8 Things That Make Your House Appear Cluttered
People have different opinions on what it means to have a cluttered home. Of course, some people can tolerate more clutter than others. However, there are some who wouldn’t even tolerate a few mails lying about on the coffee table.
But generally, if you feel your home to be cluttered, then it probably is. Although you don’t have to take it to the extreme and become obsessed with ordering and organizing each and everything, you have to make sure that your room doesn’t look like a car would get lost in the pile strewn about the room.
A cluttered, disorganized home should bring about a sense of dread in you and your family. God forbid you lose something in that mess; you can forget about ever finding it.
By taking the time out to carefully sort through your belongings, you can easily make your home seem cleaner and organized. With a little effort and no cost to you, you can completely transform your living space.
As a side effect of sorting through the clutter, you will be able to clearly identify the things that serve almost no purpose in your life and you will be able to part ways with them easily.
If you have belongings that you don’t need immediately but you believe you would after some time, then the wise option is to rent a storage unit and put it there.
If you live in the Arlington area of the Washington state, you can take advantage of some of the cheapest storage options.
A house’s appearance decides its selling value
If you’re looking for a new house to move into, you’re likely to explore several potential properties. As soon as you walk through the doors of one property, you’ll start to form your first impressions. If a room seems too small, too cluttered, or just not right for your needs, it’s easy to dismiss the property and move on to the next listing.
When you want to sell your own house, you have to keep the same impressions in your mind. Buyers often have a mental checklist of what they want in their dream home, and all it takes is one thing to be absent from your house for them to scratch your house off their list.
Things that make your House Appear CLUTTERED
The following is a list of the things that make your house appear cluttered:
#1 Too Much Stuff
More often than not, we are guilty of holding on to too many things. Our obsession extends to everything from old clothing or shoes, magazines and newspapers, toys, books, to even electronics, etc.
Over time, all this stuff builds and starts taking more space, cluttering up your house.
#2 Too many tiny objects
Small items tend to accrue over time and start to clutter up the space. It’s easier to buy a pair of new socks than to reuse old ones, which god knows disappear somewhere every time you need them.
Instead of buying small, seemingly insignificant, things over and over, you should try and reuse them. Keep everything in its place. That way, you won’t have to struggle to get to what you need.
You should take care of the items you own. Dust and clean them as often as you can. More often than not, we throw away good pair of clothes just because they get wrinkly and dusty from being under a pile for too long.
#3 Too many decorations
Like photos, if you have too many decorations, it can make a space look cluttered. People often make a style statement with the type of decoration they choose. In order for decoration to bring out your personality, you should let it breathe and not clutter it up with too many pieces of the same kind. When it comes to decoration, you should stay classy and aim for less.
#4 Too much furniture
Not only does having too much furniture make it difficult to move around as easily, it also distracts from the beauty of your house. A good rule of thumb is to leave a space of 9 feet in between two pieces of furniture, so that people can pass through easily.
Homes that have too much furniture feel and look cramped and overwhelmed. This is especially true for small homes, but even larger homes can have this problem if they go overboard with the furniture.
You will have to decide where you want the people to sit or stand when they first enter the room. Place your furniture in such a way that people upon entering the house know, just by looking at the lay of the room, how to navigate it or find a comfortable seating.
#5 Personal items out in the open
While it’s nice to add a personal touch to your home, displaying too many of your personal items can make your home appear cluttered.
Instead of leaving out your kids’ artwork on the countertop, pick a couple from them and put them on display on the fridge. Keep the rest safely tucked away. When someone comes to visit, they might start forming bad impressions of you if you have your belongings strewn about the house.
#6 Too many pillows on the couch or bed
A pair of fluffy pillows on the couch or bed add to the comfort and attractiveness of a room. But if you are not careful, it is easier to go overboard with the pillows. Think about how many pillows you really need on each piece of furniture and then get rid of extra ones.
#7 Cables, wires, and cords
Put computer cables under your desk and behind the furniture so they’re not visible. Use cable clips to keep wires neatly on walls and out of sight.
What can you do to ensure your home looks tidy at all times?
The first step is to make sure everything has a specific place, and that place should be accessible. Keep frequently used items in easy-to-reach cabinets and closets.
If you frequently have to dig through boxes or bags for certain things, label them accurately as to the content of the box or bag, so you don’t find yourself rummaging through the wrong box each time you have to look for something.
It’s important to keep your house clean and tidy. Wipe the counters down after every meal, and keep the dirty dishes in the dishwasher or sink.
Clutter is bound to happen no matter how many times you organize your things; you can be sure of one thing: it won’t be your last.
Conclusion
Clutter is inevitable but we have to be proactive to keep it from turning the house into a mess. The advice and tips given above will help make your home clutter free.