Taking a disorganized approach to organizing can be both costly and ineffective. Stocking up on caddies during your next trip to the dollar store or making a bulk, online purchase of in inexpensive storage bins might seem like a good idea in the moment. But it could leave you with a bigger mess than you had before.
Thoughtful consumerism pairs perfectly with conscious uncluttering. It entails investing in high quality, long-lasting storage solutions that are just as good-looking as they are functional.
WHY GO FOR QUALITY RATHER THAN QUANTITY?
Although you can buy a number of low-cost, all-plastic caddies, containers and shelves, they aren’t guaranteed to last long, hold significant weight, or look good in your home. High-quality storage products might come with higher price tags, but you can use them for decades without noticing visible wear.
Allocating your budget for high-quality items rather than lots of poorly made products also means having less to throw out. When the goal is decluttering, the tools that you use to get organized shouldn’t qualify as clutter themselves.
LEACHING, RUSTING, AND OFFGASSING: THE DANGERS OF GOING CHEAP
Depending upon what you’re uncluttering, going cheap can also be bad for your health. For instance, low-quality plastic containers aren’t the best choice for organizing your spice rack.
These containers might leach harmful chemicals into your edible goods. Installing a low-priced wire caddy in your shower could leave you with rust spots in your bathtub or shower pan. Many low-quality materials also off-gas harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs). You’ll get far better results by targeting stainless steel, durable glass, real wood, and high-quality, food-grade plastics instead.
FOCUS ON MULTI-APPLICATION ITEMS
Another great way to practice conscious consumerism when loading up on tools for organizing your home is to look for things things that you can repurpose in the future. For instance, an all metal or all-wood silverware tray with the right design might double as a pen and pencil holder for a messy desk drawer later on.
Stackable bins that hold your child’s toys today could serve as storage for hairbrushes and hair accessories in their teen years.
FROM HOBBY TO HOBBY: CADDIES AND CONTAINERS THAT LAST A LIFETIME
Adaptability is especially key if you’re organizing a major crafting area. While you might be all about knitting, crocheting, and quilting now, your interests could lie in painting or jewelry making in the years that lie ahead.
Purchasing flexible, adaptable pieces that you can put to different uses as people change and grow will save you money over time. It will also keep non-renewable resources out of local landfills. Many of the top storage products work well in multiple applications for easy repurposing.
CAREFULLY ASSESS FEASIBILITY BEFORE BUYING
Don’t let limited-time offers and bulk discounts inspire impulse purchases. If you have a cluttered home, impulse buys likely lie at the heart of the problem. Instead, make your investments in organizational products just as planned, intentional, and well-studied as all your other buys. For help creating a beautiful and beautifully organized home, get in touch with POSH Organizing today!
