20 Tips to Reduce Clutter in the New Year

If your New Year's Resolution is to reduce the overwhelming amount of clutter in your home, then these 20 tips will help you achieve that goal, a little at a time.

1. Keep your "to do" pile of papers in an attractive portable paper file instead of on the counter or desk. Write thank you notes, flip through catalogues, clip coupons, and fill out forms while waiting for the bus, at your child's soccer practice, and waiting for your car to be serviced.

2. Reserve ten minutes at the end of the day for going through the house and putting items away before you settle down with a book or your favorite show.

3. Keep your TV, DVD player, DVR, Video game console, video collection, books, and magazines in a large armoire style cabinet that can easily be closed to hide clutter.

4. Have a series of decluttering projects to do while watching your favorite TV shows: sort through piles of papers, organize photos, file papers, and reorganize drawers.

5. Keep a basket or empty ottoman in the living room to hide clutter for a quick clean up when unexpected company arrives.

5. Put all DVDs and video games into a DVD album and recycle all of the cases.

6. Place a small recycling bin near where you sort mail and discard of junk mail as soon as it arrives.

7. Have a decorative box or bowl on your dresser to catch wallets, keys, phones, business cards, and other items that unpacked and packed into pockets and purses on a daily basis.

8. Designate "clutter spots" as you work on decluttering your home: a basket, a junk drawer, or a small tabletop by the door. Declutter these spots often.

9. Make better use of your hall closet space by installing low shelves near the ground to organize shoes.

10. Declutter you kitchen by making a rule to put in the dishwasher as soon as they are used and don't go to bed with dishes in the sink.

11. Designate a bin or drawer for clothes that no longer fit. When it's full, make a trip to the local Salvation Army or Good Will donation center.

12. For every new item you buy, donate one or two similar items to make space in your newly cleaned out drawers.

13. Put a little putty or extra strength double sided tape on the bottom of drawer organizers to keep them in place.

14. Simply labeling where things go in storage closets will make sure items get put back in a designated spot instead of being placed in the nearest available spot.

15. Invest in a mini-safe or a safe deposit box to store important, yet rarely needed documents, such as birth certificates, title documents.

16. A dish drying rack on a shelf makes organizing cutting boards, baking trays, and platters simple and efficient.

17. Create a basket or bin of organizing materials to make organizing easier. Include garbage bags, labels and markers, and a dust rag so you don't have to gather the items before cleaning.

18. Purchase a desktop paper organizer to keep papers organized until they are filed.

19. Designate spring and fall clean up weekends each year...and don't skip them.

20. Have a yard sale, or sell items on ebay. Arrange to have Good Will or the Salvation Army pick up any unsold items the next day.

Also by this Author: 5-Step Guide to Keeping your New Year's Resolution