When you’re looking for inspiration to help you become more organized, you don’t have to look far. There are plenty of stores, TV shows, and magazines that can get you on your wheels to organize your own home, but unfortunately, not all organizing solutions are as helpful as they seem.
So, to help you avoid wasting your time on something counterproductive, I thought we’d explore some of the most common organizational mistakes. So without further ado, here are 7 things that may seem like a good idea when working on your storage and organization, but end up being more trouble than they’re worth.
7 Organizational Decisions That Are More Harmful Than Helpful
1. You “decant” everything
Like pouring red wine from a bottle into a decanter, it’s hard to resist the urge to transfer every food and ingredient in your kitchen into a beautiful container. However, if your mornings are so hectic that someone barely has time to eat breakfast in the morning, “decanting” your cereal into a separate jar or container may not be the best use of your time.
There’s no need to add stress to your day just because something might look better in another container.
2. You buy things without a plan
Here are some “do as I say, not as I do” tips: don’t give in to the urge to buy that pretty jar or smart box from Home Goods just because you like the way it looks! There are millions of organizing solutions out there, but not all of them make sense for your specific needs and situation.
Instead, focus on one area of your house, make a rough plan of how you will organize it and what you will need, and then go shopping.
3. You get organized once, but that’s it
After sending half of your cluttered wardrobe to your local Goodwill, you should absolutely give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done. But work isn’t done forever – maintaining an organization is an ongoing project.
I find there is outbox for mess it helps create a little breathing room when an area feels cluttered but you don’t have time to reorganize it right now.
4. Your categories are too specific
Whether you’re organizing things into separate containers or simply sorting them to store them in different areas, it’s best to keep your categories broad. When your categories are too specific, it can make things unnecessarily complicated, which just makes it more likely that you’ll end up abandoning your system.
To avoid this particular problem, just remember that generic categories are more functional. For example, you do not need separate places in the refrigerator for soda, juiceand water— just have it Drinks area instead.
5. You stack your plates too high
Tall piles of dishes are much less stable than shorter piles, which can lead to chips, cracks, or even the whole thing tipping over. Tall stacks are also impractical because you have to take them apart every time you need something from the bottom of the stack. Use it risers for shelves in your cabinets so you can separate those tall stacks.
6. You shop without information
Shopping for an organizing project can be fun, but not when you end up having to make a bunch of returns because you didn’t think things through before you started buying things. So before you buy anything, make sure you have a clear idea of what size, shape and color of the item you are looking for. This simple step can save you a lot of time and a few trips to the store!
7. You don’t label anything
If you don’t know where something is, it doesn’t matter how nice and neat it looks. True organization should be functional, which means clearly labeling buckets and boxes so you (and everyone who lives with you) know where to look for what they need.
If you’re not a fan of your handwriting, give it a try creating labels in a cheap and easy way without having to buy special equipment.
Have you tried any organizing solutions or tips that turned out to be a dud?
