Ever feel you don’t have enough closet space in your home in Mexico? That’s because we are experiencing a bit of a clash of cultures.
Most casas and condos in Mexico come with small, basic storage spaces that are only a pole and a couple of shelves.
Unlike in Mexico, U.S. and Canadian households tend to have a higher amount of disposable income. Coupled with a strong focus on material possessions, this results in a tendency for a lot more stuff in our homes.
According to a recent survey, the average U.S. house includes approximately 300,000 items. Even our large houses cannot contain all that we own. Most garages are used for storage rather than for parking cars. We have so many items that one in 10 households even rent an offsite self-storage unit.
The self-storage and closet organization industries has been primarily a U.S. and Canadian phenomenon.
In Mexico, the focus is mainly been on family rather than possessions. But this is starting to change. Mexico is experiencing massive growth in its middle class. So we are now also seeing the rise of self-storage facilities and closet organization companies in Mexico.
If not well organized, our stuff can quickly become clutter. Trying to find what we need in a world that is moving at a breathtaking pace causes unnecessary stress. Think back to a time when you felt stress trying to find that one important, albeit misplaced item, as the clock ticked loudly signaling you were late for your appointment. I feel my heart rate spike just thinking about it!
The key is not to build more storage. Anyone can go out and get another shelf or hanging rod for their closet, but that will only be a short-term solution.
It will undoubtedly help to reduce the number of items we own. The real secret to reducing our stress, however, is to organize our possessions better so that there is a place for everything and everything in its place. Yes, that old mantra is true!
These professional closet and storage organization companies have been popular in the U.S. and Canada since the 1970s. What makes them work is that they start with a detailed inventory of the items you need to store.
Their designer creates a dedicated space for each piece in the closet or storage space. You never have to dig through to find anything. When you finish with the item, you return it to its rightful spot.
Even though any carpenter can build a closet, they are not experts in spatial design. What makes the professional storage solution work is the personalized inventory and design of the space to fit your items.
Ask anyone with a customized storage solution, and they will quickly tell you it is well worth the cost.
Buying a new home in Mexico? Email furniture@solutionsmexico.com to get a free home inventory list.
Sheryl Novak is an expat from Canada who has owned a home in Mexico for over 10 years. She is the owner of SOLutions Mexico, an online furniture store and an expert on sourcing all styles of furniture, for all budgets, in Mexico. Buying a home in Mexico? Email furniture@solutionsmexico.com to get a free home inventory list.
