Architect's TOP 10 Home Organization Mistakes

[@juliegolick]

Professional organizer here. One mistake you didn't mention is not accounting for your personal organizing style. I know that you, Daniel, are the sort of person who likes very clean, uncluttered surfaces, and that's definitely a valid way of organizing! But some people (visual organizers) need their tools and items to be visible -- if they're out of sight, they're out of mind. For people like this, even the most well planned cabinet and drawer system isn't going to work, because they won't put things in the cabinets and drawers! For people like this, clear / wire baskets, open shelving, hooks, and large labels can be extremely helpful. For people who don't like taking the time to put things away, having large, lidless bins or baskets can reduce the friction of "putting things away." Finally, look for areas where you ALREADY have clutter as a place to put your storage solutions. If you have a side table that gets cluttered, put a basket or drawers next to it -- you're not going to walk across the room to put something away just because that's where the chest of drawers happened to fit.

[@sinjaja5836]

Baskets are everything. I have some which are organized and some cluttered ones. I go through from time to time and put things away.

[@jenniferkarlin155]

This is speaking to my soul. You can hide anything from me simply by putting it in a closed drawer...

[@Vera-n7l2c]

Thank you for this comment! It took me years, and the channel clutterbug to realise it is OK to have stuff out! And that there are different organising styles for different people! Which are all valid!

[@laurajones338]

This is called « object impermanence » and can be a symptom of ADD.

[@SF-ru3lp]

​@@Vera-n7l2cYes! Cas is very illuminating on this.G Ire

[@WDX666]

My Girlfriend has a saying "nie leer laufen" which means "never walk empty" from her time working in Hotels and Restaurants. So when you want to walk to the kitchen for an coffee or something, is their anything you could take with you what belongs to the kitchen. You have to do it anyway and with this "system" its done without extra effort. Simple combining Tasks.

[@twobluestripes]

thank you, good tip!!

[@EPalsson]

YES. If I'm going down to the garage to get something, I take the recycling down. If I'm coming home and up through the garage, I bring up the next bag of TP or 6-pack of beer or whatever.

[@annaleeheo386]

Fantastic! I’m gonna give this a try

[@leacalais]

@@WDX666 as a former waitress, I also use this tip. Another thing I do is use the 2 minutes while the kettle is boiling for tea, to do little bits of housework. Never just stand there waiting! In those 6 minutes a day I can put on a load of washing or hang clothes out, start or empty the dishwasher or put some dry washing away.

[@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane]

I try to do the same in my home. I committed to doing this every time I arrive home and get out of my car, too. I grab any trash, drink bottles, and anything else that doesn't belong. It's working so well in keeping it clutter free!

[@jenswurm]

Hoarding: One trick for clothes in a wardrobe is to pick a date like new year to put all cloth hangers on the hanger bar with the hook coming from the back, like you usually wouldn't do. If you use those clothes during the year, you'll be putting them back into with the hook from the front in the "normal" way. That way, after one year, you can just check the orientation of your hooks to find out if you've used that piece of clothing during the past year.

[@jwallace9984]

What a great idea! Simple and easy. ❤

[@100spoonsonatable9]

My trick is to make a basket/bag/… with items I wouldn’t miss twice a year. If I notice after 6 months that I have forgotten I even had them, it means I don’t need them and won’t miss them. It makes it very painless to get rid of stuff.

[@miaschu8175]

I'd like to introduce this young man to each of the landlords I've rented from in the last couple of decades, plus the general rental agreement forms issued by the main estate agents - no, most renters can't affix any storage to the wall, no matter how dangerous it is to leave them freestanding. In fact, they give you a leaflet telling you not to have furniture against the wall (including book cases and wardrobes!) as, apparently, they are the causes of damp in these badly maintained flats, not the fact that the landlords don't spend any money looking after them. Lastly, the frequent landlord inspections mean you couldn't get away with doing anything they don't like. A rented property is rarely a home.

