Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed by clutter in your home? You’re not alone!
Many homeowners struggle with keeping their spaces organized, but the good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way.
This blog post will dive into 11 common organizing mistakes homeowners make so you don’t make them.
Let’s get into it!
1. Not Purging Before Organizing
While purging can be a part of your organizing process, it is vital to do as much purging as possible before you settle down to organize your home.
Take the time to remove unnecessary items, trash, and donations so that when you start the organization process, you are only dealing with items that are truly important and necessary to you.
Remember to be mindful and thoughtful when purging, as it can be challenging to let go of certain items, but in the end, it will be worth it to benefit from a more organized home.
2. Purchasing Organizing Products First
While it can be tempting to purchase all your organizing products first and even feel productive, it can actually be a hindrance.
This can lead to overbuying or buying items that are not actually needed.
Hold off purchasing those storage bins and fancy labels until you have everything sorted out into keep, throw away, and donate piles, so you know how much you are actually keeping.
3. Keeping Expired Items
When you’re going through your things and getting organized, it’s common to come across items you haven’t used in a while or expired.
Sometimes, we might tell ourselves that we’ll use them someday, but the truth is, if you haven’t used something in the last year and it’s expired, it’s probably time to let it go.
Holding onto expired items you’re not using takes up valuable space in your home.
It’s okay to let go of things that aren’t serving you anymore. It’s a significant step towards a more organized and clutter-free home.
4. Unrealistic Expectations – Too Fixated On Instagram
It’s important to remember that when it comes to organizing and decluttering your home, it doesn’t have to be perfect.
It’s easy to get caught up in looking at other people’s perfectly organized homes on social media and feel like that’s how your home should look.
But the truth is, what works for someone else might not work for you and your lifestyle.
Everyone’s needs and preferences are different, and what’s most important is that you create an organizational system that works for you and your family.
Instead of trying to match someone else’s aesthetic or style, focus on what will make your life easier and more functional. Don’t put pressure on yourself to have a perfect, Instagram-worthy home because that’s not what really matters.
What matters is that you have a home in which you feel comfortable and happy!
5. Holding Onto Donations
While sorting items into the donation pile can be one of the more manageable parts of the entire process, you do have to take them to a local donation center or schedule a pickup service.
However, it can be easy to hold onto those donations, whether because you are too busy or you may even want to keep some of the items.
Choose a day to take those donations to a local donation center, and your home will feel much more organized without them taking up precious space.
6. Trying to Do Everything in One Day or One Weekend
Getting everything done in a single day or weekend can seem like a great idea.
However, it may not be the best idea, as organizing can quickly become overwhelming or physically exhausting. Additionally, maintaining the organization in a home requires consistent effort from household members.
Consistent and purposeful time blocks work great for tackling different areas of the home rather than trying to do everything all at once.
It allows you to focus on one area at a time rather than feeling overwhelmed by the entire task.
This will not only make the process less overwhelming but also give you a sense of accomplishment as you complete each task.
7. Over Using Products and Containers
Just like purchasing organizing products before you have even begun organizing, overusing those products and containers is another mistake to avoid.
While it can seem like you have everything organized, too many containers can make a space feel even more cluttered than before.
Only use the containers and products necessary to organize your home to help keep it clutter-free.
8. Not Making Decisions
Organizing a home requires decision after decision, and you must make those decisions to get anywhere with the process.
While it can be easy to get held up by all the decisions, take a breath, and if it helps the process, make a list of the main decisions you have to make and start there.
9. Not Labeling After Organizing
Not labeling after organizing is another common mistake that can lead to confusion and disorganization.
Labeling your containers, shelves, and drawers can help you quickly find what you’re looking for and make it more likely that you’ll be able to maintain your organization system in the long run.
Labels can be simple, such as writing the contents of a container on a piece of tape and sticking it to the outside, or more detailed and decorative, like using printed labels or label makers.
Labeling also helps anyone else in the household know where things belong, preventing confusion and disorganization in the future.
10. Failing to Maintain
One of the most common mistakes after you have finished organizing your home, is failing to maintain the system you have in place.
While it can be challenging to keep everything organized, focusing on staying on top of it will help organizing become a habit in the long run.
Taking 10-15 minutes daily to maintain the organization in your home can go a long way!
11. Not Asking For Help
The last organizing mistake to avoid is not asking for help when organizing your home because it can be easy to lose motivation without some form of support system.
Ask your friends or family to help you when you begin organizing your home, as they can help keep you on track when you start procrastinating.
Final Thoughts
Organizing your home can be difficult, but by avoiding the above mistakes, you will find that it goes much smoother. Again, purposeful and consistent action each day, even if it’s only ten minutes, can make all the difference!
Here at Professional Organizers New Orleans, we believe everyone can have an organized home, so if you would like to have your home organized without doing it yourself, contact us online or call us at (504) 321-6792.
