Where Clutter Comes From...And Why It's Hard to Get Rid Of

Clutter happens to just about everyone. You must understand why it has formed to get control over the accumulation and keep it from happening in the future. This post profiles 16 mindsets that may be keeping more in your home than you need or want.

CLEAN + ORGANIZE | Updated March 11, 2025

Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed at the thought of getting organized?

Unsure of where to begin, questioning how you ended up with so much stuff, and wondering if you’re the only one who is drowning in clutter?

You are not alone. An overabundance of possessions has become commonplace in our society and creeps up almost imperceivably until you finally realize your closet is overflowing, your drawers will not close, and you can’t find the items you actually use because they are lost amongst all the things that you don’t.

You’ll often hear cost and sentimental attachment as being some of the biggest reasons why we have troubling parting with what we have. But it goes deeper than that.

Some objects are clutter from the moment of purchase while others become clutter after years of use. And in some instances, clutter has more to do with habits and values than with the object itself.

Habits and Mindsets that Contribute to Clutter

While the degree to which our homes are cluttered varies from person to person, the mindsets that get us to this overwhelmed state are actually quite similar. Before you start loading up donation boxes and internally criticizing yourself for purchasing mistakes, it is important to see the patterns that got you to where you are.

I once saw the quote, “If you focus on the why, the how takes care of itself.” In terms of clutter, once you can understand why you’ve felt the need to keep what you now view as clutter, you’ll better understand how to let go and keep it from building again. You may even find that some things aren’t clutter at all when you confront why you’ve kept them.

It is important to realize none of these mindsets start out as bad. There is nothing wrong with shopping and storing away what you’ve purchased. There is nothing wrong with saving things for reuse or repurposing. There is nothing wrong with collecting, having hobbies, or preserving treasures from the past.

The problem begins when the things stored inside your home get to be too much for the space you have, when you are unable to find what you need, or when putting things back becomes too difficult.

Whether you believe you just have too many clothes, your garage is a little stuffed, or you feel as though your home has become a warehouse, the sixteen mindsets below should help you understand why you have clutter that is so hard to get rid of and exactly how to regain control over what remains in your home.

Collections Mindset

There is nothing wrong with having a collection or two. It can be fun to look for something specific when out shopping and gathering like items together makes for an interesting display.

Collections become a problem, however, when a person begins collecting a lot of different things.

Or when every item in the set must be bought to feel like a collection is complete. I'm thinking of when it was popular to not just buy a new set of Corelle dishes and serving bowls, but the stores encouraged you to also buy the matching glasses, placemats, teapot, napkin holder, salt and pepper shakers,.....Whether you would ever use all the pieces or not.

Or when a person is not selective and purchases every said item they find just to add to the others. You don't need to purchase every frog figurine you come across just because you collect frogs.

And unfortunately, when friends and family find out you collect something, they like to "help" you grow your collection, even if it isn't exactly what you would buy yourself and even if you aren't trying to add any more to what you already have.

What tends to happen is the items themselves loose their meaning and new pieces come in just to join the others. And it all becomes hard to get rid of because you've spent so much time and money building the collection.

Keeping Up with the Jonses Mindset

Whether we like to admit it or not, everyone wants to fit in. This means buying the new must-have products, shopping at the “right” stores, wearing on-trend styles, and filling our time with approved activities. Even if you regret the purchase later and acknowledge it wasn’t right for you, how do you get rid of something you bought in order to keep up with everyone else?

It’s important to recognize you don’t have to follow the crowd. What you own should make you happy and your home a comfortable place to live. If the things surrounding you were bought only because of trends, marketing, or influencers and aren’t adding value to your life, they are actually clutter.

Depression Mindset

Assuming I don’t have too many readers in their 90s, it is safe to say you did not live through the depression. But that doesn’t mean that the mindset isn’t one that could be causing you clutter.

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without” was a popular phrase during this time of having to repurpose and be creative with what you had. Funds were limited and supplies hard to find, so people learned to adapt in order to have what they needed. They didn’t throw things away because there might not be a replacement.

