10 Telltale Signs it's Time to Reorganise Your Home
A messy, disorganised home can really get you down – three experts reveal 10 telltale signs it's time for a clear-out
Georgia Madden
30 January 2019
With the world currently in the grip of Marie Kondo organising mania, you might be wondering if your home could benefit from a little decluttering magic. We’ve asked three organising experts to share the 10 telltale signs that you have too many things in your home and it’s time for a major purge.
We’ve accompanied the experts’ tips with images of beautifully organised spaces to show you just what’s possible with a little effort.
We’ve accompanied the experts’ tips with images of beautifully organised spaces to show you just what’s possible with a little effort.
Cathy Player, organising expert at Howards Storage World
1. You are wasting food
It’s all too easy to forget about the food you can’t see in your fridge or pantry. Before you know it, perishables are past their expiry date and have to be tossed in the bin. This is a huge waste of money and resources.
Remember, if you can see it, you’ll use it. Get your pantry and fridge organised by clearing out those half-empty jars of sauce you’ll never finish and those wilting vegies, then arrange shelves neatly with clever storage products, such as racks and caddies, that make it easy to see what food you have.
Tip: Do you find yourself tossing out a lot of fruit and veg every week? Storing them in products such as a breathable Swag bag can extend their life and save you money.
1. You are wasting food
It’s all too easy to forget about the food you can’t see in your fridge or pantry. Before you know it, perishables are past their expiry date and have to be tossed in the bin. This is a huge waste of money and resources.
Remember, if you can see it, you’ll use it. Get your pantry and fridge organised by clearing out those half-empty jars of sauce you’ll never finish and those wilting vegies, then arrange shelves neatly with clever storage products, such as racks and caddies, that make it easy to see what food you have.
Tip: Do you find yourself tossing out a lot of fruit and veg every week? Storing them in products such as a breathable Swag bag can extend their life and save you money.
2. You look in your wardrobe and have nothing to wear
This is a classic symptom of wardrobe overload. When we have too much in our wardrobes, the clutter prevents us from seeing what we really love to wear. Ironically, when you do a big wardrobe clear-out and reorganise the contents to showcase your favourites, chances are you’ll discover that less is more and that you have plenty to wear to every occasion.
This is a classic symptom of wardrobe overload. When we have too much in our wardrobes, the clutter prevents us from seeing what we really love to wear. Ironically, when you do a big wardrobe clear-out and reorganise the contents to showcase your favourites, chances are you’ll discover that less is more and that you have plenty to wear to every occasion.
3. Your home office or spare room has turned into a black hole
Most homes have a place that contains piles of paper and bits and pieces that need to be put out of the way quickly and dealt with later. Before you know it, two years have passed and the desk in your home office or the bed in your spare room is completely hidden beneath a pile of junk.
Give the room back its purpose. Schedule a clean-out, toss out junk, and repurpose or donate anything in good condition that you no longer want or need.
Most homes have a place that contains piles of paper and bits and pieces that need to be put out of the way quickly and dealt with later. Before you know it, two years have passed and the desk in your home office or the bed in your spare room is completely hidden beneath a pile of junk.
Give the room back its purpose. Schedule a clean-out, toss out junk, and repurpose or donate anything in good condition that you no longer want or need.
4. There’s no room for your car in the garage
While the garage can be a great storage space, unless you can fit the car in there too, the set-up isn’t functional.
A big motivator to get this important space organised is safety – power tools and large items piled on top of each other can be a hazard to anyone walking into your garage. But there’s also the frustration and money wastage that comes from not being able to find what you need in a messy garage and having to go out and buy it again… which, of course, only exacerbates the clutter cycle.
To fix this, start with a major clear-out and then consider investing in a decent set of shelves; some large, lidded storage tubs; and wall hooks for hanging items so that everything you’re keeping can be neatly organised and removed from the garage floor.
No garage or shed? Find out how to store bulky sports equipment in other parts of your home
While the garage can be a great storage space, unless you can fit the car in there too, the set-up isn’t functional.
