5 Questions to Ask Before You Organize Any Space
Before I organize any space, whether it's a client's pantry or my own linen closet, I don't start by buying bins or purging items. I start by asking questions.
After 14 years as an elementary school teacher, I learned that the best systems are built on understanding how a space actually gets used. My first graders didn't need complicated organization — they needed systems that answered basic questions about their day: Where does this go? When do I use it? Can I reach it myself?
The same is true for your home.
If you're standing in a room that feels chaotic, or you're about to tackle a closet for the third time this year, pause. Before you do anything else, ask yourself these five questions. They'll save you time, money, and the frustration of creating systems that don't stick!
1. Who actually uses this space?
This seems obvious, but it's the question people skip most often, and it's the reason so many organizing systems fail.
A playroom used by a 3-year-old needs to look completely different than one used by a 10-year-old. A kitchen organized around one person who meal preps every Sunday won't work for a family of five grabbing breakfast on the run.
Ask yourself questions like: Who needs access to this space daily? What are their ages and abilities? Are there mobility considerations?
Your system needs to match the people using it!
2. What's the primary purpose of this space?
Every space in your home has a job. But sometimes we forget what that job actually is.
Your dining table might technically be for eating, but if it's really your family's homework station, mail sorting center, and Lego building zone, organize it for how it's actually used, not how you wish it were used.
Some things to consider: What happens in this space most often?What do I need this space to do for me? Am I fighting against how my family naturally uses this room?
Organize for reality, not aspiration.
3. What's the biggest bottleneck or frustration right now?
You don’t need to try and fix everything at once. Start with the one thing that's actively making your life harder.
Maybe it's the morning scramble to find matching shoes. Maybe it's the three-bin recycling system that no one in your house actually uses. Maybe it's the pantry where you keep buying duplicates because you can't see what you have.
Here’s how you can break through that: What part of my routine consistently breaks down in this space? What do I find myself doing over and over that feels inefficient? If I could fix one thing, what would make the biggest difference?
Solve the problem that's costing you the most time or energy first.
4. How often do I need to access these items?
Frequency determines placement!
Your everyday dishes should be easy to grab. Your Thanksgiving serving platters can live on the top shelf in the back. Your kids' daily toys should be accessible. Those special occasion dress-up clothes can go in a harder-to-reach bin or section of your closet.
Think about your usage: What do I use daily? Weekly? Seasonally? Once a year? Am I making frequently-used items hard to reach? Am I giving prime real estate to things I rarely use?
Give the best spots to the things you use most.
5. Can I maintain this system in my real life?
This is the question that separates organizing that lasts from organizing that falls apart in three weeks.
So let’s be honest for a second: Are you actually going to keep up with that 10-bin toy rotation system? Will you really fold your fitted sheets into perfect squares? Do you genuinely have time to decant every pantry item into matching glass jars?
If the answer is no, don't build the system around it.
Ask yourself: How much time do I realistically have for daily upkeep? Does this system require me to change my habits completely? Would my family be able to maintain this without me reminding them?
At the end of the day, the best system is the one you'll actually use.
Here’s How We’ll Make It Happen
These five questions won't organize your home for you — but they'll set you up to create systems that actually work.
And if you're looking at a space and still feel stuck? That's exactly what I'm here for! Sometimes you need someone to ask you these questions out loud, to see what you can't see, and to build systems tailored to your specific life.
Ready to create a home that works for you? I take Iowa City area homes from dysfunctional to beautiful and effortless. Schedule a free consultation and let's talk about your space!
