.How to hide clutter is an ongoing issue that most of us deal with in our homes. There’s just something about the things we need in life and what just sometimes plain old want!
In my last post, I talked about budget thrift store shopping and several of you mentioned needing to hold back from buying more.
And trust me, I can relate! But with a lot of years as a homemaker, I think I’ve mastered the fine art of hiding clutter in my home with style.
And in this post, I’m sharing my top tips to hide clutter both in hidden and open storage!
5 Easy Ways To Hide Clutter In Your Home
First and foremost, I have a strict family rule that something else needs to go out when something new comes into the house.
I’m not just talking about collectibles, but clothing and shoes, pillows and linens, and useless piles of magazines.
A general “in with the new then out with the old” rule exists in our lack of closet, built in 1962 home.
That being said, there are things that I’ve needed to store and hide away, too. Although I am far from the most organized person on the planet… I strongly dislike clutter.
When I was dating my husband, I had to bite my tongue whenever I walked into his apartment and saw his dining table piled a mile high with papers.
Homes are meant to be lived in and not look like magazine features, sure. But you can achieve easy neatness results with a little forethought.
I’ve found some easy ways to hide messes, necessities, and seasonal stuff, with style. Here are my stress-free clutter busting everyday storage tips:
USE CABINETS TO HIDE KNICK KNACKS
We all have cabinets built into our kitchens and bathrooms, but somehow there never seems to be enough. Consider looking for freestanding cabinets! I love the vintage genre and is not only great to add storage but character to your room as well.
HIDE YOUR CLUTTER IN BASKETS & BINS
Think outside the box (bin 😉 and utilize decorative objects for storage. I have 20 great ideas for HIDDEN STORAGE that you can DIY!
USE OTTOMANS WITH HIDDEN STORAGE TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
Any object like an ottoman that has built-in storage is a win/win in my book! Not only great as extra seating but what you can hide inside never to be seen by the naked eye of anyone unless you choose to.
Recently I picked up a very inexpensive ottoman type of storage basket and it’s one of the handiest things around and so lightweight!
HIDE CLUTTER BEHIND FABRIC
My biggest tip for these situations is to think about sewing a pair of drapes or a simple gathered skirt on a tension rod to cover up anything you don’t want to see.
USE THE UNDERNEATH OF YOUR FURNITURE TO STORE AWAY THINGS
Less to dust, more to love and there is always room for a few additional pieces if you keep the clutter tucked away!
If you’re on an organizing and decluttering project, I recommend you to head over to my post where I’ve listed some amazing DIY Storage Bins tutorials and this one where I give my tips on how to approach the KonMari method!
I have a FREE eBook for subscribers with lots of cleaning and organizing tips! I’ve also added a handy cleaning checklist to print out. You can subscribe right up at the top of the blog!
Well…I have the vintage cabinet (filled with catalogs that I go thru on a seasonal basis), but I also have the vintage baskets, etc. which remain empty. What do you keep in yours? I also have vintage luggage which (I think!) is filled with old bills from when I moved into our present home in….2006. Ugh….I need an intervention, lol! Can you move in with us…and bring the chandeliers? 😉
PS I was so glad to see you aren’t recommending I purge my Laduree boxes…that would just kill me, lol!
No way…I have some myself! xoxo
Hi! Your pictures are very pretty. Can you explain why the latest trend for books is to show them backwards…spine towards the wall? Do people not read the books in their houses anymore?
Thanks!
Vicki
I’m sure that people still read books, but it’s a way to showcase color. I first noticed this trending in French decor books maybe 15 years ago before noticing it gaining speed in the US.
I love these fabulous idea. I never thought of using as storage some of these items for storage. Thank you so much. Have a great weekend.
Hello,
I love your coffee set in the cabinet and have never seen the pattern before. It looks old. Where did you find it?
Bente, U.K.
It is old Bente and belonged to my husband’s mother. It’s from Royal Copenhagen and she picked it up when they lived in Switzerland.
Interesting! I am from Norway and well familiar with Royal Copenhagen, but this pattern stands out! It’s gorgeous!
Janet, storing stuff is not my problem…knowing where I stored it is another issue:( I spend so much time looking for that particular vase or box of buttons or table cloth…book ends…you get the picture! I try to keep everything together but when I’m in a hurry, my organizational plans are forgotten. I would love to know how you remember where you put stuff! I am fortunate to have a lot of storage areas and that is a problem too. Thanks for the printables! They are lovely!
Hi Cecelia. I don’t have a problem remembering where I store things, but if I did I would probably write them down in a journal. I keep an old fashioned paper journal where I jot down notes, schedules and work related things daily.
Thankyou Janet. I love your comment about things we need and others we just want. So much talk about getting rid of clutter lately. We have the same policy as you do, one in, one out. But there are some things I love and want to keep no matter what.
One in and one out works for me, but it’s funny that my husband is resistant to that! I have a few sentimental items as well and certainly nothing wrong with that! Have a great week Kate…