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[VIDEOS] The Truth Behind Living in a Clutter-Free Home Part I

by | Jan 4, 2018 | Decorating, Home, Lifestyle, Staging | 0 comments

Let me be the first to say, “get-organized” usually tops the a New Year’s resolution list of many, especially if you’re a homeowner — but clutter tends to build back up by the end of January. The truth: living in a clutter-free home takes work, consistency but most importantly a mind shift.

As a home stager I never really understood why a home with amazing potential, looked like a cluttered pig sty. Dirty laundry piled high, dishes in the sink, dust bunnies the size of tumbleweeds rolling across the floor, surfaces that have never seen a cleaning cloth and clutter build-up in every room can be a turn off for any potential home buyer or guest alike. I quickly discovered clutter not only has to do with a homeowner’s living habits, but their level of what I like to call “home-pride.” 
Pride(n.) 1. their triumphs were a source of prideself-esteemdignityhonorself-respectself-worthself-regardpride in oneself. 2. take pride in a good job well donepleasurejoydelightgratificationfulfillmentsatisfactiona sense of achievement.
Home-pride evolves when someone invests in their property, they created a sanctuary all their own that they not only enjoy, but others recognize the home’s charm and beauty giving the homeowner a self-esteem boost to continue to care for the property.
One of the biggest problems they face is dealing with clutter and cleanliness. When a homeowner hears those two “C” words, they tend to twitch and immediately get defensive about their private space. If this sounds like you, it’s important to understand why you’re collecting clutter before getting organized.

Bonnie Mincu, a Senior Certified ADHD Coach, sheds some light on how people naturally create clutter in her recent blog post, “Why We Are So Good At Clutter.” While she notes personality traits of those with Attention Deficit Disorder, this information also resonates with any homeowner. Here are three reasons why you have a disorganized home:

Blinded By the Clutter

Mincu writes, “we can literally not register what is right in front of our eyes, so clutter piles up without making an impact.” Most homeowners are visually oblivious to clutter, so in order to change their mindsets home stagers tell their clients to go around the home critiquing each room as a potential buyer would, this helps them detach from the current items in the space to create more square footage in the home.

Out of Sight Out of Mind

Besides a person’s visual oblivion, Mincu mentions, a person can naturally create clutter for fear of forgetting or losing their belongings. She says, “we want to keep everything out, available and within our sight,” which doesn’t help when you’re trying to create a home that feels fresh, spacious and up-to-date. To combat this problem home stagers tell homeowners to start moving or purging items around the home. That not only, begins the de-cluttering process, but if you’re selling a home it puts you in a mindset to start packing. Valuables won’t be forgotten or lost just packed up or removed so you have more to live a new organized lifestyle.

Clutter Overload

Mincu believes, that it’s hard for a person to clear clutter because the process is overwhelming and in some cases a person may have difficulty letting go of their belongings. Homeowners that have a considerable amount of clutter can spend hours on this task dwelling over each item, “most of us want to hold on to things with the idea of I might need it someday,” said Mincu. That’s why this type of homeowner needs help to sort through their belongings quickly, choosing what stays and what gets packed, donated or sold.

All homes should be organized to live a stress-free life. It’s important to start small take one closet, one corner or one drawer and start going through your belongings. I like to start my organizing projects in the closets. A closet usually is the first to get disorganized, has items you no longer use and forces other areas of your home to be messy. So, if you’re looking to get organized I challenge you to choose one drawer or closet to start declutter by using the pile method.
If you’re looking to get organized at home this year, grab our NEW Home Planner.  Make It Home:The Ultimate Property Project Planner is the only planner that allows you strategize, design and maintain your property while accomplishing daily life tasks that will help build habits and keep your home aligned with your lifestyle. Grab Your Copy Here.

Let me know in the comment section below what you plan on organizing in your home this year! I’d love to hear from you…
Happy Organizing,
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