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8 ways to declutter your home

By Guest Poster โ€ข 3 Comments

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By Misha Saul

Our homes are getting smaller and more expensive, but at the same time, our lives have never been busier! Simplifying your home clears the mind. It reduces waste, brings comfort, and allows you to focus on what is meaningful to you. So here are eight ways toย declutter your homeย without breaking the bank.

Photo credit: Houzz
Photo credit: Houzz

1. Donate

The best way to declutter and make space is to get rid of what you no longer need. The best way to do that is to donate rather than contribute to waste. Whether itโ€™s food, nursery items, work or casual clothes there are people in need who will benefit from your used or unwanted items. Ensure to check with your selected charity that theyโ€™re able to rehome or distribute your donation. Various charities have drop points around town or if you are unable to reach one, they may have volunteers who can collect your items from you.

2. Double dutyย 

01312011bikerack

Your furniture can double as storage, and it doesnโ€™t need to be modern or expensive. Trunks can double as coffee tables, book stands as bike stands, or vintage filing cabinets as end tables. You can buy or build a โ€˜zooโ€™, a basic wooden barred crate for the kidsโ€™ fluffy toys to live in.

3. Replace, donโ€™t growย 

Fix the items you have in your wardrobe. When you buy a new item, donate or discard the item itโ€™s replacing. Be ruthless with this one โ€“ you donโ€™t need more! This will also force you to go through your wardrobe and make the most of the items and space you have.

4. Fill a garbage bagย 

See how quickly you can fill a garbage bag with things to discard or donate. This applies equally to cleaning out your pantry or your wardrobe. Soon enough this is one trick thatโ€™ll run out of steam, but itโ€™s a favourite to get things going.

5. Make every piece count

Your place wonโ€™t get bigger or cuter by filling it with furniture you donโ€™t use. Ensure each item is fulfilling a purpose. Scale is crucial โ€“ each piece should be in proportion to one another. Lighter colours will make the space feel larger. Distinct pieces will confer character, so be selective!

6. Light, mirrors and windowsย 

DSC_8667 copy
Photo credit: My Lovely Things

Natural light will make a space feel more open. Let light in through larger windows and use elegant mirrors to bounce light around. Furniture can help here too. For example, use a glass coffee tables instead of a wooden one. This also applies to the bathroom:ย chooseย a clear glass shower screen overย a frosted-glass one.

7. Donโ€™t turn your garage into a junkyardย 

Your garage can be used to maximise your home space for rotating seasonal clothes and decorations, recreational equipment and occasionally used items like snow and camping gear. Install overhead ceiling racks to hold these. And discard all the outdated and broken furniture and appliances that have collected over the years!

8. On-demand storageย 

Boxly_6 boxes

Boxly collects, stores and redelivers your things. You can keep track of your belongings in your online account with photos and a written inventory. When you schedule a pick up, Boxly can also collect donated nursery items for St Kilda Mums or food and household items for Foodbank Victoria.

— Misha Saul is a co-founder of Boxly, a Melbourne based on-demand storage start-up helping people make space in their lives.

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June 5, 2015

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Me and @fantasticfurniture go WAY back! When I fir Me and @fantasticfurniture go WAY back! When I first came to Australia in my 20s, it's where I headed to buy everything I needed for my first apartment at an incredible price! And I've loved watching the range get more and more impressive over the years as my knowledge of furniture has increased. I had no idea how extensive their Aussie Made sofa range was though. I'd love you to check out the options via link in bio as I think you'll be impressed! I think we have a renewed appreciation for Aussie Made and supporting local manufacturing and jobs and this is a great success story. We love a bit of high low decorating, and turns out Fantastic Furniture is a great place to find your family lounge, a special accent chair, an extra ottoman for occasional seating and so much more. 

#fantasticfurniture #aussiemade #australianfurniture #FindyourFantastic #FantasticFamily #affordablehomewares #affordablefurniture #custommadesofa #custommadelounges #australianhomes #interiorsblog #interiorsaccount #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsdaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
Please don't show my boys this room or they'll wan Please don't show my boys this room or they'll want one like it!

How gorgeous is this Brisbane kids' bedroom?! 

@brittwhitestudio worked closely with the boys (aged 7 and 9) to understand their needs with a bespoke bunk bed solution crafted by BRC Cabinets, featuring ample storage as well as an under-stair hidey-hole, a useful reading nook for books and a built-in charger for electronics. Local craftsmen Emmettโ€™s Ropes designed and hand-tied the ropework on the top bunk and the supporting pillar beneath.

Head over to the blog via link in bio to see and read more!

#bunkroom #bunkbed #bunkbedsforkids #bunkbeds #bespokebunkbeds #custommadebunkbeds #sharedbedroom #sharedbedroomforkids #boysroominspo #boysroomdecor #junglebedroom #kidsroomstyle #kidsroomstyling #childrensrooms #theinteriorsaddict #interiorsblog #interiorsaccount #interiorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #brittwhitestudio #highriseliving #apartmentlifestyle #penthouses #apartmentlivingwithkids #newsteadbrisbane 

Pix by @joebrosnan.photo
Comment your fave: 1, 2 or 3? Just 3 of the kitch Comment your fave: 1, 2 or 3?

Just 3 of the kitchens in the @duluxaus Colour Awards 2023 shortlist which will give you some serious inspiration!

