10 Signs You Have Too Much Stuff and Not Enough Space
Tired of feeling totally overwhelmed by the amount of stuff in your house?
Can’t seem to find anything you’re looking for among all of the mess and clutter?
Chances are, you have too much stuff and not enough space. It’s not that your home is too small, but rather that your stuff has taken over making you feel like you’re lacking space.
And you aren’t alone.
Keep reading to learn:
- How to know if you have too much stuff
- How having too much stuff affects you
- What to do when you realize you do have too much stuff
Is Your Space Overwhelmed With Too Much Stuff?
Are you starting to feel overwhelmed by the amount of stuff in your space?
It can happen to all of us. One day, we’re doing fine – totally organized, plenty of room, no cause for alarm. But over time, as we accumulate more and more things, it can start to become a slippery slope.
Things begin to pile up. And then it’s easy to find yourself totally overwhelmed.
Too much stuff… or not enough storage?
When stuff starts to feel overwhelming, most people don’t immediately decide to get rid of things. Instead, they buy more storage – bins, boxes, shelves, and other spaces to store stuff.
While it’s important to have adequate storage, it’s too easy to let storage become your go-to solution for too much stuff.
As long as you’re making conscious decisions about what to store and what to get rid of, you won’t have a problem. However, most people err on the side of caution and store too much, leading to problems down the road and feeling as though they lack space.
Does having too much stuff cause you stress?
Having too much stuff doesn’t just create a headache when it’s time to clean up.
Too much stuff can actually add more stress into your life – which is the last thing we want. As this article explains, clutter can take a significant toll on your life and cause additional unwanted stress.
How do I know if I have too much stuff?
Not quite sure if you’re actually overwhelmed by the stuff in your home – or just plain overwhelmed? Here are some signs that might show you’re dealing with too much stuff.
10 signs you have too much junk in your house
As you read the following questions, notice how many you’re answering yes to.
1. When you walk into your house, does it feel crowded?
Your home should feel cozy and inviting – not crowded and busy. If you aren’t able to move around easily in your home and your space feels crowded, it might be time for you to declutter your home and get rid of some stuff.
2. Is your house so cluttered you don’t know where to start?
If the sheer amount of stuff in your house makes you overwhelmed, and you don’t even know where to begin getting organized, you have too much stuff.
Pick an area that you can declutter quickly and that will have a big impact on your space. You don’t have to have hours and hours available. You’ll be surprised at what you can get done in just 10 minutes a day as long as you’re consistent with it.
Sign up on the form below to get a checklist of 12 high-impact areas you can declutter quickly and 100 items that are easy & painless to get rid of!
3. Do you have trouble finding things you use often?
If you’re constantly searching for the television remote or that book you’re reading, you might have too much stuff. You should be able to keep track of your belongings and set things down without totally losing track of them.
If you’re constantly buying duplicates because you can’t find things you already own, that is another clue that you have too much.
4. Do you have items you purchased that are still in the bag?
Most of us purchase things with the intent to actually use them. If you’re finding stuff around your house that you’ve never actually opened, unwrapped, or used, you might have too much stuff.
The clothes in your closet that you’ve had for a while but still have the tags on? That too is a sign of too much stuff.
5. Do you have NO idea what’s in your storage boxes?
Storage boxes can be a great way to keep clutter out of sight – as long as you know what they’re hiding. If you don’t have a clue what’s inside your storage boxes, chances are you’re holding onto stuff you don’t actually need.
This is particularly true if you moved years ago and those boxes haven’t been touched since you settled into your home.
6. Are the surfaces in your home covered in stuff?
Tables and countertops should be clean, not cluttered. If you can’t find a square of counter space to put down your beverage or prepare a meal, it’s time to clean up and get rid of some stuff.
7. Are clothes overflowing from your closet and drawers?
Clothes are meant to be stored inside closets and drawers – not spill out of them. If you can’t actually fit your clothes into your closet or dresser, there’s a good chance you have more clothes than you actually need. Consider filling a bag to donate to a local charity.
8. Do you always have to “clean up” before anyone comes over?
Are you always scrambling to hide your mess before friends and family visit? If you’re filling a closet with assorted items to clean up quickly, consider getting rid of some of that stuff instead.
