At Elite Closets NH, we understand that it’s human nature to become attached to our belongings like a closet or cabinet.Â
Psychologists actually refer to this as psychological ownership, a cognitive state in which one may feel a strong possessive attachment to a targeted object, person, or place. This attachment can be deeply sentimental, like your grandmother’s necklace, or surprisingly simple, like always choosing the same seat on the school bus.
Why do we feel this way? For whatever reason, our brain meshes these objects with our sense of identity, safety, and memory.
For some people, a cabinet isn’t just furniture; it’s where treasured family heirlooms are proudly displayed. The spare shelf in the house can become the small corner of the world that’s entirely yours to organize and decorate. This possession and attachment thus fulfills our need for control.
There’s nothing wrong with becoming attached to the things you love. The challenge begins when those belongings start to take over your space.
Minimalist VS Maximalist. How Would You Rank Yourself?
When it comes to objects or clothes, a minimalist is someone who advocates for extreme simplicity, allowing them to focus only on the essentials.
In contrast, a maximalist is someone who advocates for extreme abundance without compromise.
In other words, one type of person cannot function with clutter while the other thrives in it. So is clutter bad?
Clutter isn’t bad if it’s organized. Without organization, it makes it difficult for your brain to focus because it’s constantly processing everything in your environment.
Imagine you have two piles of laundry on the floor: one clean and one dirty. You keep telling yourself you’ll wash the dirty clothes and put away the clean ones later. As you walk past your desk, you notice a tangled pile of jewelry. I need to untangle that today, you think. Will I have time before work?
Then it hits you. Where is your work uniform? It’s not in the clean laundry pile. You could have sworn it was there last night, but now you can’t find it anywhere.
This scene is often the result of visual overload, when your brain is overwhelmed by too much information competing for your attention.
Some studies have found that visual clutter can strain your working memory, overstimulate the senses, and even raise anxiety levels, releasing high levels of cortisol, the stress hormone in your body.
A system of organization can help you avoid scenes like this. Regardless of whom you identify with, the goal isn’t to own less; it’s to organize what you own in a way that works for you.
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Curate A Wardrobe By Decluttering
To avoid clutter, one does not have to choose between minimalism and maximalism. You just need to devise a system to maintain your organization.
This system could be something like “If I buy one shirt, I must get rid of one shirt,” otherwise known as the “One in, one out” rule.
There’s also the trend called the Reverse Hanger Method. When you hang up items in the closet, place the hanger so the hook faces the wall. When you wear an item and rehang it after washing, have the hanger hook facing outwards towards you. After 60-90 days, return to the closet. Any items still facing towards the wall go ahead and donate, while the more frequently used items will stay.
In a way, this will help you create a capsule wardrobe, a curated collection of timeless clothes that you can mix and match as you please.
Clutter Control | Custom Closet Cabinets with Elite Closets
We don’t know exactly what your storage needs are yet, but we do know how to design closet cabinets that make everyday life easier. If you’re not ready to part with your favorite belongings, that’s okay. Instead of forcing yourself to get rid of the things you love, let us help you create a space where everything has a place.
Ready to transform your home? Contact Elite Closets NH today to schedule your free estimate.
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