Loads more gorgeous residential rooms to see on the blog this morning via link in bio.

Projects by @studio__bright @kaiko_design and Georgie Shepherd Interior Design. Pix by @arorygardiner @fiona_susanto and @christophermorrisphoto 

#duluxcolour #duluxpaint #duluxaus #duluxcolourawards #duluxcolourawards2023 #moodykitchen #allwhitekitchen #designerkitchen #sagekitchen #boldkitchen #colourfulkitchen #colouredkitchen #theinteriorsaddict #interiorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #interiorsblog #interiorsaccount
We're a bit obsessed with Cara Standen's balcony m We're a bit obsessed with Cara Standen's balcony makeover using @kmartaus stone tiles!

Nineties townhouse in Lennox Head or villa in Greece? You decide! All up it cost $2000 including all materials and she did the work herself.

Read all about it via link in bio now.

Love your work @twin_palms_lennox

#kmartaustralia #kmartdiy #kmarthack #kmarthome #modernmediterranean #balconymakeover #balconyideas #diybalcony #budgetdiy #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
Wallpaper in every single room! What do you recko Wallpaper in every single room!

What do you reckon? You'd think it would be overkill but it isn't because so many of the designs are subtle yet still impactful.

Head over to the blog to see how @grafico_walls transformed this blank canvas Melbourne townhouse with their products, which you've probably seen on The Block over the years. And read how Damian Corney has grown this Melbourne business with wife Adele and a growing team. There's also a look inside the very cool Motley Hotel which has used a whopping 4km of their wallpaper throughout!

You can also watch a video tour with Bec Douros as the house featured on Open Homes Australia over the weekend.

Via link in bio now.

#wallpapergoals #wallpaperdesign #australianwallart #australianwallpaper #wallmurals #wallpapermural #wallpapermurals #wallpapereddoor #digitalwallpaper #digitallyprintedwallpaper #customwallpaper #wallpaperaesthetic #wallpapertrends #wallpaperaustralia #grafico #graficowallcoverings #melbournebusiness #melbournesmallbusiness #openhomesaustralia #theblock #becdouros
Kids and fluffy chickens. Does it get any cuter?! Kids and fluffy chickens. Does it get any cuter?! 

Braved the rain second morning in a row to feed the animals at @edenfarmescape because life's too short to worry about a bit of mud and drizzle!

Feeling relaxed ๐Ÿฅฐ
Did you see this cracking little transformation on Did you see this cracking little transformation on @sellinghousesaus last night?

We have all the finer details on the blog today via link in bio. Particularly love the kitchen refresh using the existing blue cupboards which really weren't doing anything for me before ๐Ÿ˜‚

#sellinghouses #sellinghousesaustralia #beforeandafterkitchen #beforeandafterrenovation #beforeandafterlivingroom #renoshow #realreno #interiorsblog #interiorsaccount #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #bluekitchen #budgetkitchenmakeover #budgetdiy #budgetmakeover
How's this for a compact back yard TRANSFORMATION? How's this for a compact back yard TRANSFORMATION?!

Our friends at @mintdesignau have done it again!

Homeowner Briony Marsh says: Itโ€™s totally changed our home lifestyle now we can sit outside on the lounge in the sun or shade, be in the pool, spa, sauna or cooking pizzas and hanging out with friends. It sounds cliched but it really feels like we are on holiday at home!โ€

Head over to the blog to see the finer details, including a sauna and a seriously good looking copper pizza oven. There's a lot packed into this space!

#backyards #smallpools #smallpool #homesauna #pizzaovens #outdoorpizzaoven #landscapedesigner #mintdesign #holidayathome #resortstylehomes #landscapeartist #backyard #exteriorinspiration #exteriormakeover #exteriordesigns #pergoladesign #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
Swipe for before & afters of today's real reno. L Swipe for before & afters of today's real reno.

Located inside a 1912 sandstone villa in Adelaideโ€™s Kensington, this bathroom makeover combines classic and contemporary elements that complement the homeโ€™s original, period features. 

Designed by the homeโ€™s owner @designby_Tahirih, who is a property stylist too, the renovation came sooner than expected after water ingress made the makeover of their only bathroom an urgent necessity!

The whole project cost an impressive $20k, project managed herself.

Read all about it via link in bio now.

#realrenovations #realhomes #realreno #heartyourhome #renoaddict #freestandingbath #classicbathroom #classiccontemporary #classiccontemporaryinteriors #theinteriorsaddict  #interiorsaddict #jenbishop #homestaging #laundrymakeover #bathroomrenovations #bathroomremodels
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Comments

  1. AvatarNina says

    June 5, 2015 at 8:45 am

    #5. Is a big focus of mine right now. I’m sick of having furniture that doesn’t quite work for me, that I just put up with because it’s there! ๐Ÿ™‚ Can’t wait to get rid of what’s not working and get some pieces that are really useful.

    Nina xo | littlepinkcactus.blogspot.com

    Reply
  2. AvatarFiona says

    June 7, 2015 at 7:38 pm

    Love that Boxly supports St Kilda Mums, they are definitely the best place to take your preloved baby items!

    Reply
  3. AvatarDaniel C says

    June 7, 2015 at 11:30 pm

    I just went to the tip this weekend because I had to get rid of a whole lot of stuff that was starting to cluttering up my space in my house. I have a couple of things put aside to donate to the salvos.

    Reply

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