9. Are you paying for storage for things you aren’t using??
Storage units can be a great temporary solution when you’re in a time of transition. However, you should make sure the things you’re holding onto are worth the monthly fee for the unit.
If you’re paying to store items you no longer need and won’t use again, it might be time to get rid of some stuff – and that storage unit.
10. Do you feel like you have too much stuff?
And the last one is likely the most obvious. If you feel burdened by the things you own and it’s difficult to rest or relax in your home because of your stuff, then it’s too much for you.
People often assume that they just need to get more organized, when the reality is they are trying to manage too much and would be better served by decluttering more.
Every person has their own limit for how much stuff they can comfortably handle. If you’re constantly feeling overwhelmed with the number of things in your home, then you likely have too much stuff.
If you answered yes to many of these questions, you likely have too much stuff and not enough space.
What Possessions Do I Really Need?
Facing the harsh reality that you have too much stuff forces you to answer another tough question.
What possessions do you really need?
When you sit down and think about it, you don’t actually need most of the stuff that fills your home. Data shows that we only use about 20% of the things we own. If you pare down, you’ll likely find that you feel like you have more space.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your stuff, take a step back and ask yourself – what do you actually need to survive? To be happy? To stay healthy?
Instead of focusing on what you’re getting rid of, focus on what you want to keep. When you keep your mind on your goals for your home once you’re done decluttering it makes the process much easier.
Why do we buy so much stuff?
So how do we end up having so much stuff in the first place? There are a few reasons. One is our shopping habits. We live in a consumer-driven society where we are constantly being sold products and told that we deserve them or that they will improve our lives in some way.
The ease of ordering online has furthered those spending habits. And once things come into the home, there are some common reasons that people hold onto things even after they’ve become clutter. This is how we end up accumulating so much stuff.
How does having too much stuff affect you?
Whether or not you recognize it, having too much stuff does have an impact on your life. Having too many things can cause us to feel distracted, overwhelmed, and frustrated. It can cause anxiety, indecision, and stress.
In other words – it’s not adding to your life in a positive way.
So, what do you do about it?
What is the solution for too much stuff and not enough space?
If you have too much stuff, the solution is to get rid of the things you don’t need, which will create the feeling of more space.
People tend to fill the spaces that they live in. Getting a bigger house usually means adding more stuff. It’s easy to blame the square footage and to think that the problem is not the amount of stuff you have.
Your home, no matter what size it is, provides a physical boundary. The size of the rooms will help to determine how much is too much. Don’t try to stuff more and more in or you will feel like you are running out of space because you’ve filled it with more than will comfortably fit.
Go through the decluttering process in your home and notice how much more space you feel like you have! It’s one of the many benefits of having a decluttered home.
Acknowledging that you have too much stuff is the first step to decluttering your space!
Feeling like you have too much stuff and you’re ready to get back more space? These tips will help you get started today!
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Dear One,
You are offering something I have prayed for for years! Unfortunately the timing is not good — but close! You and your hubby have really thought this out and that is evident by your insight and suggestions. I am anxious to get started (toooo much stuff) but it is going to have to be delayed for a bit.
I did want to tell you that one thing I plan to do when the weather gets nice, is to place trash bags full of stuff on the curb with a sign, “FREE STUFF”. Why? I am 74-years old and physically challenged. Holding a garage sale would be great but it’s too much work for me, even with friends assisting. By doing it my way, people can take what they want/need, then they sell the rest. This is a win-win. I get rid of stuff, they make money.
Thank you for all your hard work. It is a blessing for so many. Also, thank you for “10-minutes a day.” That is a workable concept! I’m anxious to get started. God bless you!
Pennysue Bendorf >
iamsavedpenny@gmail.com
Very good article and for me the answer is to live with less. I don’t want to have too much around me and finding it hard to declutter the furniture where everything is stored. BUT. I still feel we need to surround ourselves with nice things that make us feel happy so finding it hard to get rid of my temple jars and flowers. I like to surround myself with pretty things. I have a cabinet with all the ornaments stored and I rotate things I put out so I can still have a different look without feeling stressed,
Hi Doreen
Totally agree.