[@elaineklein2385]

I had the same thought when he said that about landlords. Pretty much every landlord I’ve ever had would require you to fill in the hole AND repaint the entire wall because trying to just spot paint over the filled in hole (even when you use the original paint color) will always show up as a slightly different color splotch. And if you don’t do all of that, then they’ll withhold a portion of your damage deposit

[@dominika____]

Sometimes I use a method, believe hearing about it from KonMari is one touch rule, meaning to immediately put things at its "home". For example upon arriving home immediately put a jacket or a bag in it's place instead of a chair/counter top...

[@sablethompson4729]

I also love making the homes for my items easy to access and see. I use little soap dishes for my keys so they’re always home just by dropping them on the tabletop

[@kirar1105]

I also do that, though my rule is called "Don't put it down, put it away." Picked it up in some HGTV show I think. It really keeps the work down.

[@katarh]

It's a good goal, but for some of us it's almost impossible to achieve every time. You walk inside juggling too many things, and have to put some stuff down to be able to put other things into their homes. Add in the frustration of getting smacked with problems the second you walk in the door (I once got confronted by a series of cat poop markings on the floor because a room mate didn't know he'd stepped on a poop.... EW!) and sometimes everything you brought in has to be dropped to deal with the emergency.

[@0oDaan12o0]

@@katarh When I come home in a messy place (like your cat issue), my rule is: first get rid of your coat/bag etc, then solve the problem. It's been there for a while before you got home, so it can wait a second. Except water issues. those first, then bag/coat etc.

[@andreasmall7556]

We did two things to help keep toys and books under control. Twice a year we would put a donation box in the hall and our children would fill it with items of their choice they had outgrown. A bit like your transition bin. We also had something called toy changing day. We would gather collections of toys and store them. We would then pull out a stored collection, think toy trains, for a month or two. It was like getting 'new' toys several times through the year.

[@StudioAstrig]

I love the idea of a transition bin! I usually have transition bin bags (lol) in hard-to-reach places, but having a bin in a relatively visible location would probably persuade me to part with things much more quickly.

[@Dtiic5iyxixg]

So glad I started watching your videos before moving into my tiny home. It became a well-planned, organised and cosy sanctuary, rather than a frustrating little box…. Thank you!

[@Whatwhat3434]

Love the real life solution about your daughter. Cute and practical!

[@tealkerberus748]

I dunno about the financial priorities. If I'm lying on a couch reading a book, I can accept that the bookshelves are a bit cheap and nasty a lot easier than I would accept the couch being uncomfortable. Nice shelves do look nice, but objectively when I'm "looking at my bookshelves" I'm actually looking at the books, not the shelves. Also, some of us don't have object permanence. If I haven't seen that kitchen appliance in the past few days to a week, it no longer exists. This is probably because it's been put away somewhere that with my physical restrictions I'm not going to be able to get it back out anyway.

[@OrganizeCreateDecorate]

Excellent video, Daniel. I love how you address organization straight and to the point. I have been obsessed with organizing when I first had my own room at age ten in the mid nineteen sixties.

[@DigiDiskette]

Re wall fixtures: every time I tour a potential new home, I ask if I’m allowed to hang things on the walls. The answer could be yes, the answer could be no, but no matter the answer the tour guide always looks like I’m stupid because they can’t imagine anyone ever answering any other way.

[@agoogleuser4356]

Anxiety is your teddy bear it always comes with you. But get your answers and don’t worry about others. They probably would like to ask the same question. If they had thought of it.

[@kimsnader8777]

I'm a big proponent of ziploc storage for little bits & bobs, and to contain cords that would otherwise tangle. Being able to label those containers but still see their contents makes a search quicker. I store all my electrical bits & cords in one canvas tote, all my hardware/repair bits in another. The container-in-container method allows larger items like shelf brackets to be kept with the smaller necessary bits. The canvas totes can be hung or placed on a shelf as the current domicile's storage spaces provide. Specialty cords and other tech paraphernalia are held in a decorative storage boxex attractive enough to be on display. (FWIW, all my occasional-use items and holiday decorations are also stored inside storage trunks and boxes that serve as furniture pieces.)

