There’s nothing more peaceful and relaxing than walking into a clean, organised and tidy home. But before you think we’re trapped in a dreamland occupied by only a few OCD declutterers with loads of time on their hands, let’s take a step back and acknowledge that most of us haven’t got the home organisation and storage scenario down pat. We all need a little intervention.
Whether you’re a level 10 hoarder, overburdened mom or avid procrastinator, this blog is for you. We realise that no single home storage solution will transform a messy hovel into a home makeover masterpiece for Marie Kondo to feature on her show. But there are a few tried-and-tested methods to make realistic changes that will radically transform your living space and your psyche.
Need motivation to get started? Here are 4 ways decluttering will improve your life:
- Studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between the clutter in one’s home and higher levels of stress hormone cortisol. People who live in organised spaces experience an elevated mood and improved sleep in comparison to their disorderly neighbours
- Decluttered spaces are easier to clean and maintain
- Those who live in organised homes can tidy up quicker at the end of the day
- Decluttering actually saves money. Organised people are more likely to reuse or ‘reinvent’ older items instead of rushing to the shops to purchase new ones to avoid the onerous task of searching for stuff.
Let’s face facts: few bad habits can be stomped out overnight. We know it’s better to cut down on the cigarettes slowly rather than quit cold-turkey. And it’s a more sustainable long-term strategy to follow a balanced diet than starving on an intense 6-week fat-loss regimen.
Accessing the oasis of a decluttered home is not an easy process to begin or maintain.
That is why a steady, incremental approach to the household-overhaul method – popularised on home makeover shows – is recommended. Begin slowly – one cupboard at a time, area by area, room by room.
Here are a few suggestions of practical home storage solutions and decluttering tips for 3 commonly disordered rooms to get you started:
#1 Cluttered kitchens
Kitchen countertops and shelves often pile up with all manner of household junk since they are regularly lived-in spaces. This makes the kitchen an overwhelming, yet important, space to begin the decluttering process.
Before you become stressed by the burden of the task, begin with one cupboard, countertop, fridge or pantry at a time and create a checklist of your progress.
Be ruthless. It may mean chucking out or rehoming a number of items in order to create space for home storage solutions, especially if you live in a compact flat or townhouse.
Purchasing a few quality kitchen storage solutions such as spice racks, reusable plastic containers, food savers, lunch boxes and glassware canisters can go a long way to creating a more environmentally-friendly and decluttered pantry. Buying labels for freezer food boxes or hard-to reach containers could save you time during the busy supper-time kitchen scurry (be sure to access these from a stockist with a reputation for quality, affordable home storage solutions).
#2 Bothersome bedrooms
While the bedroom is meant to be the most relaxing space in the home, it can easily become cluttered with books, papers, old clothes and unnecessary paraphernalia.
Begin with the bedside or dressing table and remove items that are no longer used regularly. This may mean throwing out a number of items or finding a convenient alternative space for their safekeeping. A practical and aesthetically pleasing bedroom storage solution could be purchasing some decorative storage boxes, bedroom furniture with storage capabilities, drawers or woven baskets for stowing toiletries, perfumes, makeup, and other items used regularly, which you may not want on display.
Got too many dirty clothes lying around? Purchase a trendy laundry hamper or basket to create a neat deposit for soiled clothes (and give you some motivation to put them through the wash).
When it comes to sorting through the closet, begin by separating out items not used over the last year. When it comes to clothing, we are often influenced by fashion trends that quickly change, relegating many items out of style within a year or two. Rather than hoarding them, donate gently used items and discard garments with holes and stains.
Struggling to keep shoes, ties, socks, belts and other items contained? Purchase an affordable bedroom storage solution to neaten things up and prevent single socks going astray. Make sure you have enough hangers for your clothes instead of overburdening a single hanger with multiple items and lengthening the time it takes to find what you’re looking for.
Are valuable wardrobe items accumulating unnecessary dust? Consider a dress cover or suit bag to lengthen the life of these garments.
#3 Onerous offices
The Covid-19 pandemic has popularised a time and money-saving work-from-home culture. And while this is super convenient for any introvert or easily distracted worker bee, your home office can quickly become a cluttered-up nightmare.
If an organised home office is the cornerstone of a productive and peaceful work environment, shouldn’t you allocate a bit of time and resources to keep it that way?
Some helpful office storage and home organising solutions to consider include:
- A desk organiser to neatly segment different regularly-used items
- A waste bin (for obvious reasons)
- A peg board for important reminders
- Drawers for storing documents, electronics and stationery
- Trays and drawer organisers (to prevent items from becoming scratch patches for stationery, craft items and all manner of seldom-used items).
Feeling overwhelmed by the need to find a helpful home storage solution?
Seek out a reliable and fully-stocked home storage warehouse with practical yet beautiful organising gear at an affordable price point.