We’ve all been there: “I’ll just set this mail down… err… here…. just until I can get to it…”. And next thing you know, there is a mountain of junk on your horizontal surfaces. Don’t even get me started on kitchen counters. Sound familiar?

Well, good news; you’re a normal human person. And we love you anyway. 

It’s so easy to just set things anywhere there is vacant space rather than placing an item back in its rightful home. This problem is compounded when you’re already working with limited storage space. Luckily, if you have a little bit of spare time and energy, you can reclaim your shelves from the chaos that has descended upon them and ruined your feng shui.

In this post, we’re going to touch on some ways that you can reduce clutter on shelves, hide clutter on shelves, and prevent clutter on shelves in the first place. Hang on to your hats!

4 Dynamite Tips for Hiding Clutter on Floating Shelves - Pinterest Share Image
4 Dynamite Tips for Hiding Clutter on Floating Shelves (10 min. Read)

 

How to Banish the Clutter and Reclaim Your Walls:

#1: Banish What You Don’t Need, and Display What You Love

Banish What You Don’t Need, and Display What You Love
Banish What You Don’t Need, and Display What You Love (feat. Tromso Floating Shelf and Maggie Triangle Magnetic Bookend)

If something brings no inherent value to the table or adds no value to your life in some way, toss it or give it away. Things that we don’t like and don’t use simply sit around or become succumbed to the clutter shuffle (yeah, you know what we’re talking about). Plus, items you banish in this way make room for nicer things that you will love and appreciate.

#2: Pull Everything Off—Start Fresh

Pull Everything Off—Start Fresh
Pull Everything Off—Start Fresh (feat. Aksel Floating Shelf and Shingle Wall Hook)

If it’s too overwhelming to pick and choose from what’s already on the shelf, pull it all off and tell yourself to only put back what you want to look at or store openly. These other items can find a new home. Pro tip: they won’t even be mad about it!

#3: Now It’s Time to Hide Some Junk

Now It’s Time to Hide Some Junk
Now It’s Time to Hide Some Junk (feat. Tromso FM 1 and various Shelfology Bookends)

Ok, so you can’t get rid of it. Maybe your partner is sentimental about the little trinkets, or they’re worth something even though they don’t look great on your shelves. What do we do about that?

One of your options is to pack that clutter away in a box somewhere, label it well, and store it in a safe place. But, alas, sometimes this isn’t always possible. Now what?

Well, you can place smaller items behind larger items… or give them a face-lift that makes you like them more. You can also toss little things into bigger things; for example, your cork collection might actually look really dope in a wire or patterned, open container on a shelf.

We’ve also seen some pretty nifty ideas, like hanging wall-to-wall curtains in front of shelves or using pretty storage bins on the shelves.

Another thing you might try is relocating less-pretty things to a closed cabinet. These items can still be accessed if necessary, they just won’t be front and center anymore.

#4: An Ounce of Clutter Prevention

An Ounce of Clutter Prevention
An Ounce of Clutter Prevention (feat. Aksel Premium Black Floating Shelf and Aksel RADius Premium White Floating Shelf)

We’ve all heard the saying, and it certainly applies here. We can all avoid clutter building up in our homes with a few simple tips:

  • Only buy things that you really love—those things you swoon over and can’t leave behind.

  • Whenever you buy something similar to something else, give away the old one.

  • Go through your home at least once per year to get rid of things you don’t need or want.

  • Check your shelves once a week and remove anything that wasn’t there when you styled them.

  • If you catch yourself doing the easy thing and placing an item on a horizontal surface instead of in its home, stop yourself and put it where it belongs; this will save you time and subliminal frustration in the long run.

So, there you have it! Some practical tips to help you get rid of clutter, hide it, relocate it, and prevent it in the first place! Get out there and make your shelves beautiful again; you can do it!

 

start blog post indicator image end blog post indicator image
another really cool svg