Even Organizers Get Cluttered… Here’s How We Reset

Written By Chanel Basolo

Feeling Overwhelmed by Clutter? You’re Not Alone.

Here’s a little secret: even professional organizers struggle with clutter.
Life happens — kids grow, hobbies change, things pile up, and suddenly your home doesn’t feel like your sanctuary anymore. The important thing to remember is that clutter isn’t a personal failure. It’s simply a sign that your home needs a reset.

But knowing where to start?
That’s the hard part.

Start Small: The Easy Room Rule

When the whole house feels chaotic, it’s easy to freeze because every project feels too big. A helpful trick is to begin with a small, manageable space — like your entryway, guest bathroom, or laundry room. These areas are smaller, can be completed quickly, and build momentum.

Completing one space gives you a confidence boost and reminds your brain,

“Oh, I can do this!”

The ONE Step You Can’t Skip: Empty It Completely

Once you’ve chosen your space, the most important step is this:

✅ Take EVERYTHING out.
Off shelves. Out of drawers. Out of cabinets.
Everything.

An empty space gives your brain clarity. When contents stay in place, you make micro-decisions based on what’s already there, not what actually makes sense.

Emptying the space helps you:

  • Clearly see what you own

  • Remove duplicates

  • Identify what doesn’t belong

  • Create categories that make sense

  • Measure the right storage solutions

It’s like wiping the slate clean.

Sort + Categorize With Intention

Once everything is out, group items into categories:

  • Keep

  • Donate

  • Toss

  • Relocate

Then, break down your keep pile into functional categories so you can see how much space each group needs. This helps you understand what type of bins, shelves, or labels you’ll need before putting anything back.

Rebuild Your Space

Now that you’ve sorted, it’s time to put things back.
Think about:

  • How often you use each item

  • What needs to be within arm’s reach

  • What can live higher or lower

  • Which categories benefit from bins or dividers

When a system is built with intention, it becomes easier to maintain — not just beautiful for a day or two.

Give Yourself Grace

You don’t have to organize your whole house in a weekend.
Start small — one cabinet, one drawer, one room — and build from there.

Even the pros do it that way. 😉

Chanel Basolo
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