I’m a Professional Organizer & Here are 5 Organizing Trends to Leave Behind in 2025
And Here is What to do Instead!
I’m not gonna lie - I love beautifully organized spaces. Those Pinterest-perfect walk-in pantries inspire me to build one in my next house for all the food I can store and probably will never eat. Plus, all these social media pics and reality shows have made professional organizers like myself mainstream. I no longer get asked if my job is a “real job” and “do people actually pay you” to do it—however, social media and reality TV are not reality. Even for the clients we serve who have the lifestyle to support all the cool organizing gadgets and trends, they rarely (cough, cough never) translate into their real lives.
Here are the things to make 2025 more realistic than reality in my not-so-humble opinion:
Pictured OXO Pop-Up Canister, Expiration Labels, Labels were made from the Brother P-touch Cube Plus
1. Decanting Everything
While decanting looks great in photos, it’s not always practical. Here are the decanting pros:
Space efficiency: Bulk packaging is clunky and takes up unnecessary space. Decanting allows you to use containers that fit neatly together, maximizing every inch of your shelves or drawers.
Shop our favorite OXO containers here!
Better visibility: Clear containers make it easy to see what you have and how much is left. No more surprises when you think you have flour for baking but the bag is almost empty. Don’t forget to put the expiration date on the container. We use these expiration date stickers.
Prolonged freshness: Items, like flour, sugar, and snacks, stay fresher longer when stored in airtight containers, which also help keep pests out.
Neatness: It reduces visual clutter and eliminates a 20-package container with only two left inside!
So when does it not make sense to decant? Here are the cons:
Time-consuming: It may not be for you if you can’t keep up with it.
Cost: The initial investment can get pricey and may not work for every budget.
Loss of information: You might lose the ingredients or instructions. Note: Our solution for this is to tape those to the back of the container.
Our recommendations: Think in terms of frequency of use to strike a balance. You may go through boxes of cereals quickly so that is something you can pass on decanting. Most people tend to store flour and sugar for longer periods, so you would want to decant those for freshness and sanitation.
2. Over Labeling
I recently saw an Instagram pic of a bathroom drawer with each section labeled. I would never waste my client’s time and money doing that unless they really felt they needed it to stay organized. Otherwise, it’s safe to say that when you see a section with bobby pins, you can safely identify those without the label!
Labeling can be a game-changer in staying organized. Here are the biggest benefits:
Visibility: Labels make what’s inside a container immediately clear, saving time when searching for specific items.
Encourages consistency: It helps everyone in the household or workplace know where things belong.
Reduces waste: It helps prevent overbuying.
Enhances learning & independence: It provides a simple method for where things belong. If you have ADHD family members, this is especially useful.
Customizable: You can make chalk labels like these by hand or use one of our favorite label makers like this. It operates on Bluetooth from your phone and has many font, color, and size options!
While labeling has been incredibly helpful in maintaining order, here are the main cons to keep in mind:
Unnecessary for obvious items: Labeling items that are self-explanatory is excessive and a waste of time.
Overly restrictive: It can make systems too complicated and detailed to maintain.
Overall, I’m pro-labeling, but everyone needs to apply some common sense to their situation.
3. Rainbow Color Organizing
Yes, I know it’s fun to look at the IG pics of rainbow-colored pantries, bookshelves, etc., but when was the last time you looked for an item in your pantry by color? Here is where organizing by color can be functional:
Clothing: The reason is that most people will look for an item of clothing by type first e.g. if you’re looking for a black skirt in your closet. You would look at the skirt section which is organized by color.
Crafts & art supplies: Whether it’s yarn, markers, or fabric, organizing craft materials by color makes creative projects easier and more inspiring.
Paper filing systems: Color coding can be a game changer for people with many categories to keep up with in the same space.
Toys: Sorting toys like building blocks, crayons, or dolls by color can make cleanup easier for kids. Plus, it’s an opportunity to teach them color recognition and sorting skills.
4. Velvet Hangers
I know this will surprise many people, but there are better options than velvet. Here are the cons:
Not sustainable: They break easily and don’t hold heavier garments.
Not clothing-friendly: While they were designed to save space and keep garments from slipping off, they don’t allow items to slip off easily.
Inconsistent colors: Unless you get black, it will be hard to find matching colors if you need to add more.
What we use instead:
Rubberized or acrylic slim hangers. Aesthetically these look better and functionally they are sturdier and keep items from slipping but still make removing them easier.
5. Buying Bins & Baskets Before Decluttering
I know it’s tempting to buy pretty bins thinking it will solve your clutter problems, but that’s like buying furniture for a home you haven’t bought yet. I created a 5 step system to organize any area of any room and buying storage is the fourth step. Of course, it’s easier for me as a professional with over 10K hours of experience to eyeball and estimate what we need. For someone doing DIY organizing, it’s easy to fall into the trap of impulse buying.
When it comes to organizing, function always trumps form. A system isn’t sustainable if it doesn’t fit your lifestyle or if maintaining it feels like a part-time job. Let’s leave these trends behind and focus on systems that bring peace, not pressure. After all, the goal is progress, not perfection! And if you still find yourself like a deer in the headlights when you open a closet, we are just a phone call away to offer solutions.
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