Organizing always comes after simplifying for a reason. If you skip that first step, you’re just organizing clutter, and a system without simplification isn’t sustainable.
I don’t organize a living room around aesthetics; I organize it around movement and rhythm.
During our snow days, I didn’t leave the room as it was; I adjusted it to meet the moment. I moved the chairs closer to the fireplace, pulled in a side table, and set up an impromptu game right in front of the fire. It wasn’t styled for show; it was styled for how we were actually living that week.
As the days unfolded, the room continued to shift with us. We played backgammon by the fireplace and naturally moved to the dining table area for rounds of Tenzi and partner Skip-Bo—proof that the space worked because it was flexible. No single setup had to do it all; the room was allowed to evolve as the people in it did.
That flexibility wasn’t accidental—it came from simple intentional systems. Furniture that can move easily, surfaces that can serve more than one purpose, storage that doesn’t require five steps to reset—good organization disappears into the background. It supports life instead of controlling it.
Organizing for Different Brains & Styles
Not everybody organizes the same way!
If you’re a macro organizer, you prefer broad categories over tiny divisions. One basket for blankets, one container for games, one tray for remotes—keep it simple and obvious. Your goal: Fewer categories, easier resets.
If you’re a micro organizer who likes detailed systems, that’s ok! Use small dividers inside one larger drawer to separate batteries, remotes, matches, and chargers. Keep detailed organization behind closed doors. Your goal: precision without visual overwhelm.
If you’re a visual person—if I can’t see it, it doesn’t exist—use open-top baskets instead of bins with lids. Keep one visible landing zone for daily items, and avoid stacking or deep storage that hides essentials. Your goal: visible clarity.
If you’re an “I’ll do it later” kind of person, you need a system that catches the mess. Create one reset basket, do a five-minute evening sweep, and limit yourself to one “catch all” per room. Your goal: recovery, not perfection.
Finally, if you are a regular host, keep company-ready in mind when you organize. Keep extra coasters and candles in one easy spot. Have one flexible surface that can convert to a serving space. Store games in a grab-and-go basket. Your goal: easy gathering.
When organization supports real habits, they last. When it’s too complicated, it collapses. A flexible room is an organized room.
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