We partnered with a home improvement company for this post. The opinions in the post are honest. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views. We are excited because we know you will love it.
The clutter problem has always been a thing in the US, with homeowners struggling to accommodate their stuff in limited spaces. Whether you own a one-room apartment or a huge mansion, you may deal with “too much” stuff. That’s probably because we find it hard to let go of things as a human tendency.
However, statistics are daunting because the problem seems to be worsening. According to the New York Post, half of Americans feel that they have an unsalvageable room in their homes. Nearly 34% of them feel cramped in their living spaces, most of them being apartment dwellers. A fifth of them aren’t happy with the space they have.
The concern can be even more daunting if you have a growing family. Imagine a cramped home with kids and pets scampering around. It can be total chaos, right? Thankfully, a few realistic strategies and consistent effort can help you address the clutter problem effectively.
Here are a few effective tips to maintain a space that’s clean and healthy for your growing clan.
Establish Daily Cleaning Routines
A recent poll showed that the average American invested in home cleaning only once a week. Decluttering happens just thrice a year. People in Maine and Idaho spent 59 minutes per cleaning session, while New York residents completed a cleaning spree only in 45 minutes. That does not seem enough to achieve a neat space for a growing family.
Consistency is the only way to combat clutter, so you must establish daily cleaning routines. You can make it doable by encouraging all family members to participate. For example, consider allocating age-specific duties and tidying up at specific times each day. Set aside 10-15 minutes each evening for everyone to put away their belongings.
Also, make a rule for the kids to put away their toys and games in designated areas before bedtime. You can use a basket to collect stray items throughout the day to ease the clean-up process.
Create Designated Spaces for Everything
Another tip to keep your home clutter-free is to create a designated space for all items. CNBC notes that the size of a newly built home in the US has been shrinking. Data from the Census Bureau shows that a newly constructed single-family home had 2,140 square feet of floor space in the first quarter of 2024. The median size in the first quarter of 2023 was 2,256 square feet.
Organized storage solutions are great for making the most of the available space. Use bins, baskets, and shelves to categorize clothes, toys, and books. Label these items so that your children can understand where their things belong.
While designating spaces, ask your family members about where they would like their belongings stored. When everyone is on the same page about the organization system, they are more likely to take ownership.
Regularly Purge Unused Items
Besides creating a space problem in your home, clutter can affect your health and well-being. According to WebMD, women with cluttered homes have higher levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. Those with less mess around tend to be relaxed due to controlled levels of the same hormone.
Experts recommend committing to regular decluttering sessions to keep your space tidy and mind stress-free. Ask your family members to go through clothes, toys, and other items. Teach kids about the importance of avoiding hoarding. Also, encourage them to donate items they no longer use or need.
Besides regular purging, set limits to new items. When receiving gifts or purchasing new items, talk about what can be donated or discarded in exchange for the new item. This practice prevents the accumulation of items in the first place.
Consider Relocating
As your family grows, you may fall short of space in your existing home. Consider it a sign that you need to find a bigger place to accommodate your evolving needs. However, selling a house is not easy, even in hot markets like San Francisco. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, selling a home in the city took a median of 35 days in 2024, an increase from 24 days in 2019.
Expect your house to take even longer to sell if it is cluttered and crowded. Even if people drop in for showings, they might not see it as a potential living space. You can avert the struggle by opting for a cash sale, where the buyer pays quick cash and takes the place as-is. Click here to learn how to sell your house in San Francisco as-is.
Doctor Homes notes that selling homes for cash has numerous benefits. You sell your place without repairs and upgrades, which makes sense even if your selling price may be a tad lower. You also save on realtor fees and commissions as these buyers buy directly from sellers. That means moving into a bigger home quickly and starting afresh.
Foster a Mindset of Minimalism
Fostering a minimalist mindset is the best solution, whether you declutter your existing home or move to a bigger space. If you continue accumulating stuff, you may end up in the same place again. Learn to value experiences over material possessions and teach the same to your children.
This mindset can reduce their desire for new toys and promote contentment with what they already have. Model minimalism for your kids by being mindful of your own possessions and regularly assessing what you truly need.
FAQs
How can I get my children involved in a decluttering spree?
The best way to involve your kids in a decluttering spree is by making it enjoyable. Turn it into a game instead of a task. Give them points or rewards for every item they donate or organize. Also, explain the benefits of purging stuff, such as making space for new toys or creating a tidier play area.
What should I do with items having sentimental value when purging?
You may want to keep sentimental items because they have fond memories attached to them. However, consider setting limits on how many you keep before you start with the cleaning project. Create a memory box for each child where they can store their most cherished items like books and toys.
How often should I declutter my living space?
Experts suggest decluttering at least every few months or seasonally. You should also create a regular cleaning and organization schedule to prevent stuff from building up in your home again. Additionally, consider doing quick weekly assessments of high-traffic areas such as playrooms or entryways.
Clutter can affect your life and health in the most unexpected ways. A home with too much stuff is not an ideal place to raise a family. Purging extra things is not as hard as you imagine. You can implement these realistic tips to create a clutter-free home that accommodates the needs of your growing family.
