Clutter is Chaos

 

The trouble with clutter is that it never seems to go away by itself. It comes in the mail. We buy more. The kids bring it home from school. Well-meaning friends pass us stacks of barely read magazines. Bills. Letters. Articles. Newspaper clippings. Cards. Notes. Recipes. Clutter is everywhere. And it usually ends up in a closet. 

Clutter takes up a lot of space. If it’s taking up closet space, it’s not so noticeable on a day-to-day basis. After all, our immediate goal is to get clutter out of our sight temporarily–and then it becomes sort of “permanent” clutter. If clutter is hoarding your closet space when you’re home is on the market, your closets won’t look spacious. They will simply look full of junk. 

Start with your clothes. As you make the painful decision to keep something or toss it, use the tried-and-true professional advice: if you haven’t worn it in over a year, you probably won’t. So get rid of it. Limit yourself to things you really do wear, and wear often. Think about your work week, and the weekends and keep items that suit your lifestyle.

You can create a more usable space in any closet by using organizers, wire shelving and wire baskets. Get a shoe rack to instantly corral footwear. Fold items and stack them on shelves or in drawers to free up space on your hanging rod. Over the door hooks work nicely for belts and ties. “Closet Accessories” in the Yellow Pages can point you to the best resources. 

When you start sorting through paperwork, promise yourself to handle each piece only once. Papers that belong to other family members should be sorted and then handed over to that individual. 

Control newspaper and magazine pile-up by vowing to discard each issue by the time the next one arrives. If it’s Sunday, Saturday’s paper goes, read or not. And if you didn’t read those magazines this month, who’s to say you’ll have time for two issues this month?

Once you’ve sorted through all the clutter, you should have everything designated as headed for the trash, charity, yard sale, or a keeper. Gather up clothes, books and toys in large trash bags and deliver them to your local charity’s distribution center. Once it’s gone, you won’t even remember you had it.

Sorting and throwing out will make you feel less stressed and give you a sense that your home is much larger. You’ll reclaim your space, and in the process simplify your life. Your visitors will get to see your house and not your clutter, and be impressed with all the space!

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Let me know if you have any tips on how to control clutter.

Brought to You By Your Favorite Realtor,
Nancy Hankin
www.PalmSpringsHomesAndEstates.com