How to Conquer Paper Clutter in 3 Easy Steps!
Join the month-long Love Your Space challenge and learn how to conquer and reduce paper clutter in 3 simple steps.
Do you wish you could reduce clutter, organize, and decorate your house but don’t think you have enough time? Join the 28 Day challenge and take a few minutes each day to transform your home room by room and love your space!
How to Conquer Paper Clutter
Howdy! Only two more challenges left! I can’t even begin to tell you how much I have enjoyed doing all of these fun little projects. And not just because I’m a decorating crazy machine, but because of all the motivation and inspiration I had from all of your comments, excitement, and participation. So. Much. Fun.
Now, on to today’s challenge… If you have missed any of the previous ones or want to start at the beginning, just click on the link below.
Week 1 Living Spaces
- Challenge #1: Move a Piece of Furniture
- Challenge #2: Hang Something New on Your Wall
- Challenge #3: Style Your Coffee Table
- Challenge #4: Add Fresh Air
- Challenge #5: Style Your Bookcase
Week 2 Sleeping Spaces
- Challenge #6: Change Your Textiles (bedding)
- Challenge #7: Change Your Drawer Knobs
- Challenge #8: Have Your Clothes Ready to Wear
- Challenge #9: Dress Your Dresser
- Challenge #10: Be Ready for Guests
Week 3 Eating Spaces
- Challenge #11: Set Up a Tea/Coffee Station
- Challenge #12: Spruce Up Your Seating
- Challenge #13: Organize Your Pantry. Fast.
- Challenge #14: Style Your Buffet/Sideboard
- Challenge #15: Treat Your Kitchen Window
Week 4 Bathroom, Laundry Room, and Office
- Challenge #16: Make Your Bathroom Pretty
- Challenge #17: Organize your Laundry Room
- Challenge #18: Repurpose Something!
- Challenge #19: Conquer Paper Clutter
- Challenge #20: Organize a Junk Drawer
Okay, I realize some of you winced when you read that but hopefully some of you are excited. A little bit? Anyone? It’s not Friday so I am not excepting more than 15 or 20 minutes of your time. 😉 See, I’m looking out for you! Now, I am just talking about mail, bills, stuff kids bring home, etc…
Here are three easy steps to use to keep the kitchen counter, desktop, and dining table paper-free. At least most of the time.
Option 1: Get to the source of the problem. Go paperless whenever possible. You can do just about everything online now, so whatever you feel comfortable doing online, do it. I am even slowly transitioning to reading magazines online. Check out this article on how to go paperless at home.
If you do enjoy reading and saving magazines (like moi), only keep the ones that you like more than 3 or 4 pages. Otherwise, rip out those pages and put them in a portfolio or scan them into your computer.
Option 2: Be ready. As soon as you enter the door with any “paper items” in hand, have a place for them to go. We have a recycling bin right outside the door, so junk mail and trash don’t even come inside the house.
For other items that just need a place to sit until used, read, or file away; have a basket right by the front door and go through it at least once a week to keep it manageable.
(This basket was handmade by Baskets by Emily and we love it! You can check out her website here.)
Option 3: Keep active filing easily accessible. Store files like your annual tax refund paperwork in your usual spot but keep a decorative storage container like a magazine basket to keep files for bills, medical paperwork, report cards, etc., so you can put them directly in. Place your pretty filing storage in a spot you see and use every day!
Find out more DIY pretty filing solutions in this article.
Tip: If you have kids, let them pick a favorite story, drawing, project once a week/bi-weekly, recycle the rest (when they aren’t watching). 😉 Display their favorites. (UPDATE: My best friends suggested taking pictures of all your child’s artwork and then creating a photo book at the end of the year. She is full of great ideas!)
Well, after this busy month, something else is happening next. Up to Date Interiors is almost a year old. Aw! February 2nd is the big day and I have a whole week of exciting posts planned for you the first week of February. Gosh, I can’t believe it’s almost here.
Join me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes, DIYs, decorating tips, room tours, and home inspiration. I’ll see you over there!
There you have it, a quick little Monday organizing! Come back tomorrow for our last challenge and then we’ll finish the week with some Valentine’s Day-inspired posts. Okay?
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Paper clutter is my biggest issue. I do open mail at the trash can, my real issue, FILING I hate it. So it goes in a basket until that is full, then I file. Sad I know.
Sounds like you got a handle on it Dawn! Filing is the worse, I’m much better at it now that my filing basket is just a few short steps away from the door. 😉
I love getting rid of paper clutter….it feels liberating for sure! Great post 🙂
It does! I LOVE throwing things away but sometimes I go overboard. 😉
I love your tips and tricks. As a SAHM, having a place for everything is important but I don’t want to sacrifice style to do so. I’m loving the clean looks as well.
Thanks for such a sweet compliment Stephani! Sounds like we are on the same page. 😉
The baskets are a great idea. I try to set the day before I have to throw out the trash as the take care of paper clutter so things stay under control.
Great idea! Good habits like that make for a clean and happy home. Thanks for stopping by. 😉
I have to recycle my son’s endless drawings and projects from school when he’s not looking. If he sees one of them discarded, he gets so upset. Visiting from SGBC. Great challenge!
Mine do too Kimberly! I have a friend who used to nanny and would take pictures of all the kids drawings before they were thrown away and make a photo book for them at the end of the year. Isn’t that a cute idea?
I am over from Emily’s Baskets! She is a good friend of mine who has the most fabulous baskets for organizing!! LOVE baskets for organizing! Great tips too:) Now to look around……
So glad you came over Melissa! I just love our first basket from her, so pretty and sturdy.
I Love it, it looks great! I am a basket ADDICT lately. I found a beautiful big one for the kids’ toys in the living room and it has made a huge difference. Taking the time to put every toy back in their rooms is a great idea in theory that never seems to happen in practice. Our clutter ends up being the day’s toys out all over. Now, the rule is put it in the basket and pick a new one out. I never would have thought allowing toys in more places could actually end up cleaner – I’m LOVING it.
Fantastic!! We literally have baskets in every room and closet! Anytime there is a problem with clutter (usually from the kids), it’s time to get another basket. lol Just bought one for school backpacks, shoes, and coats. (We have zero closets and no real entry in the main room.)
Paper clutter is my worse problem. I have tried the baskets but now they are just over flowing. I so glad so many companies I deal with are going paperless. I think that is the only way I can conquer my problem
Going paperless has saved me Yvonne! I used to keep everything but I don’t even have to file away bills anymore I have overcome my magazine addiction. lol Good luck!