Clutter Busters: How to Accumulate Less
Give junk the boot and create more time, space, freedom and money in your pocket. Here's where to start and how to make the habit last
Sally Hart
11 August 2014
I love spatial planning with unique problems to solve. With decades of designing spaces, a qualification in nursing, a parent of two wonderful grown kids, managing a rural property and business I understand the requirements, joys, and realities of family/professional life.
I love the fact that my years of experience are an asset to my clients in discerning what they need and what they don't. I love the practical, and I want it to be beautiful.
I genuinely love working with our wonderful clients who come to us with trust and respect in asking us to beautify their homes.
I love spatial planning with unique problems to solve. With decades of designing... More
Australian homeowners are allocating twice the space to storage as they did 20 years ago, and they still don’t think it’s enough. The price of storage is directly proportionate to size. Cabinetry is one of the biggest-ticket items on the interior spend, so it makes good sense to insist that what is being stored is worthy of its expensive position.
Before we show you how to clear your home of unnecessary clutter, you must first learn to adopt a policy of accumulating less.
Before we show you how to clear your home of unnecessary clutter, you must first learn to adopt a policy of accumulating less.
I’m always asked how to clear clutter, and the solution isn’t as simple as a good clean out and a new storage system. While those steps can certainly be part of the process, the solution is actually about accumulating less in the first place.
To accumulate less requires a certain level of modification to our behaviour. We need to understand that what comes into our homes is permitted by us, and that permission for clutter to enter our front doors is often just inferred rather than given. If we fail to adopt a stringent policy about what comes into our homes, we are destined to be the passive recipients of stuff that chews into our space, time, pleasure and pocket.
To accumulate less requires a certain level of modification to our behaviour. We need to understand that what comes into our homes is permitted by us, and that permission for clutter to enter our front doors is often just inferred rather than given. If we fail to adopt a stringent policy about what comes into our homes, we are destined to be the passive recipients of stuff that chews into our space, time, pleasure and pocket.
Firstly, recognise clutter the moment it approaches your home.
Often disguised as a welcome addition, we don’t recognise clutter for the bad tenant it is. Look around your home and identify the clutter creep. How much of the following has your open-door policy permitted?
Often disguised as a welcome addition, we don’t recognise clutter for the bad tenant it is. Look around your home and identify the clutter creep. How much of the following has your open-door policy permitted?
- Stuff you never wanted
- Stuff you have never used
- Stuff you don’t need any more
- Stuff that is sentimental or memorabilia
- Other people’s stuff
Develop a policy about what is worthy of your valuable space. Recognise clutter in all its forms. It is not alway obvious junk – it might be valuable, but if it is not your taste or useful to you or your home, don’t allow it in.
Now, lets look at some of the frequent ways clutter creeps in.
Now, lets look at some of the frequent ways clutter creeps in.
1. Stuff you have never wanted
Place a bin near your letter box or garage so that if they get as far as the home, they don’t get past the entryway.
- Junk mail
- Free stuff, for example conference material/’goody bags’, toys from fast-food chains/promotional materials
- Unwanted offerings from friends/family
- Promotional flyers at shopping centres
Place a bin near your letter box or garage so that if they get as far as the home, they don’t get past the entryway.
2. Stuff you have never used
Are you guilty of acquiring the following items?
Are you guilty of acquiring the following items?
- Jumble sales/fete finds
- Products bought on the Home Shopping Channel
- Resolution buys (such as sporting goods)
- Craft and hobby paraphernalia
- Garage sale/bargain items
- Short-fix solutions to entertain children
- Things that ‘might come in handy one day’
3. Stuff you don’t need any more
Look around your home, how many of the following items are lying around unused?
Look around your home, how many of the following items are lying around unused?
- Sporting/pet equipment
- Clothing
- Toys
- Paint tins
- Garden supplies
- Linen
- Crockery/utensils/containers
- Luggage and backpacks
- Books and magazines
- Jewellery
- Technology/old cables
- Files/papers
- Cosmetics and medicinal goods
- Old keys
- Tools
- Camping gear
4. Sentimental memorabilia
In other words: emotional and physical baggage. Decide if you really want this stuff. If the truth is that you’re keeping it out if guilt, it is pointless. Try to find somebody that would genuinely appreciate the sentiment or otherwise the value. If there isn’t anyone that wants it, free yourself from the emotional and physical clutter.
Perhaps take a photo of it if that makes you feel better, then get rid of it. Rotting in the attic isn’t doing anything or anyone justice.
In other words: emotional and physical baggage. Decide if you really want this stuff. If the truth is that you’re keeping it out if guilt, it is pointless. Try to find somebody that would genuinely appreciate the sentiment or otherwise the value. If there isn’t anyone that wants it, free yourself from the emotional and physical clutter.
Perhaps take a photo of it if that makes you feel better, then get rid of it. Rotting in the attic isn’t doing anything or anyone justice.
5. Other people’s stuff
It’s common for your kids, friends and family to use your place as a depot, but this can get out of hand. Beware of storing other people’s things – they frequently end up yours permanently, leaving you with the chore of disposal.
