By: Darci Maxwell
A common problem people face is not having enough space in their house for all of the things they own. This can make a home look cluttered and unkept. If you too face this problem, whether you don’t have room in your closet for all of your clothes or your spare bedroom has become a room of no return, here are 5 tips and tricks to help you find the storage space you need.
Downsize
The first thing that you should do is downsize your possessions. Do you really need 64 drinking glasses, 97 pairs of shoes, 1,498 DVD’s, and 843 shelf decorations? (In case you’re not sure, the answer is no.) Start by sorting through your things and putting them into three categories: Need, Want, and Get Rid Of. Immediately take your Get Rid Of items to a local charity or sell them online. Then take a look of your Wants, and try to get rid of as many items as you can. Once you are in dejunking mood, it will be easier to continue to get rid of things.
Don’t Allow For Justification
There are many ways that we justify holding onto things that we no longer need. Don’t fall into the following justification traps:
I’ll use it someday
As a general rule, if you haven’t used an item in the past year, you won’t use it in the next one.
It was a gift
We often hold onto things because we’re afraid our great aunt or friend will come to visit and find it missing. However, most people won’t even remember the gifts you gave them after a few months or so. And even if they do, they will understand. Feel free to get rid of it.
It might be valuable someday
Unless your item is in impeccable shape, it probably won’t gain value over time. If you have an antique or keepsake, stop waiting for it to become valuable, and find out if it is. Take it to an appraiser or do a quick search online to see what similar items are selling for.
I don’t know where to start
Trying to declutter your life is a daunting task, and many people never begin because they don’t know where to start. The trick to getting organized, though, is to just start. Pick a room in your house and start going through your things. Make a goal to get rid of five things each day, and then do it.
Organize
An unorganized mess will take up more space than an organized area. After you dejunk your life, you need to organize it or your life will quickly get cluttered again. The universal rule of organization is that everything has a place and that everything belongs in its place. You first need to create a place for your things, and if necessary, install shelving, build an additional closet, purchase bookcases and storage totes, etc. Utilize the space under your bed, in your closets, along the walls, etc. After things are organized, you need to force yourself to put things away when you use them.
Rent a Storage Unit
If you cannot find space in your home, it may be necessary to rent a storage unit in order to hold your things. It is best to store things that you don’t use very often so that you can minimize your trips, such as seasonal clothes and decorations, or sports equipment. You can also rent space for cars, RV’s, boats etc. at many storage facilities, and you can also rent private property to store your cars and boats. Garage Pointer is one app that you can use to rent storage space for your vehicles. Check out this blog to learn more.
Move Into A Bigger House
There may come a point where you just need an upgrade. Just like you would get a new phone if yours doesn’t hold all of your photos, you may need to get a new home. Start shopping around to see if there is something in your price range and desired location that offers a bit more space for you and your family. You may need to move a little further away from the city and increase your commute time, but if you have things that you just can’t get rid of, this may be your only option.