What is the psychological root of clutter?

Author: Shea Rau  |  Last update: Friday, October 10, 2025

The answer lies in the psychology of clutter. One of the primary reasons we hold onto clutter is sentimental attachment. Objects can hold memories and emotions, and getting rid of them can feel like we're getting rid of a part of ourselves.

What is the psychology behind clutter?

A main driver of clutter is the emotional tie we have with our stuff. Our belongings often carry memories—of family, past events, or distinct life phases. Letting go becomes tough due to these connections, especially when items lose their utility. Over time, this leads to a buildup, resulting in a clutter-filled space.

What is the root cause of clutter?

Behavioral/psychological: Clutter caused by depression, attention deficit disorder, low self-esteem or lack of personal boundaries. Time/life management: Clutter caused by the need for better planning. Of these, the behavioral/psychological-driven clutter is the hardest to solve.

What is the psychological reason for being messy?

This behaviour is indicative of certain personality types which are predisposed towards 'messy thinking' and your physical environment simply reflects a busy mind. Usually such mindsets reflect analytical and creative personalities, in terms of problem solving and artistic entertainment.

What is clutter a symptom of?

"Excessive clutter and disorganization are often symptoms of a bigger health problem, such as attention deficit disorder (ADD), depression or obsessive compulsive disorder," Hurtado says. "If this is the case, the behavior needs to change versus the logistics of the home, like space or layout."

What Psychologists Know About Your Clutter That You Don't 👀

What clutter is telling you?

“Kerri Richardson's new book, What Your Clutter Is Trying to Tell You helps you clear the clutter in your life by figuring out why it's in your life to begin with. It not only helps you eliminate physical clutter, but emotional and mental blockages, too, creating space for your soul to be energized!

What are the three types of clutter?

There are a few different categories of clutter, according to Hemphill:
  • Physical.
  • Digital.
  • Emotional.
  • Spiritual.

What does a messy room say about a person?

A messy room can be a sign of depression or another mental health issue. Clutter affects your mood and can cause more anxiety or stress. Your child can get caught in a cycle of messiness that worsens their mental health and vice versa.

What is the psychology of a disorganized person?

Disorganized people could likewise show characteristics such as laziness, absence of focus, and challenges in decision-making. Psychologically, disorganized people may experience disappointment, tension, stress, and anxiety, as well as instability, because they stop working to stay organized.

What is the psychology of not cleaning rooms?

Indeed, according to psychological research, sloppiness might be an indicator of emotional distress. Like someone with OCD who feels they need to micromanage every aspect of their life, someone who is chronically disorganized may suffer from depression or another mental health condition.

What does your clutter say about you?

Your clutter may be telling you that you are too perfectionistic, obsessive, disorganized, overly sentimental, worried, and/or having trouble closing out the past. You might even be a hoarder, a legitimate psychiatric disorder now. So, if your living quarters are so cluttered it causes you distress, get some help.

What does ADHD clutter look like?

Symptoms of ADHD Clutter Anxiety

This may include cluttered surfaces, piles of paperwork or clothing, and difficulty finding necessary items. People with ADHD clutter anxiety may also experience feelings of overwhelm or anxious when faced with clutter or disorganization.

Is clutter linked to trauma?

While twin studies have demonstrated a strong genetic component associated with hoarding disorder, they have also highlighted the potential importance of non-shared environmental factors (Iervolino et al., 2009), including, among others, traumatic and other stressful life events (SLEs).

What does clutter say about your mental health?

Clutter can affect our anxiety levels, sleep, and ability to focus. It can also make us less productive, triggering coping and avoidance strategies that make us more likely to snack on junk and watch TV shows (including ones about other people decluttering their lives).

What is the psychology of leaving drawers open?

Some people with ADHD may find leaving visual clues, like open drawers, helps remind them to complete tasks. Other common traits of undiagnosed ADHD among adults can include restlessness, abrupt changes in mood, difficulty focusing, and difficulty managing time.

Why do people keep stuff they don't need?

For some people, clutter can also serve as a way to distract from emotional pain or trauma. Additionally, some people hold onto clutter because they feel guilty about getting rid of something they've spent money on, or they hold onto things "just in case" they might need in the future.

Which personality type is disorganized?

The ENFP personality type can be disorganized, easily stressed, and emotional. They crave approval from others and tend to overthink situations.

What does disorganization say about a person?

Disorganized behavior can mean easily losing track of things and having an unorganized space, which may occur as a result of personality or as a result of a mental health condition like ADHD or depression. It can also refer to inconsistent and unusual behavior typically associated with schizophrenia.

What are the characteristics of a messy person?

4 Personality Traits of the Disorganized
  • 1 – The Hoarder. The most serious clutter offense comes in the form of the hoarder. ...
  • 2 – The Procrastinator. The procrastinator is equally as messy, though less likely to spiral. ...
  • 3 – The Victim. The small-space settler is a different kind of clutter fiend. ...
  • 4 – Clutter on the Brain.

What does a messy house mean mentally?

A messy house, in itself, isn't a symptom of depression. But it can certainly be caused by depression, especially if a person has other symptoms. Depressive disorders like major depression cause many symptoms that might be linked to a messy home, such as: Low or empty mood. Lack of interest in life activities.

Where do I start when my whole house is cluttered?

Where to Begin When You're Overwhelmed by Clutter and Mess:
  1. Take care of time-sensitive issues. Check for any appointments or activities you may have forgotten. ...
  2. Focus on food and clothes first. ...
  3. Make a simple morning routine. ...
  4. Make a simple afternoon and evening routine. ...
  5. Choose one special task to do each day.

What does a depressed person's room look like?

They're spending less time with family or friends, and more time alone in their bedroom. Their personal space suddenly looks like a mess, and they can't seem to clean up after themselves.

What is the one touch rule for clutter?

Ltd., said that the one-touch rule involves handling an item only once. “Rather than picking something up and setting it down temporarily, you place it immediately in its designated spot. This habit minimises clutter, and helps maintain organisation, and prevents items from piling up,” he said.

What are the 5 stages of clutter?

The five stages of hoarding are minimal clutter, mild clutter, moderate clutter, severe clutter, and extreme clutter.

What is the core 4 method of decluttering?

Coined by pro organizer Kayleen Kelly, the “Core 4 Method” breaks the decluttering process into four simple steps: clear out, categorize, cut out, and contain. In essence, it's designed to take the stress and overwhelm out of the organizing process.

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