Manage your Home Clutter, Start the Year Right

It’s always surprising how much junk one can acquire over the course of a year. Filipinos, in particular, are fond of clinging onto things for sentimental reasons. This packrat mentality makes it easy for clutter to accumulate, filling the house’s blank surfaces, empty cubbyholes, and even the most unsuspecting nooks and crannies.

“It’s always a plus to start the New Year clutter-free,” says New York- and Toronto-trained professional organizer Kat Ong (www.spacethatworks.com). January represents new beginnings and an opportunity to start fresh - without the hang-ups, junk, and excess baggage of the past. “There’s nothing more liberating than to rid yourself of the unnecessary. And de-cluttering helps maintain balance in your life,” says Ong.

Physical clutter is just the beginning - as soon as you clear out your environment, the rest of your being (emotional, spiritual, etc.) can easily be affected, too. “De-cluttering helps you feel lighter and more in control of the things in your space,” she adds.

Start now
“You can start with an area that is ‘clogged’ - one that’s been needing some air and attention for some time,” suggests Ong. “You can also go the other way and choose an ‘active’ area instead - one that you use a lot and see every day.” Sorting like items together and creating categories can help you edit what you need and what you don’t.

Creating “keep,” “throw,” and “give” piles can also make the de-cluttering process less of a struggle, especially for those who have too many things. “This simplifies decision-making and allows you to segregate things that need action right away,” advises Ong. “Keep what you love and use. For objects that you think you may need in the future, specify where and when you’ll be using them, and ask yourself if their future use is realistic.” Remember that holding on to some items because it would be a waste to throw them away also means keeping things that actually have no use.

De-cluttering should also leave no room for sentimentality. It is one thing to hold on to objects for the memories they represent; it’s another to never throw anything because you are too tied to something from the past. “Be ruthless in your decision-making,” says Ong. Once you’ve collected what you need to keep, store them in proper bins and containers to avoid starting the clutter cycle all over again.

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Keep storage in check
Once your things have been properly segregated, it is time to restock your cabinets and shelves, and find an organization or filing system that makes searching for things a cinch. Before filling up your storage bins and cubbies with the items you’re keeping, it’s important to analyze how you use your space. “Do you prefer items to be tucked away or in plain view?” asks Ong, who says that the kind of storage you need will depend largely on your own personal organization style.

“If you want your items exposed, opt for clear or acrylic storage bins,” she suggests. Remember that items stored in shelves should be arranged relatively neatly, since they will be exposed to everyone coming in and out of your space. Small baskets and pretty yet functional boxes can be useful storage solutions for these shelves because they offer you a place to stash in all your knickknacks and undesirables without disturbing the peace.

“With items that you want tucked away, labeling can come in handy,” Ong says. Whether you are storing shoes in boxes and labeling their sides with Polaroid shots, sticking Dymo labels onto jars in the kitchen pantry, or identifying which remote control goes with which device, labels can easily restore order.

Measuring your space can also help you trim your shopping list when buying new containers and bins. Knowing exactly how much room you have for under-the-bed storage, or how high your walls go up for built-in shelves can keep you from over-buying materials (leaving you with more clutter than you started with).

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Work with your kids
“If children see their parents de-cluttering, they will most likely absorb what’s going on and want to do it themselves,” says Ong. You can start instilling in your child the habit of organizing and keeping things clean by explaining to him why there is a need to keep his room clutter-free - whether it’s to create more space for playing or to give to kids in need. “Make it a point to de-clutter often with your child,” says Ong. “A lot of birthday parties contribute to having more toys and knickknacks that children are interested in only for a short time.”

“Ask them to make choices on what they want to keep or donate,” she adds. “There will be times when they won’t want to give anything away. On these occasions, setting limits or boundaries is a good idea.” Try bargaining with them by telling them that they can only keep five stuffed animals and the rest have to go, or that they can keep one toy they no longer use but want to keep, but the rest have to be given away. “The best way to teach children about organization is to become organized yourself.”

One technique to help kids de-clutter is to teach them about categorizing and labeling. “Use storage that makes it easy for kids to access and pack away items,” advises Ong. Keep pull-out bins low so they have no trouble reaching for them, and have frequently used toys, art supplies, and books within easy reach.  
No matter what the situation is, it helps to keep both your space and your mind clutter-free at the start of the year with a mantra: “Just because there’s space doesn’t mean you have to fill it up.”

 

Photo from flickr creative commons