It creeps into your home during the holidays, after big sales and even comes home from school with the kids. Clutter comes from all places, and if you're not careful, you can end up living in a home that is not welcoming and comfortable as it should be. That clutter and mess could be making your life more difficult. If you're spending too much time looking for items you know you have, or coping with large piles of stuff, you may have a clutter problem -- one that could potentially impact your health.
All that clutter is more than just visually overwhelming, according to researchers in the journal Current Psychology, clutter can literally increase stress and make it more difficult to get things done. Because a messy space makes it more difficult to find what you need when you need it and increases your stress levels, taking steps towards a less cluttered space offers both health and aesthetic benefits. Getting rid of excess and unwanted items can take time, but it clears space for the things you do care about and ensures your home is healthy, happy and stress free.
Not sure where to begin? Here are some fast and easy ways to defeat clutter and take back your space.
8 Ways to Combat Clutter and Love your Space
Each of the ideas below is easy to implement and will have a positive impact on your space. Some take just minutes, but pay off every day in a cleaner, more harmonious home.
Stop Unwanted Mail: Advertisements, junk mail, flyers and even unwanted magazines can't clutter up your home if they don't arrive in the first place. Opt out of many forms of direct and advertising mail with a single click via the Federal Trade Commission, then evaluate the subscriptions you have coming in. This is a big step towards clutter free living and takes just minutes to accomplish.
Dump the Junk Before it Comes Inside: Paper clutter that arrives by mail should be sorted out right away -- and dropped into the recycling bin before it can clutter up your home. If you have a PO box, you can do this right at the post office, otherwise review the mail over the recycling bin and drop in anything you don't want to keep.
Out with the Old: Are there items in your home that no one wears or uses? In homes with kids, there are often old toys, books and clothing that are no longer used and won't be missed. Box these up and pass them on to someone new by taking them to your neighborhood thrift shop. You'll do some good and take a step towards becoming clutter free at the same time.
Sort and Store: Out of season clothing and items that are still used don't need to be seen when not in use. Sort through to see if sports equipment, holiday decorations and other seasonal items can be tucked safely away. This makes keeping your house clean a breeze, and makes it easy to find these essentials when you need them.
Identify the Sentimental Value Items: Not all clutter is trash, some of it is part of your family and personal history. Identify and place sentimental items in a single box or closet; then plan to create a way to showcase them in a way that you can enjoy them every day. Displaying or storing your prized possessions allows you to fully enjoy these items and ensures they do not get lost or damaged in the clutter.
Create or Find Storage Space: In some cases, that clutter is comprised of items you actually need -- things that you use but that don't have a home. Clear out some closet or cabinet space for the essentials you do want to keep, then invest in some storage pieces for them. Find space in closets by going vertical -- storage shelves, bins and even back of the door hangers can corral clutter and keep things handy but out of the way.
Make it a Family Affair: Unless you live alone, others in the family can help combat clutter. Even young kids can empty back packs, put away toys and throw away trash, and when everyone pitches in a few minutes a day, the clutter will disappear swiftly.
Get Help: If you are swamped with clutter and truly don't know where to start, a professional organizer can help. While you can pay someone to deal with the mess entirely, that can get expensive -- but an organizational expert who consults and creates a plan for you to follow can be surprisingly affordable.
Whether you go it alone or get help, identifying clutter and stopping it in its tracks can help you have a cleaner, healthier home. You'll also get the benefit of having a comfortable place to relax -- without worrying about piles of stuff that must be dealt with.
