Real talk: Buying baskets & containers will not magically make your home organised

Yes, I see you buying all the gorgeous baskets and containers only to find pretty quickly that storage products themselves won't solve all your problems - I bet you even have unused storage containers taking up more space being stored because they didn't work as intended - If you are seeing yourself in this scenario please know you are not alone!! 

While storage products can be an important part of the organising process, they are not a silver bullet! Here are 5 steps to follow before taking yourself to Kmart for the pretty basket shopping - don't skip them if you want to set yourself up for organising success... 

25 Jun

1. Identify your goals & needs 

It is worth taking a minute at the start of a decluttering/organising project to figure out what are your pain points - what is not working and what are your goals for the space? 

• How do you want a space or storage zone to be used?

• What items do you need to store? (tip you may not fully know the answer to this one until after you have completed step 2)

• How often do you use the items?

• Do the items need to be easily accessible? Consider all family members and who you would like to enable easy access.
  

2. Edit & Declutter

Yes, I realise this is the daunting, time zapping, scary part that you want to skip - but in most cases it is also the most game-changing piece of the process. 

My clients will often tell me they have tried to organise their home before but the frustration of it never staying organised makes them wonder what they are doing wrong.
The answer is usually that they have tried to organise their clutter rather than dealing with it - this usually leads to over-stuffed containers and a difficult to maintain system that will have you feeling like you are on the train back to ‘chaos town’ pretty quickly! 

And before you ask - No that doesn't mean you have to be a minimalist living like a monk to have an organised home! (for the record I consider myself a ‘mediumist’) But every client I see struggling with the weight of their clutter, spending their weekends trying to stay on top of the tidying up - benefit from at least some level of editing the amount of 'stuff' in their home and once we have worked through the process wonder why they didn’t do it sooner!

3. Measure the Space

Before investing in storage solutions, measure the shelf/draw/cupboard/wall! Yes I sound like Captain obvious but I have found most people love to just 'wing it' when purchasing storage containers - they swear it will fit and when they get home & realise they are too big or small for the space they swear again & then makeshift some solution or workaround to utilise what they have bought even if it isn't practical.  Additionally, don't forget to consider the volume of items you need to store to choose the right size and shape containers.

4. Consider both function & beauty

It’s easy to be swayed by aesthetically pleasing baskets and containers, but I always consider function first, these days there are an array of beautiful & practical storage solutions out there - it is not hard to find containers that are beautiful & serve the purpose. Another important question to ask - transparent or not? - do you need to easily see the contents or do you want a more minimal look with non-see- through containers. 

5. Don't forget to label 

My label maker is my best friend - I am a big label fan - especially when multiple family members are using a space and especially if you have family members who are ADHD. It just makes putting things away in the right place 'a no brainer' for everyone - no more complaining that your husband keeps putting the BBQ tools with the servingwear!

Buying baskets and containers is just one part of the organising puzzle - the real magic happens when you combine it with thoughtful planning & decluttering. When you take out what you don't use, love or need, you make space for everything that serves you & brings you joy. It then becomes easier to arrange what you have so everything has its place and because the volume is manageable it won’t take too much time to reset and tidy things back to baseline. 

A good professional organiser will have done all the product research & seen all the mistakes so that you don’t have to - we know what works and what doesn’t and we will ensure storage solutions are carefully considered to fit the purpose, are aesthetically pleasing and optimise the space. 

Whether you work with an organiser or go it alone - always remember storage products are best kept to the last step in the decluttering and organising process - if you skip the first steps all you're really doing is buying more stuff to put your stuff in. 

Nat xxx

"Hello! Nat here! I believe we all thrive in clutter-free, organised spaces but most of us are too busy & overwhelmed to know where to start!

My mission in the work I do is to help people live better in their homes, I would love to help you break free from the overwhelm of the clutter, simplify your life and fall back in love with your home. 

If you are in Perth and interested in finding out more about my declutter & home organising services click HERE to schedule a complimentary consultation with me to talk about how you can get back a sense of calm and happiness in your home.