My small home features two bedrooms, one bathroom, and an open-plan ground floor, which suits my partner and me perfectly. However, the limited layout poses a challenge for tidiness, especially with minimal built-in storage. Being a rental, I can't add any new storage solutions either.
Over time, I've utilized the storage furniture I could fit to control the clutter. After a year of attempting to adhere to traditional organizing methods, I decided to explore unconventional approaches that have brought a sense of calm amidst the chaos.
Here's my perspective on home organizing strategies and why you might find it beneficial to welcome a little chaotic calm into your living space.
Effective Unconventional Organizing Strategies for Small Spaces
A crucial decluttering lesson I've gathered from daily conversations with organizing professionals is that there's no single solution to clutter and organization, particularly when it comes to small, storage-less homes.
While many standard daily tasks recommended by professional organizers exist, your organization style and chosen systems depend largely on your home layout, daily routine, and personal habits.
In a small house lacking storage, it's essential to maximize what little space is available. This means I've broken several conventional organizing rules, but my home is all the more organized for it. Imagine my home as a swan: tidy on the surface yet bustling with activity beneath.
1. I don't stick to the 'like with like' rule
Minimizing clutter in the entryway prevents feelings of overwhelm as you enter your home.
Organizing items of similar types together, also known as the co-worker/cousin organizing hack, is typically effective for finding homes for unique items, such as storing shoelaces with your shoes. However, in a home with limited storage in each room, this approach can complicate things.
For instance, in my space, coats are distributed across three locations, and I have two cabinets filled with an assortment of unrelated items, like board games mixed with tools, hats, and scarves. While this may not be the most visually appealing organizing trick, it effectively keeps these items out of sight, preventing them from cluttering surfaces.
Fortunately, professional organizer Frances Greene, the founder of Grit & Honey Home Organizing, understands my approach, stating, 'I don't believe that
