Top 10 Ways You Know You Have Too Much Clutter (a.k.a. Signs You May Be One Plastic Lid Away from a Breakdown)

Let’s be real: everyone has “a little clutter.” But if your stuff has started multiplying like rabbits during spring break, this post is for you. Here are the top 10 signs you may have just a smidge too much clutter—and a few laughs (and light interventions) to go with it.

1. You’ve said, “It’s in the closet... somewhere,” with complete uncertainty.

And then never opened that closet again. Because if you do, you might cause an avalanche that would trap you under a pile of board games, winter coats, and possibly a toaster oven.

2. You’ve bought something… and found the exact same item at home. Twice.

“Another black t-shirt? Perfect!” Until you discover you already own six. Still with tags. One of which was bought last month during a “minimalism reset.”

3. You have a designated “junk drawer,” but now it’s a junk cabinet… and growing.

You swear it started innocent. A few paper clips. A stray battery. And now it’s a full-blown Bermuda Triangle of household mystery. Enter at your own risk.

4. Your guest bed hasn’t seen a guest since the Obama administration.

Why? Because it’s currently home to seven throw pillows, three laundry baskets, an unopened yoga mat, and a stack of unread “aspirational” books.

5. You describe rooms by what's stored in them, not what they're for.

“That’s the craft-projects-I-never-finished room. And this is the we-might-have-a-garage-sale-someday corner. The dining room? Oh, you mean the mail-and-Amazon-return staging area?”

6. You have an emotional support storage unit.

It’s fine. You only pay $150 a month to keep your Beanie Babies and college futon company. Cheaper than therapy, right? (Wrong.)

7. You’ve used the phrase, “I might need it someday,” about a fondue pot.

Fun fact: 2032 is not a confirmed fondue emergency zone. You can let it go.

8. You clean by moving piles from one room to another.

Guests are coming? Quick—shove everything into the bedroom and close the door like a responsible adult. Nothing to see here.

9. You can’t find your keys, wallet, or dignity under the pile on the kitchen counter.

There was a counter once. It was beautiful. Marble, probably. You’ll never know now—it’s buried beneath receipts, pens, gum, and enough mail to qualify for a ZIP code.

10. You dream of minimalism—but only after watching an organizing show while eating snacks in bed surrounded by five throw blankets and your childhood stuffed animal.

The dream is real. The blanket pile is cozy. And the irony is not lost on you.

Ready for a change?
Decluttering doesn’t mean tossing everything you love. It means making space for what matters most—like friends, freedom, and actually sitting on your own furniture.

Besides, wouldn’t it be nice to find your keys and your kitchen counter again?