What Counts as Clutter?

Clutter, at its core, is anything that doesn’t serve a purpose, isn’t used, or doesn’t bring joy to your life. It’s the accumulation of items that take up space without contributing positively to your living environment or well-being. It’s not merely disorganization; it’s a deeper issue of possessions that have lost their function or emotional relevance but remain within your living space, often hindering functionality and creating a sense of chaos. Whether it’s a stack of papers you’ll never read or a gift you never liked, clutter occupies valuable real estate both physically and mentally, preventing a clear and peaceful living space. The impact of clutter extends beyond just visual disorder, affecting mood, productivity, and overall quality of life. Understanding what truly constitutes clutter is the crucial first step in taking back control of your space.

Defining Clutter: Beyond Just a Mess

To fully grasp what counts as clutter, it’s important to distinguish it from disorganization, collecting, and hoarding.

• Clutter: As mentioned, consists of possessions that are not used, don’t bring joy, or serve no purpose. It’s the accumulation of unneeded items which might be somewhat disorganized and scattered, but don’t necessarily have a deep, emotional attachment.
• Collecting: Involves accumulating items that are part of a specific set or have a purpose. These items are typically displayed in a manner that does not interfere with daily living. Think of a well-curated stamp collection or a set of antique dishes displayed in a china cabinet, they enhance the space.
• Hoarding: Is a more serious condition characterized by an excessive accumulation of items, regardless of their value or function, to the point where it interferes with the intended use of living spaces. Hoarded items are rarely organized and often create hazardous conditions. This often has deep rooted emotional components linked to anxiety.

Understanding these differences is crucial in identifying if you have a clutter problem and in what severity.

Examples of Clutter

To help you identify clutter in your own space, consider these common examples:

• Piles of Unnecessary Papers: Old bills, outdated documents, or magazines you never intend to read.
• Unworn Clothing: Clothes that no longer fit, are out of style, or you haven’t worn in a year.
• Unwanted Gifts: Presents you keep out of obligation, but don’t like or use.
• Duplicate Items: Multiple kitchen utensils, tools, or accessories that serve the same purpose.
• Old Hobby Equipment: Items related to past hobbies that you no longer pursue and are unlikely to use again.
• Broken or Unused Electronics: Devices that are damaged or outdated, yet remain stored away.
• Expired Products: Medications, toiletries, and food items that have passed their use-by dates.

These examples underscore that clutter is not just a matter of quantity, but the lack of purpose, enjoyment, or usefulness of the items in question.

The Seven Deadly Types of Clutter

The idea of clutter can often be overwhelming. It’s helpful to break clutter down into more specific categories to better understand your individual challenges. The seven types of clutter often referenced include:

1. Sentimental Clutter: Items kept due to emotional attachment, often with a fear of losing memories if discarded (e.g., old letters, childhood trinkets).
2. Clutter Without a Storage Space: Items you own but do not have a designated place for, which end up randomly piled around.
3. Bargain Clutter: Items bought at a discount, even if not needed, leading to an accumulation of unused goods.
4. Trash Clutter: Actual garbage or items that should have been thrown away immediately (e.g., wrappers, broken items).
5. Abundance Clutter: Too many of the same type of item, such as multiples of the same utensil.
6. Aspirational Clutter: Items you purchase or hold onto for a future “ideal self” or plans that never materialize (e.g., unworn athletic wear, crafts you never get to).
7. Freebie Clutter: Items obtained for free which aren’t needed and end up taking up space.

How to Identify Your Clutter

It can sometimes be tricky to know what exactly to let go of. Here are some questions to help you determine if something is indeed clutter:

• Have you used it in the last year? If not, consider if there is a genuine purpose for it to be kept.
• Do you love it? Does it genuinely bring joy and positivity to your space, or is it just taking up space?
• Is it serving a purpose? Does it currently serve a useful function in your life?
• Do you have multiples of the item? Is owning multiple items of this kind justified or excessive?
• Would you buy it again today? If not, it is likely a candidate for decluttering.

Ultimately, any item that fails these questions and is contributing negatively to your space is likely clutter and should be dealt with accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about clutter, providing further clarity and guidance:

1. What should I not throw out when decluttering? Avoid throwing away irreplaceable items such as physical photos, family heirlooms, duplicates of essential items, difficult-to-replace items, important documents, and personal keepsakes with genuine significance. These items are important to keep, even if you do need to reorganize them.
2. When does clutter become overwhelming? Clutter becomes overwhelming when it begins to impact your ability to function in your living spaces. If you find it difficult to move around, find things you need, or feel stressed and anxious when you’re at home, you need to take action.
3. What is the “one-touch” rule for clutter? The one-touch rule suggests that you deal with an item immediately rather than putting it aside to deal with later. This means putting items away straight away instead of leaving them to build up.
4. What kind of trauma can cause clutter? Emotional trauma, brain injuries, attention deficit disorder (ADD), depression, chronic pain, and grief can all contribute to clutter by making it hard to focus or get organized.
5. What is the most cluttered room in most homes? Often, closets are the most cluttered areas because they’re the easiest places to “toss and forget.”
6. What is the difference between clutter and declutter? Clutter refers to the accumulation of unneeded items, whereas decluttering is the process of removing those items to create a more organized and peaceful space.
7. What is an example of “emotional clutter”? Emotional clutter consists of negative patterns, beliefs, and thoughts that hinder progress and well-being, such as self-doubt or limiting beliefs.
8. What is “messy clutter”? Messy clutter refers to a large amount of items in an untidy state, particularly things that are not useful or necessary.
9. Am I a hoarder or just messy? A person with a hoarding disorder has excessive accumulation to the point that it impacts their day-to-day life, while someone who is just messy may have disorganization, but not the same inability to let go of items.
10. How do I know if my house is too cluttered? Signs of a cluttered home include unworn clothing, overflowing storage, expired food, feeling panicky when guests are coming, and having many “junk” drawers.
11. At what point does collecting become hoarding? Collecting becomes hoarding when you begin to have difficulty throwing away or letting go of items, even if not wanted or needed, that causes disfunction or chaos in your home and life.
12. What is the root cause of clutter? Clutter often stems from major life changes or stressful periods, and you may be putting off sorting it until you’ve “settled down.”
13. Is clutter a form of depression? Clutter can be a symptom or a contributing factor to depression as the chaos creates stress and anxiety.
14. What mental illnesses cause clutter? Hoarding disorder is a mental illness that causes excessive clutter accumulation and disorganization.
15. What is the 80/20 decluttering rule? The 80/20 rule suggests that you use 20% of the items you own 80% of the time, therefore the remaining 80% should be considered for removal.

By addressing these FAQs and implementing the strategies discussed, you can better understand and manage clutter, creating a more peaceful and functional living space. Remember, decluttering is not a one-time task, but rather an ongoing process of awareness and maintenance. Start small, be patient with yourself, and celebrate the progress you make along the way.