TL;DR
The average American home holds about 300,000 items, homes have nearly tripled in size in 50 years, and we lose hours and money hunting for things we already own. The good news is that this cycle of overconsumption can be reversed with a clear strategy that works at any age.
What are the insider truths about clutter?
How many things are in the average American home?
Once you become a homeowner, you will likely have at least 300,000 possessions crowding you out of your life. A study by the LA Times cited that there are 300,000 items in the average American home. You are probably exceptional and that means you might have even more. Even if you feel like you own less than 300,000 items, I’ll bet you still feel a bit overwhelmed by all of the stuff that you have stuffed and crammed into your life. Just look around you and count how many items you can see, even before you open up your closets and drawers. How do you feel now?
How many outfits does the average woman own?
The average American woman owns over 30 outfits—one for every day of the month + a few extras. A study by Forbes states that in 1930, that figure was nine. Only nine outfits! You might even have more than 30. If you are like most of my past clients, you have even more misfits, clothing pieces that never did find a mate or a place to wear them. The lonely soldiers, the mistake purchases. You know what I am talking about.
How much bigger are American homes today?
According to NPR, the average size of the American home has nearly tripled in size over the past 50 years. The vast majority of people I encounter say that they want to simplify and downsize their life. This common trend makes sense and now you understand why. Ironically we now have the small house movement taking over our television channels. It seems that our millennials are now rebelling against our long-time habits of consumption. They are trading possessions for experiences. I have heard clients say countless times that they want to spend their money on living and they are craving experiences, not possessions. They know all too well after living with their parents that possessions can possess them and they say no.
How much of our lives do we spend shopping?
The Daily Mail study showed that women will spend more than eight years of their lives shopping. This means that 90% of women over the age of 45 have probably spent over 6 years of their life shopping. If you, like most of us, shop to relieve stress, you might want to think again. While the act of shopping can bring about a quick boost of happiness, accumulating possessions will actually increase and heighten your stress level.
Why do we keep buying more?
Boomers consume twice as many material goods today as we did 50 years ago (The Story of Stuff). Advertising and mass media drive us to want more, to buy more, to need more. The latest phone, the best TV, the newest kitchen gizmo . . . We are blasted with promises and solutions to problems we haven’t even considered (if we are lucky) every day.
How much time do we waste looking for lost things?
You waste countless hours looking for, and never finding, what you know that you own but cannot find. Studies show that over the course of our lifetime, we will spend a total of 3,680 hours or 153 days searching for misplaced items. Studies show that we lose up to nine items every day—or 198,743 objects in a lifetime. Phones, keys, sunglasses, and paperwork top the list (The Daily Mail). And time is not the only thing we lose. We also lose money buying duplicate items that we already paid for and have stashed somewhere . . .
Can you reverse the habit of overconsumption?
All of this consumption and becoming consumed by your possessions is reversible, and you can have more free time than you know what to do with, once your possessions stop sabotaging your life, your home and your time. There are specific ways that you can slim down your life and speed up your way to freedom. This means that there is a formula to begin creating a greater sense of peace and get that zen feeling back into your life.
This is not fantasy talk. This does not include giving all of your possessions away or becoming a monk living in a monastery. And this works for everyone, female, male 25, 35, 45, 55, 65. You name it, the strategy is exactly the same.
My years as a Board Certified Professional Organizer have allowed me to peer into the secret routines and training of some of the foremost organizing experts. Over the years I have picked up tips, tricks, and strategies that have allowed me to literally reverse the habits of over-consumption. This means that my clients are able to experience a greater sense of renewed energy and freedom.
Keep reading
- Tips for Decluttering Your Life and Your HomeSimple ways to clear the clutter from your rooms and your routines.
- Letting Go of ClothesHow to decide which clothes to keep and which to pass on.
- A Hoarding Fable . . . The Woman Who Couldn’t Let GoA cautionary tale about what happens when stuff takes over.
Frequently asked questions
How many items are in the average American home?
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A study cited by the LA Times found about 300,000 items in the average American home. Many people own even more. Even if you feel you own less, count what you can see in one room before opening any closets or drawers, and the number quickly becomes overwhelming.
How many outfits does the average woman own?
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The average American woman owns more than 30 outfits, one for every day of the month plus a few extras. According to Forbes, in 1930 that figure was nine. Most closets also hold misfits, pieces that never found a mate or an occasion, and mistake purchases that rarely get worn.
How much time do people spend looking for lost things?
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Over a lifetime, people spend about 3,680 hours, or 153 days, searching for misplaced items, and may lose up to nine items a day. Phones, keys, sunglasses and paperwork top the list, according to the Daily Mail. People also lose money buying duplicates of things already stashed somewhere.
Does shopping relieve stress?
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Shopping can bring a quick boost of happiness, but accumulating possessions actually increases your stress level over time. The Daily Mail reported that women spend more than eight years of their lives shopping. If you shop to relieve stress, Kathi suggests thinking again before bringing more things home.
Can you reverse years of overconsumption and clutter?
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Yes. Becoming consumed by your possessions is reversible, and it does not mean giving everything away or living like a monk. There are specific strategies to slim down your belongings, and the same approach works for women and men of any age, whether 25 or 65, bringing more peace and free time.
Originally published on Organized and Energized on May 2, 2020. Moved to addSpace and updated November 7, 2026.