I read the article, i KNOW i have too much stuff.
YET, I like being surrounded by nice stuff
haaaaa u r so right!! :)))
Helpful information.
Of course I have clutter—lol,lol
Timely for me as we are retired and have boxed up the house and stored everything for a move once the home sells. We have been living minimally in our home for a month. It’s great.
We’re doing the same thing! It feels so good to be downsizing. I just can’t believe how much we saved! When the shotglass collection left, I beamed!
Thank you for the article but I am not to stuffed in my house. I gave a lot of things away when my wife passed away.
It’s fine to realize we have clutter most of us do… but we get into the trap of not knowing where to go with the stuff, we don’t want to just throw it away in the garbage and can’t afford big dumpsters— so where can we go with all this extra baggage??
Not even charity 2nd hand stores want our stuff. Just send it to the dump with all the garbage.
See if you have a Buy Nothing group in your area. It’s a fun way to give your items to someone who needs or wants the item.
Your local Buy Nothing group is the perfect solution to decluttering. I have given away so many unused items to others who could really use them or really wanted my excess “treasures.” It’s been a true win-win solution to my overstuffed house dilemma!!!
A friend does Buy Nothing. Several times she’s been given Big bags of real nice yarn. I used it to make 110 hats, pot holders and dishcloths and take them to reservations in Arizona. They need things so much!
I agree! I love our Buy Nothing group. I can get rid of things that thrift stores wouldn’t take, like partially used bottles of shampoo, body lotion etc. And it really feels good to know that someone else needs and can use them and that they aren’t just thrown away.
I’ve also gotten a few things I wanted, which has been nice.
But Nothing Facebook group has saved my life from all the clutter I used to have!!!
We donated to local thrift stores and put a lot of things on our community “buy nothing” Facebook site. We also used Facebook Marketplace. It’s amazing what people will take. Of course, a lot of it went into the garbage too.
Since following your expert advice I now happily take a trip to St. Vincent’s once a week with a trunk load full of good articles to donate. It is so cathartic, and at 76, I am mindful of not wanting to leave a bunch of stuff for others to figure out what to do with. I am taking care of it while the sun still shines. (Some days I spend more time, but as you suggest, even 10 minutes a day keeps the momentum going. Thank you for sharing your insights. You are much appreciated.
Jan
What if your house is very small and lacks storage space for the basics? I have a very small kitchen but need more then one cabinet that is 11 in wide with a 7 in door to put my cooking pots and pans in. My soup pots dont fit in to it. No cabinet is large enough to hold them. Also my pressure canner. I have my mixing bowls on the kitchen table since there is no cabinet space. I have dishes for 4. Small short and no deep for dishes and another for glasses and I put casolrole dishes on top shelf. I also put my measurign cups in there too. I want to have a hand mixer but its about space. I have very limited counter top space. I have to have a dish strainer for doing dishes, then toaster and containers to hold things like serving spoons laddles ect. Also coffee maker and knife blocks. I dont even have a microwave. ugh. my closets are 30 in wide and I have to hang my coats on the door knobs. I keep clothing under th bed as well as my canning. In the hall way and on the walls are my book shelves. No I have rare books that I need. Ok what is one to do. Note no garage.
Love this I sooooo need to declutter….
i KNOW I have too much stuff and I go on decluttering kicks, but I still have TOO MUCH STUFF no matter how hard I try!!!
thank you
how do I simplify and keep all my stuff??
In most cases you don’t. The point of decluttering is to simplify so that you have less stuff to manage.
To me, decluttering, like life, is a journey. You didn’t accumulate everything overnight and decluttering isn’t going to happen overnight. But I have found that being intentional about taking time to go through and declutter is really helpful. It also seems that it is more of an “indoor sport” meaning I work on it during late fall, winter and early spring when I am inside more. I usually have a garage sale with our community in the summer and can make some money. So I use the cold months to sort and purge and in the summer I get ready for the sale. Unsold items get donated or given away to family that might want or need something. I have made a lot of progress over the past few years and am going to continue until I no longer have a need to declutter. I have also sold on FB marketplace. I have made a lot of progress and it is a great feeling.