A GON Reader Asks
“The average person spends 2.5 days each year looking for misplaced items.” I spend far more time than that looking for misplaced items. And even more time trying to decide where is the best place to be an item’s home. Help deciding where is the best home for an item would be wonderful."
-- Judi Ronat
Maria Responds
Dear Judi,
You are not alone! Many people have trouble deciding
where an item should live. The good news? Once you assign a logical home to something, and consistently return it there, you’ll gain back not just time, but peace of mind.
Here’s how to find the best home for anything:
1. Store items where you use them. If you always do your makeup in the bathroom, don’t keep your makeup bag in the bedroom drawer. If you grab scissors most often at your desk, that’s where they should live...not the junk drawer in the kitchen.
2.
Make access easy for everyday items. Frequently used things deserve prime real estate: eye level, front of a drawer, top of a shelf; not buried behind or beneath less-used stuff. If it’s a hassle to put something away, it often ends up out on the counter instead.
3. Consider “like with like.” Group items that
serve the same function. Pet supplies with pet food. Gift wrap with greeting cards and tape. Keeping similar items together prevents duplicates and saves time hunting.
4. Ask yourself: “If I were looking for this, where would I go first?” That’s often the smartest place for it to live. You’re working with your
instincts rather than against them. If your hand always reaches for the laundry shelf when looking for stain spray, then that’s the spray’s true home.
5. Don’t overthink it. Pick a home and test it. Try putting the item where it makes the most sense right now. Live with it for a week. If it’s working, great. If not,
adjust. But don’t let perfectionism delay your decision.
6. For high-stress items, tech can help. For your purse, keys, backpack, or even your remote control, consider using a tracker. Apple AirTags or similar Bluetooth trackers for Android (like Tile or Chipolo) let you pinpoint the exact location of your essentials
with your phone. It’s a great backup plan for those moments when your brain is on overload and you just can’t remember where you set something down.
7. Declutter first to make finding easier. The less clutter you have, the easier it is to see and access the things that matter most. When every drawer, shelf, or surface
is packed to the brim, even the most “logical home” gets buried. Let go of what you no longer need, and suddenly your essentials have room to breathe. You’ll spend far less time searching.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful question. I hope these tips help you spend less time searching and more time enjoying your beautifully organized
spaces.
On another note...
Are you prepared for the school year ahead? You'll find backpacks, school supplies, lunchboxes and more on these two links:
and/or