This mindset rooted in scarcity is the reason why some people can’t buy a new set of sheets until the old has holes, why your drawer full of “painting” clothes overflows with shirts you can’t part with, and why your husband saves every wood scrap from each DIY project.

Even though we aren’t living through a depression and there are countless ways to get what’s needed even with limited funds, for some, it is hard to let go of things that aren’t completely worn out or that can be repurposed.

Boy Scout Mindset

The motto of “Be Prepared” sure does lead to a lot of clutter in the home. Whether stocking the pantry for the end of the world or there is just a great sale on canned goods, it is easy to purchase more than you will realistically use based on the fear that you don’t know what will happen in the future.

There is nothing wrong with making sure you have more than you need as long as you have adequate space and can use up the excess before it expires, whether that be food, cosmetics, paper goods, or your favorite blue jeans.

If what you buy is no longer good, out of style, overwhelming your storage space or you can’t find the stock when you need it, being prepared has created clutter.

Dreamer Mindset

Life would be boring without hopes and dreams. Sometimes we make purchases with the best of intentions that those fantasies will become reality.

You buy some beads and wire because you think a new hobby of jewelry making would be fun. You hope for a remodeled kitchen so you buy a new rug and light fixture. You plan on loosing weight so you buy clothes that you’ll fit into when you meet your fitness goals. You’ve got a folder filled with recipes ripped from magazines you’re inspired to try, but rarely do.

You’re basically stocking up for a future life and the problem is that it is just a dream unless you take action now. How much space in your home is consumed by a life you aren’t yet living?

Better in the Future Mindset

It is easy to believe that tomorrow will be easier. You’ll have more time. You’ll get around to whatever it is that you’ve been putting off.

You see a stack of unread magazines take shape because you’ll have more time to focus on them later. You’ll fold the laundry and tidy the closet when you get around to it. You’ll put the misplaced Christmas decor back into storage when it is easier to get to the box. You delay decisions because it is easier than taking action now.

Shopper's High Mindset

I think we all know the feeling of going into a store and being unable to control ourselves from buying. It happens for various reasons, whether trying to relieve stress, finding a great deal, feeling the need to change your wardrobe or home styling, or being encouraged to make a purchase when shopping with friends.

Then you get home with your shopping bags and realize it was all a mistake. The clothing doesn’t fit as well as you thought it did in the dressing room. The new pillows don’t actually go with your living room design. You don’t even like the color of the purse.

In the moment, shopping can be exhilarating and fun. You don’t go to the mall to window shop. But unchecked, a shopper’s high can contribute greatly to clutter and be a drain to your budget.

Saving It For Good Mindset

I think of my grandma when I hear the phrase “Saving It for Good,” because it is what we would always hear when questioning why she wasn’t using her new birthday or Christmas gift. It’s why when she passed away there was a house full of unworn clothes and objects with the price tag still attached.

When is the time good enough to use the “good dishes,” spritz on the pricey perfume, or wear the fancy jewelry? While you work to protect these items, they are taking up space and not being enjoyed.

Rescuer of Things Mindset

Creative people probably are the biggest group to struggle with overaccumulation because they see the untapped potential of stuff. Things that most would discard either to the trash or thrift store can be treasures to those who can see what an object can become.

There is nothing wrong with vision and it is actually a gift to be able to transform the unwanted into something of value. But like those stocking up for a future dream, inaction bringing the potential to reality creates a surplus waiting to be used.

Not My Clutter Mindset

This concept isn’t really about things sitting around your house that belong to someone else or the donations you have ready for a Goodwill drop-off. Load them all into the car, return things to their owners and the clutter problem is solved.

Rather, these are the possessions that belonged to you in a different season of life that no longer serve you now. Clothes from a prior weight you’ll never wear again. Books about a topic you were once interested in studying. Craft supplies for a hobby in which you no longer participate.

It wasn’t wrong to purchase any of these things, but you aren’t the same person now as the one who bought them.

This profile also applies to things that were given to you that you never actually wanted. Gifts, heirlooms from loved ones who have died, swag from businesses. You don’t need to hold on to things that aren’t enriching your life just because someone else thought you should have them.

Security Blanket Mindset

Like Linus from the Charlie Brown cartoon, there are some things you may hold on to strictly for comfort and security. You feel better knowing the object is there.

