46 Percent of Houseguests Say This Is the First Thing They Notice About Your Space

February 11, 2020

Decluttering may be the buzzword of 2019. The Marie Kondo craze sparked a veritable cultural movement, which gave life to many think pieces and saw niche industries like cleaning influencing take off. But how do people deal with decluttering in their own homes? A new survey by mobile marketplace OfferUp examines just that. The report analyzed the tidying habits of 2,000 Americans, and it looks like, as a whole, we think about decluttering quite a bit.

First of all, if youre planning your fall schedule around getting your home in order for the holidays, youre not alone. Around 37 percent of Americans are purportedly devoting an entire day (or more!) to cleaning, while 24 percent are setting aside a couple of hours. This kind of commitment pays off: 70 percent of those surveyed swear by cleaning to feel accomplished, 61 percent use it to de-stress, and 54 percent do it to feel relaxed afterward.

That said, decluttering has as many external benefits as it does internal. It can help you find a roommate34 percent of those surveyed say tidiness is important when looking for one. It can also influence your entertaining habits, as houseguests notice clutter right away. Forty-six percent of respondents say they suffer quietly when visiting a messy home, and 28 percent would avoid going back.

Whether youre just prepping for picky in-lawsor are looking to turn a new leaf and live a clutter-free life, here are some ways to make tidying up a cinch.

Break It Down

Its one thing to dedicate a specific day to deep-cleaning your home. Its another thing altogether to relegate all cleaning to that day. Think of decluttering as a daily ritual so that when you tackle the big stuff seasonally, the task feels less overwhelming. Fashion designer Jesse Kamm, whose sleek, minimalist office holds enough decluttering inspo to last a lifetime, swears by a nightly sweep-through. Its easy to keep a neat space when there is very little to clutter it, she says. Spend about 10 minutes each day putting things back in their place. When you do a bit each day, youre more likely to stay on top of organization.

Invest in Some Stylish Fixes

Trays for your favorite beauty products, vintage wire baskets for your kitchen textiles, repurposed candle vases for your desktop essentials: There is a myriad of chic storage solutions that prove you dont have to resort to plastic bins to clean up your home. Once youve figured out which materials work best with your personal stylefor example, opt for woven baskets if you lean more boho or sleek acrylic trays if youre a die-hard minimalisttake your time finding organizational tools that double as decor.

Approach It Categorically

When all else fails, channel the queen of clean herself. Lisa Tselebidis is a certified KonMari consultant, and she recommends tidying by category instead of location. You can only grasp what you have and how much of it you have when you gather all the items of one category in one spot, she explains. Start by tackling your clothing pile before turning your decluttering attention to your books.