Don’t Make These 5 Common Organizing Mistakes

Hey there! 🙂 Today I thought I’d post about some of the most common organizing mistakes I see when working with clients. After reading this post, you will know how to avoid making these same 5 organizing mistakes!

Common Organizing Mistakes

Don’t feel terribly bad if you are guilty of making some (or all!) of these organizing mistakes. Trust me, with a little tweaking you can totally change the way you function in your home.

Organizing Mistake #1: Cluttering the Fridge

One of the most common mistakes I see is a refrigerator cluttered with pictures, magnets, and small pieces of paper. When you have too many items hanging on your fridge, it creates visual clutter. Most people hang items on their fridges to look at or to remember something. The problem is that you really don’t notice any of it because there is so much to look at. To those that must have something on the fridge, I usually suggest hanging either a large magnetic calendar OR hanging pictures on the fridge in an orderly way. Then your eye will be drawn to it. Paring down items on the fridge will also help your kitchen appear to be more organized.

Organizing Mistake #2: Not Storing Items Where They Will Be Used

Another common organizing mistake I see is not storing items where they will be used. This is something that can be easily fixed. The next time you use something, take note if you have to take more than 5 steps to put it away. Trust me, if you have to go too far, you probably won’t put it back, and it will become clutter. This can happen in every room-kitchens, bathrooms, garages, kid’s rooms, and family rooms. Just thinking about where you use an item can help you find a better place to store it, which in turn will allow you to return it and reduce clutter in your home.

Organizing Mistake #3: No Organizational System For Incoming Papers

Not having a system for papers is another organizing mistake I see often, and this one is huge! If you don’t have a place for mail, children’s artwork, bills, insurance documents, magazines, etc. (I think you get the idea 😉 ) they end up wherever they end up. Getting a hold of your paper and creating some type of system will turn your life around! For mail, create an in/out system. Something like this will help you separate and keep track of each type of paper as it enters your home so you can deal with it when you have time. To keep incoming mail to a minimum, trash junk mail immediately and file the rest.

An additional filing organizer is a must for papers you need to keep for an extended period of time. These linen file boxes look great, are stackable, and allow you to sort your documents so you can easily find them at a later date. Create folders for anything you desire: bills to be paid, receipts, graded school papers, kid’s artwork, bank statements, etc. When you receive those types of documents, file them immediately. Then you will always know where they are.

Organizing Mistake #4: Not Using Organizing Containers in Drawers

Another common organizing mistake is not using containers to contain items in drawers. Whether you have a junk drawer or makeup drawer, you need some type of container to organize the items. You can use the acrylic organizers you see at Target, Walmart, and The Container Store or little dishes, utensil organizers, or small baskets. Anything goes really. Just find a way to separate things so they will be easier to find when you need them. No more rummaging through the drawer looking for that screwdriver! There are drawers all over your house that can be containerized. Think kitchen junk drawers, office desk drawers, utensil drawers, baking drawers, jewelry, makeup…I could go on and on.

Organizing Mistake #5: Oversimplifying

This is an interesting one. I have actually visited clients that have decided to organize their home but really just ended up putting everything away. Nothing was on the walls, kitchen counters, end tables, coffee tables, etc. They were actually calling me in for decorating services because they felt their home needed a “homey” touch. I explained to them that organization does not mean clearing everything away, it simply means keeping things orderly. I advised them to bring out the items in the kitchen that they use every day and place interesting decorative objects and art on the tables and walls.  We brought out blankets and draped them over the sofas and moved a few plants around. Just by doing these few, simple things, their homes lit up and had a “lived-in” feeling.  An organized home does not mean an empty one! 🙂

Hopefully, you were able to think about your space and habits while reading this post to see if you are guilty of making any of these common organizing mistakes. As you can see, they are easy to correct, and with some advanced planning and resilience, you’ll be able to stick to the plan and keep your home organized.

Are you guilty of making any of these common organizing mistakes? Let me know in the comments how you plan to tackle them!

Need Help Organizing Your Home? Try Virtual Organizing Services!

If you’re struggling to declutter and organize your home on your own, maybe it’s time to give Virtual Organizing Services a try! Click here to learn what virtual organizing is, how affordable it can be, and if it’s right for you and your family.

Also, don’t forget to follow Simpleigh Organized on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for more organizing tips!

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