10 Organizing Mistakes to Avoid

Organizing systems do not always work. I know that sounds strange coming from a Professional Organizer. Let me explain! Creating an organized space doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective. Here are some common mistakes to avoid. 

1. Not decluttering first

Organizing clutter is not organizing. In order to create order in a space, it is necessary to purge items that no longer serve you. Once you have done this, it is so much easier to give items a place to live. This is true for every area of your home. 

Purging makes organizing easy!

2. Buying before purging

The purchase of organizing accessories is more cost effective after the process of decluttering is complete. The goal is to have less to store. It’s also good to know what you have exactly in your home.  As you purchase bins, baskets, shelving, etc it should be matched to amount of items that will in or on them. 

Hold on the purchases!

3. Categories that are too specific

Depending on the space you are organizing, this may be very limiting. The pantry is an example that comes to mind. Each specific category may not fit in your space and this could leave you with items that are random and no home. We all know that random items end up in the back of the pantry and live there until someday comes. Usually, this is when the item is expired. If you group categories together you can prevent the random miscellaneous items from being lost. For example, create a space for all canned goods rather than soup, vegetables, fruit, etc. 

Simplify to organize!

4. Starting with too big of a project

It is really easy to get overwhelmed with the clutter in a big area. I highly encourage you to start small. One of the things that people underestimate is the effect that clutter has had on them. The declutter process brings this to the fore front and the success rate in completing this project diminishes. This might mean you can only work on one section of a room at a time. Work each section until the room is complete. 

Start small!

5. Not thinking vertically

Using the floor space is the more natural approach people take in organizing. How quickly we run out of floor space! There will only be just so much space on the floor. If you look up, you can see many more areas that can become places to be a part of the organizing process. This can be achieved with shelving, cabinetry or other hanging options. 

So, think up!

6. Too complicated of an organizing system

Taking a multistep approach can be too daunting in the scheme of maintaining organization. The most effective systems are minimal in what needs to be done to keep yourself staying organized.

Keep it Simple!

7. Not involving everyone who will use the space

Just because you have decided to get organized does not mean every one else you live with feels the same.  Creating an organizing system that works for everyone in the quest for making every day life simpler should be the goal. Good communication is the key  in rolling out your plan to get organized. 

Teamwork is the dreamwork!

8. Not having a realistic expectation

Clutter did accumulate in a day, therefore, decluttering will likely take longer than a day. When working through the process of getting organized with a Professional Organizer, the goals of the project are set. In working with my clients, I also go over expectations too. We all have different definitions of what organized is for us. There are a lot of decisions that go into this process, take the time to set goals that are realistic for the project. 

Let’s get real!

9. Not maximizing your prime real estate

Every room has its key areas for you in every day living.  These are the areas that need to be reserved for the things you use most frequently. This is lower shelving, closets, entryways, etc. Make the most of these

Maximize your space!

10. Putting too much in one area

Multi-use spaces can really drown a room in clutter because they lack a real purpose. Catch-all dumping grounds are not purposeful. These areas occur because there is not an adequate are for them. Pantries come to mind as well as garages, basements, offices, etc. Create a purpose for the room and only keep what goes with that purpose in the room or area.

Pair it down!

If you are interested in learning more about living simply organized, join my membership site Keeping It Simple! Learn more here!