30 JULY 14 - JULY 20, 2017 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP
A room-by-room guide
to decluttering your home
Controlling clutter in
your home can be a
challenge; 48 percent
of Americans say their houses
are cluttered with stuff they
don't use anymore, according
to a survey by ClearVoice
Research.
Multiple studies have
found a cluttered home can
negatively affect your mental
and physical health, while a
cleaner home can make you
feel happier and healthier.
A UCLA study found mothers
in cluttered homes had
higher stress levels while
dealing with their stuff, while
an Indiana University study
found people with clean houses
are healthier than those
living in cluttered homes.
You may realize clutter
isn't good for you, but it's not
always easy to get organized.
To help you get started, here
is a room-by-room guide to
cutting the clutter.
ENTRYWAY
* Decide what belongs in
your entryway and what
doesn't. The size of the space
will influence this decision. If
your entryway is a spacious
mudroom, you might choose
to store shoes, boots, umbrellas
and backpacks there. If
you have a modest foyer, you
may decide you only have
room for car keys. Remove
anything from the space that
doesn't help it serve its purpose
in your home.
* Add storage/organization
that helps the space meet its
purpose. Wall-hung key racks
can keep important keys at
your fingertips. Shoe racks
are available in a variety of
sizes and styles to fit your
space and décor while keeping
footwear organized and
off the floor.
* If space allows, adding
built-in storage such as cabinets
and shelves can help keep
an entry space organized and
visually appealing.
FAMILY ROOM
* Assess the kind of clutter
that builds up in your family
room. Perhaps your clutter
consists of children's toys,
magazines and newspapers,
or multiple remote controls
for entertainment components.
Once you know what
kind of clutter you're collecting,
decide if it belongs and
must be accommodated, or
doesn't and should go.
* Add storage solutions
specific to your needs. For
example, storage ottomans
can double as extra seating
and a place to store frequently
used toys. A caddy can keep
remote controls organized
and at hand.
* Sometimes furniture that's
too large for a space can add to
the feeling of a cluttered and
congested room. Assess your
family room furniture. Is it
the right size for the space, or
is it overwhelming the area?
Replace overly large furnishings
with ones that better fit
the room.
* If you have the room for
it, a large shelving or cabinet
unit can help contain clutter.
Add decorative containers to
help keep everyday items like
toys, magazines and other frequently
used items organized
on shelves.
BATHROOM
* Tackle the linen closet and
trash any partial bottles of
shampoo, tubes of toothpaste
and towels that have seen
better days. Be brutal. If you
haven't used that half bottle of
body wash so far, chances are
you never will.
* Clean out your medicine
cabinet. Discarding expired
prescription medicines can
help reduce the risk of someone
accidentally taking the
wrong medication.
* Showers can be among
the most cluttered spots in
a bathroom. If you're ready
to take your bathroom organization
to the next level,
ditch the rack hanging from
your showerhead and the
precarious corner shelving
and upgrade your shower to
one with built-in organization,
like Sterling Store+ shower.
The showers feature builtin
recesses and tracks where
you can snap in a variety
of storage accessories and
shelves, such as a soap dish,
storage bin, towel bar or
shower hook. The storage is
fully customizable, and all
accessories are removable
and dishwasher safe. Visit
www.sterlingplumbing.com
to learn more.
KITCHEN
* Countertops frequently
host a wealth of kitchen-related
clutter, from the mail you
brought in yesterday and
forgot to go through to small
appliances you use once or
twice a year.
Clearing off countertops
can make a kitchen feel visually
more appealing, look
bigger and function better.
Remove and store rarely used
small appliances, ditch the
ceramic container of utensils
and store those items in drawers
instead.
* Pantries and cabinets
can be nearly as cluttered as
countertops. Adding shelving
and storage units within
cabinets can help keep pots,
pans, lids and dishware better
organized and more easily
accessible.
* Some people need a bit of
extra incentive to stay organized.
If that's you, consider
replacing solid cabinet doors
with glass ones that reveal
what's inside.
Knowing the contents of
your cabinets are always
on display can help inspire
you to keep them tidy and
organized. Plus, glass-front
cabinets are an opportunity
to create an appealing visual
display. (BPT)
AT HOME