Are you organizing “wrong?”?
If you’ve been following Spirit & Space for a while, you know that I’m pretty clear: there’s no “wrong” way to organize – there are different ways, and it all has to work for you. So when I saw the Real Simple article titled “7 Ways You’re Organizing Your Home Wrong,” I balked. Really?
So I checked it out:
Not decluttering first. – Well, OK. They’re right that it’s much more effective to organize after you’ve done the decluttering. But even if you don’t declutter, organizing can still be helpful!
Not measuring before purchasing new products. – They’re generally right about that one.
Choosing the wrong bin material. – I was suspicious about this one. There are a gazillion types of organizing products. While I would suggest there’s no perfect type of material for specific purposes (with the possible exception of storing photos), they’re right that sometimes a clear bin is the best, depending on the use and the habits of the person using it.
Not sorting items before putting them away. – This one is very similar to the first, but there’s a difference. Their point is that if you don’t sort, you’ll be digging through random things all together in a bin. Point well taken.
Not using labels. – I’m gonna argue this one. Sometimes labels are very helpful; sometimes they are essential to keeping things tidy. But if you are organized (or you can find your stuff) and don’t need labels, you’re not “wrong.”
Not creating zones in your home. – The expert they’re quoting really only speaks of the zones for items routinely coming into the house, such as mail, shoes, homework, etc. And yes, having a zone for those things (or a “command center”) can be super helpful, especially for busy families. But do you need to establish “zones” all over the house to be doing things “right”? Nah.
Not utilizing vertical space properly. – Now this one I’d totally agree with, except for the word “properly” (because again, I don’t think there’s one “right” way to do things). We frequently notice wasted vertical spaces in clients’ homes, especially in closets and garages. Think you don’t have enough space to store things? Look up – could you add shelves? Hooks at the back of closets or on doors? Organizers on top shelves that allow you to store more things securely? Sometimes you can look DOWN for vertical space: to gain more storage space, choose furniture that has drawers and shelves instead of just tables with legs.
We see it all the time: our organizers bring fresh perspective and years of experience helping clients see space differently, minimizing visual clutter and heightening aesthetic appeal. Need some help? Give Spirit & Space a call.