If you have ever walked into your home and thought that someone else must live there, then you may have a problem with clutter. Don’t worry—you’re not alone. Many people have found themselves in the shadows of ceiling-high clutter and lack the gumption to tackle the problem. With the beginning of New Year here, I have put together some suggestions on how to simplify your living space and live a more organized life.
It doesn’t matter whether you live in an apartment, a house or rent a room-clutter knows no boundaries. The smaller the room, the more affect clutter can have. Typically there are several layers of clutter. One of the first areas that need to be tackled is old papers, taking up space on surfaces throughout the home. Grab a laundry basket and go through the home gathering every piece of paper that is not glued-down or tacked to a wall. Sort all the papers into separate piles. Make one pile for mail, one for newspapers, one for magazines, etc. Keep only current items and shred the rest. Store any bills that are due for payment in a container that is marked “Current Bills”. Keep any old newspapers as packaging for glasses and other breakables that might be going into temporary storage.
The next big area to tackle is the closet. There are two rules that apply to a person’s clothing: the first is that clothing is, by nature, seasonal. Generally speaking a person has summer and winter clothes, so sort these into two piles, storing out-of-season clothing in another closet or in wardrobe boxes in your garage or attic. This sort of removal and storage can cut the size of your daily-use wardrobe in half. The second rule is that if you have not worn a piece of clothing in the last 30 days, then it might be time to donate it. If you have several items that are made of fabric and are sentimental in value, you may want to sew pieces into a very special comforter. All accessories should be given their own space in a drawer, or in a storage container under the bed.
Personal items such as shoes, coats and umbrellas should be stored out of view in a closet. Items such as keys, sunglasses, wallets or any other items that get taken with you when you leave should be kept in a container or bowl near the main exit of your home. Household items that have personal value— such as pictures and art—should be staged in a way that reflects their value to you. Lighting can play a very important role when it comes to staging. Back lights and pin-point lighting can make any object look like a million bucks.
Decluttering a home takes time and patience. It’s important that you don’t get overwhelmed. Follow these steps one at a time, and take all the time that you need to accomplish each step. Trying to tackle everything at once can be overwhelming and can lead to nothing getting done at all—not the way you want to start your New Year!
If you are looking for other good resources for the upkeep of your home visit our New Homes Blog and Home Builder News websites.
New Homes Section is a leading provider of new housing information, allowing homebuyers to shop and compare new homes and home builders across the country. 
Trackbacks / Pings