What’s the Scariest Space in Your Home?

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Tell us! We Really Want to Know 👻

As a kid, Halloween was my favorite holiday, second only to Christmas. I’ve been intrigued by the afterlife and paranormal mysteries for as long as I can remember. Once while playing with the Ouija Board with friends I asked what brand of cigarettes I’d smoke as an adult. Don’t judge—it was the sixties, and smoking was just something everyone did. We even got candy cigarettes in our Halloween bags—if you know, you know. Anyway, I remember the Ouija Board spelling out ‘Pall Mall.’ Ironically, I was loyal to Virginia Slims during my smoking years but switched to Pall Malls just before I quit because they were cheaper. Coincidence? Who knows…

Let’s talk about the fear lurking in your house. The scariest places in our homes aren’t haunted by the supernatural, but by… our stuff. There’s always that one spot you dread opening, the one that has evolved into a swirling vortex of clutter. So, what’s your scariest place?

Here’s a rundown of some famously fear-inducing spots in your home and a few organizing tricks to turn those terror zones into tranquil ones.

The Mysterious Junk Drawer

You know it well — the drawer that somehow becomes a Bermuda Triangle for random odds and ends. Inside lies a bizarre collection of takeout menus, half-used birthday candles, paper clips, mystery keys, and a suspiciously sticky penny. Dare to reach in, and you might find a single plastic fork or a phone charger… from your flip phone days.

Solution - Toss everything that doesn’t serve a function. Give the drawer a good cleaning. Only keep items you need to grab quickly like a tape measure, a few batteries, backup keys (labeled!), a few pens, etc. If the space is overflowing, consider what items can be stored elsewhere. Use drawer organizers like these found on Amazon to keep things organized. 

The Garage: Where Good Intentions Go to Die

Remember that box of “giveaway stuff” you prepped last fall? Yup, still there. And hey, isn’t that exercise equipment you swore you’d use every morning? If your garage has these placeholders where your cars need to be, it’s time to face your fears.

Solution - Break the garage into zones: Tools, sports equipment, seasonal decor, and so on. Vertical storage is your friend - hang things up to free up floor space. Cardboard boxes invite unwanted critters so transfer items into weathertight totes. Label everything to make retrieval and upkeep easier. Amazon has a plethora of storage solutions here!

The Pantry of Peril

You open the door and are greeted with half-eaten bags of chips, expired cans of soup, and that one jar of specialty sauce you bought on a whim but can’t pronounce. Somewhere in the depths, a mystery container of quinoa might even have developed sentience.

Solution - This is scary, but you have to remove everything. Clear the shelves, ditch expired items, and group things by category. Decant packaging and store items in containers. This will save space and you’ll avoid storing boxes with only a few items left in them. Here are our go-to pantry storage bins. If you’re worried about decanting items and forgetting the expiration dates, here are the stickers we pros use!

The Closet of Broken Dreams

A treasure trove of past fashion decisions and forgotten hobbies, this space is as thrilling as it is terrifying. Think clothes that were trendy five years ago, unfinished craft projects, and at least one pair of shoes that hurt like heck but are too cute to toss.

Solution: Ask yourself what is the worst thing that can happen if you let this go. The worst thing that can happen is that you will die. If that seems unlikely and you’re still stuck, would you still buy this if you were shopping today? 

Buried Alive in Paperwork

Taphophobia is the fear of being buried alive. Although it doesn’t rank high in phobias, being buried in paperwork feels like that. What is so scary about letting that random piece of junk mail or the notes from a meeting that you probably won’t revisit?

Solution - Stop paperwork at the source. Here the FTC provides sources for eliminating the flow. A few minutes invested will help eliminate the paper-pushing task. Afraid of electronic solutions? Dedicate a specific email for bank and credit card statements so they don’t get lost in general email. Set up systems to store statements as pdfs, scan documents, and use digital folders in a cloud system. Your space and your sanity will thank you.

Final Tip: Don’t Go Alone!

Decluttering can be scary, but you don’t have to brave it solo! Habitually Organized is here to help. We’ll guide you through the process, with no judgment, just solutions (and a bit of fun)! Together, we’ll turn the scariest places in your home into spaces you’ll actually want to visit. Contact us for a complimentary video consultation. We promise to turn your home nightmares into your dream spaces :)

Jolene Monaco, CPO,® is a board-certified professional organizer. She is a professional member of NAPO - National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals and a former board member of NAPO-DFW. She holds an inactive real estate license in the State of Texas and is currently on the affiliate committee of MetroTex Association of Realtors. Before becoming a professional organizer, Jolene worked for 28 years in domestic and international aerospace sales and jet engine maintenance operations.

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