New research by Roseland Furniture has uncovered a widespread clutter problem in UK homes, affecting mental well-being and productivity, particularly for those working from home. The survey, which polled the UK public, explored the items Britons store, the prevalence of surplus possessions, and the misuse of storage space. Collaborating with psychologists and decluttering experts, the study also examined when clutter crosses into hoarding, a condition with serious implications for daily life.
The findings paint a stark picture: an estimated 18.8 million UK households need to declutter. Clothing tops the list of items requiring sorting, cited by 47% of respondents, followed by documents and paperwork at 33%, and kitchenware, including crockery, cutlery, cookware, and glassware, at 26%. Other commonly cluttered items include shoes (25%), technology and cables (23%), homeware accessories like ornaments and candles (19%), and books or games (19%). Less frequent but still notable are expired food items (16%), DIY tools (13%), and children’s toys (13%). Only 12% of respondents claimed they had no clutter to address.
The psychological toll of clutter is significant
Living in a chaotic, messy space can increase stress and anxiety, impair concentration, and disrupt sleep. A tidy home, experts argue, fosters a healthier, calmer environment beyond mere aesthetics. Psychotherapist Georgina Sturmer explained: “We naturally accumulate belongings as we go through life. The practical items that help us to live our life. And the sentimental and decorative items that adorn our lives, that express our personality and help our house to feel like a home. The presence of these items can help us to feel relaxed, comfortable, safe, and secure. But sometimes this accumulation of belongings becomes overwhelming. It can make our space feel restricted and as if we have less opportunities to breathe and relax. The physical clutter can add to the mental load that we are carrying, leaving us feeling stressed or anxious.”
Sturmer further distinguished hoarding from clutter: “Hoarding is a compulsion to keep things, rather than to declutter or throw things away. And it’s this compulsion, this drive to hang onto these items and the fear of throwing things away, that marks it out as hoarding. Hoarding can have an enormous impact on our everyday life. Our home life can become increasingly difficult, as our collection of belongings takes up space at home, and may in some instances threaten the hygiene or integrity of our housing. Hoarding also marks an emotional struggle, as the idea of throwing our items away can lead to distress. It can challenge our relationships, as those around us might struggle to understand how we are living. It can lead to feelings of embarrassment, shame, anxiety and loneliness.”
Dr Venetia Leonidaki, a Doctify-rated psychologist, added: “Accumulation of clutter at home can negatively impact our psychological sense of home, which is our attachment to a safe and secure place linked to our self-identity. Hoarding is about the possession of an excessive amount of belongings stored in a chaotic and disorganised way. In extreme forms, hoarding can result in entire rooms filled with clutter, inaccessible items, and safety hazards. What differentiates hoarding from ordinary cluttering is that hoarding interferes with everyday living and functioning and causes significant distress. It is also common for individuals meeting a hoarding diagnosis to present with other comorbid conditions, such as depression and obsessive compulsive disorder.”
Clutter also hampers productivity
Hester Van Hien, a decluttering consultant at Tidylicious, noted: “Research has shown that when we’re surrounded by a lot of things, our brains can find it difficult to focus on the present moment. It can make it harder for us to focus, and this can impact our productivity. Research also shows that employees on average spend as much as one week each year searching for misplaced items. This is time you could have spent on being productive, or taking an extra break.”
Tristan Lynch, CEO of Roseland Furniture, offered practical solutions: “Our research highlighted that millions of people are dealing with inconvenient clutter taking over their homes. However, clutter isn’t just a nuisance – it can have real consequences for your day-to-day life, including your health. Whether you are a homeowner or renting, it is important to consider specific storage solutions for each room to keep your belongings organised and out of the way. For example, choosing the right wardrobes, bedroom furniture, and other storage solutions will help keep your bedroom clutter free.
“Likewise, kitchen larders, sideboards, and cupboards can help keep items from spilling onto countertops or surfaces. If you find your hallway is becoming jumbled with clutter, a hallway sideboard or cupboard can also help to manage any clutter. A shoe cupboard is a simple way to keep footwear neat and tidy, or a storage bench provides a handy home for shoes as well as a convenient place to perch whilst you put them on. Now we are into Spring, you might also consider sheds or garden storage for certain items taking up precious storage space inside your home, such as paint, sports equipment, or tools.”
