5 things you do not need to organize – save yourself time and stress by skipping these non-essential areas

It's not unusual to have a to-do list as long as your arm, so you might find it refreshing to hear about the five areas in your home even the experts don't think need sorting, folding and organizing. As it turns out, some things are best left a little less co-ordinated.

From toys to plastic bags, here professional organizers share the home organizing ideas you can skip, to shave off stress and claim back your time.

5 things you do not need to organize

1. Toys

As Ben Soreff, professional organizer at House to Home Organizing, points out, 'Toys are meant to be played with!'

It's no secret that organizing toys, or even attempting to, can often lead to playroom organizing mistakes. Ben's remedy? Use playroom storage ideas to keep things neat as far as possible, but don't go overboard.

'We don't want to hide toys or stack them in a way in which a child can't use them,' he explains. 'Additionally, we don't want a bin that says 'Red Cars,' for example, because no one is going to ever maintain that level of organization. Instead, use a bin for vehicles. If possible, stack games and puzzles like books side by side. The more we stack on top of one another, the more the bottom item is never going to be used.'

This ensures, when organizing board games, that none get forgotten about at the back of the cupboard, and decluttering toys becomes far easier once you know exactly what you have.

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2. Plastic bags

Reusing plastic bags is a brilliant way to be sustainable at home, but, according to Cara Palmer, founder at Organize Every Room, they don't need extreme organization.

She explains, 'You don't need an elaborate system for plastic grocery bags because the best approach is to eliminate them. Switch to reusable shopping bags and keep just a small handful of plastic bags, stuffed inside one bag, for emergencies like wet umbrellas or dog walks. The environmental impact of organizing a large collection outweighs the minimal benefit of keeping them.'

That being said, we recommend using any plastic bags you currently have until they're no longer usable before making this shift, rather than throwing them away.

Alternatively, you can recycle them, or donate them to charity stores and donation centers before making the sustainable household swap. Then, invest in a reusable shopping bag, such as the FUYGRCJ Large Capacity Shopping Bags available at Amazon, or store tote bags for use.

3. Instruction manuals

Piles of instruction manuals are a common find in any home, but, as Di Ter Avest, professional organizer and founder of Diisorganized says, they're likely one of the things to get rid of in your junk drawer.

She advises, 'Instruction manuals are rarely used, and most are available online, making it unnecessary to store and sort through a pile of paper,' particularly as getting rid of paper clutter and organizing paperwork at home is often tedious.

'But, if you were to keep them, put them in a storage basket or drawer in a closet you don't access frequently,' she adds, to keep them out of the way and reduce visual clutter.

4. Large, awkward items

While it is possible, and sometimes recommended, to organize your workout space and organize Christmas decorations, professional organizer Ben feels that many items don't need to be over organized.

'One category is large or awkward items, like holiday decor or sports items,' he says. 'At a certain point, a soccer goal is just going to have to live on the floor next to the sports zone, or a large Nutcracker needs to live near the Christmas decor.'

In this case, embrace your home's imperfections. For Chiana Dickson, Solved content editor here at Homes & Gardens, the Japanese concept of Wabi-sabi cured her organizing anxiety, allowing her to champion imperfection and simplicity.

5. Books you've already read

There is something so wonderfully simple yet luxurious about styling a bookcase and indulging in all the latest bookshelf trends, but for the piles of books you've already enjoyed, skip organization says professional organizer Cara.

'Unless you're a frequent re-reader, don't create elaborate organization systems for books you've already finished,' she advises. 'Instead of alphabetizing or color-coding, keep a simple "read" and "unread" division.

'Better yet, adopt a one-in-one-out rule, where finished books are donated or passed along unless they truly change your life. Reading should be about the experience, not creating a perfectly curated display of past literary conquests.'

If you are a voracious reader, our dedicated guide to organizing a bookshelf is filled with handy tips for a curated look.

Meet our experts

Ben Soreff

Ben has significant experience with level five hoarders, which has equipped him with specialist knowledge on organizing and decluttering, and which items it's easier to store without sorting beforehand.

Cara Palmer

Cara has worked with clients for over a decade as a seasoned home organization expert and decluttering specialist.

Di Ter Avest

After becoming a wife and a mother, Di quickly learned the importance of organization and regular decluttering, as well as where to save time by skipping on organization.

FAQs

What should you not declutter?

While there are things you do not need to organize, there are also things you should never throw out when decluttering. From sentimental items to important documents, think carefully before trashing these items, or you may end up with decluttering regret.

There you have it, five organization tasks you can knock off your to-do list. Your time will be better spent tackling the overlooked areas in your home, which are likely in need of some organizational love.