I see a lot of people showing images and videos of “organized” spaces, complete with brand new plastic bins and organizers. There is nothing inherently wrong about putting new plastic bins everywhere in your home, but it can get to the point where the bins are actually less space efficient and are going to cost you more money than they are worth in your space. Here are some spaces you may want to re-think whether you need a bin or not:

Fridge. I’ve seen this one a lot. A beautiful clear, acrylic bin, complete with label for things like snacks condiments. Condiments work well on the door of the fridge, partially because they are easy to get to and see, but partially because the fridge door is the “warmest” place in the fridge. Because condiments have a lot of preservatives they do not spoil quickly, so you don’t have to worry about their shelf life on the door. By putting condiments in a bin in the middle of your fridge, you are taking of valuable space where depth is your best friend, rather than height. I’m all for corralling snacks in a bin, but just make sure that it is the right size so you aren’t refilling it every day when it gets depleted.

Pantry. Have you seen images of bins being used to hold only a few large items? I’ve seen this a lot in pantries, where someone will store their backstock of vegetable stock tetra paks in a bin. The purpose for a bin is to store items that otherwise cannot hold their own. If you take the bin away, and the items still stand up straight and don’t fall all over the shelf, then the bin isn’t necessary! Take it away and use it somewhere else instead (or return it and get your $ back).

Drawers. Not all drawers are alike. I find drawer organizers and small bins extremely helpful when I am dealing with a utensil drawer or a “junk drawer” full of small little odds and ends that need to be corralled. But if you have a drawer with large utensils, or large office supplies (hole punch, stapler etc.), you do not need to put everything in its own bin! It is ok if things are touching, and it is ok if large utensils are rolling around in your drawer. If you can find what you’re looking for, then it is organized!

Heavy Items. You may like the look of having everything put away in bins and tucked away. But it can be a safety issue to have things in bins if you are not storing items properly. It’s especially hazardous if you’ve forgotten what’s in there and go to reach for it expecting something light. If you have really heavy small appliances or a collection of dumbbells for instance, those are not good to be stored in a bin, especially if it is on a high shelf. If you have to pull out a bin to get something heavy out, that will cause strain on your back, and the weight could potentially break the bin. Store heavy things (uncontained) on a shelf at waist level for maximum efficiency and safety. If you really don’t like the look of these items loose, tuck them away behind a sliding wall or cupboard door.

We live and exist in our homes. Organization is not equal to visual merchandising, which is often what is displayed in magazines and images online. Not everything needs to look perfect, and not every single item needs to be placed in a bin to be considered “organized”. If you are able to find what you’re looking for, your “stuff” isn’t taking over your life, and you feel comfortable in your space, then you are good to go!

If you need some help getting started on your REALISTIC and PRACTICAL organizational journey, give me a call (519-807-2478) or send me an email (adeilah@jigsaworgsolutions.com).