One of my resolutions is to deal with the CHAOS in my living and office spaces. I will reduce the stress associated with the mayhem. I will share my game plan and maybe you can steal some ideas if you have similar goals.
CHAOS rooted in habit.
Do you buy things because they are on sale or they are just too cute to leave? Is it still a bargain if you do not need it? Plus it is taking up space that you can put to better use. Sometimes we do not even know what we have! Trust me, when you go for it, it may be dry rotted, expired, out of style ... I got to curb the adhoc shopping. I prefer to read in bed. I need a bedside table that would hold the book, laptop, Kindle and IPad comfortably. After all why should I have to choose? Do you open the mail and leave them on the centre table or kitchen counter? Have somewhere to store and organise your mail where you actually open them. Do your children begin to strip as soon as they enter the door? Consider closed storage close to the door with hangers and a hamper close to the door. Work with the habit if you cannot change it. Changes in routine or habit can contribute to CHAOS. A new baby, a new job, a new home, new marital status, a new business, family on extended visit? All these can cause disruption in the way you organise things. Until you are able to regain your equilibrium and understand the new demands and priorities you will have CHAOS. As soon as is possible, put systems in place to regain control and sanity.
CHAOS rooted in infrastructure.
Many of my belongings are vagrants in the space. They have no home and stay where they lie. When I tidy up, they are stuck any place that will get them out of the way and out of eyesight. When I need it I have to ransack the place looking for them. Sounds familiar? That in itself causes more clutter and CHAOS. When reorganising I will ensure that everything has a specific space to park.
Some items have a space to park but that space is not logical or it is inconvenient. Store stuff close to where it is going to be used. If it is used occasionally, far, far away and high, high up is fine. If items that are used frequently is stored somewhere difficult to get to, these items will always be hanging out and causing clutter in plain sight. If you read the newspaper downstairs in the living room and the official storage space is upstairs in the study, newspapers will always be strewn about the living room.
I also have too many things and not enough space to store them. I need to get more storage space, organise existing storage more efficiently or get rid of more than a few things. The latter is the best option. If I have not used it in a year it is a prime candidate for passing on, charity or trash. Items that have more than one use are keepers. So the ottoman that does triple duty as foot rest, seating and side table stays.
CHAOS rooted in sentiment.
There are just some things I just cannot bring myself to part with. That half- finished craft item that was going to rock my world, for instance. I cannot get into my wedding dress and my daughter cannot understand why someone will choose to wear a dress like that. So obviously she's not going to be caught dead in it. That has to go. I can store more than a week's worth of outfits in that space. Ladies, yes the style sometimes comes back but when you wear the old stuff it looks dated. Dump it! Nothing wrong with keepsakes, but too many can be bordering on hoarding. Some of them I have not seen in years, I just know they are on that shelf or in that box. I am really not enjoying or treasuring them. I will sort them out, give away to other family members and trash the rest. But that Morris chair will be taken out of the store room and refurbished. Some things I just do not like. Why am I keeping them, because someone gave me or because I spent money on them? Out they go! I am only keeping things l love and things that truly make me happy. And all those things I plan to use someday ... Many of them I have had for decades and that day has not come yet! What about those things that do not work? My parents still have their first washing machine. The cylindrical one with the wringer on top! Next time I visit, I will toss it! Fair warning! If an item does not have a purpose, I do not need to keep it. Remember being decorative is a valid purpose. Assume the house is on fire. Exclude people and pets from consideration, what will you risk your life to save? Those are the things that are of most value to you.
