What is Clutter?  

These days we can have anything we want at the click of a button, quickly and easily and whilst this is great in many ways, we are potentially gathering more and more items as we move through our lives. 

The more items we have, the more decisions we have to make about them. How to store them, looking after the item and at what point do we pass the items on.  

Sometimes our items can become ‘clutter’ in our homes. It can affect how our homes and spaces function and how we feel within these areas of our home. But what is clutter?  

One definition of ‘clutter’ 

The definition I found was “a collection of things lying about in an untidy state”.  

What are your thoughts about this definition?  

I was hoping the definition would feel like a nicer way to describe ‘clutter’, but I was disappointed that it wasn’t. 

‘Cluttered’ items 

When my own house was ‘cluttered’, I certainly didn’t see my items as ‘things lying about in an untidy state’. I saw each item as items that: 

• Once had a purpose  

• Might have a purpose in the future. 

• Held a memory and was sentimental in some way   

• Were ‘waiting’ to go somewhere else, to be fixed, to be recycled, returned to the shop (physical or online)  

• Didn’t have a home yet.   

• Were full of possibilities and potential … I might even have had a plan to repurpose or re-use something. 

• I was going to use again… one day. Craft items, hobbies (previous hobbies or new ones I plan to start), clothes I would fit into again … one day.                                  

My own definition of ‘clutter’ would be items that have: 

• Value, (monetary or sentimental),  

• Potential and purpose (past, present or future) 

• ‘Waiting’ to be repaired, repurposed, returned, recycled, donated, or thrown away.   

As these items are ‘waiting’ they are often found throughout the home, space and area. 

As ‘waiting’ items gather and accumulate in areas in the home, they can often be and feel overwhelming.   

Decluttering isn’t simple or easy. It takes time. Making decisions for each item can be challenging. What items have you got ‘waiting’ in your home? My tips for starting are to select an area of your home that isn’t functioning as well as you’d like and identify one item for the rubbish or can be recycled at home. One item could lead to another… 

Starting small is key. One step at a time!  

Every item removed from an area is progress, even one item less in a space makes it feel, look and function better than before.