Feeling overwhelmed by clutter? You’re not alone. More than half of respondents in a recent survey admitted they secretly hide clutter around their home, with 51% claiming that clutter in their space makes them feel stressed.
In fact, another survey shows that clutter is one of the largest negative influences when it comes to levels of satisfaction with our homes (31%), just behind cleanliness (36%). While what we value in our home changes as we age – with younger people focusing on organisation and older people prioritising quiet, access to the outdoors and a functional kitchen – it’s clear that clutter doesn’t have a place in any of these scenarios.
Despite most of us dealing with the same issues and negative feelings towards clutter, 30% of those surveyed still admitted to judging loved ones when their homes are messy or disorganised. So, what can you do to stop the judgement and feel more relaxed about your own home?
Storage and Interiors Expert Ayca Carlisle, from The Sliding Door Wardrobe Company , gives her insights on what items to stop buying now to help you beat the clutter.
1. Knick-knacks
A sure-fire way to end up with a front room that looks exactly like your grandma’s is to stuff it full of meaningless knick-knacks. “A few treasured ornaments are an excellent addition to any home,” Ayca explains. “These items can lift your mood and enhance your interior style. But random knick-knacks that hold no significance only make the space feel crowded and can lead to feelings of overwhelm.
“Even if the rest of your room is neat and tidy, too many ‘things’ can feel overwhelming. Try embracing empty space instead: not every single shelf and window ledge has to have something on it.”
2. Clothes
It’s bad news for those who love a good clothes haul: clothes are one of the biggest clutter culprits within the home. “Of course, everyone needs enough clothes to feel stylish and put-together on a daily basis, but buying so many pieces that they end up spilling out onto the floor does nothing to help with the levels of clutter in your home,” Ayca says.
“Curate a capsule wardrobe instead, one that fits neatly into your chosen storage solution and doesn’t end up stuffed under your bed or scrunched into the bottom of your wardrobe when guests call round unexpectedly.”
3. ‘Just in case’ things
If you often find yourself thinking you’ll buy that thing (that you’ll inevitably never use) ‘just in case’ you suddenly decide to take up badminton or crafting or some other hobby you’ve never tried before, then step away from the credit card.
“Buying something with good intentions, only to never actually open the box it’s delivered in is common,” Ayca admits. “But it causes lots of unnecessary clutter in your home. Think about whether you will actually use the thing you’re thinking about buying, or whether it’s a hopeful purchase that will end up cluttering up your precious floor space.”
4. Storage boxes
It sounds counterintuitive, but storage boxes could actually be making your clutter habits worse. As Ayca explains, “Storage boxes are great for attics, garages and other hidden spaces, but they can end up looking ugly and out of place in your main living areas.
“Plus, they give you a false sense of space. Although they might seem like a good idea, get too many and eventually they’re just another form of clutter. No one wants endless stacks of boxes taking up precious floor space.”
5. Novelty gadgets
You buy them once and then never use them again: we’ve all fallen prey to a novelty gadget in our time. But if something is such a novelty, it’s likely because it doesn’t have a proper purpose. If it was such a good invention, we would all be using them!
“Consider whether the item you’re considering buying would be used daily, weekly or even less than that,” Ayca advises. “Then ask yourself whether it’s really useful, or whether you’re just being faced with clever marketing. If you’ve got a drawer full of gadgets you never use, it’s time for a purge – try listing them on resale sites like eBay and Vinted so they go to a good second home.”
