Too Much Stuff? A Local Guide To Prevent Holiday Hoarding

San Carlos, like the rest of America, is facing an issue more households are reluctant to talk about: too much stuff, and nowhere to put it. Residents are running out of space, as anyone who’s seen jam-packed garages or the soaring prices of rental storage units can attest.

Hoarding: A Local Perspective

Across the Bay Area, consumer habits and housing constraints are converging to create a surge in household overflow. But in suburban enclaves like San Carlos, where homes are expensive and often compact, the clutter problem hits especially close to home.

About 21% of people dedicate over 500 square feet purely to storage, according to the Storable survey. That is roughly the size of a two-car garage.

Speaking of garages, a survey by Stanley Black & Decker also revealed that 36% of Americans say their garage is so cluttered, they can no longer park vehicles inside. “There are over 82 million garages in the US, and more than 60% of Americans with garages feel their garage is the untidiest area in their house,” said Tabata Gomez, Chief Marketing Officer of Tools and Outdoor for Stanley Black & Decker.

Storage Supply Is Tight and Expensive

Roughly 80% of the world’s self-storage facilities are located in the U.S., according to Nick Walker at CBRE. Storage has become one of the fastest growing segment of the commercial real estate industry over the past five decades (New York Times Magazine).

“The Bay Area is lucrative for the storage supply industry”, said Spenser Allaway, a storage analyst at Newport Beach (Orange County) real-estate research firm Green Street, according to the SF Chronicle.

Public Storage, the country’s second-largest self-storage company, has 129 units in the Bay Area that rent for an average of $32.60 a square foot, a big bump over its nationwide average of $23 a square foot.

We Buy Too Much, Then Pay to Store It

Americans are buying more things than ever, contributing to rising household clutter particularly in affluent areas. Households with high income and a strong consumer culture mean families accumulate faster than they discard. The average American home buys and hoards about 300,000 stuff at any given time, from paperclips to ironing boards.

A recent article by the National Association of Senior & Specialty Move Managers (NASMM) points out, “Some 71% of Americans in a recent Storable survey said they repurchase items they already own because clutter keeps them from finding the original.” The article continues: “The United States makes up 3.1% of the world’s children, yet American children consume 40% of the world’s toys. (UCLA)”

In the Bay Area, those statistics come to life in densely packed garages, hallway closets bursting at the seams, and a rising reliance on third-party storage solutions. As one self-storage report observed, high levels of retail spending paired with small homes “necessitate continued self-storage utilization.”

Practicing Minimalism and Donating Excess Things

Yet San Carlos isn’t without options. Minimalism is gaining traction, not just as a design trend but as a lifestyle. San Francisco-based authors Cary Fortin and Kyle Quilici argue in their book New Minimalism that when we own less, we gain more freedom.

“We thought that cutting back on the hyper-consumption of the culture surrounding us would feel restricting, limiting, and like we were missing out. But once we actually started to employ these practices (of minimalism), we were blown away by the litany of positive side effects. We had more time, we saved more money, we had flexibility within our schedules, we developed more meaningful relationships. What we thought would be painful and uncomfortable was instead liberating and joyful. We were experiencing peace of mind.” they write.

Closer to home, San Carlos residents have several great options for donating items and giving them a second life. The Thrift Center Thrift Store on El Camino Real and the Family Tree Shop on Laurel Street both accept gently used clothing, furniture, and household goods.

Food donations can go to the Second Harvest of Silicon Valley’s Bing Center, while larger household items and building materials are welcomed by the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in nearby San Carlos. Residents can also schedule pickups or drop-offs through Goodwill of Silicon Valley and the UCP of the Golden Gate donation program. Below is a table of these places:

Solutions for San Carlos Residents

1. Reassess storage needs at home: Before turning to expensive storage rentals, take stock of underutilized space, like attic crawlspaces, wall-mounted shelves, and vertical garage storage.
2. Donate your stuff: Partner with local San Carlos non-profits like Fund A Need at Rouge Lounge; or visit the Thrift Center at El Camino Real. Posting at Nextdoor.com and San Carlos Buy Nothing Groups in Facebook are also great ways to give away free stuff to neighbors in need. Please see the table above for a list of donation centers in or near San Carlos.
3. Schedule regular decluttering check-ins: Instead of annual spring cleaning, add a monthly “edit session” to the calendar. TIP: If it hasn’t been used in a year, it’s a candidate for donation or sale.
4. Engage a professional: San Carlos has access to expert organizers who specialize in Bay Area home layouts, such as Kathy Kaufmann at TheHappyHomeCrew.com.
5. Teach kids early: Encourage children to select toys or clothes to give away this Christmas, Molly O’s Irish Pub at Laurel Street will be holding their Annual Toy Drive on December 7 in partnership with Toys for Tots and the San Carlos Fire Department.

FAQ: Tackling Clutter in San Carlos

Q: Is the storage crunch unique to San Carlos?
A: While it’s a regional issue across the Bay Area, San Carlos feels the pinch due to compact housing and limited commercial space for new storage facilities.

Q: What if I don’t want to use paid storage?
A: Consider underutilized spaces in your home, donate excess, or participate in community exchange programs like the Buy Nothing Movement. Please see the table above for a list of donation centers in or near San Carlos.

Q: Are there local professionals who can help me declutter?
A: Yes, several Bay Area-based organizers specialize in small-home storage strategies and lifestyle downsizing. We would personally recommend Kathy Kaufmann at TheHappyHomeCrew.com.

Q: How often should I declutter?
A: Start with a quarterly or monthly habit. Small, consistent sessions prevent build-up and make the task feel manageable.

Q: What should I do with large items I no longer need?
A: Check with San Mateo County’s Reuse Guide or schedule a pick-up through local charities and donation centers.

Final Thoughts

San Carlos is a community of thoughtful, high-achieving people. But even here, we’re not immune to the pressures of overconsumption. As housing density increases and families grow, now is the time to reframe the narrative: it’s not about deprivation, but about making space for what really matters.

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