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We’ve all been there. You walk into your home, hoping to unwind after a long day, only to find yourself tangled in a web of disorder that seems to have taken on a life of its own. Shelves groaning with books, countertops swamped with gadgets, and living rooms overrun by errant toys—these are just a few things that can quickly make your room feel chaotic. We uncover 15 culprits of clutter and dish out easy, stylish solutions that help to restore harmony and functionality to every room.
Open Shelves Overloaded with Items
Overloaded open shelves in the living room can make the space feel chaotic and overwhelming. When every shelf is packed with knick-knacks, books, or decorations, it creates visual noise and distracts from the overall decor. To solve this, edit the items on your shelves by keeping only a few meaningful or cohesive pieces and storing the rest out of sight.
Tangled Cables and Cords Everywhere
Tangled cables and cords snaking across floors and furniture can create a messy, cluttered look. They not only disrupt the clean lines of a room but also make spaces harder to clean and maintain. Solve this by using cord organizers, concealing cables in cord covers, and keeping them neatly tucked behind furniture.
Too Many Throw Pillows on the Sofa
An abundance of throw pillows on the sofa can make even the most spacious living room look overstuffed. Instead of inviting comfort, it can feel impractical and cramped. To fix this, pare down the pillows to a few coordinated ones that add style without taking up too much seating space.
Walls Overdecorated with Too Many Photos
Covering walls with too many photos or artwork can make a room feel visually crowded and fragmented. Instead of enhancing the decor, it creates a sense of imbalance and disorder. A simple solution is to curate a gallery wall or rotate a few favorite pieces, keeping the rest stored.
Coffee Table Crowded with Accessories
A coffee table piled with books, candles, trays, and decor can make the living area feel cluttered and disorganized. It leaves little room for practical use and distracts from the overall design of the space. To solve this, limit the decor to one or two intentional pieces and keep the rest stored or neatly arranged elsewhere.
Closets Overflowing with Open Doors
When closets are crammed full and their doors are left open, the overflowing contents spill into view and create the illusion of a messy room. This can make even an organized space feel chaotic. Solve this by decluttering the closet, using storage bins, and keeping doors closed to maintain a tidy look.
Toys Throughout the Living Room
Toys scattered across the living room make it difficult to relax and enjoy the space. They can quickly dominate the area, making it feel more like a playroom than a shared family room. A simple fix is to designate a toy storage area with bins or baskets and encourage kids to clean up after playtime.
Laundry Piles in Common Areas
Laundry piles in the living room or other shared spaces give the impression of disorganization and neglect. Whether it’s clean clothes waiting to be folded or dirty ones stacked up, they detract from the room’s appearance. Keep laundry confined to a designated area, like a laundry room or basket, and fold or put it away promptly.
Too Many Houseplants in a Small Space
While houseplants add life and freshness, having too many in a small space can make the area feel crowded and disorganized. They take up valuable surface and floor space, which can make movement difficult and disrupt the room’s flow. Solve this by choosing a few statement plants and grouping them strategically to maximize impact without overwhelming the room.
Cluttered Bedside Tables
Bedside tables piled with books, electronics, chargers, and miscellaneous items can make a bedroom feel messy and uninviting. This clutter draws attention away from the room’s relaxing atmosphere. Solve this by limiting bedside decor to just a few essentials and using drawers or organizers to store the rest.
Excess Furniture Crammed into One Room
Too much furniture in one room can restrict movement and make the space feel smaller than it is. It creates a cramped and overstuffed appearance, even in larger spaces. Solve this by removing unnecessary pieces and focusing on a layout that prioritizes function and flow.
Bathroom Countertops Covered with Products
Bathroom countertops cluttered with skincare, toiletries, and accessories make the space look untidy and difficult to use. The scattered items take away from the clean, polished look most people want in a bathroom. Keep only daily essentials on the counter and store the rest in cabinets or organizers.
Overbearing Collection Displays
Large collections displayed without careful curation can overwhelm a room and make it feel cluttered. When too many items are crammed together, it’s hard to appreciate the individual pieces. Display a smaller selection and rotate items periodically to keep the display fresh and manageable.
Overfilled Storage Spaces Bursting Open
Overfilled storage spaces, such as drawers, cabinets, or bins, that can’t stay closed make it clear that the space is disorganized. It draws attention to the excess and makes a room look untidy. The solution is to declutter these spaces, keeping only what you need and organizing items so everything fits neatly.
Messy Cables Under the TV Stand
A tangle of cables under the TV stand is not only visually distracting but can also collect dust and make cleaning more difficult. It takes away from the clean, streamlined look of a well-designed entertainment area. Solve this by bundling cables with ties, using cable organizers, and hiding them with covers or behind furniture.
