While it is true that a well-ordered home is more functional, quiet and attractive, this is only true when it is really well organized. Sometimes we fool ourselves into thinking that the house is perfectly tidy, just because it is clean and there are no piles of clutter lying around. But the truth is that a truly tidy home requires first of all good organization. Here are some mistakes not to make that make the house messy!
Order only apparently
Just because you have neatly stacked all the documents not filed on your desk, or the multiple plastic containers in the closet, or the magazines you absolutely want to read “someday,” doesn’t mean the house is tidy. You have simply made the clutter less overwhelming. Instead of stacking the clutter, get rid of everything you don’t need, get rid of excess containers and keep only what you really need.
Keep items you will never use
Many homes have cabinets and boxes loaded with dusty items that are stored “just in case” they are needed. But unless that item is actually used at least once a year, such as Christmas decorations or seasonal sporting items, you’re actually just taking up space that could be used to store the things you really need. Be honest with yourself, prepare a box and fill it with all those items you keep “just in case”, and give it away!
Organize based on aesthetics only
Your kitchen counters might look Instagram worthy without the coffee maker, toaster or knife holder on display, but if you use these utensils every day, it makes more sense to keep them out than to put them away and take them out every morning. Instead, put away small appliances and kitchen gadgets that are used occasionally!
Overdo the containers
Too many people are so excited about the idea of organizing that they rush to buy an overload of boxes, containers and baskets that end up adding further clutter. If your garage, kitchen furniture or closet contains a myriad of boxes packed, in turn, in other boxes, perhaps you have gone too far!
Thinking that cleanliness and order are the same thing
Ideally, order and cleanliness go together, but one doesn’t necessarily imply the other. It is entirely possible to have a clean home that is very messy or an organized home that leaves something to be desired when it comes to cleanliness. But it is also true that once you have organized the space correctly, it will be much easier to keep it clean, since it will no longer be necessary to juggle the clutter to clean even the most hidden corners of the house.
Postpone what can be done today until tomorrow
Organizing the house is never a done and finished activity. It requires regular, usually daily, attention to putting things back in their place, getting rid of objects that are no longer needed and keeping the spaces as free from dust and dirt as possible. Fortunately, most people only need a few minutes a day. Do not make the common mistake of postponing your organizational efforts, as what could have been a small task risks becoming a difficult undertaking in a matter of days. Spend as little as 10 minutes a day cleaning and storing things. You will notice the difference immediately!
While it is true that a well-ordered home is more functional, quiet and attractive, this is only true when it is really well organized. Sometimes we fool ourselves into thinking that the house is perfectly tidy, just because it is clean and there are no piles of clutter lying around. But the truth is that a truly tidy home requires first of all good organization. Here are some mistakes not to make that make the house messy!
Order only apparently
Just because you have neatly stacked all the documents not filed on your desk, or the multiple plastic containers in the closet, or the magazines you absolutely want to read “someday,” doesn’t mean the house is tidy. You have simply made the clutter less overwhelming. Instead of stacking the clutter, get rid of everything you don’t need, get rid of excess containers and keep only what you really need.
Keep items you will never use
Many homes have cabinets and boxes loaded with dusty items that are stored “just in case” they are needed. But unless that item is actually used at least once a year, such as Christmas decorations or seasonal sporting items, you’re actually just taking up space that could be used to store the things you really need. Be honest with yourself, prepare a box and fill it with all those items you keep “just in case”, and give it away!
Organize based on aesthetics only
Your kitchen counters might look Instagram worthy without the coffee maker, toaster or knife holder on display, but if you use these utensils every day, it makes more sense to keep them out than to put them away and take them out every morning. Instead, put away small appliances and kitchen gadgets that are used occasionally!
Overdo the containers
Too many people are so excited about the idea of organizing that they rush to buy an overload of boxes, containers and baskets that end up adding further clutter. If your garage, kitchen furniture or closet contains a myriad of boxes packed, in turn, in other boxes, perhaps you have gone too far!
Thinking that cleanliness and order are the same thing
Ideally, order and cleanliness go together, but one doesn’t necessarily imply the other. It is entirely possible to have a clean home that is very messy or an organized home that leaves something to be desired when it comes to cleanliness. But it is also true that once you have organized the space correctly, it will be much easier to keep it clean, since it will no longer be necessary to juggle the clutter to clean even the most hidden corners of the house.
Postpone what can be done today until tomorrow
Organizing the house is never a done and finished activity. It requires regular, usually daily, attention to putting things back in their place, getting rid of objects that are no longer needed and keeping the spaces as free from dust and dirt as possible. Fortunately, most people only need a few minutes a day. Do not make the common mistake of postponing your organizational efforts, as what could have been a small task risks becoming a difficult undertaking in a matter of days. Spend as little as 10 minutes a day cleaning and storing things. You will notice the difference immediately!
