A cluttered house looks unkempt even if you clean all the time. You may vacuum, mop and dust daily, but if items are strewn around the house, you need to get organized. If drawers and closets are overflowing, it’s time to get rid of the excess items that hardly see the light of day.
There’s a reason we find too much stuff stressful: it makes it harder to find what you’re looking for. In f’act, scientists at the Princeton University Neuroscience Institute did a study that showed that the more visual stimuli you’re processing, the harder it is to focus and process information.
Clearing out clutter is not as overwhelming as it may seem. The most difficult part of the process is deciding what you don’t need and getting rid of it.
What Do I Do With It All?
So, what do you do with the items you no longer need or wear? That’s easy. Give them away. Your junk is someone else’s treasure. If your children have outgrown their clothes, give them to friends or relatives that have younger kids. You can also donate clothing and household items to churches and organizations that help families in need. These places are always looking for items and they are put to good use. You will be clearing out your clutter and doing a good deed. If you are in need of cash and your house needs a good cleaning, a garage or yard sale is a good way to make some extra money. Price objects appropriately and you can sell everything in one day.
Moving Forward…
Once you’ve cleared out the clutter you’ve decided to part with, take steps to get organized and keep your house clutter free. You can do this by using storage options and functional furniture. If your home or apartment doesn’t have much storage space, you can create it by using shelves, hooks, bins and baskets. Take advantage of wall space by adding shelves to any room where more storage is needed. Corner shelves are decorative and add space for small items to be displayed. Hooks can be hung in the kitchen for coffee mugs, dishtowels, utensils and other items. Place a coat rack in the downstairs hall or entrance way for coats, scarfs and hats. A shoe rack can also be placed in the same area to prevent tracking through the house.
Kid-Friendly
Hooks are also a great way to keep a child’s room neat and clutter free. Large plastic hooks come in a variety of bright colors to spruce up a child’s room and give them a place to hang clothes, backpacks and other items. Cubes, crates and bins purchased in various colors can brighten a child’s room and add storage space. Cubes can be placed on the floor to hold items or mounted to the wall to display stuffed animals, toys or other items. A large bin can be used as a toy box. Smaller bins can be used to store seasonal clothing and slid under the bed.
For the Grown Ups
Add a bit of flair and storage space to an adult bedroom with a cedar chest or foot locker placed at the foot of the bed. Use it to store seasonal clothing, blankets, sheets or other items. If your closet is a small built-in closet vs. walk-in, double the space by adding an extra rod. You can also use shoe racks, over the door rack hangers and hooks inside the door to maximize closet space.
Bathrooms
Put up shelves in the bathroom for extra space, and use decorative containers such as wicker baskets to hold makeup and other personal items. Purchase a small cabinet to hold bathroom tissue. Use a towel rack with multiple racks to hold towels or roll them up and place them on shelves for a decorative look.
New Purchases
If you’re in the market to purchase new furnishings, choose items that have storage potential such as beds with built-in drawers or end tables with storage space inside. Use them to store magazines, books or other items. You can also purchase ottomans with storage space inside. Benches that open provide additional storage as well as an alternative seating option. There are many ways to organize your home and prevent clutter. Take advantage of the options available and be creative when shopping for household items. Purchase items that are both useful and decorative. Once you’ve cleared away the clutter, keep it that way by being creative and organized.
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