Studies have shown that living in a cluttered house or in a small space can cause stress. And understandably so. In the case of clutter, it can be very hard to find your bearings — or find anything, for that matter! — when nothing is in its place or there is just too much of everything. Likewise, small spaces, with or without clutter, can sometimes make you feel cramped and cranky.
Here we’ll give you some tips for decluttering and making a small space feel bigger — not just for the sake of practicality, but for the sake of your mental health.
Decluttering
Clutter can more easily accumulate in a small house, but can also pile up in a big house that isn’t organized properly.
When it comes down to the wire, decluttering is all about organization. You can read plenty of tips (like here, for example) and the common factor among them is that they all entail being organized and having the proper organizational equipment in your home. Practical tips for spice racks, hooks on walls, large baskets for toys and different types of shelving are great — but you have to do them.
Many of us find ourselves holding back on getting the necessary items we need for organization because of the cost. The cost of storage items can add up, plus, if you can’t add hooks or shelves yourself, you’ll need to hire someone to do it.
So here’s the thing — you don’t need to do them all at once, but try one a month until you get everything you need. And don’t think about the expense as a luxury — think of it as a necessity. After all, a cluttered home leads to stress and anxiety, and in the long run, taking care of your mental health is not something you can compromise on.
Making Your Home Feel More Spacious
If you live in a large house, you can get all the storage items you need to reduce clutter and go on your merry way. But what if you live in a small home? Let’s say that you’ve bought all the proper storage equipment — baskets for toys and knick knacks, hooks in your kitchen for pots, an outdoor storage closet for miscellaneous items — how can you make your home feel bigger than it actually is?
- Add windows, with a view of greenery if possible – Natural light can give the impression of a wider, less-enclosed space, and having a view of greenery from the window has been shown to increase a positive state of mind. So while you’re not actually getting more space, you’re getting the impression of more space plus a dose of feel-good visuals from outside.
- Place large mirrors strategically on the walls of your apartment – Like windows, mirrors give the illusion of a larger space. A changed perception is all we need to soothe our nerves and help us feel calmer. Check out these ideas from The Spruce for mirror placement.
- Paint with light colors – Living in a dark place can make us feel dark. Brighten up your home and mood with light-colored walls.
Home Maintenance is Constant
How well do we all know that just because you declutter once or add a window, your job is not done. Maintaining a clutter-free, feel-good home isn’t something you can do once and forget about. It’s constant. It can take one hour to clean a room and one minute to mess it up again.
That’s why it’s important to get into the habit of putting things in their places.
If there is a place for everything, it will be much easier to contain clutter (and anxiety!). You can also teach your kids and partner about putting things away so that it becomes a joint family effort.
Some things, of course, don’t need to be done every day or week, but every few months. Going through your medicine cabinet, clothes closet and pantry and chucking things that are old or you don’t use is a great way to maintain the clutter-free zone you’ve created.
Benefits of Reducing Stress
When we’re stressed, it can be hard to enjoy life’s pleasures and even harder to cope when things go awry (as they often do). But when we’re less stressed, we can enjoy the good things in life more and cope with the challenges.
Maintaining our emotional health and balance is one of the 5 factors that create a high quality of life. So when we’re able to do it, we reap the benefits of everyday living, and we get the added benefit of lower rates on life insurance.
Sproutt insurance advisors are available to help determine what kind of life insurance is best for you. Simply answer a few questions and we will find the best-value plan for your lifestyle, needs and budget.
