Can The Clutter
Break free from your saving ways and gain a peaceful, functional and stylish home. Learn how to buy for the here and now, how to properly fill a bookcase, and how to pick storage-friendly furniture that doesn't look like it belongs in a dorm room
An organized closet leads to an organized life, say storage experts. Image courtesy iStockphoto
If you’ve been living in chaos long enough you may not even realize the toll it takes. However, if you frequently miss your train because you can’t find your keys, or need a new pair of shoes to go with a particular outfit because the mate to one shoe is missing, you’ve got a problem.
Don’t feel guilty. A lot of people stuff their closets with things they can’t bear to discard and pile tables with stacks of old newspapers. Unfortunately, it’s stressful to live in chaotic surroundings. That’s why you need to change. Once you find appropriate places for the things you value and toss the rest you’ll feel calmer, function more efficiently and save money at the same time.
“Clutter is the dirty little secret in America,” says Barbara Hemphill, of the Wilmington, N.C.-based Paper Tiger Productivity Institute. “Most people have clutter somewhere in their lives. Some people are even paralyzed by their clutter.”
Take the case of one woman who’s been halfway through a kitchen-remodeling project for years.
“She’s a person who never gets anything finished,” says Melanie Mattes, a Pennsylvania interior designer. “Instead, she buys stuff in flea markets. Her three-bay garage is so full you can’t walk into it. I found things in her closet that she bought her daughter when she was 10. The girl is now 15 and the things still have price tags.”
Clutter postpones decision-making. You’re frozen into inaction by the mess, says Hemphill, co-author of the book, “Love It Or Lose It: Living Clutter Free Forever” (BCI Press, 2003). You’ve got to break the clutter pattern so you can be more productive, she says. As your first step, create your vision. For example, maybe you bought a treadmill so you could get more exercise. But the reality is that you hate using it, and it’s become an oversized bedroom clothes hanger. Maybe it’s time to revise your vision. Maybe you prefer to walk. Get rid of the treadmill and give yourself six luxurious feet of bedroom space.
What woman hasn’t kept a few clothes in the closet as reminders of her svelte days? Update your vision to show who you are now. If you’re no longer a size six, give the clothes away, says Hemphill.
Take an inventory and rid yourself of things you don’t use, want or need. Although that seems wasteful, buying duplicate products because you can’t find what you’re looking for is even more burdensome.
Once you’ve done that, find appropriate ways to store and display your possessions. Your rooms will look more inviting and you’ll be less likely to backslide if you have space for everything.
And you’ll be pleased to know that organization and style aren’t mutually exclusive. You can eliminate clutter without the stacks of plastic crates from your dorm days.
You’ll find inviting furniture and storage products in a variety of styles and price ranges.
“Getting furniture that can organize your things is a good way to start,” says April Young, an East Coast area designer for Crate and Barrel stores.
For investment-grade storage Young recommends multi-functional furniture. Armoires are one of her favorite items.
“An armoire is worthwhile for the order it will give your apartment. You can use an armoire in different rooms. It can be used for a computer in a home office for clothing in your bedroom,” Young says.
She also suggests buying end tables or occasional tables and even ottomans with storage capacity. An individual or group arrangement of antique-style trunks is still another option. Switch to glass-front cupboards to reduce clutter and display collectibles, says Mattes, who is working with the flea market queen to finally finish her kitchen.
“People who use glass-front cupboards are less likely to pile things onto their shelves,” Mattes says.
Bookcases – if not piled high – are also very useful.
The folding bookcase that you can move from one room to another or arrange in a set along a wall is an economical choice, says Young. Mattes prefers built-in bookshelves for a cleaner look. Built-ins are permanent and can be costly, so you should only consider them if you think they’ll provide home resale value along with additional shelf space. For storage containers select baskets or leather or metal boxes.
Right now baskets are fashionable and fit into a general trend toward warm and inviting rooms, says Young. “Baskets are a great look. Lots of items work with it. It’s uncluttered, and so many fibers are being introduced for a cleaner, more contemporary version of the basket,” says Young.
When purchasing baskets or other storage items, buy enough to use exclusively in one room. “I believe in buying collections [of baskets or boxes]. The collection provides an organizing motif,” says Young. Place magazines in baskets on the floor or on a bookshelf, fill baskets with the children’s toys and store under the coffee table and put a small basket on a shelf in the hall to use for car and house keys.
If you need quick access to something that’s not particularly attractive or worthy of display, use clear storage boxes you can keep in a closet or under the bed.
Mattes had one client who shoved old bills and tax returns under her bed. She still does, but now they’re in a clear box and accessible.
Bev Bennett, a veteran food writer and editor, is the author of "Dinner for Two: A Cookbook for Couples" and "30-Minute Meals for Dummies"
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