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The state of your home could be the ultimate reflection of your personality, study shows. Brits with tidy interior spaces are happier, more career-focused and have better sex.
Whether you’re the type to label every jar in your spice rack or let your dirty laundry accumulate into a unique “piece of art,” your living space can reveal a lot about your personality and even influence your happiness.
A new study of 2,000 Britons, commissioned by electronics company Epson, found that around a fifth of tidy Brits are also more likely to consider themselves good lovers, while those who embrace clutter are less likely to feel the same way. .
The study also found that those who keep their homes spotless are considerably more likely to describe themselves as “mostly happy”: an average of 55 percent, compared to just 35 percent of messy people.
Additionally, more than 10 percent of tidy home owners say they are career-motivated, linking a tidy home with a strong focus on career success.
While nearly a third of neat freaks identify as very sociable, a third of their messier counterparts similarly describe themselves as introverted and sensitive, and 13 percent of the latter are likely to be more creative and artistic.
As the festive season approaches and guests become a regular occurrence, professional home organizer Jessica Linighan has offered eight helpful tips to ensure Brits can reap the benefits of having a tidier, calmer home.
She said: ‘A tidy space is much more than a tidy room; It is a sanctuary for the mind and soul. When we clean our environment, we invite calm, clarity and positivity into our lives.”
Below are Linighan’s eight expert tips for decluttering and reaping the benefits:
Professional home organizer Jessica Linighan has offered eight useful tips to ensure Brits can reap the benefits of having a tidier, calmer home (file image)
Organize your kitchen cabinets
Start by setting aside expired or infrequently used items to create an attractive, streamlined space.
Linighan said: ‘A purposeful space only contains what is really needed. Removing excess creates a spacious, inviting kitchen that is relaxing every time you open the door.’
Choose clear, minimalist containers
Next, Linighan advises ditching the packaging and transferring dry goods to clear, airtight containers.
This creates a seamless, visually simple look and allows you to instantly see what you have on hand.
Linighan added: “Clear, airtight containers help you stay visually organized while minimizing messy colors and patterns.”
Practice the “just enough” approach
Stock only what you need for a week or a month to avoid overstock and clutter.
By stocking “just enough,” you avoid overstocking and keep the space easy to navigate.
Linighan said: “This conscious approach keeps your pantry neat and tidy, making it simple to maintain and effortlessly organized.”
Group items together
Organize food, clothing, or anything else by category to help you see exactly what you have at a glance: think cereals, spices, or canned goods in the kitchen.
This not only makes accessing essentials less time-consuming, but also brings harmony and order to the space.
Linighan added: “You can also take this approach in your wardrobe, organizing items by category, such as tops, pants or dresses, and, if possible, sorting them by color.”
Organize food, clothing, or anything else by category to help you see exactly what you have at a glance: think cereals, spices, or canned goods in the kitchen.
Remove old devices
Cleaning does not have to be limited to clothes and closets, since the expert advises getting rid of old devices and keeping only technology that adds value.
Setting aside duplicates, such as old phones and outdated laptops, can reduce visual and mental clutter.
Linighan noted: “Responsibly recycle or donate what you no longer need, creating more space and a sense of calm in your space.”
Just keep what you use
The expert advises fashionistas to stick with only what they wear frequently and love to maintain a stylish wardrobe.
Linighan said: ‘Every item in your wardrobe should have a purpose. Keeping only what you love and wear makes finding clothes a pleasure rather than a chore.’
Outdated or ill-fitting items? Linighan advises donating or recycling them.
The expert advises fashionistas to stick with only what they wear frequently and love to maintain a stylish wardrobe.
Choose minimalist technology solutions
Swap out bulky items for more stylish alternatives, such as projectors instead of televisions, to create a multifunctional and serene environment.
A projector can replace a large TV, transforming your living room into an adaptable, multi-use space, while hiding technology like routers or game consoles in cabinets or behind furniture can keep the space simple and fluid.
Organize your cables
Use wireless solutions or organize cables with organizers to instantly declutter your living space.
For essential cables, use cable organizers, clips or cable covers to keep them organized and stored.
Tangled cables can make any space seem chaotic: Linighan recommends using wireless options whenever possible, such as Bluetooth speakers or wireless charging pads.