4 Ways to Spot House Blindness and Reclaim a Fresh, Clutter-Free Space

Do you have house blindness? If you are, you might not even know it. In this article, we’re talking about house blindness and getting advice from experts on how to get over it so that you can live a more comfortable and organized life at home.

What is house blindness?

House blindness is when you get so used to the mess in your home that you don’t even notice it anymore.

Lisa Hettinger, the founder of Clean Slate, says, “My clients walk past piles of papers, baskets of unfolded laundry, and seasonal decorations that are out of season and don’t even notice these problem areas.” “This is because our brains get used to things that are always there and stop reacting to them.”

It’s okay to not worry too much about the mess in your house, but being able to completely ignore it is not good in the long run.

Lauren Saltman, the founder of Living Simplified, says, “This invisibility can make your home feel stressful or chaotic without you even knowing it.”

Read on to find out more about four common signs of house blindness and how to fix each one.

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You Have a Bad Idea of What Is Normal

People get used to whatever level of cleanliness they think is normal for them.

Nicole Kent, the owner and CEO of Hubbard’s Maid Service, says, “For a neat freak, normal is perfectly clear, so they notice even the smallest scrap on a counter.” “For a hoarder, having a lot of stuff in the house is normal, so their brain ignores it as unimportant.”

How to Fix It

If your house is messy, the most important thing you can do is pay close attention to what’s going on around you. Kent says that when she trains new cleaners, she tells them to look at the room from top to bottom, paying close attention to one part at a time.

You Have a Hard Time Relaxing in Places That Are Meant to Be Relaxing

© Eleonora Galli / Getty Images

No one will be able to relax in their home office, but if you’re in your family room and can’t relax, you should do something. Saltman says that not being able to relax in a space that is meant to help you do so is a common sign of house blindness.

“Even if your home looks fine to you, clutter can subconsciously make you feel stressed,” she says.

How to Make It Right

Saltman suggests spending just five to ten minutes a day cleaning up a room to keep it looking nice. She says that doing this can reset both your brain and your surroundings, making your home feel calmer and more welcoming.

Some parts of your home make you tired.

Another sign is that you just don’t feel good in some parts of your home. Saltman says that a lot of the time you might not know why you’re tired.

“Your brain has tuned out the clutter,” she says.

How to Fix It

It’s easy to get used to our living spaces, so you’ll need to make an effort to see them as an outsider. Saltman says you should take pictures or videos of your space. She says that going over them will make you more aware of areas that need help that you might not have noticed before.

Then, she says, start the process of getting rid of things, going from one area to the next to get some immediate relief and build momentum.

Guests See Mess Before You Do

Good guests don’t make it their job to point out things that are wrong with your home, but some people, like parents or siblings, might not be able to help themselves. Why not take advantage of this outside view?

“Friends or family often see messes right away that you don’t notice, pointing out trouble spots you’ve gotten used to,” Saltman says.

She suggests asking someone you trust to walk through your home and point out places that need a good organizing session.

How to Fix It

Once you know which parts of your home need to be organized, start making changes. Saltman likes using bins, labeled drawers, and drop zones, which are all tried-and-true ways to organize things.

She also says not to be embarrassed if you need to ask for help. Hiring a professional organizer can be helpful because they can quickly find areas that need help and suggest systems to use.