By Alyssa Sporrer | Guest Writer | Sustainable Organizers
Reading this blog post is the first sign your home could use some decluttering. Or maybe you just got into learning more about decluttering after watching Marie Kondo’s Netflix special.
Your home may seem clean enough when cabinets, drawers, and doors are closed. But how do the cabinets and closets look on the inside? And are they functional for your family? These are some of the questions we will get into as we go through seven signs that it’s time to declutter a room.
1. You have trouble finding things you use regularly
Your go-to pots, utensils, cups, and Tupperware in the kitchen should be easy to find, access, and put away. If you waste time searching for the items you need regularly, it’s a sign you could benefit from decluttering and organization. It can be tiring and time-consuming to constantly look for the frying pan you use to make scrambled eggs every morning. Things can be difficult to find if they are buried under or behind other items as soon as they’re put away, or the problem could be they somehow end up in a new spot every day.
2. Items don't have a home
Not having a designated spot for each category of items and each item within each category makes it difficult to find things. It also takes up mental capacity for you to decide where to squeeze things in every time you put them away. Maybe you don’t even put certain items away at all because you don’t know where they go.
When things don’t have a home, other family members may feel like they can’t help put things away or get them out because they don’t know the system. This can make extra work for the member of the household that typically does the tidying and can sometimes make that person feel overwhelmed and like they are the only one in the family that ever cleans up. If you declutter and organize the kitchen cabinets, for example, your partner or kids might be more likely to help unload the dishwasher or cook meals because they know where to put each item and where to find it.
3. You are constantly worried about piles of things falling as you get something
Piles of stacked items falling is a problem most commonly seen in closets, on toy shelves, or in kitchens. If you are worried the stack of board games will fall on you as you try to grab the one on the bottom, or you always knock down several water bottles as you reach for the one you want, it is time for some decluttering. You can tackle the decluttering yourself, or if you have a lot of areas to declutter, then hiring a professional organizer to help you declutter your space would speed up the process.
Getting rid of unused or unwanted items and organizing what is left should leave more room for the things you use and make them more easily accessible. It will also rid you of worries about Tupperware lids falling in your face.
4. You have to move things to get something else out
If you have to rifle through lots of clothes to get to your favorite pair of jeans or the perfect shirt for the occasion, it might be time to declutter. People who find cooking a chore rather than a hobby likely don’t enjoy having to take a bunch of things out of a cabinet to get to the pot they need to make dinner. Having to unpack entire cabinets or drawers because there are piles of things in the way of what you need is no fun.
Decluttering and organizing a space will make this a thing of the past because everything you need will be readily available, and the goal is to prevent spaces from becoming overcrowded.
5. There’s no extra space for new items to be added
While maintaining a clutter-free home generally involves removing items as new ones come in, it’s somewhat unrealistic to expect you will get rid of something as soon as you buy something new. There should be space to add new items within each category you have throughout the house.
When organizing, make sure that bins and shelves are only 80% full so that that new shirt you bought doesn’t throw off the organization of your entire closet. Once a bin or shelf becomes full, then it is time to do another declutter of that area. If there isn’t room, it's time for a declutter or to relocate some items. Never shove items into a space to make them fit. Leaving some room on shelves not only allows room for new items but also creates visual space and clarity. This visual space helps create a sense of calm.
Let’s say you replace your older towels with new ones. You may want to downgrade your older towels into rags, dog towels, or outdoor activity towels instead of just throwing them away.
6. You have to make sure everything is just right before you can shut a cabinet, drawer, or closet door
If you find yourself playing Tetris with your Tupperware to make them fit in a cabinet or shoving your clothes down as you close a dresser drawer, it’s probably time to go through your items. Declutter what you don’t need or like, and organize what’s left. Those moments spent fighting a closet door to close have a real impact on your mood, and sometimes it’s the last straw in an already frustrating day.
There’s no need to waste mental capacity or dampen your mood because you can’t easily find, use, or put away your belongings. Your possessions are in your home because, at one point, you chose them. It shouldn’t be stressful or excessively time-consuming to put your clothes away, clean up toys, or put the clean dishes away.
7. You're embarrassed to have people over
Does the thought of having friends or family in your home make you feel anxious? Are you nervous that they will judge the piles of things around your house or the mess on your kitchen counter? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then it’s time to do some decluttering. Your home shouldn’t make you feel anxious or stressed. Your home should be a place where you can create memories with your friends and family.
With some decluttering and organizing, you can once again make your home a place of peace and serenity. Your home can support you and your family and create a calming environment to spend time with the people you love.
If any of these signs resonate with you, it’s time for a declutter. If you feel up for it, rally the family, and start decluttering. If you need a little help or it feels overwhelming, then you could consider hiring a professional organizer to guide you through the process. It will bring you peace of mind and save you time in the long run.
If you're interested in some help organizing and decluttering then schedule your free discovery call to chat with us and learn more!
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