Your clutter isn’t the bad guy—it’s actually trying to help you! When I go into a client’s home, I need to see the mess to understand exactly how to set up the perfect organizing system. Your clutter is like a roadmap, showing you where and how you need to organize. In this post, I’ll teach you how to read your clutter so you can create a home that stays tidy all the time.
1. Your Clutter Shows You Where Things Naturally Belong
Take a look at where you naturally pile things up. If your kitchen counter is covered in paper clutter, you need a designated paper station right there. If cords, cables, and devices are scattered in one area, set up a charging station right there. The secret to long-term success is placing organizational systems where you naturally drop things.
2. Your Clutter Reveals What’s Important to You
The spaces with the most clutter hold the things you love most. If you have stacks of books everywhere, you’re a book lover—so create a cozy book nook. If craft supplies are scattered across your dining room table, set up an art station in that space. Your clutter tells you what matters to you and exactly where to create a home for it.
3. Your Clutter Defines Your Organizing Style
Are your everyday items (toothbrush, hairbrush, makeup) always sitting on the counter? You’re likely a visual organizer and need open, easy-access storage. Peek inside your drawers—if they’re jumbled, you might prefer looser organization styles. Understanding how you naturally store things helps you design a system that works for you.
4. Your Clutter Helps You Experiment with Organizing Systems
Your clutter also tells you what isn’t working. If you set up a filing system for paper but still pile papers elsewhere, try a stacking paper tray instead. If your keys keep getting lost, test a hook, then a tray, and see what sticks. The right system is the one that keeps things tidy with minimal effort.
5. Your Clutter Highlights Storage Issues
If shoes pile up at the door, your family probably won’t put them in a closet. Instead, add a simple shoe organizer right where they take them off. If small items like keys and wallets clutter your entryway, a drawer organizer or decorative bowl can solve the problem. Work with your habits instead of against them.
6. Your Clutter Shows What’s Overwhelming You
Too many dirty dishes in the sink? You might need to declutter your kitchen. Piles of dirty laundry? It’s time to purge your closet. If toys are taking over your living room, you probably need fewer toys. Let your clutter guide you to what needs a reset.
Real-Life Clutter Fixes
Here are some common clutter problems and simple solutions:
- Coffee Mugs Everywhere? Create a coffee station with mugs, sugar, and coffee accessories in one spot.
- Bags Piling Up at the Door? Install hooks for backpacks, purses, and reusable shopping bags.
- Junk Drawer Overload? Use drawer dividers to create organized sections.
- Shoes Scattered at the Entrance? Get a shoe rack, shoe cabinet or a large basket for easy drop-off.
- Kitchen Counter Chaos? Designate a small command center with storage for keys, mail, and daily essentials.
- Books in Every Room? Set up a dedicated bookshelf or reading nook where you naturally like to read.
- Toys Everywhere? Add labeled bins or a storage ottoman in the living room.
- Desk Covered in Papers? Use bulletin boards, pegboards, or vertical file holders for visual organization. For an extra boost to help banish paper clutter – check out this video.
- Closet Overflowing? Declutter 25% of your wardrobe and add bins, hooks, or shelving to match your habits.
Instead of feeling frustrated, start looking at clutter as a helpful guide. It’s showing you what matters, where to store things, and how to design an organizing system that works for you. When you listen to what your clutter is telling you, you can create a home that stays organized effortlessly!
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Solutions mentioned in this video that can help:
Clutter Catcher: https://urlgeni.us/amazon/epjmT
Charging Station: https://urlgeni.us/amazon/4qpYu
3-Tier Cart: https://urlgeni.us/amazon/P_LBF
Magnetic Fridge Shelves: https://urlgeni.us/amazon/nU6sf
Shoe Cabinet: https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/hemnes-shoe-cabinet-with-2-compartments-white-20169559
Cubed Shelving: https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/kallax-shelf-unit-white-80275887/
Invisible Wall Bookshelf: https://urlgeni.us/amazon/Uuo5r
Stacking Laundry Baskets: https://www.containerstore.com/s/closet/hampers-carts/white-stackable-laundry-basket-with-grey-handles/12d?productId=10030934
Drawer Dividers: https://urlgeni.us/amazon/oJeOg
Bigso Organizer: https://urlgeni.us/amazon/vI1Iu
Big Woven Basket: https://urlgeni.us/amazon/dZuvX
Shop My Amazon Store: https://urlgeni.us/amazon/Clutterbug
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