Our saving grace is that we are dancers and thus we have an essentially empty living room, which serves as our practice space. Our couch and TV, etc., are in the den instead.

My ongoing uncluttering has involved letting magazine subscriptions lapse, divesting hundreds of books, giving away a considerable quantity of kitchen and decor items, and maintaining a clothing policy of new item in = old item out.

We made some good choices in our furniture. Our dining table has two leaves, so it requires a small amount of floor space most of the time. Our bookcases are almost all glass-fronted; dust is minimized and the shelves look less “cluttery.” Most other storage is likewise closed to the eye, and we have built our furniture collection slowly using Asian styles which are harmonious, simple, and intrinsically beautiful to us. It is easier to keep such an object clean – ugly things attract clutter and dirt because we avoid looking at them.

There are countless decluttering tips and suggestions to be found in the Web community, but what has worked most consistently for me is having a vision for my home as a serene place, where everything that meets my eye is something that gives pleasure.