Collecting versus Clutter in Decor

Are you a collector of decor accents and items or are you a ‘collector’ of anything and everything? You see, there’s a difference. A ‘collector’ will bring home anything from the store that appeals to them in any way (sometimes they will buy an item just because it is on sale and they “might need it one day”), or might match their decor color theme, or just seemed country-ish.

Other collectors have a more refined taste.

I do not mean to imply here that the collector of all things is unrefined, just that in time their credit cards become maxed out and their basements become full of stuff that will likely rot before they use it. Such was the case with my step mother. For years she bought and collected items that she would one day use, give as a gift, or sell. But that day never came and when her marriage fell apart, most of the tens of thousands of dollars went to the county dump or got tucked away in storage where she now pays part of her small pension to keep it every month.

Too many times over the years I’ve watched this collecting habit begin with decorative accents, then turn into extra linens, then housewares, and it escalates from there. The quest is honorable in the beginning – to be frugal and save money, but when mixed with a packrat mentality it often turns into a loss of quality of life. Catch yourself before you start if you have a packrat tendancy and a personality that is never quite certain if a room is done.

A standard sized shelving unit ensures that your collecting never gets out of hand. Stick to just this much extra 'stuff'.

If you are a pack rat, take charge by donating your extras immediately to a local charity. It will hurt at first – packrats hate to part with their belongings. They may, after all, need those things down the road, one day.

Then take everything you could not part with and organize it. This helps you keep an eye on your tendancy before it becomes a habit that is hard to shake. Also, when you keep items in an organized and orderly fashion when the time does come to use it, you’ll be able to find it – instead of running out to buy more.

Organized and in control ‘collectors’ will find space to store their stuff. Disorganized packrats become overwhelmed and their family life and mental health can suffer. It’s very easy to get depressed and feel blue when it feels as though the clutter is closing in on you.

Other ways to control clutter and get organized is to get a utility shelving unit – whatever cannot fit on it should go to the charity of choice, to a yard sale, or be put to use immediately.

It can be difficult to break a hoarding habit so if you need help, don’t hesitate to ask friends and family who will support you through the process. Work together to sort the items and set up a yard sale – this is what friends and loved ones are for, after all, to support each other through the ups and downs. Utility shelves will ensure that you never go over your limit of collecting items but you might also need a new hobby to replace your shopping or bargain hunting habit. If you stay on top of clutter it will never control, depress, or have the chance to ruin your life and your credit rating.