November 8 2013

Less Clutter, Pretty Spaces

First let’s talk about CLUTTER (dirty word) vs. MESS (a fact of life).  Mess is the result of living a normal life.  When a client tells me their house is a mess, I don’t panic at all.  I simply want to congratulate them on being a normal, functioning human being.  It’s that backlog of mess and the postponed decisions around the initial mess that results in clutter. We make a mess doing something – anything.  Mess is fun and it makes us approachable and real.  NEVER worry about a little mess.

For example, in this typical process, we temporarily have a mess and it is promptly dealt with, we: 

1. Check the mail
2. Open it all
3. Shred the personal stuff
4. Recycle the junk
5. Take action on the rest (pay the bill, file the report, etc.)

When we breed clutter, we might:

1. Check the mail
2. Pick out the most interesting-looking piece (invitation, personal letter) and open it
3. Leave the opened envelope and the contents on top of the pile
4. Move the pile around the kitchen four times
5. Repeat steps 1-4 the following day, thus burying the first day’s mail
6. Repeat again and again

Decisions are postponed, final destinations are not reached, actions are not taken and as a result – Impending. Clutter. Doom. A part of breaking the clutter trap might be adjusting some habits, but let’s be real.  Habits are nearly impossible to break.  They are the result of how we’ve lived our whole lives and are deeply rooted in our personalities.  In my organizational work, I find it best to observe the clients habits and accommodate them.  Adjust the space to help them execute organizational goals without changing the client’s personality (impossible / unnecessary). There are a few fairly common clutter bottlenecks I have come across.  If we can avoid or alleviate them, we stand a chance in the quest for organization.

Family Entryway

We reviewed this topic a bit in my first MoPa contributor post.  This area of the home is going to be messy.  It’s ok!!!  The quest is to periodically tackle it and get re-organized.  Demands on this area change with seasons and family life changes.  As a trigger, set a limit.  For example, if all the coat/bag hooks are full or the floor is so laden with shoes the door can’t be opened, it’s time to tidy up and perhaps store some items in a different location for a while.

Office Desk

Like the entry way, it’s going to require periodic tidy-up.  The point is to recognize when a limit has been reached (letter trays overflowing, can’t see the desk top, chair is piled high with randomness).  Grab a cuppa, rock some tunes and tidy up!

Mail Station

What are the action steps taken in this area? Shred, Recycle, Action Required (Pay, Respond, File, Share) – should happen in the first or second “touch” of the item.  For the actionable items, let’s accommodate them with good-quality, good-looking organizational tools.  I love me a good letter tray.  Label each cubby with the corresponding action.

Pantry & Storage

The day before garbage day clean out and wipe down storage areas. The day of a big grocery run, tidy up the fridge as well as the pantry while you make your list.  This will make putting away groceries 10x easier and prevent double purchases saving you money! Items flow FIFO – a restaurateur term – First In, First Out.

If we have those mental limits set then we know when it’s time to get our organizing on.  If we ignore and blow past those limits, well folks, it’s just going to make the disorganization and prevalence of clutter sap our energy and annoy us, rob us of valuable time, and cost us money.  Not. Good.

In the next blog post, we’ll delve more into the benefits getting organized and why regardless if you’re into mid-century modern, traditional or shabby chic, a clutter-free space is always in style (even if it’s a bit messy).

- Jennifer

photo credits: entryway, desktop, mail sorter, pantry 

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