What Type of Organization Person Are You?

Did you know that there are two schools of thought when it comes to organizing, two types of people, two types of people who like things organized in two totally different ways? Betcha didn't know that, huh?

It is a shame that organizing products do not come with a label for each category of organizational structure or are at least marketed toward the correct people. I often go into my client's homes and can subtly pick up on which type of structure they are. But I always make it a point in my assessments to stop, ask and chat about the two options with them just to confirm. They often have no idea that there were two different kinds!

Sometimes I see clients who are in such desperate need of organization and they were so hopeful and determined on their own, that they went to the nearest Target, or Walmart or shopped on Amazon for a bin, container, or basket to try and help their situation. Unknowingly, they may have purchased something that actually doesn't suit them. It actually makes me a little sad because they did try so hard to accomplish it on their own before calling me.

So what am I referring to? Well like I said, there are two schools of people when it comes to organization. The "stuff away" versus the "stuff out" people.

Well, what does that mean exactly? Start by taking a look at the difference below and see which one you might resonate with.

"Stuff Away"

• Likes things to be behind a closet door
• Clear countertops
• Does not want to "see" clutter
• Can easily remember where things are and what is in which bin
• Would rather have things in cabinets

"Stuff Out"

• Likes things to be out for a reminder
• Glass cabinet doors in the kitchen are preferred
• Would prefer to have items in bins that are clear
• Often needs reminding of things

Did one sound more like you? Now that you have identified which organizing structure you align most with, let's take a look at products!

1) Linen Closets. Both of these are beautiful and could work for you and your family. But these aren't just pretty pictures. Notice that there is a slight difference between them.

The first uses wicker baskets. Although you know what is in them, you can't see inside or through them.

This linen closet uses both wire and wicker. However, let's focus just on the wire baskets. You can see what is inside of them and know exactly what you are looking for without the items being concealed. The labels on the outside might be a bit of an overkill but they went above and beyond, just in case you'd forget what is inside.

2) Bedroom Closets. The magazine/celebrity style closet is achievable for so many. But when creating your dream space, keep in mind that you will want to see your clothes, shoes, and accessories differently.

This first set of boxes uses labels as a way to define what goes inside. Get past looking at the beauty of the boxes themselves to how they actually function.

Although very elegant, these might not work for someone who is a "stuff away" since you would have visual "clutter' using this see-through box.

*Keep in mind, the space that this would actually look the best in would need to either be one of two spaces. The first is a very large closet where you could have multiple of these. The other is a minimal amount of clothing. If you had let's say 15 scarves, you would either need to display more in this or have many more boxes to hold them. Food for thought.

3) Holiday/Seasonal Storage. Being as though we are in the middle of the holiday season, it is actually a good time to start changing over your holiday and seasonal storage boxes. **Note** This is not the time of the year I recommend purging, that is in July when you are less emotionally attached to things.

When it comes time to take down all of the decors and store them away, you could be one who likes the red and green as a visual reminder that this comes out after Thanksgiving.

Or the stuff out-group would argue that they would prefer all their storage bins to be clear, have a cohesive look to them, and perhaps put labels on the outside to indicate which bin has what items inside.

• Fun tip! Clear bins actually make things "disappear". An odd and almost backward concept but when using clear bins for storage in the garage or basement, they actually visually take up less space than a solid color one. Don't ask me why but it is true! 

4) Entryway. The first space when entering your home. This is also known as the drop zone or loading zone.

Which of these shoe organizers seems like something you would prefer to have? The stuff away would gasp at seeing all the shoes in clear boxes.

The stuff out-group would see these baskets, with labels, and would never maintain this space. They would come in through the doors and drop their shoes, coats, hats, and scarves and never once think to look inside the baskets for their items.

5) Office. This space can be tricky when it comes to planning, but it is all the more reason to pay attention here! You do not want bills and mail getting lost in this shuffle.

When looking at your desk, which paper storage would you rather have?

Again, don't get caught up in which one looks more luxurious or more appealing to you. Because at the end of the day, if you lose paperwork or bills and can't find your things, it didn't work for you.

So there you have it! I hope this has given you a better understanding of which products you might need and which ones you should steer clear of.

Remember that no system is forever. You will get a good system down and then life will eventually change. But try to invest in products that can change with you! Don't stick yourself with products that are so niche you can't use them in another area of the home if the time came for that.

If you want to schedule a call and start the journey to living a more organized life (and a less stressful one!) you can book your call with me HERE.