Home Organization Tips to Spark Joy
There is a proven correlation between home clutter and stress. According to Psychology Today, “Clutter can play a significant role in how we feel about our homes, our workplaces, and ourselves. Messy homes leave us feeling anxious, helpless, and overwhelmed.” According to the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO), we spend one year of our lives looking for lost items. Organizing your abode is a quick and relatively easy way to bring more joy (and extra time) to your life. Here are some home organization tips to help you spark joy:
Get Rid of What You Don’t Need
Before you even begin the process of organizing your home, decide what items add to your life and which you can live without. NAPO reports that 80% of the items we keep are never used. Whether you decide to hold a garage sale or donate your unused items to those less fortunate, removing items you don’t use is a great first step to kick-start the decluttering process.
Start in One Place
Maybe only a couple of rooms need de-cluttering or maybe the whole home could use some TLC. Regardless, start organizing in one place in your home to make your chore list seem less daunting and prevent you from feeling overwhelmed. Maybe you choose the room that causes you the most stress, or the room guests see first upon entering.
Use Creative Storage Solutions
Look for wasted space that could be turned into a storage area, such as underneath beds or over doors. There are many storage solutions on the market to help you utilize this type of unused space. Additionally, with limited space, another great method is to build “up” by stacking shelves. Just ensure that items that are used often are not placed too high and out of reach.
Be Aware of Clutter Hotspots
Surfaces like entryway tables and kitchen counters tend to be clutter magnets, as are drawers. It’s ok to throw your keys on the counter after coming home from a long day but try to clear these hotspots on a regular basis before they take on a disorganized life of their own. Similarly, don’t treat drawers as a catch-all or before you know it, you may not be able to open them.
Arrange Items in Order of Frequency of Use
If you use an item every day, make sure it’s easily accessible and at eye level. Items you only use for special occasions can be placed on a higher shelf. Constantly grabbing things from the back of the closet may derail your organization plan.
Take Your Time
Don’t expect organization to happen overnight- it’s a marathon not a sprint. Expecting to take your home from messy to completely clutter free in one day might cause more stress than it alleviates. Take your time and keep in mind the amazing benefits of living in a clutter-free space!
Lennar Mortgage is simplifying the homebuying process with helpful tips like these. Remove the clutter from your life starting with your home!