FOR BREAKaING NEWtS VIS ITh WWW.QNoS.COM me JULY 13, 2017 • AT HOME • THE QUEENS COURIER 29
A room-by-room guide to decluttering your home
Controlling clutter in your home can
be a challenge; 48 percent of Americans
say their houses are cluttered with stuff
they don’t use anymore, according to a
survey by ClearVoice Research. Multiple
studies have found a cluttered home can
negatively aff ect your mental and physical
health, while a cleaner home can make
you feel happier and healthier.
A UCLA study found mothers in cluttered
homes had higher stress levels while
dealing with their stuff , while an Indiana
University study found people with clean
houses are healthier than those living in
cluttered homes. You may realize clutter
isn’t good for you, but it’s not always easy
to get organized. To help you get started,
here is a room-by-room guide to cutting
the clutter:
Entryway
Basic tactics:
• Decide what belongs in your entryway
and what doesn’t. Th e size of the
space will infl uence this decision. If
your entryway is a spacious mudroom,
you might choose to store shoes,
boots, umbrellas and backpacks there.
If you have a modest foyer, you may
decide you only have room for car keys.
Remove anything from the space that
doesn’t help it serve its purpose in your
home.
• Add storage/organization that helps the
space meet its purpose. Wall-hung key
racks can keep important keys at your
fi ngertips. Shoe racks are available in
a variety of sizes and styles to fi t your
space and décor while keeping footwear
organized and off the fl oor.
A step up:
• If space allows, adding built-in storage
such as cabinets and shelves can help
keep an entry space organized and visually
appealing.
Family room
Basic tactics:
• Assess the kind of clutter that builds
up in your family room. Perhaps your
clutter consists of children’s toys, magazines
and newspapers, or multiple
remote controls for entertainment components.
Once you know what kind
of clutter you’re collecting, decide if it
belongs and must be accommodated, or
doesn’t and should go.
• Add storage solutions specifi c to your
needs. For example, storage ottomans
can double as extra seating and a place
to store frequently used toys. A caddy
can keep remote controls organized and
at hand.
A step up:
• Sometimes furniture that’s too large for
a space can add to the feeling of a cluttered
and congested room. Assess your
family room furniture. Is it the right size
for the space, or is it overwhelming the
area? Replace overly large furnishings
with ones that better fi t the room.
• If you have the room for it, a large shelving
or cabinet unit can help contain
clutter. Add decorative containers to
help keep everyday items like toys, magazines
and other frequently used items
organized on shelves.
Bathroom
Basic tactics:
• Tackle the linen closet and trash any
partial bottles of shampoo, tubes of
toothpaste and towels that have seen
better days. Be brutal. If you haven’t
used that half bottle of body wash so far,
chances are you never will.
• Clean out your medicine cabinet.
Discarding expired prescription medicines
can help reduce the risk of someone
accidentally taking the wrong medication.
A step up:
• Showers can be among the most cluttered
spots in a bathroom. If you’re
ready to take your bathroom organization
to the next level, ditch the rack
hanging from your showerhead and the
precarious corner shelving and upgrade
your shower to one with built-in organization,
like Sterling Store+ shower.
Th e showers feature built-in recesses
and tracks where you can snap in a variety
of storage accessories and shelves,
such as a soap dish, storage bin, towel
bar or shower hook. Th e storage is fully
customizable, and all accessories are
removable and dishwasher safe. Visit
www.sterlingplumbing.com to learn
more.
Kitchen
Basic tactics:
• Countertops frequently host a wealth
of kitchen-related clutter, from the mail
you brought in yesterday and forgot to
go through to small appliances you use
once or twice a year. Clearing off countertops
can make a kitchen feel visually
more appealing, look bigger and function
better. Remove and store rarely
used small appliances, ditch the ceramic
container of utensils and store those
items in drawers instead.
• Pantries and cabinets can be nearly as
cluttered as countertops. Adding shelving
and storage units within cabinets
can help keep pots, pans, lids and dishware
better organized and more easily
accessible.
A step up:
• Some people need a bit of extra incentive
to stay organized. If that’s you, consider
replacing solid cabinet doors with glass
ones that reveal what’s inside. Knowing
the contents of your cabinets are always
on display can help inspire you to keep
them tidy and organized. Plus, glassfront
cabinets are an opportunity to create
an appealing visual display.
Courtesy BPT