If you’re going to help out in this way, try to set the expectation of how long they intend you to store it for – at least that brings to their mind that you have an expectation it is temporary. If people, particularly children, have not had their own space, they may have no concept that your space is valuable. They will store things at your place that are ‘sentimental’ until they leave home. Then, they will often throw it away because they don’t really want to store it!
Sow the seed early, when they are teenagers, that they need to cull their things because they won’t have space when they move out. This sets the expectation that their stuff is theirs and goes with them.
It’s common for your kids, friends and family to use your place as a depot, but this can get out of hand. Beware of storing other people’s things – they frequently end up yours permanently, leaving you with the chore of disposal.
If you’re going to help out in this way, try to set the expectation of how long they intend you to store it for – at least that brings to their mind that you have an expectation it is temporary. If people, particularly children, have not had their own space, they may have no concept that your space is valuable. They will store things at your place that are ‘sentimental’ until they leave home. Then, they will often throw it away because they don’t really want to store it!
Sow the seed early, when they are teenagers, that they need to cull their things because they won’t have space when they move out. This sets the expectation that their stuff is theirs and goes with them.
Accumulating less in the office. Products such as Receipt Bank and Shoe Boxed will scan your receipts and invoices, accurately extract the key information and securely store the data and images online. Software is available to store wills and passwords safely, which also makes accessing them easy. Digitise as much as possible, including using cloud software for administration and accounting. The paperless office is achievable.
Accumulating less in the bedroom. Stop buying things you don’t need … or don’t even like. Instead, buy classics that don’t date. Know your wardrobe so that you don’t replicate unintentionally – photograph your clothes before shopping if need be. Love it, wear it, wear it out.
Accumulating less in kids’ spaces. If the kids are getting new toys, they need to cull. Teach them the principles of life – we don’t get to have everything. Toy libraries are a good concept if you can work it into your routine, or swap with friends.
A gentle way of achieving the same thing is to have a box that is put away for a while to be disposed of later – a ‘transition box’, so if it turns out that they really, really chose to remove the wrong item, it can be reversed. Depending on the age of the child, they may well just forget about it and you remove it without any fuss at all, otherwise you have an agreement about a timeframe that is appropriate for the age.
A gentle way of achieving the same thing is to have a box that is put away for a while to be disposed of later – a ‘transition box’, so if it turns out that they really, really chose to remove the wrong item, it can be reversed. Depending on the age of the child, they may well just forget about it and you remove it without any fuss at all, otherwise you have an agreement about a timeframe that is appropriate for the age.
TELL US
What are you guilty of accumulating? What tried and tested tricks do you have to stop these items from getting through the door?
What are you guilty of accumulating? What tried and tested tricks do you have to stop these items from getting through the door?
Related Stories
Healthy Home
Pro Panel: How to Design a Home That Boosts Wellbeing
Find out how science can help you create a home that’s good for your physical and mental health
Full Story
Lifestyle
6 Ways to Reduce Stress at Home With Biophilic Design
By Sara Pizzo
An easy guide to using biophilic design in your interior to regenerate the mind, reduce stress and boost your creativity
Full Story
Most Popular
How to Get a Good Night's Sleep (According to Science)
Sleep scientist Dr Carmel Harrington reveals exactly how to get enough rest for optimum health and productivity
Full Story
Most Popular
15 Things to Do on Lazy Sunday Afternoons at Home
Enjoyable and good for the soul, these lazy Sunday activities will see you finish the weekend with a smile on your face
Full Story
Most Popular
33 Fun Things to Do When It's Too Hot to Go Outside
When it's hot weather and you can't get to the beach... or even step outside, here's some fun stuff to do indoors!
Full Story
Christmas
Take the 'Argh!' Out of Christmas Gift-Giving
If you find yourself panicking about pressies over the festive season, try these easier but still rewarding traditions
Full Story
Most Popular
Screen Time: Stylish Ways to Keep the Mozzies Out This Season
From outdoor curtains and mosquito nets to retractable flyscreens on windows and doors, Houzz has you covered
Full Story
Most Popular
War on Waste: How to Keep Your Fridge Food Fresh
These 9 refrigerator rules will keep more of your food fresh and tasty – and out of the compost bin
Full Story
Sustainable Ideas
Living Through the Avolanche? 6 Avocado Recipes & Great Hacks
By Houzz AU
With the avocado glut lasting until the end of the year, we serve up some fab food ideas from 'The Food Saver’s A-Z'
Full Story
Most Popular
Cheatsheet: How to Do a Smart and Cheap Grocery Shop
In an extract from 'The $50 Weekly Shop: Weekday Dinners', Jody Allen shares her tips for outsmarting canny retailers
Full Story
Really great article I've found very useful. Stuff you can't sell & don't want to waste by throwing away you can give a new home to on www.freecycle.org.au
thanks Kerrie, I'm glad you like it. it looks like you started on the same page anyway;)\