If you’re wondering how to declutter your home when you have kids around – or if that’s even possible, because I was once convinced this was just a dream – you’ve come to the right place. 

Yes, a small amount of clutter may have a certain charm. After all, seeing little toys strewn about is a reminder of the best things in your life. However, it can quickly get to a point where you feel like you need to carve out a path just to make it to the door, and that’s when you know it’s getting bad! 

And even if messes don’t bother you that much, there are some very real benefits of decluttering your space, according to psychologists. Clutter reduces your ability to focus on tasks, makes it harder to fall asleep, and raises your levels of the stress hormone cortisol. One study even found that people in a “chaotic kitchen” ate twice the number of cookies that those in an organised kitchen did! 

With that in mind, here’s a look at how to declutter your home for less stress and more peace.

1. Don’t collect too much stuff

Every mum has been there… despite your best efforts to only buy what you need, one day you look around at the sheer volume of items in your house and wonder how you’ve acquired so much stuff! I could write a whole book on not buying things you don’t need, but let’s face it: even if you never buy anything new again starting today, you still have far too many things right now.

Do a big purge, donate toys and clothes your kids no longer need or want, and divide what’s left of the toys into three big groups. Keep one group of toys out at a time, and rotate them every few months. That way, there are fewer items to contend with at any given time and you can keep your kids’ interest piqued in what they already have. 

2. Contain, contain, contain

Purging is great, but you can’t realistically get rid of everything. What you can do, however, is contain the kid clutter. Keep your kids’ belongings in their room (and playroom, if they have one), and leave the living room, dining room and kitchen only for household items.

Invest in bins that can be devoted to specific categories of toys, such as stuffed animals, blocks, games, etc. I love bins for smaller children because they can just toss everything inside, which makes clean-up feel like less of a chore for them. You can also limit how many bins come into the living area if you want to keep an eye on your little one while you get stuff done.

And my best tip for how to declutter is to have one bin that’s just for little odds and ends rather than one specific category. There’s always stuff that’s hard to categorise, and those are the items that end up sitting out all the time because no one knows where to put them. Get that squared away, and you’ll notice a big difference in clutter.

3. Clean as you go

When you reach the point where you know that you 100% must clean up today or you’re worried someone might actually get injured, you’ve waited way too long! I know, easier said than done – something always comes up and tidying up is usually the first thing to get pushed to tomorrow. But if you and your children get into the habit of cleaning up as you go, you’ll find that decluttering goes a LOT faster. 

4. Go minimal with decor

Since we know that having a clear space is better for us mentally, why not carry this philosophy over into your home décor? Minimalism is in right now, and having less décor makes your home automatically feel less cluttered – and it also makes any clutter stand out, encouraging you to pick up as you go. If you start with a home full of knick-knacks with every inch decorated, it’s going to start looking and feeling cluttered way faster. 

5. Make it a daily routine

Consider devoting a set amount of time each day to tidying up clutter. Clean off your countertops, your kids’ desks and dressers, and other surfaces; pick up everything on the floors; and get your paperwork in order. If you’re already cleaning as you go (see step 3), this can actually take 5 minutes or less, especially if your kids are old enough to pitch in. Pro mum tip: It’s more fun if you set a timer and try to see if everyone can get every surface clear before it goes off!

Stepping on Legos and seeing a mountain of papers and toys on every surface in your home does not have to be a way of life when you have kids. Be sure to check out my freebie, The Ultimate Declutter Formula, for a handy guide to cracking the decluttering code for good!

I hope this helps you my dear friend!

Love,

Nakita xxx