If you’ve ever scrolled through social media and spotted an organizing hack you’re positive would never actually work for you, you’re not alone. We’ve all been there, from impeccable playrooms to impractical refrigerators.
It turns out that professional organizers have the same thoughts. While they are, of course, all for great decluttering systems and successful hacks, there are some organizing methods pros hate.
Meet the Expert
- Liora Seltzer is a certified KonMari Method professional organizer and founder of It’s What U Keep professional organizing blog.
- Isfira Jensen is the principal designer and CEO of Jensen & Co. Interiors.
- Laura Ascher is the home expert and DIY influencer behind Our Oily House natural home blog.
Buying Bins and Baskets First
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Many influencers push the idea of first buying a big assortment of bins and baskets, but designer Isfira Jensen says she advises against this as a starting point.
“While these can look great on Pinterest or Instagram, they often become clutter in themselves if they don’t fit your space or aren’t used thoughtfully,” she says.
Instead, assess what you need, and possibly even do a first round of clearing out and decluttering. This will help you understand what bins and baskets you actually need—if any.
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Aggressive Decluttering
Pro organizer Liora Seltzer says she has a strong aversion to what she calls aggressive decluttering; this is when pros encourage people to toss as much as possible.
“I happen to believe that is not a helpful or healthy method,” says Seltzer. “You have to understand your goal and reason for decluttering.”
By tossing items under pressure, you run the risk of creating an unhealthy relationship with your belongings. Instead, assess your home goals and understand why you want to remove items in the first place.
“Keep that goal in mind as you’re going through your items and when you decide to let go of any of them, do it with gratitude,” says Seltzer.
Ceiling-Mounted Storage Systems
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Home expert and influencer Lauren Ascher says she’s always wary of ceiling-mounted storage systems she spots in people’s garages. She says these kinds of long-term storage solutions are overly intricate.
“While keeping these areas tidy is great, I find that simply labeling storage bins and storing them out of the way is all that’s really needed,” says Ascher. “Keep your long-term storage simple, practical, and easy to maintain.”
Micro-Sorting
Much like aggressive decluttering, Jensen says she also hates something she calls micro-sorting.
“This involves obsessively separating items into overly specific categories, like something as small as clothing hangers,” says Jensen, who adds that maintaining this level of detail is unrealistic.
“I recommend skipping tips that prioritize appearance over functionality,” she says.
Using Bins for Tool Storage
Storing tools in bins makes them difficult to access, and Ascher notices this common problem in many well-organized basements and garages.
“I recommend hanging hand tools on a pegboard and storing smaller items like sockets in sliding drawers for easy access,” she says. “Larger items, like power tools, work best in drawers, so you don’t have to dig through bins.”
As a rule, anything you need to use regularly should be easy to access and easy to clean back up. Open shelves or accessible cabinets should do the trick.
Color-Coding for the Aesthetic
The idea of color-coding your items is rampant on social media, and that’s because it looks great. But Seltzer doesn’t love it because this prioritizes appearance over functionality.
“When I work with clients, I ask many questions in order to understand how they use your space so we can create systems together that actually make sense for them,” she says.
Something that looks great isn’t necessarily sustainable, and Seltzer says this is extra important if you’re sharing the space with others. They might not understand the system or be able to follow it.
“Put emphasis on functionality and ease of use of the space and not just on the appearance,” says Seltzer.
Open-Shelf Storage Systems
While well-styled, open shelving systems can be beautiful, Jensen warns against using these as your primary storage solution. They can add visual clutter if they’re not perfectly arranged at all times, and this can only lead to needless complexity.
“Good organization isn’t about visual perfection, it’s about creating systems that are simple, practical, and easy to maintain,” Jensen says.
