By Mary Marlowe Leverette | Published on 09/13/24

Take a good look around your house—is every surface covered with stuff? Are there any spots where you can give your eyes and mind a rest? If the answers are yes and no, your room is cluttered and can use a refresh.

Visually decluttering a space makes it feel more open and organized without doing a full clean-out. It's especially helpful to do a quick declutter when you have company coming on short notice, staging a house to sell, or for a reset to reduce your stress levels. 

We asked decluttering expert, Danica Carson, for her everyday tips that will help you make a room look less cluttered, instantly.

Meet the Expert

Danica Carson is an organizing expert at The Uncluttered Life and the creator of the Declutter Deck.

Group Small Objects on a Tray

Carson recommends grouping small objects and adding a tray underneath. This may sound like the opposite of decluttering because you're adding another object, however, this is a pretty effective way to visually filter clutter, according to Carson.

"This unifies the objects in a way that appears purposeful and intentional, thus reducing the visual stimulation you experience," she says.

Of course, eliminating objects is always preferred, but realistically some things do need to be out for function. This can be a great trick for kitchen islands and bathroom counters.

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Set a Timer for 10 Minutes

A great way to declutter a space is to create space on flat surfaces such as tables, shelves, and counters.

• Set a timer for 10 minutes and put away everything in its proper storage space.

• Put small appliances away in cabinets, return clean dishes from the draining rack to the cabinet, and hang bookbags or purses from hooks.

"Technically, you're not decluttering anything because you are not getting rid of anything, only moving it, but it has the desired effect. The more space you can create on counters, tables, and floors, the more open the space will feel and appear," Carson says.

Hide Electronics Cords and Wires

Wires from TVs on walls and other electronics on shelves and countertops are visually chaotic and overwhelming. There are many wonderful options for wire management that are both beautiful and functional.

Carson highly recommends docking stations with multiple slots to keep all devices organized, charged, and out of the way. 

Create a Focal Point

Carson thinks a few larger objects sit better visually than a bunch of smaller objects. She recommends swapping several small items for one large piece to make an impactful difference.

"This may sound obvious, but I see people make this mistake all the time when it comes to decorating," she explains. "Small objects tend to leave a space feeling messy and incomplete, and the instinct is to add more and more small objects together until it takes up the right amount of visual space."

Eliminate Wordy Accessories

Words immediately draw your attention because your brain automatically wants to read them and that makes them hard to ignore. While these wordy signs and decals have been a popular decorating choice for many years, too many can compete for your attention visually and leave a cluttered feeling.

Make a "Go Back" Box

Carson recommends having a "go-back" box on every level of your home. Put everything in the box that needs to be put away upstairs goes in the downstairs "go-back" box and vice versa.

At the end of the day, or a couple of times per week, simply take the container to the other level and put everything away on the right floor.

Choose Neutral Colors

Neutral colors reduce stimulation and contrast, and you can use pops of your favorite colors to draw attention to elements in the room.

"Sticking to a cohesive color scheme can make a huge impact on how much clutter you visually register." Carson says. "You want to avoid using the same color for everything, but use different tones and colors that compliment each other rather than fight for your attention,"