Are you fed up with the constant stream of clutter coming into your home?

Looking for a few ways to fight back, and keep your home clutter-free?

In this post, I offer a collection of seventeen creative ways to help you curb the clutter.   

Put a trash can near your front door.

This makes it easy to dispose of trash, cancelled receipts, product wrappings, and odds and ends you may pick up during your travels.

Clean out your pockets, wallet, and/or purse as soon as you arrive home.

Ask for experiences, not things, as birthday, and holiday gifts.

Live is meant to be lived, so why not try something new? The next time someone asks you, “What would you like for your birthday/anniversary/graduation?,” consider asking for a fun new experience, instead of an item. You could ask for a cha cha dance classes, dinner at an exclusive restaurant, a pottery making class, trip to a day spa….the sky’s the limit!

Cancel a handful of magazine subscriptions.

No longer reading those magazine issues? Why not cancel two, three, four, or five? You’ll save some money, and free up space in your home. Should you still want to read the magazine, opt for a digital subscription instead.

Put a donate box near your front door.

Create a donation box for all those items you’re ready to donate, or seem to pick up on your travels throughout your home. When the box is full, bag all the contents and take a trip to your local donation center. Bonus points if you cover the box, so you aren’t tempted to rifle through the contents.

Avoid the sale rack.

Just because something is on sale, doesn’t mean you need it, or should buy it. Steer clear of sale racks in department, clothing, and other stores.

Unsubscribe from junk mail lists.

If you haven’t yet done so, you may want to remove yourself from junk mail lists. This will definitely reduce the amount of paper clutter coming into your home. Live in the U.S.? Check out this page on the FTC’s website to opt-out from receiving junk mail.

Skip garage and yard sales.

While the thrill of the chase may be fun, it’s not so fun when you realize you have boxes of garage sale items you’ll never use sitting in your living room. Instead, find another fun outdoor activity that involves “hunting” for things; you could try signing up for landmark scavenger hunts, geocaching, or pick up a hobby to find and identifying different birds, plants, and rocks in a public park or nature preserve.   

Only buy what you really, truly need.

If you’re really serious about eliminating clutter from your home, change your game plan and only purchase items that you absolutely need to survive. You could cut this down to food, toiletries, medication, and clothes (only if you’re replacing clothes that are worn, stained, or no longer fit).

Say no to freebies.

Do you tend to pick up lots of freebies or reading materials at trade shows, expos, carnivals, fairs, and other events? Switch gears, and put a ban on collecting marketing materials. If you need information, chances are whatever you’re looking for is available online.

Break down shipping boxes and containers as soon as possible.

Throw away and/or recycle boxes, bubble wrap, and packing peanuts, as soon as you receive a delivery or purchase a large item. You don’t need that stuff lying around your home.

Snap a memorable photo at an event or party instead of taking home a party favor.

Forgo party favors in lieu of staging a fun photo at weddings, reunions, and birthdays. You can really get creative here: have your camera subjects strike a funny or sweet pose, and make adequate use of the background and landmarks available to you.

Carry around a cloth or mesh bag for small purchases.

Tired of all those plastic and paper bags floating around your home? Keep a small cloth or mesh bag handy in your car, purse, bag, or briefcase. It’s perfect for picking up a few items from the grocery store, or drug store. Just be sure to hold onto that receipt!

Process postal mail the same day it arrives.

Prevent mail from cluttering up your countertops and desks by opening and processing it the same day it arrives in your home. Just five minutes a day will save you from many hours of sorting, opening, and filing.

Leave restaurant take out menus at the restaurant.

Nowadays, most restaurants have their menus online. If you must keep hard copies of menus (perhaps your favorite restaurant doesn’t yet have online menus), keep only the most recent versions in an upright magazine file, and recycle the rest.

Pick up vacation souvenirs you’ll actually use.

Make each and every one of your vacations part of your daily life by choosing home furnishings as souvenirs. It’s a surefire way you’ll actually use the item, instead of having it sit on a shelf collecting dust. You could pick up a cheese grater in Italy, purchase set of silk curtains in China, or buy a hand-carved wooden letter opener in India.

Ask for store receipts via email.

Say goodbye to all those bits of paper flying around your desk. Many stores now offer receipts that can be sent to you via email.

Before purchasing an item, check to see if you already own it.

Not sure if you already own a green button down sweater, or a Phillips head screwdriver? Do your due diligence and take a good look at your belongings at home. You may have already own an item you’re thinking about purchasing!

How about you? How do you keep clutter from coming into your home? Which of these tips do you think you’ll try out? Join the conversation and leave a comment below!