Too Much Stuff

Since it incorporates all the senses, this aspect of home life differs from others in that it is successful in evoking a range of feelings.

Decorating is more than just a pastime or a hobby for many individuals; it’s a way for them to unwind from a hectic world by living in aesthetically beautiful and comfortable surroundings.
However, having an ordered home with plenty of lovely details is far more enjoyable than just decorating.

The two tasks of organizing and decorating work together to complete a home.
Use these tips to guide you toward an ordered home this spring and summer in an effort to inspire you to take action.

Stacks of paper

Don’t walk, RUN to the sanitation department and rent an industrial-sized dumpster to leave in your driveway for a week if you’re like my lovely Mother and still have newspapers from 1978 because you haven’t read them all.

You may handle your incoming mail and papers more than once, but only if the second “touching” takes place on the way to the trash can.

Do you have a never-ending list of “items to file”?

Guess what, throw that out, too.

You can always print off a second copy or get the information online.

Clothing

My mother made me try on outfits for the forthcoming season twice a year.

She would always pick chilly mornings to try on summer clothing and the hottest day on record to put on woolens and flannels.

(You can use this as an example if your kids criticize you for trying on clothes in the air conditioning.)

It’s generally not worth keeping something if you haven’t worn it since before you had your second child (unless, of course, the dumpster is full).

Use this excellent advice I just learned: Choose three nights every week to try on five items from your closet, then repeat the process with the items in your dressers. The typical American lady should be able to wear out all of her clothing in around three years, nine months, and fourteen days at this rate. You shouldn’t worry since then it will be a different season!

Child’s toys

In order to give your children variety, you may try to “restrict” the number of toys they play with each month and rotate them between the garage and the house.

That requires too much work. My boys were recently threatened with having their toys (the toys, foolish!) thrown out the next day if they left them out on the floor when they went to bed. You’ll be able to control this hot zone after doing this twice.

I hope these ideas have opened your eyes to new perspectives on the clutter issue and inspired you to try out some novel solutions.

You might want to think about renting a second dumpster for the husband’s belongings given how much fun you’ll have with that one.