7 Home Organizing Mistakes Most People Make—and How To Avoid Them
Achieving an organized home tops the list of common New Year’s resolutions among homeowners and renters alike—but it’s also one of the hardest goals to accomplish and maintain in the long run.
There are a number of stumbling blocks you can hit that make finishing—or even starting—the organizing process much harder. To help set you up for success with your next home organization endeavor, we’re shedding light on the most common mistakes that tend to trip people up.
Whether you’re taking on a small-scale task like tidying up a junk drawer or focusing on something larger like cleaning out your garage, avoid these all-too-frequent mistakes.
1. Trying to organize your entire home in one weekend
One of the biggest mistakes people make is thinking they can organize their whole house in just a few days.
“Similar to losing weight, getting organized takes time and many minor adjustments,” says Katherine Lawrence, certified professional organizer with Space Matters in Richmond, VA.
To fix this, Lawrence suggests focusing on smaller goals, like clearing out one room a month or one cabinet per week.
“Think [of it as a] lifestyle change,” Lawrence says.
2. Not purging before organizing
Juliana Meidl, founder and owner of Serenity at Home Detroit, recommends paring down household items before organizing them.
“The key is to purge first and then organize what remains,” says Meidl.
Meidl suggests decluttering your household items “ruthlessly and frequently.” This might look like getting rid of clothing that doesn’t fit, donating toys your children no longer play with, or tossing old kitchen gadgets.
Reducing the number of items you actually have to organize will make the process feel more manageable.
3. Not dropping off donations right away
How many times have you set aside items to donate only to have them sit in your house or car for months? Good to know we’re not the only ones!
Instead of procrastinating, Eryn Donaldson, founder and CEO of The Model Home, suggests dropping off donations as soon as you have them ready to go.
“Once you have your donations bagged, I recommend placing them in the front passenger seat of your car,” says Donaldson. “This way you will immediately remember to drop them off at the donation center.”