[@darlenecuker9711]

The ziplock bags look horrible after awhile.

[@Alicia-ij6gt]

@@darlenecuker9711 there are some more robust silicon bags with Ziploc closures.

[@patriciahutton9575]

There are also Velcro closures in different colors that fasten to the cord so they don't get lost. I use them everywhere. Extension cords, curling iron, blow dryer, you get the idea.

[@tinareynolds2938]

I write what’s in the ziplock on a colored 3”x3” stickie and put that inside the baggie. Looks better than the markings outside which sometimes fade off.

[@Ameridlo]

folder and files example was neat af

[@MattBowlerHat]

Of all your videos that I have seen, this is by far the best. A top 10 list that I didn't even notice the counting in - excellent!

[@ThinkDreamBecome]

Liked cz the initial input changed my approach in life by 180degrees. As someone with a new home in construction, I thank you! Sofa and TV later, first storage!

[@michalraus6064]

very nice and smart. I like your videos. But :), can you advise something also for a roof apartment with sloping walls? the rough construction is over and I'm waiting for the design and purchase of furniture from the kitchen to the bedroom. I can send you photos of the space if you want.

[@SharonFelton-j3l]

Great ideas! Thank you. Most of your suggestions are doable, even for a senior citizen like me.

[@EvaAliceD]

Love your videos, maybe not implementing everything but inspiration to do it my way in the end I get from you! Happy to have found you since you talk from your own experience and you have a passion for what you do 🙂Thank you!

[@blacktiger2154]

Very nice video! I’d also love a special for students and similar who can’t choose their own furniture, only extras/accessories, and don’t have a high budget :)

[@crackedcoco]

I'm only 4 minutes in. But I'm gonna need a bunch of short form content the juxtaposes storage vs no storage, Mess vs organization. Great vid.

[@SteveGerrardPhotography]

Actually laughed out loud at the "ten T-shirts" comment. I must have a hundred and still miss some of those I got rid of. And I know I'll buy more this year 😂

[@tarunifalconer]

Another memorable and practical video. “Hierarchy”, often forgotten in other home organisation videos. Thank you, Daniel.

[@renesalinas9491]

I like also spending on not that first sight crusial things. Giving an IKEA furniture a real wood surface, budget on good switches, good handles of a door. All the stuff you interact with. Natural Materials. Gives you an stirdy, wealty impression.

[@jenniferhackman5493]

This is a great list even though my lath and plaster walls laughed at me with pity at the suggestion that a drill and stud finder was all I’d need to hang things from them ;)

[@charlieandrews2151]

Looking forward to this one - always good to see you on KZbin Daniel.

[@moniMonisia18]

Really, great video. It is one of the best I have seen on this topic.

[@archive_owl]

Love your vids, Daniel. Always useful, and sometimes affirming with your advice on things I was already applying. Maybe you don't have the time for it, and I'm not sure if I'm speaking for a lot of other people, but I'd love to see more bts videos or vids outside of the apartment. Maybe you could do a series where you visit people or businesses and help them redo their interiors. Whatever you do, I remain a happy subscriber 😊

[@renesalinas9491]

Crusial is acesibility and funcionality. Like switching the angle of the fridge. You won't use it, if it is a pain in the A to use it.

[@axianskin]

Hey Daniel, you missed out one important advice : BUY LESS !

[@mintea2779]

Or make considered purchases. For example, if you think having a coffee making machine at home ,means you will take coffee to work instead of buying it.. think I'll have to wake up earlier so will I use it??

