Just Moved? 5 Strategies To Keep Your New Home Clutter-Free

If you have just recently moved into a new home, and would like to learn some tricks to maintain it clutter-free, you’ve come to the right place!

In this article, based on my experience, I will share some mindsets and habits that can help you keep your new home clutter-free.

Toward the end of the article, I will also share my personal experience of how I was inspired by my overseas move and started focusing on keeping a clutter-free home.

How to keep your new home clutter-free

Here are some mindsets and strategies that have helped me. And I hope they can be helpful to you as well.

1. Take your time for furniture shopping

If you’ve moved to a larger home, resist the temptation to rush into furniture shopping. Give it some time to make sure you truly need each piece.

Before deciding on buying a piece of furniture, take time to do your research on its quality and compare prices. This helps avoid the disappointment of ordering something only to discover later that it doesn’t serve its intended function or match your home decor.

I learned to appreciate our empty space during the 5+ months of living in our unfurnished new house (seriously! We only had basic home appliances, a king-size mattress, three counter stools, and some cushions). I didn’t know much about minimalism back then, but I learned if a piece of furniture doesn’t serve any function, there’s no point in just filling the empty space.

2. Practice Shopping with Intention

To prevent clutter from coming into your home, you’ve got to practice being intentional with shopping.

Here are some simple habits you can form:

• Check your pantry/fridge for inventory before going shopping.
• Wait at least 3 days before buying something.
• Research before buying.

I have an article about how to be intentional when online shopping, and questions you can ask before making a purchase. If you are interested, check them out!

3. Create a system for mail and paper

To prevent paper clutter, establish a system for managing incoming mail, your child’s schoolwork, and artwork.

When it comes to incoming mail, the goal is to stop junk mail from entering your home. Sort your mail right next to the recycle bin and discard unwanted junk mail, coupons, or brochures.

For your child’s artwork and school papers, here’s what I do:

I use a shoebox to store all the papers my son brings home throughout the school year. At the end of each school year, I select one or two pieces of work that represent his learning achievements and recycle the rest.

As for my son’s artwork, I display it on a blank wall. At the end of each year, I take photos of the wall with my son standing in front of it and create a video slideshow to send to grandparents. Afterward, I declutter most of the artwork, keeping only a few really good pieces.

4. Assign storing places for your Possessions

You don’t actually need to designate a space for EVERYTHING, but it’s a good idea to group items in the same category together in the same place (such as the same room, storage cabinet, shelf, or drawer).

Here are two simple questions to consider when assigning a home for your stuff:

• Where do I use it?
• How frequently do I use it?

The goal is to store your items in the most convenient places. This way, you can quickly get to them when you need them and easily return them to their proper storage place when finished.

When you make it a habit to consistently put items back in their designated place when not in use, you effectively prevent clutter from piling up.

5. Practice “slow” decluttering

You might be thinking to yourself: I’m living in my brand new, clutter-free home right now! What is there to declutter?

Believe me, clutter has a way of creeping up before you even notice it!

That’s why now is a great time to establish a habit to declutter. It’s requires less effort to declutter regularly than to wait until clutter has accumulated and gotten out of control.

There are several ways to approach decluttering:

• Declutter one item a day: it can be as big as a furniture piece that you don’t like, or as small as a receipt from your purse. The point is to become aware of stuff that’s surrounding in your environment.
• Declutter 10 minutes a day: it is the same idea as decluttering one item a day. It’s a great way to practice being intentional about your stuff. It will help you with shopping intentionally.
• One in, one out: for everything that comes into your home, declutter an item in the same category. An even better way to approach this would be to decide on what to declutter first before buying a new item (one out, then one in).

What Inspired me to keep a clutter-free home?

Prior to our move to the United States, our family of 3 had let go of over 95% of our belongings in our old home in Asia. We were looking forward to starting a new life in the United States with a clean slate.

Our moving experience was both chaotic and unforgettable. Within days of arrival, before we had a chance to go furniture shopping, the Covid pandemic struck. Consequently, we spent the following 5 months living in our unfurnished home with minimal possessions.

Sounds uncomfortable, right?

However, it was during this period that I felt the calmest, despite the uncertainty caused by the pandemic. Tidying up and cleaning were incredibly easy. For the first time, I felt capable of doing an excellent job of keeping the house!

This moving experience was a turning point for me. It inspired me to embrace minimalism and focus on maintaining a clutter-free home.

It’s been over 4 years since our move, and I’ve learned to appreciate the beauty of having only what truly adds value to our lives. It’s not about deprivation, but rather a deliberate choice to surround ourselves with items that bring joy and functionality.

Conclusion

Starting a new life in a new home is the perfect time to embrace a clutter-free lifestyle by being mindful about your belongings. Here are some practical tips that have worked for me:

1. Take Your Time with Furniture Shopping: Thoughtfully choose each piece to ensure it serves a purpose and complements your home’s overall vibe.
2. Shop with Intention: Before making any purchase, consider its value and necessity, avoiding impulsive buys.
3. Create a System for Paper: Organize your incoming mail, artwork and schoolwork for kids prevent stacks.
4. Assign Homes for Your Stuff: Designate specific places for your belongings, making it easier to find them and maintain order.
5. Practice Slow Decluttering: Gradually and intentionally declutter to become more intentional about stuff in your environment.

I hope these tips make your journey to a clutter-free home more manageable and enjoyable!