Things that could serve as a security blanket might be your husband’s coat still hanging in the closet after he has passed, the need to wear a certain piece of jewelry every day, or a bookcase full of books you'll never read again.

It is also possible that your possessions as a whole serve as a security blanket for you, making you feel less anxious knowing you have what you need. An overcrowded home actually feels more comfortable for some.

Homeless Clutter Mindset

Everything you own should have a place to call home from a single paper clip to large piece of furniture, even if that home is a storage area for seasonal or lesser used objects.

If an object doesn’t have a place to be stored, it gets put wherever it will fit (in which case you don’t remember where you put it) or is left sitting out where it doesn’t belong. And one homeless piece of clutter always attracts another, and another, and…..

Take for example the idea of saving empty containers and jars to reuse for food or craft storage, which many do. If the containers are washed out and tucked away in random locations, they become clutter; whereas if you have a dedicated space to put every jar kept, they are a useful tool being stored until needed.

Invisibility Mindset

Of all the types of clutter, invisible clutter is the worst because you no longer even notice it is there. You don’t bother considering what to do with it or if you should get rid of it.

Cookbooks that you never pull of the shelf, unworn shoes in your closet covered in dust, a collection of DVDs that you never watch now you have Netflix.

These possessions have literally become a fixture in your house as they are never moved, used, or enjoyed. Some may have once been important, like the DVDs, while others may have just been taking up residence because you never knew what to do with them. They may move to clean or get to other things, but are returned to the same spot because that is where they’ve always been.

Ownership Mindset

For some people, it is difficult to get rid of anything once it has come into their possession. It doesn’t matter whether it is used or loved, once something has come into the house, it is there to stay. Stuff can bring joy and as the owner, you don’t want to be forced into giving that away.

This can be a hard mindset to overcome until it has all finally gotten to be too much and there is no choice but to start purging.

Stuck in the Past Mindset

Possessions with memories and meaning attached are probably the hardest to get rid of. They help you recall major events and people you love. They are irreplaceable. These relics of our past are important, both for our well-being and to share with future generations.

But sometimes too much meaning is assigned to an object. Too many mementos are deemed important. Does every piece of childhood artwork need saved? Does this keepsake evoke the same feelings that it did 15 years ago when you saved it?

In addition to sentimental items, like old letters and photographs, nostalgic clutter can include things like your favorite shows on DVDs or concert tees that remind you of the old days.

Once again, is what you’ve saved adding value or it is taking up space?

Throwing Away Money Mindset

It is hard to get rid of just about anything that you’ve spend a lot of money on, whether it be clothes, furniture, decor, or electronics. Even if you know it is taking up space, even if you know you know you never use it, even if you realize that most things don’t retain much monetary value after purchase, all you can see is the money that would be wasted if you get rid of it.

We hold on to these pricey purchases as though we’ll somehow get the value back from them or we think we’ll sell them to recoup our investment. Meanwhile, how much space, time, and money do we loose holding on to what we no longer want just because of its initial cost?

What Comes Next?

Decluttering can be difficult and time consuming when you first begin, but as long as you are taking action, you’ll see progress.

Take each piece of clutter item by item and decide what mindset profiled above has kept it in your house, how long it has been “clutter,” and whether or not you are ready to part with it. You must uncover the relationship you have with all of your stuff so you don’t regret getting rid of something meaningful or keeping things of little value.

Start with something easy. Maybe that means going through clothes or even as narrowly categorized as all of your coffee cups. Stay away from sentimental objects or anything expensive because you’re more likely to get stalled in your progress.

As you get more accustomed to assessing your belongings, you’ll soon be able to quickly decide what should stay, what should go, and what you need to be mindful of in the future so that the clutter doesn’t come back.

Be gentle with yourself about what you feel you need and want to keep. What one person views as clutter, another may see as important. Only you can make the decisions about what personal posessions should be kept.

Brown leather chair with white pillow, throw, and cup of coffee

Your home should be your sanctuary, and if it feels like it is being overrun by the things you’ve bought or saved, perhaps it is time to get control over your clutter.