I downsized to 731 sq ft – my pro organizing tips make my home comfortable instead of crowded, I still have empty space
WHETHER you live in a shoebox apartment or a mansion, organizing your home is essential.
A professional organizer shared her top tips for making your home feel less crowded and cluttered.
Christina Morton DesAuguste has over 10 years of experience in the industry and founded The Organizing Company to help her clients make the most of their space.
She recently downsized to a 731-square-foot home and has made some big changes in the process.
She spoke to The U.S. Sun about the best ways to elevate your home and make it feel more comfortable.
MINIMIZE CLUTTER
Christina explained that placing too many items on your counters or any horizontal surface is a common mistake people make.
“Even if it’s very intentionally placed, it ends up feeling busy and cluttered,” she said.
“And, in a small space especially, surface space is minimal and so you need to leave open space to be able to do things.”
She pointed out that everyday tasks such as chopping vegetables, rolling out dough, or simply setting something down on the bathroom counter can feel impossible with too much clutter.
Christina recommended designating areas for things such as setting down groceries or mail.
“If every space is covered already there’s no room for the temporary things that need a place to sit,” she explained.
MINDFUL ADDITIONS
Christina encouraged homeowners, especially those in smaller spaces, to be picky about what makes the cut to come into their homes.
“We are used to living a certain way and we don’t realize that habits, and often our whole lifestyle, need to change when you move to a small space,” she said.
She pointed out that living in a smaller space means you can’t overindulge on similar items, such as purchasing “five different flavors of olive oil.”
Bulk-buying at stores like Costco can also make your home feel overly full.
“You may need to limit yourself to fewer options and less backstock,” Christina explained.
She suggested making smaller more frequent visits to the store to limit the amount of items in your home.
The expert also recommended revising how often you use the products in your space and dumping anything that sits on the shelf most of the time.
“It means being more ruthless about getting rid of things you hardly ever use because your life will be enhanced by having more space and breathing room,” she said.
“[You] won’t be hindered by not having that perfect thing once a year.”
PRIORITIZE MULTIPURPOSE ITEMS
She also highlighted the importance of items that can be adapted to multiple areas of the home.
“Having more items that are multipurpose, instead of lots of very specific single-use gadgets,” Christina explained.
She advised homeowners to settle for products that are “good enough” instead of requiring perfection in everything.
FREE UP SPACE
For her final tip, Christina went against most tiny home influencers as she pointed out that free space is often better than additional storage.
“Everyone knows to go vertical in a small space so you can fit a lot of stuff in,” she said.
However, the organizational pro pointed out that this mindset can lead to even more clutter in the home.
Sometimes having empty space is more useful than having every useful thing you can squeeze in.
Christina Morton DesAuguste, The Organizing Company
“What I see is that the stuff up high never gets used, so why have it?” Christina asked.
“Or it gets used but then doesn’t get put back because it’s too hard to put away, meaning your place is always messy.”
She explained that “sometimes having empty space is more useful than having every useful thing you can squeeze in.”
“You can get really creative and maximize every inch, but that won’t necessarily maximize your enjoyment of your space or your life,” Christina said.
She added that minimizing your possessions to what you actually need can be freeing.
“It allows a small space to feel comfortable instead of crowded,” she explained.
“I got rid of so much stuff before moving, but in the first six months since I’ve continued to get rid of things that fit but aren’t worth the space.
“And every time I do I feel more control of my space and less controlled by my stuff.”