10 Areas to Stop Organizing and Start Minimizing
Companies like The Container Store and California Closets exist to help us corral all of our stuff, streamline our spaces, and make life simpler and prettier. It's easy to look at their websites or check out organizing solutions at the local Home Depot and come to the conclusion that this is the way to get life under control. Those specially-designed shelves, bins, and labels will create homes for every belonging, magically bringing order and peace.
But organizing is a temporary solution. We can organize everything beautifully, shut the door on our thousands of possessions, and wind up needing to reorganize again tomorrow. After all, those perfect arrangements need to be maintained, and when you add more (as most of us do), you'll have to fit it in somehow.
Organizing is a Band-Aid, when what we need is surgery.
Minimizing is the solution that lasts. Instead of giving up your space, your time, and your attention (not to mention your money) to excess possessions, remove them. The less we own, the less energy it takes to clean, maintain, and put stuff away. Instead of worrying about how to organize everything, think about owning less.
10 things to minimize rather than organize
1. Toiletries
Many of us accumulate shampoos, lotions, and beauty supplies faster than we use them. Maybe you've never met a hotel freebie you didn't feel compelled to take home. Perhaps a friend presented you with a self-care gift set. Maybe you purchased a 35-color eyeshadow palette that promised the fun of experimenting with new looks, or a new lipstick or nail color looked so pretty in the store, you just had to have it.
Organizing those things in drawers, baskets, or trays might seem like the way to go, but owning just what you need and use is the better solution. Use things up or pare them down, and then only buy what you need. This doesn't only reduce clutter and save space, but streamlines your morning routine as well.
2. Clothing
We've all seen the dream closets that house an aspirational number of outfits and accessories. But no matter how beautiful it looks, a huge wardrobe takes a lot of maintenance and represents a large opportunity cost (what you lose when you make one choice over another). Additionally a smaller wardrobe reduces decision fatigue, allows you to focus on quality over quantity, and helps you curate a personal style that makes you feel good in everything you wear.
3. Jewelry and accessories
A pile of ties, a bunch of tangled necklaces, or a jumble of shoes may seem like perfect candidates for organization. But before you try to straighten things out, try removing the things you no longer use. When I decluttered more than half of my jewelry, I found I was able to enjoy my favorite pieces more, and my smaller collection practically organized itself.
4. Linens
With a just-in-case mentality and the constant lure of seasonal patterns and textures, it's easy to accumulate more towels, sheets, blankets, tablecloths, potholders, etc. than we need. You can organize them out of sight, but reducing your collection will make your closets and drawers more spacious and manageable. Keep just a few high-quality sets and you'll have less to launder and arrange.
5. Kitchen gadgets
Drawer organizers and dividers can keep gadgets in order, but they do nothing to reduce the overwhelming number of tools many of us accumulate. Do you really want to give so much space to these things?
Be honest – how often do you reach for the same spatula, set of measuring spoons, or a favorite knife that fits your hand? Most of us really do use about 20% of our tools 80% of the time, so it makes sense to pare down and find those just-right, well-used pieces. It will be so easy to organize what remains, and kitchen chores will be quicker and easier, too.
Related article: Declutter These Items Now to Gain a Bigger, More Practical Kitchen
6. Food storage containers
How often have you rummaged through a cupboard searching for the right lid to go with a food storage container? Instead of trying to organize chaos, minimize the number of containers you own. Fewer containers will keep your refrigerator current, too – you're less likely to waste food by continuing to shove in leftovers that turn into science experiments before they're used. Keep a few useful-sized containers* and discard the rest.
* This blog is reader-supported. If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.
7. Books
I love books, and I understand the desire to collect them. (English minor and former teacher here!) Beautiful bookshelves enhance any room. But if you never actually read the books on your shelves, they might as well be wallpaper.
Think of your bookshelf as a container, and keep only the favorites that inspire you or add value to your life. When the container is full, practice one in, one out when you think about acquiring something new. Some books are only worth reading once. Others we "outgrow." Donate or sell them, and you'll make room for current interests.
And don't forget the public library! Use it to enjoy reading anything you want without adding to what you own.
Related article: How to Pare Down Your Home Library and Uncover the Books You Love
8. Toys
The U.S. is home to 3% of the world's children, but we parents and grandparents buy 40% of the world's toys. The answer to the "millions" of toys scattered all over your home isn't more bins and boxes. The answer is less. Cut the number of toys in half, and your kids will still have more than enough.
Reduce arguments and stress, and increase focus and creativity, by downsizing the number of toys before you try to organize them.
9. Hobby supplies
You know you have toys too, don't you? Hobby tools and supplies can multiply out of control just as Legos and stuffed animals do. Before you buy more bins to store everything, be honest about what you actually make time to do, and what you merely aspire to. What will you actually work at and eventually finish, and what is simply stealing space and gathering dust? Over time, we change, and activities we used to love may no longer occupy us. If you have no plans to return to those pastimes, donate or sell the accoutrements to someone who will enjoy them now.
10. Photos
Many of us have boxes or hard drives full of old photos, with plans to organize them into albums or neatly labeled folders "someday." And with smart phones in hand, we may add to our stash almost daily. Instead of holding onto every single picture, minimize your collection by keeping only the ones that bring you joy or represent meaningful memories.
Related article: Make More Memories by Taking Fewer Photos
The best solution
Organizing is helpful, but it's not the best solution for a tidier, more peaceful home. Start with minimizing, and not only will it be simpler to organize what's left, it will be easier to access and put away, and take less energy to manage and maintain.
Keeping only what you use and love means that you can relax and appreciate your home more every day, and that's magic!
Related article: 5 Steps to Stop Being a Clutter Victim and Find Decluttering Success
I'm just going to say it – you NEED this book! And with its beautiful new cover, it makes a great gift too, especially in hardcover. Do yourself a favor and buy it today.
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