Declutter your home with the "chaos zone" decluttering method
If you think you’ve tried everything to declutter your home, think again.
A new decluttering method is taking over the internet and, as unconventional as it might seem, some people argue that it does work.
According to Time magazine, chaos decluttering means moving clutter from one specific place, like your pantry or a closet, into one big pile that is visible and basically impossible to ignore.
Creating a visible pile of clutter in your space, where it doesn’t belong, should then create a sense of urgency that needs immediate intervention, as it creates an uncomfortable environment.
“This whole theory is a psychological trick that makes you keep going,” says Matt Paxton, a decluttering expert.
Paxton hosts the Discovery Channel reality series 'Filthy Fortunes' and is also the author of 'Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff.'
Will this work for you?
To find out if this method would work for you, you have to ask yourself: what do your kitchen counters look like right now?
"If they’re very clear, because every night you’re like, ‘I must clean these things off, or I’m going to feel really stressed,’ then chaos decluttering may work for you,” says Cassandra Aarssen, who starred in HGTV’s 'Hot Mess House' and hosts the podcast 'Clutterbug.'
“Looking at your home in those high-traffic areas that you touch and see every day can really help you know if you’re a person who’s motivated by mess or not.”
When this method won’t work for you
If your home is already a mess and you’re struggling to keep a clean and tidy space, this might not work for you.
Creating more clutter in this case could actually amplify feelings of overwhelm, as it just creates more mess that can’t be addressed immediately.
“If someone is already living in chaos, forcing more chaos is not going to be effective,” Aarssen says.
“They already have chaotic piles, and if that was going to motivate them to take action, it would have already worked.”
How to start the “chaos zone” decluttering method
If you want to try this method, it is suggested that you start small, like a single drawer, one bathroom shelf, or just a section of your pantry.
Avoid tackling an entire room on your first try.
It is important to declutter something that is quick and easy at first, to give you a sense of achievement before moving on to bigger projects.
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