The Secret To Organizing Your Stuff Like A Professional Organizer

A little rant here: the biggest pet peeve of mine when it comes to professional organizers on social media and TV is that they rarely share their secrets with us, non-professional organizers. Acting like the official Wizards of Organizing and murmuring, “Organizeum perfectus,” under their breath at some hot mess. Then, POOF!!! Holy smokes. They actually turned ordinary beans and dry pasta into something pleasing to look at? I call this a typical WOO (short for Wizards Of Organizing) magic trick because it makes everyone go, “Woo!”

What is this wizardry? How did they do it??? It kills me when they never bother to explain any of it. How are we, muggles, supposed to replicate this on our own? 

Well, I’ve finally figured out their secret. It’s called visual rhythm, my friends. If you do not understand, then read on.

Visual Noise

Eliminate visual noise by stripping off product labels. Packaging design is designed to stand out from the crowd and grab every buyer’s attention. “Look at me! Pick me! Buy me!!!!!!!!!!” Jam-packed with information overload and trying to tell the shopper every single selling point about the product in one quick glance. Each one is vying for your attention and wanting to stand out. Labels screaming with information in the store will not stop once inside any home. If I put them together on a shelf, I’ve created a new cast for The Bachelor, except no one will be getting my rose.

Keep It Uniform

Select uniform packaging and uniform labels. Yup, both. This is the step I must be very strict with you on. Please do not gather all the containers you happen to have lying around the house and think, “Eh, this is all I have, good enough.” No, no, no. They MUST be exactly the same if you want professional-looking results. One-off and you might as well go back to your old crazy ways. I’m done with you, BYE. Am I being overly dramatic? No, I mean it. I don’t care if they’re ugly as heck, as long as they are exactly the same container, bottle, or whatever.

Visual Rhythm

Repeat, repeat, repeat. When elements are repeated over and over, it creates a rhythm. Artists use rhythm in music and poetry while designers use it to create visual rhythm. Visual rhythm adds a soothing sense of peace, like classical music on your shelves. If anything differs, such as colors, sizes, or shapes, then you won’t have visual rhythm. I believe visual rhythm is the secret sauce to professional-looking results so go crazy adding some rhythm.

Woo-Woo

Okie dokes, that’s it, friends. You, too, can achieve the same beautiful results as those famous organizing wizards. Woo-woo!!! There is a high chance I just revealed their most powerful spell, so I’m gonna go hide in my closet by the front door now.