15 hours ago
Seeking Simplicity? These Books Will Help You Banish Clutter
At first, they gave me hope. There were organizers for everything: medications, eyeglasses, eggs, spice racks for 24 spices. (Disclosure: I only use five. And what is fenugreek anyway?)
Slowly, things got out of hand. Over-the-door organizers, under-the-bed organizers, sock drawers, magnetic shelves that cling to my refrigerator for the other spices I may buy someday to augment the spice racks I already own. And cords. Oh my God, the cords.
The problem is, the more I organize, the more I give myself permission to buy. At this point, I have run out of room for organizers.
I'm not alone. According to a 2024 study, 73 percent of homeowners felt overwhelmed and anxious when their homes were untidy, and 48 percent said lack of organization affects their mental health. (This study was commissioned by the Container Store, so I take it with the grain of salt that I easily found in one of my matching spice jars).
It's no wonder that an organizing account on Instagram like the Home Edit has more than six million followers — and that books on the subject proliferate like, well, cords.
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