Sarah has lots of boxes stored in her spare room. There are boxes labeled with the name of the season for years gone by: Winter 2019, Christmas, Ben’s school projects etc. Sarah has set up a home office but all of her stuff is stored in the boxes and she can’t even get into it all! There are so many people with similar problems.
The psychology of keeping versus discarding
Just because you haven’t used an item in the past year does not mean that it should be thrown away. There are many items such as holiday decorations, clothing for different seasons, kids toys for different ages etc that have value but are not used on a regular basis. Rather than just throwing these items in the rubbish there are many smarter ways of decluttering that will keep the sentimental and seasonal items that have value and create space in the home that is useable.
The big mistake most people make with decluttering is removing all instances of an item from their home entirely. Instead of getting rid of all of your holiday decorations or that fancy appliance that only gets used occasionally, consider removing them from your line of sight and storing them within your home where they can bring you value. Many people mistakenly think that items that don’t get frequently used have no value to them. However, the value of many items is not found in how often they’re used. Instead, it’s found in the value of other ways in which they can bring value to us.
Seasonal rotation strategies
Consider your home’s storage like a theatre’s costume department. Not every outfit needs to be out and on display at all times, but all costumes should be brought out on occasion. And what’s really great about a theater’s storage for costumes and sets is that they are organized into labeled containers, thus allowing the actors and actresses to know what’s in each box without having to delve through everything. Create similar systems for the different types of storage you have for your seasonal items. Clearly label the containers for each season, so that you can easily know what’s in each one and retrieve the items you need for the current time of year.
The way you store your things is like the way a theatre stores costumes. All of the items have to be put away after use and then pulled back out for the next time they are needed. Creating a system of clearly labeled storage containers that are used on a seasonal basis is a great for rotating your things through the seasons of the year. For example, you could have summer clothes in your closet during the winter and then bring out the winter clothes in the storage containers as the seasons change. This type of system is great for freeing up space in your wardrobes and in your cupboards and for keeping only the things that you use on a regular basis out on display.
Go through the items you have not used during the last season, and decide if you still need them. If you do not need them anymore but they still have value to others should have them, so put them in the box or bag to be donated as you would with any other item you want to get rid of.
Creating zones for different item categories
Items in your home can be stored in three different zones. The first zone for the first group of items to be stored would be items that are used on a daily basis. These types of items would be ideal to store in close proximity to where they are used on a regular basis. For example, items such as makeup or hair products would be best to store in your bathroom. Also items that are used by children such as coloring books, toys, etc. would be best to store in the room where they do their homework or play.
It is also helpful to assign a space to daily use items and to consider whether you have a zone for items of occasional use as well as for those of sentimental value. The space assigned to items of occasional use can also serve to store items that have value but are not often used and thus would be damaged by being left out. Children’s artwork and school reports are a good example of this type of item. These items have value but they tend to accumulate very quickly and can take over a room. Designating a container for currently used items as well as for past items can help to manage these items and alleviate some of the feelings of overwhelm that can accompany them. Other items that have high value for a short period of time would be stored for that period of time and then either thrown away or stored for long term. This is the case for business documents, tax records and warranties.
Smart storage solutions that work long-term
A clever storage system must grow with you and your household. The most effective storage solutions are clear and stackable, making it easy to see what you have stored away. If you have seasonal items that you plan to store for long periods of time such as winter bedding and clothing, consider using vacuum-sealed storage bags. These bags are ideal for saving space whilst keeping your items protected from dust and moisture. Over the door storage solutions are also clever and can be used in wardrobes and cupboards to make the most of available space. Bunbury storage solutions can also be used for items that you don’t use often but cannot bear to part with. Climate controlled storage facilities are ideal for storing furniture during moves, businesses storing inventory during slow trading periods and families storing heirlooms that just don’t fit into their current home.
Over-door storage solutions are ideal for making the most of the highest vertical storage space within your wardrobe or cupboards. Items that you use from time to time to time but cannot bear to throw away could be stored in climate-controlled storage in Bunbury such as for example, furniture during a house move, business stock and equipment during slow trading periods, family treasures and artifacts that you do not have space for in your current home.
Storage solutions of high quality may initially seem quite expensive. However when you consider the money that you would have to spend replacing lost or damaged goods stored in a poor way, the storage solution will have more than paid for itself very quickly. By properly storing your items, they are also protected from dust, dirt, mites and other factors that could cause deterioration or damage to your goods over time. Many people fail to realize just how much time they spend searching through their cluttered garages and cupboards for specific items. This time could be spent on so many more enjoyable things.
See also: What are the best home comfort upgrades for elderly family members?
Making decluttering decisions with confidence
When starting to declutter it’s best to begin with the easiest items such as expired, broken or duplicates of items that you don’t need.
Consider items that you have not used for a long time but you have not thrown away because you believe they have future value. There are probably many things that you have not worn for a long time because there have not been any suitable occasions to wear them. Perhaps you have not used a kitchen gadget for a long time because you have not cooked any of the types of food that you can use that gadget to prepare. In these situations you might ask yourself if you could afford to buy a similar item in a month. If the answer is yes then you can probably throw the item away even though you have not used it for a long time. If the answer is no then you probably should hold on to the item.
Building systems that prevent future accumulation
An on going practice that requires some discipline – however the benefits are immense! By implementing simple rules or regular cleansing of your domestic or commercial space you develop better habits in relation to your consumption and the care and maintenance of your possessions to achieve living spaces that support you and your life!
Remember that you do not have to keep everything. Try to get rid of one old item for every new item that you bring home to your collection. Monthly go through the areas of your home where things tend to pile up the most and sort through everything to keep it from taking over. This could be the entryways to your home, your kitchen counters and the spaces on either side of your bed.
Don’t get me wrong. We are not talking here about becoming a minimalist living in some sort of monastery. No, we are trying to create a home. A living space in which you can live your life to the full. A space in which all items that you own have a home. Items that support your goals and functions. Items that bring you happiness. Items that allow you to live your life in the way in which you wish to live your life. And if Storage Facilities start to take over your home, then it’s time to think differently. Perhaps storing some of the items that you own in a Storage Facility outside of your normal living environment.
