Is it Better to Have Functional or Aesthetic Organization?
Organization and Action Steps to Organize in Both a Functional or Aesthetic Way
There is a big difference between organizing for functionality versus organizing for aesthetics. Just because something is functional does not mean that something is not attractive. Just clearing the clutter and bringing order to a space makes it more attractive. Included here are shortcuts for decluttering and organizing. Look to The Uncluttered Life’s Declutter Deck® for tips and tricks about home organization.
Organization
There is a focus on consumerism in this country. Because of this culture, there is more clutter. We buy a lot and fill our homes with more and more.
Mental health challenges make it difficult to focus on decluttering and maintaining an organized home. The more we have, the more we have to manage.
Life events change our priorities. For example, decluttering at different stages of our lives takes on different meanings. Having a baby, for example, may mean that we do not have time to keep on top of things at home.
Identifying whether consumer culture, mental health challenges or life events have contributed to your home’s clutter allows you to reduce guilt and shame around clutter. You can organize with more self-compassion.
Stacking strategy can come in handy when trying to make the weekly reset a consistent habit in our homes. Stacking strategy is about streamlining workflow by strategically sequencing tasks that naturally flow into one another.
Functional organizing involves simple systems, low cost product selection and a focus on functionality. Fancy organizing involves high maintenance, involved systems that take more energy, high end products and a focus on the way something looks.
Action Steps
Begin by decluttering to the point where your items can fit comfortably in your space.
Create an organizing system by identifying categories. This means sorting like items.
Leave 10% of your storage open. This will make it easier to put things away and allow for new purchases.
Simplify your system so you know what you own and where you store it. Once you have those categories in certain areas, your brain can go into autopilot when it’s time to put things away.
Declutter regularly. Know your space and when things get tight, make decluttering a priority.