Organizing Mistakes You're Making in Your Home + What To Do Instead: Part II

We’re back at it discussing organizing mistakes commonly made in your home and what to do instead. Is there a better DIY topic that exists on the planet right now? I think not! If you missed PART I, you can check it out HERE and then come back to us for PART II below!

MISTAKE #4: You’re locating things in the wrong place.

One of the key components to a highly organize and efficient home is locating things in the RIGHT place to make life easier for you. No one has ever argued with me that they want life to be harder, so let’s keep reading! I know this might seem like a really obvious one, but when we get into the nitty gritty of everyday life, we get into autopilot mode. Here’s a few things to consider to make sure an item has truly landed in the right spot.

✓ Does the item or group of items support a task or goal for this spot in your home?

✓ Does the item or group of items make the task or goal easier and more efficient to complete because it is here? (Example, laundry detergent directly above the washer, verses on a shelf off to the side you have use a stool to get to, then get it down, etc. That’s too many steps!)

✓ Is the item or group of items essential in this location (accessed often, helpful, useful, valuable) or could it go away and life would remain unaffected by its absence?

Answer these honestly then remove or move items that don’t support the task or goals you have for that zone. Yes, decluttering is forever and ever! But it gets easier, trust me! Stick with me friend!

MISTAKE #5: You’re not giving your items breathing room.

You can have a well organizing drawer with lots of little compartments and containers, but if you don’t need half the items in the drawer (ie. they’re never used) or if everything is filled to the brim and you have to dig around in each container just to grab your favorite pen or washi tape, we still have an issue. Organizing is about keeping what you use and love, AND giving it space to live and breathe. Consider the follow tips to give your items you’re organizing a bit of breathing room.

✓ If you ever have to dig (aside from inside a LEGO bin) for something, you have too much. You either need to edit more, or you need to make additional categories to spread out the things you have.

✓ In most cases, you should be able to see everything you have in a drawer at one glance. This means you should avoid stacking things vertically if possible in drawers (or bins) to avoid the “out of sight out of mind” epidemic. If you can’t see it, odds are you won’t use it or you’ll forget you have it.

✓ On shelves, in cabinets and in closets, you should be able to see, grab and pull out anything easily. This means you need space to reach things and remove them without having to move 5 things. If you hold to this rule, you’ll avoid over-stuffing any and all of these spaces.

Just like in graphic design (and in all forms of design) white space is often the solution to solve many design issues. It is the same throughout your home. In this case, the “white space” is the “breathing room” that the things in your home desperately need, just like you need it!

MISTAKE #6: You haven’t shopped your home first.

True story. 9.5 times out of 10 I can solve any organizing issue with the things in my home before I ever even entertain running out to buy something. I want you to look at this like a choose your own adventure game. The next time you encounter an issue with an area in your home that you know needs more order, consider looking throughout your home thoroughly to see if you already have what you need (then prepare to be amazed at what you’ll find). Try these tips.

✓ Declutter the zone in question first, then assess what is left. If you have lots of small categories, hunt around for trays, reusable bags, small jars, tops of shoe boxes, etc.

✓ If you’re dividing up large or deep spaces like a kitchen cabinet, consider something you can pull out similar to a drawer like a bin, a container or a box. You can use a cardboard box and cut out your own handle then swap this out over time if you’d like - but take the time to understand what you need first. If you need to divide the space up further, think “containers within containers”. Drop several smaller boxes inside a larger box to create several small zones in whatever configuration works for what you need.

✓ Make swaps with things in other rooms. If you’re going to corral/organize something in a spot that is more visible and you care what it looks like, consider swapping an old box that will go deep in a cabinet for the nicer basket that will help elevate the aesthetics of your space and be highly visible.

→ Now comment below on which one of these 3 Mistakes feels most common for you? I’ve been guilty of all of them!

I hope these first 3 common mistakes were eye-opening for you + will inspire you to take concrete organizing action in your home. My goal here is to help you save time, money + energy. See you soon in Part III of ‘Organizing Mistakes You’re Making + What To Do Instead.’

PS. The Organized Home Masterclass is coming at the END OF MAY! If you’d like a little sneak peek into what this program is all about, you can check it out HERE! To say I’m excited about this new program is an incredible understatement. Stick here with me + I’ll continue to spill all the beans for you.