There Is A Big Difference Between Neat and Organized.

Posted on 07.22.08 in Parenthood Productivity and there are 15 comments.

Photo by Lana Stewart

I recently realized that there is a big difference between “neat” and “organized.”

When I simply make a space neat, it becomes messy very quickly.

When I make a space organized, it stays neat much more easily and for a much longer period of time.

Organizing a space takes more work, but it pays off in the long run.

How To Organize

So, how do we make things organized? Here are a few tips from a “creative-person-who-is-trying-to-be-a-type-a-organized-person.”

1. Study the space. Let the space get all junky and then study it. What is the space meant for? Do you use it the way it’s meant to be used? If not, what do you use it for?  How do you WANT to use it?

Be honest. The easiest thing to do is organize the way your currently use the space.

For example, we had some bookshelves in our dining room where the kids kept their art stuff. I wanted it to be neat and tidy looking but...it wasn’t.

It was pretty messy because the girls never put the construction paper back in color coded order. They never alphabetized the art books or made sure the crayon boxes all faced the same direction. Seriously, where do they get off?

Ok. Yeah...I never did either.

So, since we didn’t organize the contents of the space to make it look neat, I needed to come up with another solution to avoid the cluttered look.

What did I do? I bought cabinets with doors. Now we just “stuff and shove.”
(Not really. I just thought that would be funny to say. I lie a lot for the sake of humor....not really. Ok. Yeah...I do...not. Mostly.)

So, instead of trying to make the space work and keep it neat all the time, the first thing I did was admit that it’s not going to be a neat enough space to leave out in the open. Sad, but true. Admitting I wasn’t Martha Stewart was the first step towards my success.

Let’s move on.

2. Give Everything A Home. I looked at all the stuff we kept in our “art center” and noted how we used it.

I bought trays for the construction paper, pencil boxes for the markers/pencils/paint, and more trays for the coloring books.

I also made little boxes for each child filled with crayons, scissors, glue and tape. That way, they just need to grab paper and their box for just about any craft they want to do.

3. Label. Label. Label. Then, here’s the key, I LABELED each box. That way, the kids always know where things go, they never argue about which box is theirs and there is never a question about the contents of any of the boxes.

Now, I rarely have to clean the art center. Everything has a home. The kids know where that home is, and should anything be out of order....we. just. close. the. doors.

In Conclusion

I’ve used the neat vs. organized idea with lots of things. My computer hard drive. The myriad of cables to all my techie gadgets. Our coat closet filled with hats, gloves, scarves etc. My cabinets. My iPod.

My house isn’t perfect, but it’s also not a pit. That’s cool with me.

What organizing tips do you have to share?

(Read other tips at WFMW.)

Oh yeah, and stay tuned for a great giveaway in tomorrow’s Parent’s University post.

The Comments:

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Hey.  I am loving the spine of the folders.  I am going to do that or at least I hope to.

Thanks.

Can you come organize my dining room table?  It never gets eaten on b/c it’s always full of clutter.  When we have friends coming over, we just shove everything in the hall closet.  It’s horrible, I know, but your blog is the place to be open and honest (and risk ridicule).

We live in a pretty small space for four people (even though two of them are little). They key for keeping things organized for me is, like you said, everything has a home. Unfortunately, my husband doesn’t remember where everything belongs and does what I call “indiscriminate cleaning”. If something goes missing, we know it’s probably because daddy cleaned it up! I don’t complain (too much) because I’m just glad to have the help and when it’s my turn to clean, I just make sure everything gets put back in its home.
I should try the labelling though… It might encourage him to put things where they belong. I could really go crazy with a label maker!!

Kat, I cannot stress how much I enjoy your blog. Thank you so much for the laughter. Now, in reference to this post, my theory is, “free yourself and throw it away!” This theory is most handy when I think about new purchases. When I imagine myself picking it up, trying to find a place to put it, etc., I realize I don’t want it. Uh, it’s not a perfect theory… but I’m pretty sure it’s saved me money!

My husband laughs at me because I’ve pretty much labeled every surface in my house!  Love the labels!

I think you’re forgetting that organized does not have to mean “neat”.  I’m generally a neat person, but my desk is a mess to look at (well, not at the moment, since I just moved to a new desk).  Regardless of the piles and clutter, everything is in its place and can be found in seconds if needed.

My computer hard drive is another story.  I have so many layers of folders it’s almost crazy.  But everything could be found by a blindfolded monkey, as long as they knew what they were looking for.

Thanks for the reminder ... ever since being sick early in June my office desk has been an absolute dumping ground!  I was “white knuckling” keeping it neat before, so maybe a solid organizational push is in order instead of just making it look good!

Awesome!  Thanks for the ideas

i LOVE label makers!!

Good tips!

I have been getting ready to organize our craft and coloring station we have in the kitchen.  I have been saving plastic containers, and jars that we will cover with felt to use as containers for craft bits. 

I aim to work on it until everything has it’s own home!

This post truly appealed to me.  I like things both neat and organized!  I love your reminder to LABEL things!

What a great way of organizing. I love the idea of letting it get messy first and studying the space. That makes so much sense to me. Because sometimes you organize and then realize it just doesn’t work.

Crackin’ me up because that’s exactly what we did on Monday this week....organize our art center!  I think you have a hidden camera in my house!!!

I try to be neat, and I’m not organized. A full-time writer who works from home—it’s just a challenge. : )

I am a labeling NUT!  I’m glad to have emet another one!

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