GPS Living Spring 2024

FINALLY KICK COUNTER CLUTTER ALL CLEAR

A clean expanse of Caesarstone Porcelain in Sleet.

T E X T STEWART KELLER

L et’s say you’re investing the time and money to cre- ate your dream kitchen. When it comes to surfaces, you might choose Caesarstone Porcelain for its ex- treme heat resistance and durability against stains and scratches. If sustainability is a priority, you may like that Caesarstone Time offers the aesthetic of quartz while blending in recycled materials to use less silica. Or perhaps you’ll emphasize your surfaces by framing them with Dekton Yukiyo—a fluted tile designed in collaboration with Claudia Afshar—on an island or backsplash. What’s the easiest way to undo the sense of harmony created by this exciting room refreshening? Clutter. But how can you keep clutter at bay? Try the Clear Surfaces strategy. It’s not complicated, though you and your household may find it takes some getting used to. The essential rule is this: every flat surface in every room in your home must be clear of anything that is not a permanent

fixture. And the follow-up is: every time you leave a room, you must restore it to its cleared state. Why does this help? Well, clutter tends to attract more clutter. This swiftly makes mess the norm. Consider how much more likely you are to pick up one toy than tackle an entire playtime tornado. Similarly, the sight of books and papers on your kitchen table gives your brain permission to add to the pile. The hardest part is the first clutter clearing. Work room by room. Depending on the size of your home, you can try to squeeze it all into one afternoon or spread it out over a week if that suits your schedule. Whichever you chose, once a surface is cleared, commit to keeping that way. Develop- ing good habits is as important as making the initial change. Having trouble? One trick is to take a laundry basket and fill it with the contents of every flat surface in a room. Then, start putting things back where they belong. If some-

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