I was thinking today about WHAT makes organized spaces that really work stay that way.  And the answer is so incredibly simple, it’s a wonder more people don’t talk about it.  It’s so simple and basic that it is in fact invisible.

We secretly want organizing to be about buying a bin or container to fix our issues.  Buying stuff is fun.  And it seems easy.  BUT–the biggest key to your organizing success is not a bin, basket, or a container.  It’s actually  “negative space.”

Negative space is the free space that acts as a buffer between the items you are actually organizing.  And it’s just as important (if not more so) than the items you are trying to organize.

If we systematically jam items into a space and organize it like a puzzle, it might look good for a while, but it will fail every time.  Why?  Because there is no room for your items to breathe.  We need easier and we need simpler.  Simple systems last for the long haul.  Leaving no extra room in a drawer is like leaving no extra space in your daily agenda to just breathe.  You can do it for a while, but you WILL tire, and when one thing falls to pieces, everything does.

Watch this video to see how this simple concept looks in practice:

See what I mean?  Here’s how to make this a reality in your home.

1)  Don’t make everything fit flush like a puzzle.  Allow space between items.  You need a minimum of 20% negative space (free space) anywhere you are trying to get organized.  It’s not about how much you can fit in a space, it’s about how you are using the space effectively.

2)  “Room to grow” is code for “jam more in and mess up the system”  Don’t do this.  Allow that extra space to be there.  Resist the urge to fill it.

3) Write down what you want your space to accomplish.  Literally write it down.  What is vision of how that space is supposed to function?   Think about it like a business.  Fire all of the “stuff” in that space that isn’t in line with the vision.  What is your turkey thermometer that you access once a year doing with all of your kitchen supplies you are reaching for daily?  Move that…stat!

4) Experiment with a few high-traffic areas at a time.  I took my little cabinets and use a simple pull out organizer and free standing organizer for my lids.  It maximizes the space, and it is never messy.  Ever.  And we have a toddler and are really lazy.  There, I admit it 😉

5)  The higher traffic an area, the more negative space you need!  This is like an inverse graph.  The more you access as space, the simpler it needs to be.  Life is stressful enough.  Quit making it more-so.

6)  You don’t need to be a minimalist.  I like many concepts of minimalism actually, but I have no desire to be one.  Focus on the areas that you are in the most.  And don’t beat yourself up for keeping said turkey thermometer.  Just don’t put it where you keep your spoons.  See my point? 🙂

I hope these concepts were helpful to you in thinking about getting and staying organized!

 *This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are genuinely my own.  Links contain affiliates.*