Half of Americans Have One Room Too Cluttered to Save

Half of Americans have at least one room in their home that they believe is unsalvageable with clutter, according to a survey conducted by Talker Research for The Container Store. 

For many, clutter is a result of lacking space. Of those who reported having at least one room too cluttered to save, 73% said they settled for their home knowing the amount of space would not be ideal. Overall, 30% of respondents said they felt they’d outgrown their home.  

Despite being plagued by clutter, most Americans reported practicing tidy habits. The average respondent said they complete three major cleanouts every year, and 29% said they did so more often. Additionally, 77% agreed that every item should have a designated space.  

Still, despite organizational efforts, 55% wished they didn’t have to throw out items to have enough space in their homes, and the average respondent wished they had three additional rooms.  

According to the survey, the easiest rooms to organize are:  

1. Living room (28%) 
2. Bedroom (27%) 
3. Bathroom (20%) 

The spaces that pose more challenges include: 

1. Kitchen (21%) 
2. Garage (13%) 

The other most common issues respondents faced were:  

1. Organizing their closet (33%) 
2. Items don’t fit in the space reserved for them (25%) 
3. Finding room for items that don’t have a designated area (24%) 

The items they had the toughest time getting rid of were:  

1. Clothes (29%) 
2. Kitchen equipment (21%) 
3. Hobby items (16%) 

With some effort, homeowners can declutter, organize and save space in the long run. To do so, they can:  

• Get rid of something old when buying something new 
• Try layered storage  
• Use hidden storage inside furniture  
• Take advantage of vertical space