7 organizing icks professional home organizers hate – and what you should always do instead

There is so much noise on the internet about home organizing that it can be hard to separate the stuff that works, from the purely aesthetic tricks that do little to keep your home neat.

Professional organizers are particularly tired of seeing some of these useless hacks, and say they get the 'ick' every time they see these so-called ‘systems’ clogging up people's homes.

So, what should we be doing instead? Here’s what the experts want us to leave to the influencers, and the home organizing ideas you should be using instead for a streamlined space.

Organizing icks professional home organizers hate

From over-organizing your home to decluttering mistakes, the experts have seen it all. Here’s what they want you to avoid at all costs.

1. Micro-organization

Of all the organizing trends we are leaving behind, Macie Kreuizer, blogger, professional organizer, and founder of For the Love of Simple wants us to say goodbye to 'micro-organizing' the most.

Macie explains, ‘As a pro organizer, I hate to see social media reels with tiny, micro organization. I realize this is a popular trend and entertaining to watch, but it is not realistic at all. Most people do not have the space or resources to organize their refrigerator, bathroom cabinet, or pantry with tiny bottles and containers. This also seems wasteful.

‘People should go ahead and use what containers they have or keep items in their larger packaging if they have space to hold them and not decant or re-package it all. Over-organizing too much stuff just becomes a hassle and an easy way for clutter to accumulate again.’

Re-purposing candle jars is one way you can make practical storage use of items that might otherwise end up in landfill.

2. Not decluttering first

Macie Kreuizer continues, ‘Another one of my biggest pet peeves is people organizing their belongings without decluttering first. A declutter is key to an organized home.’

With so many decluttering methods to choose from, there really are no excuses.

Macie says, ‘Decluttering does not need to be a major production, or only done when you only have lots of time. It can be accomplished in short bursts of time or by focusing on smaller spaces, such as decluttering a junk drawer, kitchen cabinet, fridge, or a bathroom countertop.'

Try micro-decluttering, which makes quick and easy work of this task.

3. Hyper-organized children's spaces

Juliana Meidl, professional home organizer and owner of Serenity At Home, Detroit says, ‘Without a doubt, my biggest ick on social media is color coordinating kid's art supplies. Yes, it looks amazing when you see items in rainbow order but I would never recommend doing that.’

To motivate your family to clean and declutter, organize a home with kids in mind. Juliana continues, ‘The idea that kids when putting away their markers and crayons are going to put them back in rainbow order is in my mind silly. The goal is to set up systems that can be maintained easily moving forward. Setting up art supplies and even books on a bookshelf in rainbow order is not something I believe will be maintained. I also don't think it is worth the client's expense to have us take the time to set it up that way initially.’

4. ‘Picture-perfect’ organization

There is nothing wrong with using aesthetic organizing tricks as motivation to declutter and organize your home, but they should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Macie Kreuizer shares, ‘My biggest pet peeve is when I see "perfect" home organization. Perfect pantries, living rooms, playrooms, and closets are not a reality for most households (especially those with children!). Organization is meant to be a functional, smooth system that works for your own family. It does not have to meet the standards of Martha Stewart or Joanna Gaines.

‘Life takes over, so keeping all items in your home in their perfect place organized by color, size, etc is not sustainable. I tell my clients – aim for what type of organization works for you, not what is considered beautiful or perfect by a magazine or social media reel.’

5. Posed organization

One of the most common storage mistakes people make that gives pro organizers the ick is posing up their storage to look perfect by social media standards.

Juliana Meidl, professional home organizer, says, ‘I also think photos from organizers of spaces that have very few actual items in them can create a false idea for people. Most pantries have lots of food in them. Most linen closets and garages are full too. So, when organizers promote those spaces and they are beautifully organized with just a few strategically placed items in them, it is not very helpful.

‘Showing more realistic photos, while still beautifully organized, does a much better job of showing people the true value of organizing and what is possible for them.'

If you do like the sleek look but want to be able to maintain it, consider investing in beautiful storage baskets, such as these water-hyacinth baskets from Target, to hide clutter and keep items easily accessible.

6. Overconsumption

Gala Magriñá, principal designer and founder at Gala Magriñá Design says, ‘While there are plenty of great products to help us stay organized, one of my biggest ‘icks’ is the rush to buy trendy organizers or gadgets before taking the time to clear out what we already have. Always aim to reduce the number of objects, furniture, clothes, décor, and tools in your immediate space. The more lightly we live, the happier we feel.’

There is a reason why the underconsumption trend was one of the most popular among pro organizers when discussing home organizing trends for the coming year.

Gala continues, ‘Prioritize having fewer items that are high-quality and bring you maximum joy. An organized, clean space fosters peace and clarity. Remember, when you let go of clutter, you create space for new things and opportunities to enter your life. So, if you’re feeling stuck, the simple act of decluttering can help you get unstuck and find the clarity you need.’

Tapping into your home's energy map is a core facet of Feng Shui and can turbocharge positive changes in your life.

7. Decanting everything

I am a serial organizer but I hate the restocking trend. As it turns out, the experts are on my side. Cara Palmer, expert organizer and owner of Organize Every Room shares, ‘While perfectly matched pantry containers look stunning on social media, transferring every grocery item into aesthetic containers is often impractical, time-consuming, and expensive when you're trying to outfit an entire pantry. Many clients abandon this system within weeks because it's unsustainable.

‘Instead, I recommend selectively decanting only frequently used staples like flour, sugar, and cereals [using airtight bins, from Walmart, to keep them fresh] while keeping other items in their original packaging, organized by category in clear bins.'

Adding labels to your bins will help everyone in your household maintain your organizing system. There's a reason this easy-to-use and ink-free label maker on Amazon is a consistent bestseller.

FAQs

Why am I bad at organizing?

Organizing is a skill that needs to be developed like any other. Very few people are good at it right off the bat, and it can take some trial and error to find decluttering methods and organizing systems that work for you and your home.

To fall in love with organizing and commit long term, start small. Declutter and organize a dresser, or even a single drawer, and use it as a trial, learning to be kind to yourself when getting rid of items to reduce stress and negative emotions connected to having a clear out. Then, work up to something big.

Remember that it does not need to be perfect the first time, and you can always come back and alter it later.

These are just a few of the things professional organizers urge you to stop doing for a less cluttered home. We recommend reading more about the things pro-organizers immediately notice in a messy home to curate a space even the experts would find hard to improve.