Have you ever opened your closet to put away your laundry and had a pile of clothes fall on your head? Or tried to find a space for your brand-new juicer in your kitchen cabinet, only to find it filled to the brim with old appliances? Maybe you went to your garage to store your winter wardrobe and realized that adding one more carton could mean you can no longer park your car in there? Well, it’s safe to say you’re not the only one who faces this dilemma.
Running out of storage space in your home can be a frustrating and overwhelming experience. According to a survey by The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), 54% of Americans are struggling to manage the clutter that invades their homes. That is especially true for families living in thriving business cities like Olympia, Washington.
But don’t worry; there are several things you can do to reclaim your storage space and get your home organized once again.
1. Renting A Self-Storage Unit
One of the easiest solutions to making your home clutter free is renting a self-storage unit. 9.4% of U.S. households rent self-storage units to stop their house from looking like a junkyard. The first step in finding extra storage is to assess your current storage needs. Go through your house and list down all items that you don’t need and are just taking up unnecessary space. These could be anything from old furniture and appliances to seasonal clothing and sports equipment.
Once you have a clear idea of what items you need to store, you’ll be better equipped to find the right storage solution. With so many storage facilities, such as Extra Storage Olympia, renting a self-storage unit can be a great solution for storing items that you don’t use on a regular basis. Look for a facility that offers a wide range of unit sizes, as well as amenities such as climate control, weatherproofing, surveillance cameras, and 24/7 access. With a variety of unit sizes, amenities, and locations to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect storage solution for your needs. And with the added security and convenience of online billing and reservation options, you can rest easy knowing that your belongings are safe and easily accessible.
2. Donate What You Don’t Need
From clothing to shoes, kitchen items to furniture, gadgets to decoration pieces, our homes are full of items that are just there, no longer in use, but hard to let go of. According to NAPO, 80% of the things people keep in their homes are almost never put to good use.
Sort through your items and get rid of anything you no longer need or use. Go through your things by categories. Start with your wardrobe (which includes clothes, shoes, and other accessories), followed by books, papers such as old bills, newspapers, or magazines, moving on to miscellaneous items, and finally, mementos. If you come across any item you haven’t used or looked at in over a year, and which you no longer feel connected to, it’s time to let those items go.
Books and magazines can be donated to your local library, and old bills can be thrown away. Donate your clothes and old toys to local charities or have a garage sale to sell items you believe hold value. Not only does this help free up space in your house, but it can allow others to experience the same joy you once did with those same things.
3. Utilize Vertical Space
When it comes to storage, most people focus on horizontal spaces such as closets and cabinets. However, there is often sufficient vertical storage space available at home if you just use your imagination.
Don’t know where to keep your extra toiletries? Organize them in acrylic stacking drawers under your bathroom sink. Stacking drawers are easily available at convenience stores and don’t cost an arm and a leg. Are condiments and cereal boxes taking up space on your kitchen counter? There are beautiful pantry baskets and containers available that you can stack on top of each other in your pantry or cabinets.
Shelf organizers help divide shelf space so you can double the area on your shelves. These are great for organizing your shoes in the closet. Hanging clothes organizers for undergarments and accessories help sort out clutter, spatially and visually. A great way to keep your child’s room tidy is investing in beds with pull-out drawers where you can keep toys, books, and even clothes. Tools in the garage can be mounted on wall pegs, giving the garage a clean and organized look and making your tools easier to find. So don’t overlook the potential of vertical storage.
4. Repair, Recycle, Reuse
Often, in the interest of time, we overlook the cost-related benefit of repairing or recycling items in our homes. If small kitchen appliances break down, we write them off as useless and purchase new ones, when often they can become as good as new if we just take out the time to send them to a repair shop. We replace old furniture when all it needs is for it to be reupholstered with new fabric, and it’s good to go. A small investment of time in repairing your broken items can help you save thousands.
Another option to reduce clutter and prevent spending money is by recycling what you already have. You can help reduce your carbon footprint using simple recycling ideas. Turn your old t-shirts into cleaning cloths or stitch them up to make funky cushion covers or reusable grocery bags. You can even try tie-dying them so you can wear them again. Old jeans can be cut up, and with a little bit of stitching, you’ll have a new pair of shorts ready for the summer. The options are endless.
Instead of throwing away plastic bottles and milk cartons, there are several DIY tutorials you can easily follow to make planters.
Conclusion
While it can feel like an impossible task to tidy up and organize your home, the solutions are simpler than one thinks. From self-storage units to in-home organizing products, donation drives to yard sales, there are several options for turning your house into a clean, liveable space. The only hard part is to take that first step.