The Modern Solution To Declutter Your Home That You Probably Hadn't Thought Of

One solution to decluttering may be what you're using right now: digital devices. Nowadays, from banking to music streaming, almost everything is–or can be done–online. At the same time, items that should be digitized are also often easy to overlook or ignore, i.e., one receipt, recipe, or product instructional manual, until they become an overwhelming pile in desperate need of decluttering. While some of the papers in the pile may obviously be trash that can go directly to the recycling bin or shredder, others may be less straightforward. If you don't need a hard copy, digitizing the majority of your paper-based items can instantly help clear off some counter space.

From Google Drive to Dropbox, plenty of online applications and platforms make it easy to upload, sort, label, and search your saved items. For example, you can scan and organize all of your important documents or family photos in a digital drive, categorize them by date or activity, create digital albums or folders to share, and more. The best thing about digitizing important and sentimental items is the preservation—no wear and tear (or the occasional coffee spills on them).

Almost anything on paper can be digitized. To declutter an overcrowded bookcase, consider switching to eBooks. Plenty of subscription services, such as through Kindle and Scribd, offer unlimited access to digital libraries, audiobooks, and bookstores at your fingertips. Or, for magazine subscriptions, switch to digital publications. Nowadays, most outlets actually encourage you to download their apps and follow their social platforms to stay in the know. 

Keep in mind that some of the papers cluttering your space may already be easily available online. Many banks, cable companies, and other institutions provide online billing, with statements sent to your inbox instead of sending physical copies–you may even get a discount when you opt for paperless billing! It's likely you can also recycle the physical copies of your household appliance manuals and simply create a digital bookmark folder of the manuals you might need. 

For handwritten recipes, family photos, and the like, you can snap pictures or use your printer to scan them and create digital folders. It's unlikely you need to retain every picture you've taken or every piece of artwork your child has made. You may even find that you're better able to enjoy these pictures once they're digitized, easily turning them into phone or desktop wallpapers. Taking advantage of digital applications not only helps declutter your home but also the environment. According to EnvironmentalPaper.org, using them could help reduce an estimated 25% of paper consumption. That said, nothing is without its faults. When digitizing clutter in your home, always backup your files and consider saving them on an external hard drive and cloud storage, just in case.