors

What’s okay to have on the floors besides furniture, storage baskets/bins, houseplants, and decorative objects? Are shoes, backpacks, books, and toys acceptable?

Step 2: Inspect Your Current habits and Routines

Now that you have the ideal images of these flat surfaces in mind, it’s time to identify what’s in the way. Take a closer look at your current habits and routines:

• When you return home from the outside, where do you place your purse, shoes and jacket? What about your family members?
• Do your kids do homework or play at the kitchen counters?
• How often do you wash dishes (or run the dishwasher)?
• Do you have random items on the kitchen counter because you haven’t decided where to store them?
• Do you have small kitchen appliances that you rarely use but are still taking up counter space? Is it because there is no place to put them in the cabinet?
• Do you have clothes piled up on the bedroom floor due to an unfinished decluttering project?
• Do you (or your family members) have a tendency to leave mail, keys, or random knickknacks lying around?

As you reflect on these questions about your daily habits and living spaces, you’ll gain clear understanding of what contributes to clutter on your flat surfaces.

Step 3: Inspect your storage solutions

Evaluate the storage areas nearby their respective flat surfaces — closets, drawers, and cabinets. Think about the amount of stuff you’d like to stow away when not in use.

Assess whether your current storage setup accommodates these needs. Are there unused or wasted spaces in the storage areas that could be better utilized? Or Are they overcrowded with lots of stuff you no longer need?

Step 4: declutter

Now that you have assessed your storage options and the stuff that’s inside them, it’s time to declutter.

At least 2 areas are involved in your decluttering task:

Declutter flat surfaces

This is straightforward. Trash, donate, or store anything that you don’t want on the counter spaces or the floors.

Declutter storage spaces for items to be stored

For items to be put away, first, designate the storage space that is nearby for easy access. If there is not enough space available in that storage area, then declutter it first.

Let’s say, while decluttering your kitchen counter, you find this ice cream maker that you would like to keep off the counter. The ideal storing place would be the kitchen cabinet, but when you open the cabinet, you find it’s full of stuff and there’s no available space.

Instead of looking for another storage place for the ice cream maker, just declutter the kitchen cabinet and make space.

What might happen during the kitchen cabinet decluttering process, is that you also find some plates that you only use once a year for the holidays and decide to store them in the “holiday” storage box in your basement.

If, when you take these plates to the holiday box, and find it full, you will either have to declutter the box to make space for the plates or find another storage solution so that all your holiday stuff can be stored together.

As you can see, the decluttering process can involve many storage areas. The goal is to first figure out the storage place that makes sense for quick and easy access, then declutter and move any items that do not belong to their proper storage place.

Step 5: Establish habits to Prevent Clutter From Piling Up

Now that you’ve successfully decluttered your flat surfaces and relevant storage spaces, establishing good habits is crucial to prevent clutter from making a comeback.

It’s easier said than done, right? You likely have a good idea of the areas where improvements are needed. The challenge is figuring out how to establish these habits.

Create visual cues by placing post-it notes on key areas like the bathroom mirror, drop zone, coffee table, and so on. These reminders serve as gentle nudges to tidy up after use.

Additionally, set reminders on your phone to “reset” these areas once a day, just in case things slip your mind or family members forget.

Resetting your flat surfaces involves taking a few minutes each day to restore order and return everything to its designated place. This simple act of resetting can work wonders in preventing clutter from accumulating.

Allocate a specific time each day or every few days to reset your flat surfaces. Use this time to tidy up, dust, and organize any items that have been left out. By incorporating this routine into your daily or weekly schedule, you’ll maintain the clean and clutter-free environment you’ve worked hard to achieve.

By forming these habits, you’re not only keeping your flat surfaces clean and clutter-free but also creating a sense of order and peace in your living space. While it may take some time and effort to get into the habit, soon enough, it will become second nature.

Conclusion

To recap, the 5 steps to keep clutter out of the flat surfaces of your home are:

Step1: Think about your goals
Step2: Inspect your current habits and routines
Step3: Inspect your storage solutions
Step4: Declutter
Step5: Establish habits to prevent clutter from building up

By implementing these 5 steps to keep clutter off your flat surfaces and establishing a regular reset routine, you have made significant progress in creating a clutter-free and serene environment in your home.

Remember, maintaining a clutter-free space is an ongoing process. It requires commitment and dedication to consistently follow the steps outlined in this blog. But the rewards are worth it!