8 Things Making Your Home Look Cluttered

Decluttered, donated, deep cleaned-- You've done it all, but your home still does not look as streamlined and "put together" as you would like it to. Even after all of your hard work and diligence following my other home organization blog posts, your home looks messier than you had envisioned. Sometimes, the most common areas we focus our decluttering skills on isn't enough. 

Part of the reason your home may still not look the way you want is because certain kinds of clutter turn into "home decor." We see our homes everyday and get used to decor and items being in certain places which can make it hard to pinpoint the things that are throwing off the "vibe." Check out these 8 things making your home look cluttered and see if your home is guilty of any.

1. A busy refrigerator door
It doesn't matter how clean and organized your kitchen is-- a refrigerator door covered in countless magnets and papers is going to make your kitchen look messy. Consider taking photos on your phone of papers you still want to remember and remove them from the refrigerator. If you must keep some papers on the refrigerator door, do your best to keep them minimal and not overlapping.

2. Toys everywhere
Whether we are talking kids toys or dog toys, scattered toys across the home make it look cluttered. Keep the toy collection from growing out of control by donating/discarding a toy for every new toy brought into the home. Grab large (and pretty!) baskets to store the toys in and keep the baskets in one or two rooms max. The goal is to get the toys off the floor and the furniture and into a pretty basket as quickly and easily as possible. 

3. Dark rooms
Bringing light into your home will make it feel much more fresh and spacious. Dark rooms often feel confined and closed in- making the home feel cluttered and gloomy. If you can't get natural sunlight, no worries! Consider sconces, pendant lights, or lamps.

4. Mismatched storage solutions
This one really hurts my heart. Storage solutions are wonderful and it is awesome to see people utilize bins, baskets, and shelves to organize their home. However, if you're looking for a more refined look, matching storage solutions is a MUST! It is amazing the difference matching bins and baskets look compared to those with an array of colors, sizes, and materials. Matching (and pretty) storage solutions is one of the easiest ways to mesh functional organization with home aesthetics. 

5. Too many table photo frames
Photo frames on tables make a room look busy (not to mention, WAY harder to dust.) Consider creating a photo wall with matching frames. This will allow you to display your photos in a stylish way without taking up space on tables.

6.  Items on nightstands
This is one of the most common culprits to bedrooms looking cluttered. A nightstand covered in items takes away from the rest of the organized bedroom sanctuary. Consider utilizing nightstands with built in drawers so you can easily tuck your things away instead of leaving them out. Even if you have to have certain items readily available to you while you are going to bed/sleeping, make it part of your routine to store the items away before you go about your day. As for decor, keep it minimal! Even just a lamp is PLENTY for decor purposes- I promise your nightstands won't look awkwardly empty.

7. Too many throw pillows
Too many throw pillows?! Say it isn't so! It is so easy to grab another pretty throw pillow while browsing Target or HomeGoods. It's just one pillow, right? Wrong. Throw pillows are a commitment. If you decide you have to have your throw pillows, keep in mind they require regular straightening, positioning, and fluffing to look good and not messy. 

8. Shoes at the doorway
If you have a shoe-free home and ask that everybody takes their shoes off at the door, you NEED a way to keep this area organized or it WILL look cluttered. Look into bins, baskets, cubes, shelves, racks-- you will have to decide what works best for your space and your family. Make sure to invest in a solution with enough space for the whole family.

I hope you enjoyed reading about 8 things making your home look cluttered. Which sneaky clutter items are killing your home's vibe? Comment below!

If you're looking for more organization ideas and tips, follow Sage Organizing Co. on Pinterest! ​
​
Need more help with organizing your home or estate clearing? Contact us and book a consultation to start your organized life today!

Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area.

​Related Articles:
​              Your Guilt-Free Decluttering List
              A Guide to Organize your Junk Drawer
​​              3 Things Professional Organizers WISH their Clients Knew