Organizing Styles: Why There’s No Cookie-Cutter Solution
- Kelly Brask
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
...and How to Find What Works for You
If you’ve ever tried an organizing system you saw online and thought, “Why can’t I make this work?”, I want you to hear this clearly:
There is no cookie-cutter organizing solution.
A system only works if it matches how you actually live (and how your brain actually works). The goal isn’t a Pinterest-perfect home. The goal is a home that feels easier to be in.
January is Get Organized Month, so consider this your permission slip to stop copying other people’s systems and start building one that fits you.
Organizing isn’t about willpower. It’s about fit.
Most “failed” organizing attempts aren’t failures at all. They’re mismatches.
When a system fights your habits, your schedule, or your household, it becomes one more thing you have to maintain. When a system supports you, it quietly keeps life moving.
What's your preference?
Style shift #1: Visual vs. Hidden storage
Some people need to see things to remember they exist. Others feel calmer when things are tucked away.
If you’re more visual:
Open bins and baskets can be your best friend
Clear containers help (you don’t have to label everything)
Shallow drawers beat deep bins (less digging)
If you prefer hidden storage:
Closed cabinets and drawers reduce visual noise
Uniform containers can make a space feel calmer
Labels help you avoid the “where did I put that?” spiral
Neither style is “better.” The best one is the one you’ll maintain.
Style shift #2: Macro vs. Micro categories
This is one of the biggest reasons systems don’t stick.
Micro categories are very specific (and can be beautiful), but they require more upkeep.
Macro categories are broader and easier to maintain.
Examples:
Micro: batteries / light bulbs / tape / command hooks / scissors
Macro: “household supplies”
If you’re busy, overwhelmed, or sharing a space with other people, macro categories often win.
Style shift #3: “Put away” vs. “Drop zone” people
Some people naturally put things away. Others naturally set things down.
This is where strategic drop zones change everything.
A few real-life drop zones that help:
A launching pad near the door for out-the-door items
A paper inbox for incoming mail and school papers
A donation bin that lives where you actually declutter
The goal is to work with your default behavior—not fight it.
Style shift #4: Label lovers vs. label haters
Labels can be amazing… or they can feel like one more chore.
Labels help when:
Multiple people share the system
Items look similar (AA and AAA batteries)
You’re building a new habit and need a visual cue
Skip labels when:
You’ll avoid the system if it feels too “official”
The category is obvious
You’re still testing what belongs where
A simple rule: label for clarity, not for aesthetics.
Style shift #5: Your maintenance tolerance
This is the question I wish more people asked:
How much maintenance can this system realistically require from me?
A system that needs a 45-minute reset every night is not a system—it’s a part-time job.
When in doubt, choose:
Fewer categories
Bigger “homes” (one bin instead of five tiny ones)
A quick weekly reset over a complicated daily routine
Quick organizing style combos (so you can stop guessing)
You don’t need to fit perfectly into one box. Most people are a mix.
Here are a few common combos I see—and what tends to work best for each:
1) Visual + Drop-zone + Low-maintenance
If you tend to set things down and forget they exist once they’re out of sight, you’ll do best with open, obvious homes.
Use open bins/baskets (or clear containers)
Keep categories broad (macro beats micro)
Put the “home” where the item naturally lands (entry, counter, top drawer)
Skip fussy lids and complicated stacking
2) Hidden + Put-away + Medium-to-high maintenance
If visual clutter stresses you out and you naturally put things away, you can handle closed storage with more structure.
Closed cabinets/drawers + uniform bins
Labels for clarity (especially in shared spaces)
Micro categories can work if you enjoy the upkeep
Consider drawer dividers to prevent “junk drawer creep”
3) Visual + Put-away + Low-to-medium maintenance
If you like things to look tidy but also need to see what you own, aim for simple visibility.
Shallow drawers, clear bins, or open-front containers
One-step put-away (no decanting into five tiny containers)
A small “backstock” bin so extras don’t overflow the main space
4) Hidden + Drop-zone + Low-maintenance
If you want things out of sight but you’re more of a “set it down” person, you need hidden drop zones.
A lidded basket, cabinet, or drawer near the action
One big bin per category (macro)
A weekly reset time to empty/redistribute (so the hidden bin doesn’t become a black hole)
5) Label lover + Shared household
If multiple people touch the system, labels reduce friction (and reduce the “where does this go?” debate).
Label the homes, not every single item
Use simple, obvious category names
Keep the system consistent across rooms (same label style, same logic)
6) Label hater + Busy season of life
If labels feel like homework, keep it ultra simple.
Fewer categories, bigger bins
Visual cues (clear bins, open baskets)
“Good enough” homes you can maintain on your busiest day
Focus on function first; you can refine later
A quick way to find your style (without overthinking it)
Try this simple experiment:
Pick one small zone (one drawer, one shelf, one category)
Choose one organizing style shift to test (visual vs hidden, macro vs micro, labels vs no labels)
Live with it for a week
Adjust based on what actually happened—not what you hoped would happen
Progress is built through small, realistic tweaks.
Ready for a system that fits your real life?
If you’re in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs (including the North Shore) and you want help building organizing systems that are sustainable (not cookie-cutter), we’d love to help.
Ready to get started? Visit our contact page to book a consultation!
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