Vagrant chaos is particularly resistant to taming.
As newlyweds, itinerant clutter littered the entertainment center just inside our front door. It was a natural depository for wallets, keys, pocket change, and sunglasses. Banning these items from so convenient a location proved useless, so an attractive basket was employed to house the fallout.
When a particular clutter crime attracts repeat offenders, I ask myself, "Where does the clutter belong?" Occasionally clutter is homeless and the solution obvious; Clutter becomes more tame if given a cozy den of its own.
Often, however, the object in question has a permanent residence but has been called away on business. In this case the question becomes, "Is this item's home within reasonable commuting distance of its job?" Relocating things closer to their place of employment, or assigning a "home away from home" may be in order.
Shoes, for example, might require a second home nearer their work-place. My family conscientiously removes muddy shoes at the door. While I appreciate their thoughtfulness, some evenings there are more shoes by the door than feet in the beds! A wooden boot tray, a long shallow basket, or even a step stool can serve as a shoe motel and restore aesthetic order.
Is one part of your house continually overrun by clutter critters? Tracking migration habits is one step toward taming the chaos.
Domestic Chaos Tamer and Homeschool Mom of four, Dell enjoys writing about home, heart and hearth.
