I'm not ashamed to admit it.
If you too have been hypnotized by online images of closets with every sweater folded into perfect little fabric burritos and pantries so pristine they look like they were styled by an angel with a label maker, I get it. There’s something deeply satisfying about seeing everything lined up just so. You’re not wrong for loving that look! It feels calming. It feels like productivity.
But here’s the truth: it’s a trap
What the internet forgot to mention is that maintaining that look is basically a full-time job. I don’t know about you, but I don’t currently have someone on staff with the ability to take that on. Besides, I prefer my systems to work for me, not demand constant upkeep like a high-maintenance houseplant. We know what happens to those.
That’s not all. Those pantries? Those closets? They weren’t designed for real-life humans who try on 3 outfits before leaving the house or need to read package instructions or check expiration dates. They were designed for the photo! And if you’ve ever tried to maintain that level of perfection, you already know, it doesn’t make life any easier. It does the opposite.
More Aesthetic Organizing Lies
1. “If it looks good, it works.”
False. A system that works is one that helps you find what you need when you need it. If your brain doesn’t naturally categorize things by color, searching for a book on your rainbowed bookshelf is like going on a treasure hunt without a map. And if you have to get the crackers from the bottom of 3 perfectly stacked containers, are you going to put them back correctly every time? No. And you shouldn’t have to!
2. “You just need better containers.”
Nope. Buying more bins when your system is broken is like putting a tiny hat on a racoon and calling it a pet. Cute, but impractical and not really solving anything. (I feel like I’m nailing these analogies today.)
3. “It has to be pretty to feel good.”
Disagree. A visually appealing space is nice, but if you have any expectation of it working long-term, function has to come first. And the satisfaction and confidence of effortless efficiency has no match. I appreciate a ‘meh’ looking closet, where you can grab your shoes in under 5 seconds, way more than having to navigate an intricate shoebox Tetris every day.
Know What You're Really After
The real flex isn’t a home that looks like a magazine 24/7. That’s a kind of performance art. Surely, somewhere, there are homes with spaces that can just sit there looking pretty, but the vast majority of our homes’ square footage has a job to do. Visual perfection isn’t the goal.
So, if you’ve been beating yourself up because your home doesn’t look like the internet, stop. They put on a good show, but it’s not real. You aspire to something real. Aspire to something that will actually improve your life, not just improve the way it appears.
I’m a professional organizer helping folks with busy minds who crave simplicity in their home. It’s not just a vibe. It’s a system. Check our home page for more info.