Think like an organizer: Before you start

I was at a client’s recently getting a tour of the home to find creative ways to increase their storage space. I was taking it all in, scribbling notes, when they turned to ask, “so, what’s your process when you organize?” I don’t know why I was so thrown off by the question because I probably should have an ‘elevator pitch’ response to it. Organizing comes naturally to me; I’ve always been good spatially and can quickly spot solutions to space-related challenges. But this question was helpful because it forced me to stop and think about what is actually going on in my head.  What am I thinking about and noticing?  What are the questions I’m trying to answer when I walk into a room?  This exercise helped me realize I do have a process and I want to share it with you so you can think like an organizer, too. Here’s a glimpse into my thought process before I start an organization project:

Blank Space: Take a look up, down, and side-to-side - and past all of the current furniture. What would this room look like empty?  How big is the actual space?  Where are the windows and doors?  Where are the closets and shelves? Any other structural things to make note of? I need to look past the current state and see the room’s raw potential with a fresh set of eyes. 

Style: Glance at their furniture and furnishings. What pieces of furniture are in the room? What colors and textures are they into? What about the art and decor? Is there a lot going on in the room or is it relatively minimalist?  I need to understand their style so when I recommend solutions, it fits with the rest of the home & their lifestyle. 

Define disorganized: Scan the room. Where’s all of their stuff?  Is it on the floor?  Jammed in a closet or cabinet?  In overcrowded bins or haphazardly on shelves? Some combination? Are they unorganized or just messy? I need to understand the client’s definition of disorganized and get a sense for what solutions might work. Everyone has an organization style and it’s my job to offer solutions that lean into their strengths. For example, does their kid put things back in the right area, but can’t seem to get that jacket onto the hook? Maybe they’d do better with a floor basket where they can dump all of their stuff.

Find the space: Look closer. Open all of the cabinets, doors, and drawers. Is there any space in the room that isn’t being used? Are there areas where the space is bursting at the seams? Are there spots in the room where there is space but unless you had a stepstool, you can’t access it? The goal here is to understand where the areas of opportunity are. Sometimes there is plenty of space and all we need to do is reconfigure things or add thoughtful products to create homes for items. Or, we may need to swap out some furniture to make room for pieces that are more practical in the space given your organization goals. And sometimes, we need to create more room by adding shelves and hooks or building out closet space.

Be objective: Now that you’ve seen everything, let’s assess. Is each piece of furniture serving a purpose? Are there things in the room that aren’t being used, are empty or broken, or are there too many duplicates? Essentially, I’m trying to figure out if we need to purge or replace things before the work can get underway because once we start organizing, I want to create space only for things that are staying in the room. But this is also the hardest step because there is often emotional attachment to items that aren’t being used - but you feel like you can’t part with it. When you think like an organizer, you have to be as objective as possible. Maybe there’s another spot for that item or maybe you can part with it in a meaningful way, such as donating it to a worthy cause. But just because that you’ve had an item forever, doesn’t mean you have to keep it.

Create categories: Ok, last thing before I get started. How would I define and group the stuff in the room? For example, if I’m in a playroom, what general types of toys do I see (e.g. puzzles/games, building, make believe)? My goal is to identify broad categories for the stuff so then when I’m organizing the space, I can determine how to section the room and group similar items. 

I think about all of that before I start an organization project. For me, answering these questions upfront helps make the next steps in the process go quickly. It’s similar to the adage ‘measure twice, cut once.’ Do a thorough evaluation so you can be sure you’re going in the right direction once you get started. For my next post, I’ll share my thought process when I get hands-on with the stuff. But don’t worry if you still feel overwhelmed. I highly recommend you work with a professional organizer so they can walk you through the process and teach you how to do it yourself. Because even if this doesn’t come naturally, I have no doubt you can think like an organizer, too.

Want help with your next home organization project? Contact us today to schedule your free consult!