It’s a fact: living in an organized space can improve your mental health, while clutter can make it noticeably worse.
You may have already known this intuitively, from your own experience, but there are also tons of scientific studies backing up the connection between organized environments and lower stress. For instance, in a study where young women cared for an infant in a normal or cluttered environment, stress levels were measurably higher among the women in the cluttered homes.
According to Catherine Roster, a professor at the Anderson School of Management at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque who co-authored a study on the subject, “Clutter can lower feelings of well-being, happiness, and the safety and security that a person derives from being in their personal spaces.”
Clutter is also terrible for focus—the part of the brain associated with visual processing (the visual cortex) can be overwhelmed by the objects that aren’t related to the task in front of you, according to this rigorous study. And on average, people with clean homes are even physically and mentally healthier than those with cluttered homes, found a study from Indiana University.
One of the Most Effective Organizational Tools: Baskets
There’s abundant evidence that an organized home is good for you. The question is: how do you get organized?
Baskets can help make this happen! They’re one of the easiest and most versatile ways to reduce visual and organizational chaos around your home. Unlike generic plastic storage bins, baskets feel inviting and natural, adding warmth to the spaces where they’re used while effectively keeping items contained.
Baskets can be used in nearly every room. They can corral blankets and magazines in the living room, store shoes and bags in the entryway, organize extra toiletries in the bathroom, or keep home office supplies tidy.
Baskets are also lightweight and portable, making tidying up especially easy, so even a quick five-minute clean-up session can instantly reduce your stress.
Mental Benefits of Organizing with Baskets
Using baskets to maintain order in your home also supports overall mental clarity and makes it easier to stick to consistent routines.
When every item you own has a designated spot, it minimizes your decision fatigue. This means your brain doesn’t have to waste energy on figuring out where things go every time you need to put them away. Having this sense of control over your environment can reduce your anxiety and improve your mood, in addition to potentially helping with productivity.
Even small changes, like adding a few small storage baskets to your entryway or under your bed, can make a noticeable difference that adds up over time. The habit of returning items to their designated baskets helps to reinforce a calmer, more intentional living space, which often makes for a calmer and more intentional mind!
Tips for Organizing with Baskets to Maximize Mental Wellbeing
Here are some simple strategies for organizing with baskets around your home:
- Group items by function: Keep similar items together so everything has a clear spot.
- Use labels: When baskets are labeled, everyone in the household knows where items belong, which makes tidying effortless.
- Mix basket sizes and shapes: Use a combination of small and large baskets to fit different spaces around your home. You can even shop for baskets by size if you know exactly the dimensions you need.
- Prioritize access: Place the items you use frequently in the baskets that are easiest to reach, while storing less-used items out of the way (like on a high shelf).
Handcrafted Wicker Storage to Organize (and Elevate) Your Home
Who says organization can’t be stylish?
At The Basket Lady, a highly knowledgeable mother-daughter team sources functional art in the form of traditional woven wicker baskets. Each one is handcrafted from sustainable rattan by skilled Indonesian artisans, for a combination of durability and natural charm that’ll help give your home a cozy yet curated vibe.
You can search for baskets by type, room, or size, making it easy to find the perfect fit for any space. Explore The Basket Lady’s collection to discover how wicker baskets can transform your home into the calm, stylish sanctuary you deserve.
