Have a spot for everything
Create adequate storage spaces for your items so nothing is cluttered. Try storing items in the general location of where you use them for convenience.
Know that it’s okay to have a junk drawer
Some things really don’t have a perfect spot to be placed, so a junk drawer is necessary. Pencils, erasers, tape, and other small objects get used all the time but don’t have an efficient way to be stored, so have a junk drawer for items like these.
Acknowledge that life is about experiences, not tangible items
When deciding whether or not to buy something, consider if it would be better than putting that money towards a trip somewhere, or a nice dinner. Plus, these experiences don’t take up any space in your home.
Make it a habit to put things away
It’s easy to say, “I’ll put it away later,” and then end up forgetting about it and leaving the item there. Force yourself to just put the item away after you use it, and after repeating this practice it will become muscle memory.
Purge frequently
Arrange a few times a year strictly for purging. Having a certain date marked on your calendar will help you make it a routine to get rid of the things you don’t need.
Don’t fill your house to the brim
Let the size of your house determine how much can fit into it. Don’t try to stuff your house with everything you own. Couple the number of belongings you own with how much your house can hold.
Don’t try to declutter your whole house at once
Take each step room-by-room. Attempting to clean out your entire house in one day is near impossible. No one has that kind of time or energy and it can become very overwhelming. By attacking one room at a time you will be much more productive, and will get a better sense of what needs to be in each room.
Manage your papers
First, have a certain place or bin to put mail when it first arrives. When you get around to going through it, make sure to put bills and other important papers somewhere safe and accessible. Sort out what catalogs you want to keep and which you can just recycle. When a new catalog arrives try to recycle old ones.