Tuesday Tip: Avoiding the Container Trap
November 9, 2010
How many of us have attempted an organizing project this way:
We’re in an organizing store thinking “I’ve got to organize my (fill in the blank)”. We see some cute containers and some beautiful boxes and can’t decide. But we know one of them will work and the others, well we’ll use them somewhere, right?
Only to get home and either have them not be quite right, or be too overwhelmed and not know where to start.
Well, you’re doing it backwards. We all want to start with the fun part – shopping – but how are you really going to know what’s gonna work for you?
Start from the beginning. Sort your stuff, decide what to toss, what to donate and what to keep. Decide where the keepers will go. Measure your space. THEN reward your hard work with the fun part![LG]Here are the storage bins in the photo![/LG]
That’s great advice. I always do it backwards. Lately, I’ve been using what I already have and rearranging and reassigning. With a non-existent budget I’m trying to make good use of everything before I even think of “organizing backwards” again. LOL. I’ll try not to be lazy next time and measure first. Good post.
Of course the pictures of those baskets are really tempting me just to buy them. They are fabulous. 🙂
A non existent budget sure can spark some creativity, that’s for sure! Thanks, Petula – and sorry for tempting you. 😉
It is easy to believe that all the effort put into selecting and buying the containers is helping the clutter problem, when it may actually be a means of avoiding the real issue — too much unnecessary stuff! One can fall into the trap of believing they are getting somewhere when they are actually adding to the clutter problem. I speak from experience.
Excellent point, Monica! Couldn’t have said it better myself! Thanks!