There are so many advantages to living a clutter-free life. With less upkeep, there is more time to focus on your priorities in life. Your home becomes a place to rest and relax instead of a place of frustration. Your creativity and productivity are given a boost, and you can reduce allergens. Many times the first step to reducing clutter once and for all is identifying the cause. See if any of the following reasons are at the root of your clutter problem and find solutions below.
Lack of Storage
Quite often, clutter is caused by simply not having enough storage or not having the correct type of storage. Invest in a few pieces of furniture that can double as storage. Multifunctional furniture such as ottomans, coffee tables, or benches that contain storage areas can stylishly hide items away. Installing overhead ceiling racks in your garage and closets is a quick and easy way to store items that are not needed regularly. But don't store anything too heavy up above; only use small containers that you can easily maneuver up and down. Try to keep items in “closed” spaces such as cabinets and drawers as much as possible to reduce the strain of visual clutter.
Lack of Systems for Handling the Clutter
It can become an endless chore to keep paper, mail, personal electronics, shoes, outerwear, bags, and toys from becoming clutter. These are all high-touch items that are usually handled daily, and not having the right systems in place for corralling them can lead to clutter. Pare down items in all of these areas, then designate a space to store them when not being used. Once everything is organized, the key to eliminating clutter is to stay on top of it daily. With a handling system in place, staying decluttered will become a natural habit.
Lack of Decision Making
Everything you own takes up some of your time, space, and energy. Often, clutter is just things that we shuffle from one place to another to delay deciding what to do with it. Sometimes clutter is not only a result of unmade decisions but also unresolved emotions. It may be hard to determine due to the worry of making the wrong decision. After dealing with these emotions, challenge yourself to deal with a bit of clutter every day. Dedicate 15-30 minutes each day to clutter-busting with no distractions and only focus on one area at a time. Consider enlisting the help of a friend or a professional to help you sort through the clutter to help with the decision-making process.
1-800-PACK-RAT’s portable storage units are perfect for storing items, giving you more space to purge, clean, and organize. Check us out today to see how we can make moving and storage simple for you and your family!