When you move into a new space, chances are you have already mapped out in your head what is going to go where and what the purpose of the space is going to be. You might have the awkward space in the hallway as the study, the space room as the kids play area and your front verandah as a relaxing space to read a book. However, a few weeks or months into living in the new space you might see some bad habits start to creep in…the kids might want to play in the lounge room instead of the toy room, you might do your work at the dining table instead of the study area, and the lovely front verandah might be completely abandoned.
Defining the function of a space helps to maintain an organized, decluttered, stress free, productive and calm home.
When you and your family aren’t using the space for its desired purpose there may be some underlying factors. The kids might prefer to play in the lounge room because they are closer to other members of the family there. You might prefer to do your work at the dining table because it has more light and you can keep an eye on the kids there.
Doing a bit or rearranging to suit the needs of your family is a great idea if the spaces are not being used for their functions. Creating a play area for the kids in the lounge room is a great way keep everyone happy. To avoid the space becoming cluttered or messy, teaching your kids where the toys live is a great way to keep the lounge room clear of toys when they aren’t being used.
When it comes to the dining table being used as a desk, there are a few solutions. Firstly, if you have room, you could move your desk into the dining area to create a makeshift study nook. If you find that you are most productive in an area of the house, that is where you should do your work. If you don’t have the room to move your desk you could always adapt the same tactic as you have with your kids; removing all your work material as soon as it is not being used and putting it back on your desk. This will also help avoid a cluttered and messy space.
Understanding the function of a space and where items in your home live is essential when attempting to maintain a stress free, clear and decluttered space.
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