Clean your living room by first clearing obvious trash and hidden debris under cushions. Organize surfaces, and use baskets for misplaced items. Evaluate and tidy media centers and shelves. Assess the decor’s relevance and condition. Conclude with a clean-up and reorganization.
In this article, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to declutter your living room. If you are ready to transform your space into a more organized area, read on.
Step #1: Start with Obvious Garbage
Decluttering your living room begins with removing obvious trash. Walk through the area and pick up any surface clutter that should be thrown out, such as old magazines, random papers, and any other garbage. This initial step clears the way, making it easier to tackle the rest of the room.
Under and Between Furniture Cushions
Often overlooked, the spaces under and between furniture cushions can harbor hidden garbage. It’s important to check these areas for items like old receipts, food wrappers, or even small, lost items that have fallen through the cracks. Removing these cleans the space while uncovering items you might have thought were lost.
As you clear out the obvious and hidden trash, you set the stage for a more thorough organization and decluttering process. This will help enhance the overall ambiance and functionality of your living space.
Step #2: Tackle Surface Clutter
Begin by removing all non-essential items from coffee tables and media stands. This includes old magazines, unnecessary decorations, and any other items that don’t serve a daily function.
Keeping only essential items like remote controls and a select few decorative pieces helps maintain a tidy and welcoming space. This approach clears the visual clutter while making cleaning these surfaces much simpler.
Use Baskets to Collect Items That Belong in Other Rooms
To efficiently manage items that belong elsewhere but often end up in the living room, utilize baskets. Placing a stylish basket or two in strategic locations, such as near the entryway to the living room, serves as a collection point for these items.
This makes it easy to transport them back to their rightful places during regular tidying sessions. Baskets help in maintaining order and preventing the accumulation of clutter from daily activities. They ensure that everything has a place.
Step #3: Focus on Common Clutter Areas
Decluttering the media cabinet effectively begins by categorizing and evaluating each item’s usefulness. Start by removing all contents and grouping similar items, such as cables, DVDs, and various electronics. This visibility allows you to easily decide what to keep, donate, or discard.
For cables and electronics, keep only those that are frequently used or necessary for current devices. Obsolete or damaged items should be recycled or disposed of responsibly to reduce electronic waste.
Organize and Remove Unnecessary Items from Bookshelves and End Tables
Bookshelves often become a catch-all for more than just books. This leads to clutter that can overwhelm your living space. Begin by removing all items from the shelves and categorizing them.
Apply a mindful approach to what you keep:
- If a book or decor item is no longer of interest or doesn’t fit the space aesthetically, consider donating or recycling it.
- For a functional and pleasing arrangement, consider organizing books by genre, color, or size, which not only aids in finding them easier but also enhances the room’s decor.
- For end tables, keep only essential items that enhance the functionality or aesthetics of the space, such as a lamp, coasters, or a small plant.
Step #4: Assess Decor and Functional Items
When assessing decor items, it’s crucial to consider both their aesthetic appeal and relevance to your home’s style. Start by examining each item’s alignment with the current design trends or the timeless elements that resonate with your personal taste.
Eclectic styles, for example, encourage a mix of textures and periods. They offer a rich, layered look that can make diverse decor pieces work together.
For a more unified approach, consider a compatibility quiz approach, which you can find at many sites online. These quizzes help blend personal preferences with architectural features to ensure each piece contributes cohesively to the overall ambiance.
Consider the Necessity of Each Item
Deciding whether to keep or replace decor items hinges on their functionality and emotional value. It’s useful to apply a minimalist mindset. Focus on decluttering items that no longer serve a purpose or bring joy.
For items that are purely decorative, their ability to enhance the space aesthetically without contributing to clutter is key. If an item is outdated or no longer fits the style of the room, replacing it with something that better matches modern interior design trends, such as those that embrace sustainability and minimalism, might be more appropriate.
Step #5: Sort Through Soft Furnishings
When evaluating soft furnishings such as cushions, pillows, throws, and curtains, consider both their aesthetic appeal and their condition.
For cushions, pillows, and throws, assess the fabric quality and check for signs of wear like fading or fraying. Opt for materials that offer both comfort and durability, such as cotton blends for high-traffic areas or luxe fabrics like velvet for a more formal setting.
Curtains should be inspected for their functionality in terms of light control and privacy, as well as their ability to complement the room’s decor. Floor-length curtains can enhance the perception of height in a room, while lighter fabrics can help maximize natural light.
Decide Which Items to Keep, Clean, or Donate
After assessing the condition and style of your soft furnishings, decide which items should be kept, cleaned, or replaced. Items that no longer fit your decor or are beyond repair might be better suited for donation.
For those you keep, consider whether they need a refresh through professional cleaning, especially for items like curtains and larger throws that can accumulate dust and allergens.
Engaging maid services for general house cleaning can also extend to regular maintenance of your soft furnishings. These professionals can provide thorough services, including vacuuming and spot cleaning. They can ensure your items are well-maintained and clean.
Also, consider updating or rotating these items seasonally to refresh your space without a complete overhaul. Make sure to keep them aligned with current interior trends like layering textures and mixing patterns to maintain a stylish and cohesive look.
Step #6: Final Clean-Up and Rearrangement
In the final stages of decluttering and organizing your space, it’s essential to conduct a thorough sweep to ensure no items have been overlooked. Start by checking all commonly missed areas, such as behind doors, under furniture, and inside any storage units you’ve been using during the cleanup process.
This meticulous approach helps in identifying any remaining clutter that might have been missed during the initial phases of cleaning. Removing these last bits of clutter can significantly enhance the cleanliness and order of your space.
Rearrange Remaining Items for a Refreshed Layout
Once the space is cleared of all unnecessary items, the next step is to thoughtfully rearrange the remaining items to refresh your living area’s layout. Consider the functionality and flow of the room.
Place furniture and items in a way that maximizes space and enhances the room’s aesthetic appeal. For example, positioning furniture to facilitate easy movement around the room can make the space feel larger and more inviting.
Utilizing vertical space for storage can also help to keep the floor area uncluttered. This rearrangement gives the room a more organized and tailored look.
Decluttering Made EZ!
You’ve successfully decluttered your living room, but the task isn’t complete without proper disposal of the waste. Instead of worrying about how to get rid of them responsibly, allow us at EZ CleanUp to help.
We handle most kinds of junk with a commitment to responsible disposal. From old furniture cushions to worn-out decor, we ensure that your decluttering efforts are fully supported.
With EZ CleanUp, finalizing your decluttering project is just a call away!
