Most people approach me with a worry about how to possibly organize their belongings. But that is putting the carriage before the horse.
First, always choose what you want to keep and only then decide how to organize them!
Most of my clients end up with a surplus of organizing containers. Never buy containers before knowing where they will go and what needs to fit into them. Of course, always try to use what you have at least in the beginning. Later, you can always upgrade to something that sparks more joy when you know for sure what you need.
Here are 5 things to keep in mind when choosing organizing containers:
Fit
First, we of course need to consider the fit. Does the container fit the space? Do the items you plan to store in it fit the container?
Structure
Secondly, we can consider the structure of the container. Some things can be stored in soft containers while other items require more structure from the container.
I can’t think of anything that couldn’t be stored in a more structured container. However, soft containers can add visual interest and beauty when items stored in them don’t necessarily need hard edges.
I like to use soft containers in kids’ spaces as they are lightweight enough for little hands, have no sharp edges, and they’re beautiful to look at.
Material
Next, we can consider materials. Do you like how the material looks? How does it feel to touch? Does it have a smell?
Is it made out of materials you want in your home? For example, plastic may be handy but not pretty so it’s best for utilitarian spaces. Some materials like seagrass have a smell that may bother some. We may also have ethical reasons to not want to buy containers made out of specific materials (i.e. no leather for vegans, others try to avoid plastic, etc.).
We also need to consider if the material is practical. Especially if the container is used for food, cleaning, or bathroom supplies we need to consider if the container might get dirty and if it then can be (easily) cleaned.
Ease of Use
Organizing solutions that are pretty but not practical, will fail.
Everyone in the family who needs to use the items, will need to be able to easily access them. I can not stress enough the importance of ‘easily’!
You may need to make compromises. In the long run, you will want solutions that work. This will vary from one person and family to another.
I think it’s safe to say that all parents would rather have their kids put away their belongings even if their closet doesn’t look like an Instagram post every single day, or any day, rather than have the dreamiest closet organizing system for one day but their kid’s stuff remains on the floor for the other 364 days.
Assess where stuff in your home tends to linger and what type of stuff it is. Usually, there is a trend. Then consider how to solve the issue.
Often the items either don’t have a designated home, or the designated home is too full and not easy to use. No organizing solution is perfect and can't create easy access if there simply are too many things.
Aim to have spaces 80% full.
Labeling
Use labeling only when needed. They can create visual clutter if used too much.
Excessive labels can also make it seem like items are in the wrong places even if without the label things could perfectly well hang together. Almost always when people have used labels there are things now in the container, shelf, etc. that the label doesn’t describe.
If pretty labels bring you joy then go for it but know that they will require more upkeep.
When using labels, it’s better to use broader rather than narrower categories.
Sometimes labels are needed. If multiple people, for example, house cleaners, nannies, etc., need to know where things go, labels can be helpful.
Labels are also handy for items that are used very infrequently, like seasonal decor, camping gear, etc. But in these cases, too, see-through containers will work better than labels.
This is another point where cohesive, colored bins look so nice when you look for inspiration online but see-through plastic bins are definitely more practical.
You need to decide when and where the appearance overrides the functionality. And when possible, try to find organizing solutions that check both boxes - function & beauty.