WHAT IS CLUTTER
Courtesy of Cliff Brauner Pillar to Post Inspections
To be a clutter buster you’ve got to be able to identify which items are truly clutter, and which are not. Clutter can be insidious, because it can be almost anything, from obvious trash to the most expensive antiques.
The same object that may be clutter for one person is most certainly not for another person.
Here are five guidelines to use to decide if something in your space could be CLUTTER.
1. Clutter Can Be Anything – Cheap Or Expensive, Sentimental Or Throw Away
Know what is, and is not, clutter. Many people’s preconceived notion of clutter is true trash and cheap junk that we don’t care about at all. But remember “One man’s junk can be another man’s treasure.” Don’t automatically overlook something because it cost a lot of money. Even the most expensive things can be clutter.
2. Too Many of a Thing – is Clutter
Too much of a “good thing” happens when you amass a large selection of one particular item.
Collections can quickly turn from something that makes us happy into clutter if we’re not careful. Determine if these items are truly worth the while, or just items using up precious space.
A few of a particular item, such as shoes, clothes, or kitchen gadgets can provide temporary choice and variety. However, when you start to accumulate too many of a particular item it just becomes an overwhelming pile of clutter.
3. Items That Used To Be Functional – are Clutter
It often happens that we use an item for quite a while, and then our circumstances change and it is no longer quite as useful to us anymore. That’s when the item begins to collect dust in a corner – becoming clutter.
That’s the thing about clutter – it may have been useful stuff in the past. Be ever vigilant and notice when an item is no longer of use.
4. If You Don’t Have Room For It – It’s Clutter
You could have some really awesome stuff but if it doesn’t fit in your space, it’s clutter. This one is tough for even the most seasoned clutter buster, because people experience this all the time when downsizing. If it sits out collecting dust or becomes a tripping hazard, it just doesn’t belong there anymore.
Make sure you’re not devoting storage space to real clutter but make room for the important items. You only have so much space available. If you can’t make a home for something in your home, it unfortunately just doesn’t belong there.
5. If You Don’t Love or Use It – It’s Clutter
Everything in your home or office should, ideally, serve a purpose so you can live clutter free. It either helps you with something in your life or makes you feel something positive each time you see it.
If you’ve got too much stuff you simply can’t use all of it. After all, you can only wear so many clothes or shoes in a year!
You can only truly love so many things, and take the time to care for them, before you just don’t feel that attachment to those things anymore. Keep what’s important and ditch the rest!
Home Storage Solutions 101
