It's a term that has become somewhat skewed to mean just about any task that involves resetting a messy home, but decluttering when you only need to tidy up can cause unnecessary stress.
So, what are the signs you only need to tidy your home, not streamline it?
We asked professional home organizers, who revealed the five key signs you need to step away from the decluttering methods and simply put things away instead.
Signs you only need to tidy, not declutter
One of the main reasons people struggle to tidy a home when feeling overwhelmed is that they are trying to pare back categories that do not need it. Persist with it for too long, and you could end up feeling resentful.
Sandy Eaton, a professional home organizer and owner of New Day Organizing, explains, ‘Many people assume a chaotic home automatically means it's time to clear things out. But sometimes, the issue isn't what you own, it's how it is being used and stored.
‘If your home feels heavy or overwhelming, and decision fatigue hits every time you open a closet, stripping back how much you have is absolutely the first step!
'On the other hand, tidying is about clearing surfaces, returning items to their homes, and keeping visual clutter in check. It's often a daily or weekly routine.’
1. You love everything
Don't feel pressured to get rid of items you genuinely love.
One of the biggest signs it’s time to stop getting rid of things and focus on tidying is when you truly love or use every item you own.
Macie Kreutzer, home organization expert and content creator at For the Love of Simple, shares, ‘A sign you only need to tidy up is even if items are messy and out of place, you still use and want these items.'
Masie lists your favorite sweater draped over a chair, or your children's sports equipment tossed in the corner of a room as examples of this.
'These types of items are still used and wanted, but just need to be put away – not gotten rid of,' she explains. 'Tidy up by putting away the items your family appreciates and uses.’
The same goes for reorganizing a closet, Ashley Hogan, managing director of Energetic Edit, points out. ‘You only need to tidy if your wardrobe includes a rotation of good-quality, wearable items. If you're using what you own, there is no need to create giveaway piles.
‘If, however, there are items you aren't wearing because you don't have coordinating outfit finishers like shoes, belts, and bras or slips, one needs to clear out the closet or find the missing pieces.’
2. ‘Clutter’ is actually a sign of life
Life is messy. Don't mistake it for clutter.
Although it is possible to suffer from ‘clutter blindness’, the opposite is also true. Due to the social media standard of pristine homes, it is easy to mistake everyday mess for ‘clutter’ that needs to be removed from your home. In this instance, you only need to tidy up, not get rid of everything.
Sandy says, ‘If you are always tidying but the mess keeps coming back, it's time to step back and create a system for these items. A system is a repeatable process that makes it easy to maintain order. Systems often include:
- Grouping related items together in a way that makes logical sense: For example, keeping gift wrap supplies together in a gift wrap supply case, from Amazon, storing baking supplies together using expandable cabinet organizers, from Walmart, or keeping snacks stored together using clear bins, also from Walmart.
- Define zones for specific tasks: Such as making a charging station for phones and tablets, using baskets from Target for dropping mail, creating a morning launch pad, spots for laundry sorting, or using hooks for keys.
- A storage method that's easy to access and put away, not just cramming items into a random drawer.
‘With the right systems in place, even a busy household can feel peaceful and manageable.’
3. Things have homes
If everything goes away easily, you likely don't need to get rid of it.
If tidying up a messy home is fairly easy in terms of finding homes for every item, the chances are you do not need to streamline things.
Ashley argues, ‘If routine cleaning can be achieved without a backlog of items that don't belong anywhere, you need a clean and tidy rather than sell or donate your things.
Using the Ski-Slope organizing method or the Mount Vernon method can make tidying up systematic, especially when paired with a folding laundry basket, such as the Joseph Joseph collapsible basket from Wayfair, so items are easier to rehome.
If you can’t work out the perfect place for something, try the co-worker/cousin organization method. If that doesn’t work, then it is potentially time to say goodbye.
4. You typically find everything easily
If you are not losing items constantly, you probably don't need a clear out.
Similarly, if you can find what you need easily and don’t lose items (most of the time) even in a messy home, you likely just need to tidy up and put things away.
Laurie Hise, founder of Passionate Penny Pincher, says, ‘Don't mistake a flow problem for clutter. If you're always moving items to access others, the issue isn't necessarily too many things, but rather an inefficient arrangement.
'Reassess your layout, focusing on easy access, and reorganize accordingly. While every item should justify its place, a useful item shouldn't be discarded simply because it's out of order.’
When organizing storage cabinets, consider using stacked storage drawers for shelves, from Walmart, or shelf risers, from Target, so that items at the back are easy to see and reach, so finding an item doesn’t turn into a gold dig.
5. The number of items doesn't bother you
Sometimes all you need is to corral items, not get rid of them.
Many of us are easily stressed by the visual clutter of open storage, but that doesn’t mean we have to condemn it to the thrift store or trash pile.
Macie says, ‘Another sign you only need to tidy up is if you aren't overwhelmed by the quantity of items, just their scattered mess.
'If you have way too much of something, this would indicate a declutter is due, but if the amount of items is reasonable and useful, this is your sign to simply put things away in an organized manner.'
Consider the start with enough method as a baseline if you have multiple versions of the same item in your house.
What to shop
If your drawers look cluttered, try adding in some dividers to help separate items. It could be enough to reduce the visual clutter and avoid an unnecessary clear-out.
This adjustable cabinet organizer is perfect for keeping trays and pans neat in your cabinets, reducing mess.
Baskets are the best go-to for creating drop zones. Be they in your entryway, living room, or hallway, they can quickly corral belongings, making them easier to put away at the end of the week.
If it is difficult to get items out of storage, but you still use everything, consider using clear containers to categorize items but keep them on display.
If visual mess is the problem in your household, try underbed storage bags to hide essentials out of sight, but keep them easily accessible.
This bestselling book packs so much information into a mere 200 pages, in a readable and digestible format that's accessible to all readers of all ages.
Meet the experts
Sandy is a certified home organization specialist, with over give years of experience, who helps busy professional women transform their chaotic homes into peaceful, functional spaces.
Ashley Hogan has 20+ years of experience in fashion and merchandising in the Greater New York City area. Now, she runs Energetic Edit, a home and closet organizing service designed to restore balance.
Macie Kreutzer is the founder and content creator at For the Love of Simple, an organization, decluttering and simple living blog.
Since starting on Blogspot back in 2009, Laurie has used Passionate Penny Pincher to help millions of folks save money all over their homes.
Sometimes life gets in the way, and a messy house is unavoidable. If this sounds like your home, try some of the low-lift tasks to help you relax when your house is a mess, to quickly restore some semblance of order.
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