Home Organization: Less Clutter, Lower Stress

NEW YORK – Although happiness isn't everything, enjoying one's home is a must. Every home, regardless of family size, accumulates clutter and as an unfortunate side effect, produces higher stress levels.

Living with clutter impacts more than stress levels. Several studies over the years show a general positive impact of tidiness on overall mental health. Keeping any living space clean presents unique challenges.

Decluttering and home organization require a willingness to let items go. Despite social media's influence, custom storage isn't the sole solution to clutter. There are many options solve the average household's messiness, from the kitchen to the garage.

The benefits of an organized home

Organization offers many benefits, both for mental health and home functionality. Clutter-free spaces promote relaxation, productivity, and a sense of calm. Messiness serves as a visual distraction and a potential reminder of unfinished tasks. For some, especially women, the association with impending work produces a stress response.

Reduced stress improves people's ability to focus and other mental concerns. Extended periods of lower stress often result in better sleep, reduced anxiety, and decreased instances of depression. Decluttering provides a healthy, objective way to remove unwanted items and reminders from daily life and reduce stress chemicals in the brain.

An organized home makes it easier to find items and use space. With better storage solutions, the need to dig around in drawers and cabinets becomes a thing of the past. People spend less time cleaning with fewer items to dust or put away. With a bit of downsizing, each room in the home becomes more usable and less anxiety-inducing.

Custom, personalized home organization

Despite the benefits of home organization, many struggle with finding ideal storage solutions. Some people, influenced by social media, fall prey to the idea that organizing must come from expensive personalized storage sets and high-end tools. Home organization companies like Everest recognize the struggle for stylish storage.

Josh Gitlin, President and CEO of Everest, says, "Organization is a mountain of a task, so we created Everest to motivate possibilities. Our solutions bring calm from the moment of purchase to the finished project and reflect a uniquely soft and stylish look to complement any home décor."

Although Everest offers a combination of form and function, it might exceed the average budget. For those on tight budgets, paying hundreds for a professional organizer or tailor-made storage is out of the question. Creativity allows for affordable personalized options, though.

Floating shelves, decorative baskets or bins, and multipurpose furniture allow for hidden, aesthetic organization without breaking the bank. The do-it-yourself (DIY) online community creates hacks for visually pleasing storage, from converting basic furniture from brands like IKEA to building custom solutions from dollar stores.

Stylish solutions for every room

Keeping a whole home organized takes more than top-notch storage and decluttering. Custom storage seems like the perfect fix until the price adds up. Even small spaces like closets can cost hundreds, with the average cost anywhere from $150 to $400 a square foot.

DIY solutions, which often prioritize function over appearance, work best in hidden areas like under the sink or in the pantry. Decorative storage works best in high-traffic areas, like living rooms and bedrooms. Behind closed doors or cabinets, maximizing space for the most storage is important. Risers, pull-out racks, and other adaptive containers optimize even the smallest, tightest spaces.

Expensive, multifunctional furniture is also a worthwhile investment. IKEA is the market leader in global multipurpose furniture, known amongst DIYers and people seeking built-in storage solutions.

Garage organization: The hidden gem

Garages, often used as set-it-and-forget-it spaces, gather lots of junk. Yet one in four people recognize that garages hold more value when decluttered. They can even double as a space for a side hustle. When someone tries to straighten the garage, they benefit from easier access to tools and usable parking space and avoid the embarrassment when the garage door stays open.

When considering storage, don't forget a space with tons of potential. More than one quarter of homeowners point to their garages as the main source of stress. Clutter builds up in forgettable spaces, and many experience stress trying to organize these spaces.

Vertical storage, wall-mounted storage, and labeled bins create seamless solutions and remove the need to scrounge for seasonal décor, which most people keep in the garage or attic. Sort and store outdoor lawn care tools, camping supplies, and off-season décor with an organization system.

Maintaining organization after decluttering

The effort to keep a home clutter-free does require maintenance. Some rooms need daily cleanings. For example, fold and store blankets and loose toys in the kids' play area. This can also be an opportunity to break the cycle of clutter by teaching them good cleaning habits. In entryways, convenient shoe storage and coat hooks make for uncluttered spaces. Good storage solutions work with a space's flow, making putting things away hassle-free.

In areas where messes build over time, make organization easier by designating zones for related items. Stylish solutions can look good and keep stress low when they provide adequate storage. Remember, compromising space for aesthetics creates potential long-term problems.

Reduce purchases to prevent additional clutter. Do you need that new gadget or fun wall hanging? Will it just add to the clutter? Avoiding the purchase of unnecessary items makes the home easy to maintain. The more items in a home, the more to clean, manage, and store.

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