Everyone has a ton of that extra stuff that is always in the way and never seems to have a place in the house. Families argue about where to move or store it, and moving to a bigger house is not always a feasible option. There are plenty of alternative options that will help alleviate the abundance of extra stuff bursting out of the junk drawers and avalanching from the closets. From using a storage unit to handing it off to goodwill, getting the stuff out of the way will help you better utilize the space in your home and relax without clutter.

• Storage Unit: The best option for that extra stuff you absolutely can’t get rid of is to send it all away to a storage unit. Local San Diego movers can pick up those antique armoires and extraneous items you want to keep but can’t find space for right now. Storage units range in size and are great even if you only have a few small boxes that need to be sent out of the house. If you have an entire collection of items, a large storage unit offers relief while you find another way to utilize the stuff or figure out where to put it in a new home, addition, or garage space. A lot of people hold onto storage units for many years because it keeps the clutter out of their house but is still easily accessible should the need for it arise.
• Interior Redesign: Sometimes the amount of stuff you have may seem like more than it actually is because the interior decoration of the house is not optimal. Setting everything up in the right way and in the most efficient place in the house will open up a lot of space and clear away that cluttered look. Sometimes you actually have more extra stuff than you think, and a refresh on your interior design will help you to decide what to keep and what to get rid of.
  • Reorganize: Aside from aesthetics, a big part of rethinking the interior scheme of your home is finding organization solutions for efficiency. Equip closets with multi-level racks and shelves to maximize space usage. Get several plain boxes (boxes with designs on them add visual clutter) and label them neatly with contents. For example, “Yearbooks/Photo Albums,” “Ski Clothes,” etc. Make sense of the boxes; allow yourself only one “Miscellaneous.”
  • New Shelves in the Garage: If you have a home with garage space, then you may be able to store your stuff up and out of the way by building some new shelves. You can call in a professional to do it or look at some design and layout ideas and make it a weekend project for yourself. Make sure shelving is sturdy and secure; otherwise you’re only creating a danger zone for your family. With a few layers of shelves just on one side of your garage, you will be able to organize your “extra” stuff into small, neatly packed areas that are still accessible but not ever in your way. Use plastic storage boxes to keep pests out.
  • Usable Attic Space: Many people have never even peaked into their home’s attic space. Many homes have attic space both inside and in their garage, leaving plenty of room for storing all those non-essential items. If you have never used your attic, you first will need to test it for durability and determine how much weight it can hold. If it is stable, put on a mask to clean out the cobwebs and dust, and start de-cluttering your home.

Once you’ve sifted through all of your extra belongings and found sensible space for it, you may have some things you realized you can live without. It’s always good to lighten the load and give some items away or sell them.

• Goodwill: Always a hard decision at first but a pleasant one after the fact is to donate your extra stuff to goodwill. Aside from the small tax write off, you will be able to free up space in your home and help someone else out at the same time. If you need help, call a moving company in San Diego or furniture movers in San Diego to haul your items wherever they need to go. Whether it is storage or goodwill, don’t break your back in the process of eliminating extra stuff in your house.
• Garage Sale: Turn your extra stuff that you have been hoarding for years into a little cash in your pocket (or maybe a lot of cash in your pocket). Furniture, books, movies, shoes, clothes, and everything else collecting dust around your home could easily be sold out of the comfort of your front yard. Garage sales are great for selling off the bulky or low- to mid-value items that people in your neighborhood may find good use for. If you have some high-end items that you don’t see yourself using in the future, do a little research and sell it online to get the most return on the item. You never know, your “extra” stuff may be worth much more than you thought it was.