15 Home Organizing Myths That Are Making Your House Messier

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Clutter in your home is like a war that you never win because it keeps coming back no matter how many times you try to eliminate it. I mean, it is possible to even apply all those fashionable organizing tips and tricks, but your space remains messy.

But before you purchase yet another set of storage bins or attempt to sort through your junk drawer for the umpteenth time, let’s debunk some of the most popular myths about home organization that are actually counterproductive. Maybe these myths are what have been holding you from winning.

You Need Fancy Storage Solutions for Everything

Things Most People Think Are Too Cheap To Buy That Can Drastically Improve Their Quality Of Life — Photo Credit: Songmics/Flickr

Many of us think that simply purchasing new bins, baskets, or drawer organizers is the way to eliminate clutter. But what happens when you have more storage? It just becomes more areas to clutter up with things you don’t require. Before you start piling up containers in every corner of your home, begin with de-cluttering.

More Space Means Less Mess

Got a bigger house? More closets? There is a thought that the more space provided, the more clean is the home, but it is not always so. Just more space means that there will be more space to fill up with things.

Holding Onto Everything ‘For Safety’s Sake’

I am sure you may have had moments where you keep items around saying “I might use this someday”. It is always wise to be prepared, but having every additional gizmo or kitchen utensil just in case is a clear path to clutter. It is always advisable to let go of something you have not used for a year or more.

Organizing Once Means You’re Done

Organization is not something that can be done once and for all. People grow older, new things arrive, and things get dirty. Clutter is an enemy of neatness, cleanliness and order and thus requires consistent work in order to ensure order reigns supreme in a home.

The More, the Better When it Comes to Labels

Labelling of containers and drawers can be helpful, but if you overdo it, you will end up making your space look cluttered and complex. You do not need to put a name to everything when it is already quite clear what it is. Just make sure you stick to labeling where it is necessary and useful such as labeling of your pantry or office products.

Multitasking Furniture Is the Solution to all

Furniture that has built-in storage may sound nice, but it is not always convenient. At other times, it only results in the creation of more compartments where the same concept is forced to fit. Only choose multifunctional furniture occasionally and only if you really need the additional storage space.

Clutter Is Simply a Way of Telling That You Are Just Too Busy

Sneaky Culprits That Make Your Home Feel Cluttered — Photo Credit: Shutterstock

We can always justify a messy house by citing the tight schedule, but clutter is not always the result of it. Sometimes it’s about processes and procedures – or their absence. You don’t have to have hours of spare time to be able to stay organized.

Everything Needs to Be Hidden

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It is not necessary for all of the items in your home to be hidden away. In some instances, when you simply put every item away to keep the house neat, your home may end up being cluttered because you cannot locate something. If one wishes to achieve balance between visual openness and accessibility, then the combination of open and closed shelves can look most appropriate.

Perfection Is the Goal

The desire to have a perfect home organization is likely to lead to frustration. There isn’t such thing as perfection and expecting that we will aim for it just tends to leave us stressed. According to Board & Vellum, it is better to have function over form. Functionality is way more important than aesthetic in a space that you are working in.

Tackle Everything at Once

It is always advisable not to organize the whole house at once because it becomes too tasking. Relax, stop pressurizing your self, the most important thing is to start by doing it in parts. Declutter one room or one drawer at a time. It is less stressful when small victories are added up and it makes the process far much easier.

Every Organizing Trend has to be Followed

From colored organizers right down to folding clothes in a particular way there are trends that float around. Why? Well, because just because it works for the other person, it will not necessarily work for you.

Selling or Donating Everything, You Can Achieve Clutter-Free Space

Donating or selling your items is a good way to deal with your unwanted items but sometimes it can be a bit of a hindrance if you are waiting to get rid of them. If indeed it can no longer be of any use, then it is not bad to dispose of it. Attempting to place every item into a category can prolong your organizing process for hours or even days.

Small Spaces Can’t Be Organized

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One can actually organize their small apartment or home even when they live in a small space. In fact, small spaces make you think more about what you want to store and where to store it. The idea is to get as many storage solutions as possible, make use of the height and avoid clutter.

Never Throw Away Sentimental Items

It is perfectly natural to want to keep tokens of love and affection, though keeping them all leads to cluttering. As a rule, if it is not relevant, informative, useful — it is better to do without. You can always capture items you wish to recall in a picture form without having to keep the real stuff.

Organization Is the Process of Throwing Out Everything

According to Becoming Minimalist, clutter management is not just about clearing out things from your home—it’s about making your home more functional. It does not mean that you have to lead a frugal life in order to be organized.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.