It is a little bit of a misconception that because I am a professional organizer I am familiar with every container and organizing gadget that is out there. That’s not the case nor do I find it very necessary. In fact, although containerizing is one of my favorite organizing tasks, it is not the key to being organized. Containers are the icing on the organizing cake.
The most important part of organizing in my experience is sorting, which is the part of the project that includes purging the trash, donations and sellable items that are no longer wanted or needed. Sorting also includes categorizing, which is deciding exactly what an item means to you and whether or not there is an action attached to it. For example, does it need to be cleaned or repaired? If it is a bill, does it need to be paid? Other papers may need to be filed, read, replied to or gathered together for a research project.
Once items are sorted and you know what needs to be stored so that you can access it when you need it, then the containers come into pay. Common sense should rule the day. Heavy items need heavy duty containers and they don’t necessarily have to be clear since clear containers tend not to be as sturdy. I like the black and yellow heavy -uty containers at Home Depot. The size obviously depends on what is being stored, but you should also consider what you will be able to move and lift. It is not always a good idea to fit every single item in a category into one container. Break large categories, like holiday decorations, up into several containers if necessary.
Plastic containers with tight fitting lids are best for items stored in areas that are dusty. But plastic isn’t always the best choice for humid locations. When storing memorabilia, you might want to get archival boxes and tissue paper, depending on how precious the items are. If it is precious enough to store,, it is worth an investment in proper storage materials and the category might also warrant better real estate, like an indoor closet rather than a basement, attic or garage. Remember, rooms, shelves and cupboards count as containers too.
Containerizing also includes making counters and other horizontal surfaces look neat and attractive. Trays are great for “containerizing” oils, salts and vinegars near the stove or daily skin care and make-up on a bathroom counter. Perfumes on a dresser top look so much more organized when on a mirrored or other special tray or plate. This is where it can get fun and your personal aesthetic can come into play. Think about how you might use a tray on a desk to containerize your most often used supplies.
There are such a wide variety of containers for things like jewelry, sunglasses and other accessories that a simple internet search will show you a bunch of things you can choose from to suit the volume of your collection and your personal style. New ways of containerizing and organizing these types of things are coming up on my Instagram feed all the time. Pinterest has great ideas for unique containers too.
The containerizing bummer is that you should never fall in love with a particular container or believe that you will always be able to get containers to match the ones you already have. Unfortunately, sizes, shapes and lid colors are just a few of the container features that companies feel they need to tweak all too often, so if you really, really love a container, buy a couple of extras if you think you might need them down the line.