How long does it take a flat surface such as your dining table or your kitchen counter to disappear under an indescribable jumble? Not long? That is exactly what we thought! So here are 7 brilliant ideas for clearing your flat surfaces.
To clear the clutter, always lay the table
This is no joke! Lay it completely. Once the glasses, plates and napkins are in place, there will be no room left for mess. A table that is already set stops you putting things down on it, which forces you to put them away. You and your family will manage this way to break that dreadful habit of endlessly cluttering your table. And it will also let you skip the step of having to put the clean crockery away in the kitchen cupboard and take it out again later for the meal. Save time and avoid clutter by putting the clean crockery straight onto the table as it comes out of the dishwasher (or the drying rack).
Leave yourself a reminder to keep clearing the clutter
Leave a note in the places where things tend to pile up: sideboard, bookcase, side table... The note might say: "Don't put it down, put it away!" or "This is not a drop-off zone". That visual reminder may well be all it takes for you to stop scattering things about. Remember that you are trying to break a bad habit, so be patient: it can take a while (a minimum of 21 days). If you catch yourself slipping back into your old ways, take yourself in hand and put things away before it gets out of control. Time-management pros make great use of this strategy of reminders left here and there.
Give everything a place of its own
It is impossible to keep your home in order if every object does not have a designated place to be stored. The flat surfaces of your home will always look untidy. A practical storage spot — whether a box for bills waiting to be paid, a basket for magazines you have not yet read or a bin for clothes to take to the dry cleaner's — will make organising far easier and do away with those cumbersome piles. Make sure these storage spaces are accessible, so that putting an item away is just as easy as dropping it somewhere else.
Create a drop box
A drop box can be an excellent solution for storing all your odds and ends. Find a small box, a tray or a basket, and designate it as the one and only place to drop all those things you do not want to put away just yet — a tube of lip gloss or a phone charging cable. Of course, you will have to sort through it at some point, but it is still far easier than moving all those little objects from one place to another. What is more, you will be able to carry the box from room to room and put everything back where it belongs.
Find a trolley to help you clear the clutter
If you need to spread projects out on a flat surface in order to work, a trolley is a very good idea. It will let you carry your supplies to the table where you can work on your project. Once you have finished, all you have to do is put everything back on the trolley and wheel it out of the way. It is an ideal solution for small "craft" projects such as sorting photographs, making a collage, cutting out coupons or any other task where you need to spread out. Make sure you buy the right trolley by measuring the space where you will have to store it. For instance, if you want to put it under the table, you need to know the height of the table. You can also keep the trolley in a cupboard nearby, or simply tuck it into the corner of the room.
Deal with it now!
Leaving things on flat surfaces so as not to forget them, or so you know where to find them later, goes against common sense — whether it is a form to fill in or the television remote battery you need to change. Illogical, but understandable: you are afraid of losing it or forgetting to do it if you put it away. So here is the piece of advice that will change your life: get the task done right now. Filling in a form or changing a battery will only take you a few minutes, so stop putting it off. By postponing, you create clutter and merely add one more thing to the list of everything you have to do. Try as far as possible to talk sense into yourself and do what you have to do straight away.
Tidy up every day
However disciplined you may be, clutter will always end up gathering on flat surfaces. We move and carry a great many things about, and sometimes they end up on the kitchen counter or on the dining table. Try to get into the habit of spending a few minutes at the end of each day putting it all away. That way you will manage to keep clutter on your home's flat surfaces to a minimum. A little daily upkeep can make all the difference between a tidy home and a messy one. Imagine the pride you will feel as you clean your flat surfaces and keep them beautifully tidy!
The 7 ideas at a glance
| Idea | In practice |
|---|---|
| Always lay the table | A table already set = no more room for mess; clean crockery taken straight from the dishwasher. |
| Leave yourself a reminder | A visible note ("Don't put it down, put it away!") as a prompt, while you break the habit (min. 21 days). |
| Give everything a place of its own | A dedicated box, basket or bin: every object has a designated place, easy to put away and to find. |
| Create a drop box | A single tray for small odds and ends to be sorted later, portable from room to room. |
| Find a trolley | Ideal for spreading out and storing projects (sorting photos, collage, coupons) without cluttering the table. |
| Deal with it now | A form, a battery to change: the quick task done straight away prevents things piling up. |
| Tidy up every day | A few minutes at the end of the day to put the counter and table back in order. |