A big motivator to get this important space organised is safety – power tools and large items piled on top of each other can be a hazard to anyone walking into your garage. But there’s also the frustration and money wastage that comes from not being able to find what you need in a messy garage and having to go out and buy it again… which, of course, only exacerbates the clutter cycle.
To fix this, start with a major clear-out and then consider investing in a decent set of shelves; some large, lidded storage tubs; and wall hooks for hanging items so that everything you’re keeping can be neatly organised and removed from the garage floor.
No garage or shed? Find out how to store bulky sports equipment in other parts of your home
Amy Kennedy, home organiser and decluttering expert at The Organising Bee
5. Your home makes you feel overwhelmed, anxious or depressed
There is a direct correlation between our personal environment and our mental health. A clear, calm space leads to a clear, calm mind; while a cluttered and busy space can cause stress and muddled thinking.
If you find the process of decluttering a challenge, visualisation can really help. Before you begin, work out the reason you wish to declutter, look closely at challenging areas, and consider how you want to use each space and what the results will look like.
This will guide you when you’re making difficult decisions on whether to keep or say goodbye to an item. For example, if you aspire to create a minimalist living space but all your flat surfaces are filled with ornaments, you’ll know that to achieve that goal you would need to remove all the excess decorations from your home.
5. Your home makes you feel overwhelmed, anxious or depressed
There is a direct correlation between our personal environment and our mental health. A clear, calm space leads to a clear, calm mind; while a cluttered and busy space can cause stress and muddled thinking.
If you find the process of decluttering a challenge, visualisation can really help. Before you begin, work out the reason you wish to declutter, look closely at challenging areas, and consider how you want to use each space and what the results will look like.
This will guide you when you’re making difficult decisions on whether to keep or say goodbye to an item. For example, if you aspire to create a minimalist living space but all your flat surfaces are filled with ornaments, you’ll know that to achieve that goal you would need to remove all the excess decorations from your home.
6. You are overwhelmed by the amount of housework you need to do
The less you own, the less mess you create, which means less washing and tidying is needed to maintain an orderly home. The time you save tidying can then be spent doing things that are most important to you.
When reorganising your home, be sure to set realistic time frames. If you have collected a lifetime of belongings in your home, it is unrealistic to think that you’ll get through the whole lot in a weekend.
The process can be emotionally and physically draining too, so start small and tackle one space at a time – a kitchen drawer or your bedside table are good places to start.
The less you own, the less mess you create, which means less washing and tidying is needed to maintain an orderly home. The time you save tidying can then be spent doing things that are most important to you.
When reorganising your home, be sure to set realistic time frames. If you have collected a lifetime of belongings in your home, it is unrealistic to think that you’ll get through the whole lot in a weekend.
The process can be emotionally and physically draining too, so start small and tackle one space at a time – a kitchen drawer or your bedside table are good places to start.
7. You feel like you don’t have enough storage space
If a cupboard is overflowing, it is a natural instinct to feel you need to go out and purchase more furniture to increase your storage. But this can have the opposite effect and lead to more disorganisation. The key is to reduce the amount of unused, unneeded or unloved items that are taking up valuable real estate in your existing storage areas.
If, after decluttering, you decide you require more storage, know exactly what items you need to store and take measurements to the shops so you can choose the right-size containers or furniture.
How to Find More Space in Your Small Wardrobe
If a cupboard is overflowing, it is a natural instinct to feel you need to go out and purchase more furniture to increase your storage. But this can have the opposite effect and lead to more disorganisation. The key is to reduce the amount of unused, unneeded or unloved items that are taking up valuable real estate in your existing storage areas.
If, after decluttering, you decide you require more storage, know exactly what items you need to store and take measurements to the shops so you can choose the right-size containers or furniture.
How to Find More Space in Your Small Wardrobe
8. You’d prefer to leave the house than spend time at home
Your home should be your sanctuary, but it can be difficult to relax in a cluttered space. The mess can be a constant visual reminder of how much you need to do.
