Activating Your Home’s Forgotten Spaces
Through my work as an organizer, I’ve noticed a pattern of clients having under functioning areas in their homes. Certain zones that I believe are crucial in helping to sustain organization, as well as important spaces for those special activities that provide your life with meaning and purpose. The first I’ve noticed, I like to call life’s administration zone, that central hub where all the scheduling, financial and household workings can be managed easily and efficiently. I often see this work strewn around the house on kitchen counters, dining room tables, even bedroom dressers, rather than centralized and organized. Establishing a set space to sit and take care of your life’s admin, kitted out with a helpful filing system, is key. Being able to put everything away is so important, as paper clutter is some of the most stressful to look at. If you can’t carve some space within a home office, this admin area can be tucked in a corner of another room, ideally somewhere fairly central.
Most folk also don’t have an adequate recycling area. I see many cupboards and mudrooms overstuffed and piled up with recycling, slowly on its way out the door. Establishing a robust system, in an easily located yet out of the way spot, can be a game changer. Each category should have its own size appropriate receptacle, including a spot for outgoing donations. If you don’t have room in the garage, carving out some space in a closet inside the house, or outside in a shed could work well. Getting that recycling up off the floors will immediately eliminate a good portion of the clutter that can really drag your mood down.
Have you got a special place for family photos, treasures and collections? Often I see these packed away in boxes and bins, hardly ever looked at or enjoyed. Claiming an area to display your favourites of these, while mindfully archiving the rest, can be a rewarding project, whilst establishing a much loved area in your home. These mementoes are so important, as they will remind you of who you are and where you came from. They help keep you on track as your life unfolds, ensuring you stay connected to your important people, and to celebrate life’s milestones.
Here are a few other areas to think about:
A workout area where all your equipment can be nicely stored and ready to go.
A potting table, where your garden tools and supplies reside. A central spot where you can carry out your gardening tasks, helping to maintain the peace and enjoyment of the rest of your outdoor spaces.
A special place for hobbies or creative pursuits. Somewhere you can leave it set up, so it’s easy to jump back in when the spirit moves you.
A quiet place with a comfortable chair to sit. Somewhere you can look out the window and watch the world go by (ideally without any devices present). This can be so important for catching your breath and staying in tune with your inner life, which helps you make decisions, process feelings and dream up the future.
Clutter takes its toll by keeping us distracted and off balance. Resetting some of these important areas in and around your home, helps to rectify the chaos while safeguarding those aspects of your life that bring deeper value and meaning. Clutter is no longer dictating your life, and the important stuff returns to its rightful place of prominence.
All the best with this journey. It is hard work but well worth the effort.