3 Barriers To An Organized Space and How to Overcome Them

Getting organized can feel difficult. Sometimes we wonder why it seems to be so hard for us, while others appear to do it with ease. In reality, there are lots of reasons why people struggle to get organized, such as medical conditions, physical disabilities, lack of time, messy housemates, or mental health challenges. Any of these factors can make getting—and staying—organized a real challenge. Regardless of origin, here are three barriers to an organized space and how to overcome them.

The most effective way to conquer any hurdle is to understand why it’s a problem—and then create a plan to address it. Most challenges can be overcome, or at least minimized, with a thoughtful strategy.

In working with clients, I’ve found that three main barriers often stand in the way of an organized space. Any one of these can be a hindrance, but when two or more are present, a disorderly space is almost guaranteed.

Too Many Belongings

This one is both easy and difficult to define, as it’s usually judged relative to the size of the space. For example, one person may have a small entry closet that can hold only a few coats, while another has a vast closet that easily accommodates 20 or more. The issue becomes more complex when considering need versus use. If you own 20 pairs of high heels, is that excessive—or simply a reflection of your love for footwear?

Defining the right number of belongings requires asking questions to clarify what is needed, what is wanted, and how much can realistically be stored. The answers to these questions will vary by individual. Decluttering comes down to prioritizing the space you have to hold the items you both want and need for the life you are currently leading.

If your storage areas (e.g., drawers, closets, surfaces) are overflowing, the likely cause is that you’re simply keeping too much.

To overcome too many belongings… declutter.

Decluttering is a great place to start with any organizing project, as it gives you a chance to reduce before you start designing storage systems. Ask yourself why you are keeping an item, and if the answer isn’t that you use, need, or love it, let it go.

Insufficient or Inaccessible Storage

One of the most common reasons people don’t put items away is that storage is either nonexistent, insufficient, or inconvenient to use.. A few examples include:

• Shoes are tossed in a heap because they don’t have a clear home in the entry and it feels like a burden to carry them up to the bedroom closet.
• Holiday decorations get tossed in a nearby bin because it’s a hassle to pull down the attic stairs and climb up to store them properly.
• Clothing is stacked on a chair or left in a laundry basket because the drawers are stuffed and the clothing doesn’t comfortably fit inside.
• School or work papers are piled on a desk rather than filed either because no appropriate file has been created or the filing is difficult to access.
• Toys are scattered because a child doesn’t know where to put them away, or has difficulty reaching or opening the storage location.
• Supplies get stuck in a corner because their storage container is buried at the bottom of a stack, making it a struggle to retrieve.
• Coats are slung on a chair or dropped on the floor because it “feels too time consuming” to reach into a closet and use a hanger.
• Tools are tossed on a table in a garage or shed either because there is no clear location where the items belong or because it is cold in the garage and the owner doesn’t want to stand out there putting the item back.
• Bathroom supplies are precariously perched across the top of a pedestal sink because there is no structure into which they can be placed and stored.

As you can see, these hurdles can be large or small. Sometimes, we have failed to designate a “home” for our things to live in. Other times, we have a place, but it feels like work to use it. Something as simple as having to remove a lid can be enough of a barrier to keep us from putting an item back in its proper place.

If you resist putting things away, take a moment to identify why. If there’s no designated storage space, create one. If the storage location feels difficult to use, you may need a new configuration. Items you rarely need can be stored remotely, while the ones you regularly touch should be easy to reach.

To overcome insufficient or inaccessible storage… add structure and systems.

This is where drawer dividers, drawer organizers, risers, extra shelves, casters, carts, hooks, racks, lazy susans, glide-out shelving, and other tools can make a big difference. Keep in mind that the barriers often overlap. For example, you may need to declutter first in order to design an adequate storage system.

Failure to Restore Order

In our time-crunched world, few people want to allocate time to restoring order. Returning items to their proper place takes discipline—just like avoiding overeating or sticking to a daily exercise routine. The biggest difference between organized and disorganized people? Organized people consistently put things away. Depending on your stage of life, this can require anywhere from five minutes to multiple hours a day.

To overcome a failure to restore order…establish a “reset” routine.

Few people consider the process of putting things away “fun,” but this activity can become part of your routine—and the tangible benefits can provide motivation to keep it going. Most people benefit by setting aside regular intervals for restoring order each day. Here are a few habits you may want to try:

• Put toiletries away in the morning after you are dressed.
• Wash dishes and run the dishwasher every night. Empty it and put items away every morning.
• Do a “walk through” before bed to put all clothing either back into a drawer, in a closet or into a hamper.
• Go the extra mile to put clothing into drawers once it is folded.
• Clear your desk or work area when you are finished for the day.
• Do a “toy tidy” before lunch and again before dinner. Limit toy use after dinner so cleanup is quick before bedtime.

Again, the three barriers to an organized space can overlap. In order to reset your space, there must first be a reasonable number of belongings, and a workable storage system for containing them. You can’t put something away if there’s no “away” to put it in!

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All three of these barriers to an organized space are common byproducts of the modern lifestyle. If you are struggling, don’t be ashamed or embarrassed. Rather, identify which of these barriers you may need to confront, and work on a plan to for success. If you can’t figure out where or how to begin, or if you feel overwhelmed, reach out to a professional organizer. Most of us offer free consultations without any sales pressure.

Do these three barriers resonate with you? Which one is the most challenging?