The key is to start small with your decluttering efforts. And bear in mind that during the process, you’ll inevitably create chaos before you create order.
Minimise the chaos by sorting items directly into temporary containers or baskets rather than putting them into piles on the table, bed or floor. This way, if you need to stop before you have finished, you can continue life as usual without having to clamber over piles of possessions. It also allows you to quickly continue where you left off when you return.
10 Decluttering Jobs You Can Do in Less Than 30 Minutes
Your home should be your sanctuary, but it can be difficult to relax in a cluttered space. The mess can be a constant visual reminder of how much you need to do.
The key is to start small with your decluttering efforts. And bear in mind that during the process, you’ll inevitably create chaos before you create order.
Minimise the chaos by sorting items directly into temporary containers or baskets rather than putting them into piles on the table, bed or floor. This way, if you need to stop before you have finished, you can continue life as usual without having to clamber over piles of possessions. It also allows you to quickly continue where you left off when you return.
10 Decluttering Jobs You Can Do in Less Than 30 Minutes
Anton Randall, decluttering expert and home stylist at In The Closet
9. Items are falling out of your cupboards or drawers
Wardrobe doors that won’t shut and drawers that refuse to close look dreadful and make it nearly impossible to locate the clothes and shoes you want in the morning. You waste valuable time and often end up buying doubles of things you already own.
If this is the case, tackle the problem room by room, focusing on one individual wardrobe or chest of drawers at a time. Start by removing everything from the shelves and drawers so you can see exactly what you need to store. Separate and categorise items so like is with like. Discard or donate everything you no longer wear or need.
And be sure to remove items you no longer want from your home as quickly as possible so they don’t continue to create clutter in a different part of your home… and so you don’t risk bringing them back inside.
9. Items are falling out of your cupboards or drawers
Wardrobe doors that won’t shut and drawers that refuse to close look dreadful and make it nearly impossible to locate the clothes and shoes you want in the morning. You waste valuable time and often end up buying doubles of things you already own.
If this is the case, tackle the problem room by room, focusing on one individual wardrobe or chest of drawers at a time. Start by removing everything from the shelves and drawers so you can see exactly what you need to store. Separate and categorise items so like is with like. Discard or donate everything you no longer wear or need.
And be sure to remove items you no longer want from your home as quickly as possible so they don’t continue to create clutter in a different part of your home… and so you don’t risk bringing them back inside.
10. You can’t find items when you need then
Overcrowding drawers and flat surfaces makes it all too easy to lose important items such as your phone charger or passport. How often have you looked inside a messy drawer only to find the phone charger you need is hidden beneath a pile of old chargers you haven’t used in years?
Work one drawer at a time and clear out the items you no longer need. Consider adding drawer dividers to keep the contents neatly organised.
Overcrowding drawers and flat surfaces makes it all too easy to lose important items such as your phone charger or passport. How often have you looked inside a messy drawer only to find the phone charger you need is hidden beneath a pile of old chargers you haven’t used in years?
Work one drawer at a time and clear out the items you no longer need. Consider adding drawer dividers to keep the contents neatly organised.
Tell us
Has a cluttered home ever given you the blues? Tell us how you dealt with it in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
Has a cluttered home ever given you the blues? Tell us how you dealt with it in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Overwhelmed by how much you need to declutter? Call in some expert help and find a professional organiser or home storage designer near you
Overwhelmed by how much you need to declutter? Call in some expert help and find a professional organiser or home storage designer near you
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I got some of those 'bridges' from Plastic Box in Christchurch, NZ
Be aware... more storage for more stuff... defeats the idea of decluttering.
Combining pull out storage and drawer organisation is a win/win.
1) Pull Out Storage will make the space accessible - no more digging to the back.
2) Replacing shelves with pull out storage will add 30% more space to your cabinet.
3) Organising the contents will prevent double buying & eliminate clutter.
Best of all, this is DIY friendly! Click her for more kitchen storage ideas.