Clutter is the leading killer of productivity in American households. Not only is clutter frustrating when you can’t immediately find important items you need, such as keys, bills or paperwork, but it can also negatively impact on your health as well. A crowded, disorganized space is distracting, diverting your attention to trivial things and constantly reminding you there is work that hasn’t been done. This feeling makes it impossible to relax in your own home, and this kind of stress is simply not good for you. If your home feels crowded by too many possessions, it’s time to take a step back and reassess your home organization to gain control over the clutter. Here are five types of clutter you can eliminate today to restore peace and productivity to every room in the house.

Gifts and Inherited Items

From that hideous vase given to you as a housewarming gift by a distant, yet well-meaning aunt to furniture and trinkets passed down from parents and in-laws when they wanted to downsize their own homes, inherited clutter is quite common in many homes. If you’re like most people, you probably feel a twinge of guilt at the idea of getting rid of some of these items. After all, your relatives may feel slighted when you don’t have the same emotional attachment to these things as they had. However, it’s important to remember the point of a gift. You didn’t ask for it; it was given to you. You can’t be expected to keep everything you are ever given – there simply isn’t enough space!

When deciding what to do with unwanted gifts and inherited possessions, ask yourself how many items you need to honor the giver’s memory. Obviously, certain items, such as your late grandmother’s tea set or your uncle’s WWII uniform, are priceless and cannot be replaced. Items with a high sentimental value should remain in the home and, if possible, be kept where you can see them and think of the person associated with the item’s presence. Other things, like hand-me-down furniture and housewarming gifts, can be donated to someone who needs them more than you do.

Great Deals

If you have ever purchased something you didn’t have an immediate use for, but couldn’t pass up the bargain, you can relate to this type of clutter. Everyone loves to get a great deal, even if the item isn’t a necessity. Go through your cabinets and look for unopened shower curtains, table linens, bedsheets, and so on. Do the same in your closet, paying attention to clothing with tags still attached. These items may have been acquired at an unbelievable markdown, but if you don’t use them, they’re a waste of space and money. Once you have separated all these items, decide which ones you are going to use right now. For instance, if you find an unopened set of sheets, take them out and throw them into the laundry so that you can use them tonight. Donate or sell the items you cannot use right away, and refrain from making bargain purchases in the future if the item in question isn’t really needed.

Things That Don’t Belong

Everyone has those items in the home that just don’t seem to fit in anywhere. Items like decorative statuettes, large coffee table books and other odds and ends seem to accumulate in the home, inconspicuously taking up space on a shelf or end table. These items generally have no practical use and don’t fit in with your décor, yet you hang on to them because your kids might want them someday or because they may “eventually” be worth something. It’s better to just get rid of these items now; they’re just gathering dust and taking up space you could use for items you actually like.

Things You Have “Just in Case”

It’s natural to want to hold on to objects that you may need someday. After all, you never know if you may need ten extra sleeping bags for an impromptu group camping trip, or if you will need to wear those three bridesmaids’ dresses from the weddings you were in five years ago. The future is uncertain, so it makes sense that you want to keep certain things “just in case.” However, this can lead to an unprecedented amount of clutter. Go through your home room by room and isolate the items you know for a fact you will use in the coming year. Pack everything else away into storage and remove items only when you need to use them. After a year, you can safely get rid of whatever items remain in storage.

Things That Might be Worth “Something”

The same goes for items you hope might be worth a fortune someday. When it comes to collectibles, art, furniture, and other items you are only keeping in case their values increase in the future, search for each item on eBay and see how much people are willing to pay for them. In many cases, the declining demand for such collectibles will have caused them to decrease in value over the years, as any former Beanie Baby collector can attest. Even genuine antiques rarely turn out to be worth anything. If these items are just extra layers of clutter, it’s time to sell them for whatever they’re worth right now. On the other hand, it is worth noting that any items you feel might be valuable should be appraised by a local auction house or independent appraisers.

Clearing the clutter from your home will make it easier to stay organized, save money, and be more productive. If you have been putting off purging your home from all unnecessary items, now is the time to take action. Ready to get started? Follow these simple tips from the custom home organization system installers at Arizona Garage & Closet Design to make your cleaning process as easy and stress-free as possible.

Arizona Garage & Closet Design provides high-quality custom cabinetry, garage flooring and organization systems for the home. Whether it is a garage, closet, pantry, home office, laundry room or other storage area, our professional design consultants will create a space that fits your unique style and budget. Contact us for an in-home quote today and see how Arizona Garage & Closet Design can help organize your garage and closet space! 

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