The following is a guest post with valuable organizing lessons from regular contributor, Kristin at The Gold Project.
Originally, I wanted to title this post, “my organizing mistakes,” but I honestly feel like mistakes are life lessons. When something doesn’t go as planned, you use that experience to get better or do better. So, I wanted to talk about the lessons I have learned about organizing throughout the years. I am sure many of you can relate.
Planning Before Purchasing
In the beginning of my organizing journey, I would walk down an aisle at a store, see an amazing organizing piece, and purchase it. Or, if I was feeling really spontaneous, I would purchase several. The problem was that I never thought about where those organizers were going in my home or if they even fit my home at all. I saw them, liked them, and purchased them.
This caused me to take a really hard look at myself and realize I was a container hoarder. My entire attic was full of unnecessary storage pieces that did not fit in my home anywhere.
The amount of money I spent on unnecessary storage pieces was sickening. So, I vowed last fall to never do that again.
Now before I purchase a storage piece, I’ve planned out how I will use it and it will be used immediately in a specific way.
Functional Does Not Always Mean Pinterest-Worthy
This was a hard thing for me to realize. With all of the social media influences jumping out at you nonstop, you might think that your home isn’t worthy. I thought that for a long time when Pinterest first became popular.
I felt that my home wasn’t organized because I didn’t have all of the expensive bins, color coded labels, and the newest organizer on the market. Then, I realized that a lot of those photos were staged meaning that behind those big lights and cameras they had a mess piled up. I know this because I have been guilty of it.
If you have organizers that are working for you and your household, then you do not need to run out and purchase something because an influencer told you to do so. Functional over pinterest-worthy is now my goal and I have to remind myself when I start feeling a pull the other way.
Don’t Force an Organization System
I will be honest. I am a believer in macro-organizing. Macro-organizing is big picture organizing. For instance, you may have all of your kids’ toys in one bucket, but they are not all organized in the bucket. If they were, then this would be called micro-organizing.
For the longest time, I felt like everything needed to be micro-organized and I just could not do it. I am definitely guilty of the toys example. I would stress myself out so bad because my kids would not keep all of their toys separated. Then, I realized that it really wasn’t a deal breaker. If the toys were placed in several bins and off of the floor, then I would call this a success. Some things just aren’t worth the stress or heartache.
Macro-organization applies to several areas in my home:
- toys
- underwear
- socks
- books
Creating an organization system should not be stressful. It should work naturally with your home. And, not every system is created equal. What works for one household may not work for another.
What are some of your organizing lessons? I would love to hear about them.
My name is Kristin and I am a middle school career education teacher by day and a mommy/wife/blogger by night. I am married to my high school sweetheart and we have two loving children. We recently made a life-changing move to Arkansas, so our new house is always under construction. I get excitement out of finding new creative, functional, and cute ways to organize things! I also enjoy writing and documenting life as it happens. So, I put these loves together and created The Gold Project. With the help of my husband, I am attempting to turn our house into a home. So, check out this special place of mine and take this journey with me!
Jennifer McMillion says
This is EXACTLY what I needed to read ? You’re absolutely right.. containers and baskets but no organization. The clutter overwhelming at times.
Joan Kayser says
Thanks you for this, I have spent years organizing with whatever was affordable and worked for me, but felt less than worthy because it wasn’t necessarily “pinterest perfect “. I know better and now organize according to a definite plan and reuse as much as I can but only if it works.
JoAnn DiFrancesco says
Over the years I have found if I actually purchase any containers, I must be able to see what’s inside, unless it will be seen by others, such as decorative basket for throws, or basket for remote controls.
The biggest lesson I learned was the only thing you need for most of your organizational needs is a roll of pretty paper, self-stick drawer liner or favorite fabric and boxes. There isn’t a drawer organizer, Christmas ornaments storage or office supply drawer system you can’t create with all shipping boxes and shoe boxes. Even cutting milk cartons, snack cans, cereal boxes, etc…all make customized, free storage possibilities.
Falen Fuller says
THANK U FOR THAT! Definitely at a spot in my life where I needed to hear/read that! I’m a bit unorganized to say the least! Having baskets in every shape, size & color is a must for me, but still a mess & beating myself up for it. So again, thank u! Made me feel better 🙂
Kellie says
your timing could not be better, I have lived in my home for four years now and everything is still a mess, why, because I thought I had to have it Pintrest worthy right from the start. So this meant that I was scared to do anything for fear of it not being right or good enough. This post now tells me that it makes no difference, just do something, anything is better than nothing.
Thank you for giving me permission to just give it a go and see what works.