I’m a professional home organizer – these are organizing trends I’m totally over for 2025, and the 6 great ones I know will be big

Home organizing might not seem trendy, but as it grows in popularity and more of us look for new ways to streamline our homes and be aesthetically pleasing, new trends tend to pop up.

But what does the world of organizing look like heading into 2025, with AI assistants on the rise and the era of under-consumption taking hold?

I’m Courtney Cummings, a professional home organizer and founder of The Stylish Organizer. Here, I shed light on the 2024 organizing trends that don’t work and reveal the 2025 organizing trends that will assist us in the new year.

Organizing trends 2025 we're leaving behind

1. Over complicated systems

There are several organizing trends experts are relieved to leave behind in 2024, but the biggest among them is overcomplicated organizing systems – they are one of the main reasons you can’t stay organized!

The biggest pro tip from me: Keep it simple.

Organizing should be something that helps you live more efficiently and with less stress, not something that causes you anxiety because you are attempting to maintain a complex, hyper-categorized system. Don’t get me wrong, I love sorting into categories and zones to help me (and my clients) keep track of where everything goes, but give yourself some breathing room to actually live with your systems.

When organizing a pantry, for example, snacks can just be that, snacks. You don’t have to create separate spaces for chips, crackers, nuts, popcorn, and so on.

Flexibility is the name of the game. Use this approach to help you maintain your systems into the future.

2. Quirky single-use products

Quirky products that don’t actually work have always been something professional organizers never buy for a reason, and they are finally falling out of fashion as people look to simplify their homes.

When those ads pop up on Instagram with products that sound like great space savers, tread cautiously. In 2025, we are opting for more tried and true products that actually work.

Those “magic” pant hangers that claim to hold eight pairs of pants in the space of two might work for a while, but they don’t last. Trust me on this one. Plus, who wants to fidget with a gaggle of pants that are all bunched together just to grab the one you want that happens to be in the middle? Not me.

Simplicity is the way to go. Stick with slim velvet hangers, from Walmart, for the most space-saving option in a small closet or opt to hang your pants vertically with a skirt hanger.

Trends I can’t wait for

1. Less reliance on plastic

I think 2025 will be the year of eco-friendly organizing tips for a more sustainable home, and I can’t wait.

When seeking products to help you organize your home, think beyond the plastic box. With a move towards more organic, eco-friendly materials, retailers are offering a range of sustainable products in bamboo, jute, reclaimed wood, and cotton. Not only do these options help minimize plastic use, but they also add beautiful textural elements to any pantry, closet, or shelf.

One of my favorites is The Home Edit's bamboo collection. This line offers open-front bins in two sizes, available at Walmart as well as three-tier risers that look great in any space. The Container Store also offers a line of storage boxes that are crafted from approximately 90% post-consumer recycled acid-free paperboard. They come in many colors and sizes for your office and photo storage needs.

Be sure to browse the water hyacinth selection at Target for some sustainable inspiration. I used these baskets recently in a client’s home and they love them!

Focusing on naturally-sourced and recycled products like this will help to reduce new production of plastic, and keep it out of landfills.

However, if clear storage is a must for your space, check out iDesign at The Container Store, a company that is on a mission to make our planet healthier by reducing and recycling plastic for its products. They have some pretty lofty goals for 2025 and 2030.

2. Underconsumption and second-hand buys

The underconsumption trend goes hand in hand with the above. Owning less, buying less, and shopping for less storage all contribute to having a less stressful home space, so I am all for it. Plus, this is definitely a trend to watch out for in 2025.

Sometimes you don’t need to go to the store to organize your home. An easy way to be mindful of your material consumption and organize your home without spending any money is to reuse items already in your home. Rice, dry beans, coffee, and spices work wonders in mason jars. Re-purpose that old basket for toys or books. Extra coffee mugs double as pen and pencil holders. A little creativity goes a long way.

Don’t let the treasure hunt stop in your own home, either. There are several organizers you should always thrift. Seek out second-hand options for a more eclectic or collected look.

Cruise through your local thrift shop or keep an eye out in your local buy-nothing group for items that will fit your style and space. It may not all match perfectly, but individual personalization is going to be big this next year and beyond.

3. Wellbeing resets

Closing shift routines and Sunday resets are putting home organization hand in hand with well-being for 2025.

Our environments have a huge impact on us, whether we realize it or not. Using time on a weekend to return to a state of more calm is time well spent. There is something very cathartic about a fresh start, right?

To make any project manageable in a weekend, start small. By decluttering one space at a time – such as organizing a dresser, decluttering a fridge, or decluttering an entryway closet– you can focus your efforts and complete the project relatively quickly. Then, ride the high of that achievement to set yourself up for success in the week to come.

4. AI organizing assistants

It might be contentious, but it is slowly seeping into the world of organization (and is fast becoming a big 2025 cleaning trend, too). As with AI in interior design, harness its power to help you identify and reduce clutter in your home. InstantDecoAI is a program that analyzes photos of your room to identify clutter, and it can even suggest new ways to layout your space.

This can be beneficial for people who don’t know where to start with decluttering or simply can’t see through the clutter to imagine their space differently. With that said, I am still a fan of using your own two eyes (and working with a professional organizer for tailored help!)

5. Flexible organizing systems

This next trend fixes a common organizing mistake everyone makes – making storage too rigid. You need to make your space work for you, not you work for your space. It’s why so many people are flocking to the desire path decluttering method. When it comes to the idea of “flexible organizing,” I am here for it!

Whatever type of system works best for you is the system for you. If less “rigid” applications of organizing speak to the way you live, then lean into that. Create a rolling cart, available at Target, that can travel from room to room. Use a portable caddy and fill it with everyday supplies.

In my mind, the ultimate goal of organizing is to allow you to live easier with less stress.

6. Custom storage solutions

Continuing on the line of making storage ideas work for you, there will be a big uptick in people seeking custom-built solutions. Once you realize the impact that organization can have on your life and the benefit of every item having a “home,” it is easy to make the jump to creating custom-built solutions that are tailored to your specifications and belongings.

May that be a custom closet, designed exactly with your clothes, accessories, and style in mind, or a picture-perfect pantry that beautifully showcases your small appliances and cooking essentials (in sustainably sourced containers), this year your dreams can come true?

The investment is real when commissioning bespoke joinery, but the payoff is maximizing efficiency (and beauty) in your space.It helps that built-in storage makes a house look expensive, too.

Courtney Cummings

Courtney is the founder, owner, and lead organizer at The Stylish Organizer. She started out as an event planner, program manager, and communications director 16 years ago before making the transition to professional organizing after discovering the joy and serenity that she could bring to others through organizing their homes.

It is worth remembering that organizing trends should never dictate how you lay out your home. One of the most important things super-organized people do every day is listen to their intuition and find solutions that work for their problems, using trends to guide them.