The 10 Most Common Types of Clutter

Clutter Without a Place

Some of your clutter is stuff you do want to keep without a doubt but the items don't yet have a place to call their own. You may have unopened items or things that simply need a sliver of storage space. The best way to handle items that you know you'll use is to store them neatly in labeled, clear plastic containers. Some items that fall into this category could include:

• New books you haven't opened or read
• Seasonal items you bought on sale
• Items you purchased for gift-giving in the near future

Trash Masquerading as Clutter

What is considered clutter and what is considered trash? It’s important to know the difference so you can establish strict rules for yourself on how long you'll keep an item before tossing it out.

Items such as old newspapers or junk mail have value for a certain period of time but are clear to get rid of after a week or so. Consider tossing out a newspaper after three days, a magazine after one month, and items that need repair after one month.

Bargain Items You Never Needed

Who can resist a good store sale, yard sale, goody bag, or a promotional gift with purchase? Bargains and promotional swag bags full of products from the mall or business conferences can easily turn into clutter. The same goes for those travel-size shampoo bottles you tend to take home on vacation. Just because it's a good deal doesn't mean you have to buy it.

Buying Too Many Groceries in Bulk

Buying items in bulk because you think you may run out may result in large amounts of products that go unused. It's called "abundance clutter" because having many products makes you feel secure.

Stocking up and buying in bulk is not always bad. If you have a large freezer why not take advantage of deals on meats and frozen foods you know you'll eat?

Aspirational Clutter for the Future

Aspirational clutter is the stuff you accumulate to help you change, develop a skill, or appear differently to others. For example, if you've ever purchased a glamorous "coffee table" book to keep on display, but never actually read it, you may have fallen victim to aspirational clutter. Or, you may have purchased a set of golf clubs in anticipation of taking up the sport but realized you didn't like the game after the first lesson.

The best way to banish this type of clutter is to have a conversation with yourself before purchasing the item. What about if you are determined to change your entire home's style of decor? Before you start selecting new home furniture and decor, first ask yourself these questions to get clear on your intentions:

• Why do you truly want to change your style of decor?
• What attracts you to the style?
• Where are you going to put your current furniture?
  

Sentimental Clutter

If you hesitate to get rid of your baby blanket or your mother's formal dinner set that you never use, you're holding on to items that have nostalgic meaning. You may look at letting go of this type of clutter as an act of betrayal towards a loved one. Or, you may think you're turning your back on a fond memory or meaningful time in your life. Sentimental clutter can be among the hardest clutter to eliminate. One way to eliminate this clutter is to repurpose it, if possible, to give it a new meaning.

Gift Clutter

This type of clutter is accumulated over the years when souvenirs, housewarming gifts, favors, and other items are gifted to you, but they don't serve a purpose in your home. Perhaps you are too polite to put them away. If that is the case, and you desperately need to declutter, say thank you, leave the item out until the person who gifted it to you sees it, and then donate the item.

Never-worn Clothes

We all have certain items in our closets that are reserved for the future when our size may change or that one outfit that was an impulse buy. Maybe you have a pair of trousers that need hemming, but you haven't brought the pair of pants to the tailor for more than a month. If you don't want or need these clothing items anymore, or honestly have no intention of wearing them, it's okay to donate them. There is no room for closet clutter, especially when storage is prime real estate for most people.

Hidden Clutter

Just because clutter can't be seen in plain sight doesn't mean it isn't there. Consider what is lurking in the backs of cabinets and junk drawers, at the bottom of linen closets, and under the bed. Out of sight meant out of mind until now, so free up that space and purge items you don't need or use.

Paper

Paper is the most common culprit when it comes to cluttered counters, tables, and office spaces. To prevent paper from piling up, go through your mail and toss what is trash, but file anything important away in a place that is clearly labeled. Then, decide what goes into each spot; bills, coupons, correspondence, etc. You should also have a place for important financial documents such as taxes, mortgage payments, and bank statements as well as medical information.