[@pamelas4884]

@danieltitchener can you do a whole video on Organizational Hierarchy and all the files. GREAT video and Thanks

[@xflyer87]

While I enjoy your videos very much, discounting a comfortable couch, chairs and beds may be a bias of yours due to your age. Starting at around 50, I was no longer willing to tolerate uncomfortable furniture which exacerbates sore muscles and bones. You too may appreciate a comfortable oversized Lazyboy lounger like we do at 70. Furniture makers could make beautiful and comfortable furniture but they rarely do. I also agree with the “out of sight, out of mind” organizational mindset. If I can’t easily see it, I can’t find it and I’ve always been that way. 😂

[@kayleeraexo]

i've been using essentially the same hierarchy in my home for about 2 years now and it is a complete game changer!

[@Slashx92]

A good example for “drop zones” is the typical chair in the room where one just throw clothes at it to be used/stored/washed later

[@hephaestion12]

The little cet thing for your daughter is adorable 😂❤

[@alexs36zero]

I always use a stud finder. It’s called the phone selfie camera. Jokes aside, there IS actually an app that uses the magnetic properties of the phone compass to find studs.

[@makanimike]

in regards to chapter 6, labels, techy homeowners might want to consider digitizing their inventory as well. Using cheap RFID stickers with your preferred Note taking app is worth gold. If you really want to take it up a notch, the self-hosted open source software homebox is amazing.

[@philipspedding697]

9:45 Literally all but one rental contract I've signed had a clause about not putting blutac on the walls without permission. If I start fixing things to the walls then I'm gonna be blackballed for future rentals.

[@Alicia-ij6gt]

There are removable hooks which do not leave a mark.

[@lasdamaichon]

@@Alicia-ij6gt Those hooks were put on the bathroom wall by a previous renter and when I pulled one off it peeled off the ancient paint underneath and left the edges peeling too. Hopefully the landlord is as lax in charging us as they are in everything related to maintenance.

[@lasdamaichon]

I asked explicitly to attach exactly one taller bookshelf to the wall because my son was reaching a climbing age. The landlady said no because “those are nice walls…” in an apartment where she didn’t care to address the openings through which mice had free access, the window frame was dry-rotting, and etc. In such a tight housing market you’re stuck with what you get and have little room to negotiate. The other two rentals I’ve had in this town have turned out to have immense mold problems because landlords don’t bother to keep up with roofs… just patch inside and outside for years on end, putting off the proper maintenance, and bring in a new tenant who doesn’t know better when you get too insistent that something needs care. It’s not that we’re renting on the cheap end either. It’s just how it is. Literally every friend who rents and pays attention deals with major maintenance issues, including a lot of dangerous ones. Those who can afford to move over and over again and find themselves in the same situations.

[@lyzabethlopez]

Loved the video. Great editing and delivery :)

[@alejandrobergereau4137]

Hey Daniel! Curious to know, where do you take the images of the videos from? I would love to see more photos of some of these spaces. Are they yours or from some magazine/blog/stock bank?

[@namindia2893]

I love his accent so much 😌

[@ExestentialCrisis]

Our "transition bin" is called the "garage sale pile". We have a table in the garage where stuff gets piled all year. We always SAY we'll have a sale, but when the table is full it all just gets hauled to Goodwill.

[@Julia.Mandelbrot]

I call mine the Chopping Block. 😊

[@melanieslee8196]

This is a great video but I would like him to do one on do's and don'ts of where to put built ins

[@tealkerberus748]

That toy trolley is an awesome idea. Bookmarking that for the next time we have small people in our household.

[@anushkafernando7046]

im listening just to listen to your voiceee *some tips were amazing

[@Dollightful]

An interior designer who has a TODDLER and still keeps his house clean?? 😲 I must know your secrets!!

[@renesalinas9491]

You realy got it to the point. Love it

[@ge2719]

16:30 i've spent years trying to keep the house organised. i even knocked through a covered over under stairs are and built an entire pantry and a pull out fake cupboard with tons of storage on it. Trying to keep the kitchen less cluttered. all that happened was everyone else in the house just kept buying junk that got used once and filled up all the space i made and now the kitchen is as bad as ever. Same story for pretty much everywhere in the house. having chronic fatigue, i just don't have the energy any more to bother trying.

[@anaalves3658]

I'm sorry to hear that you have chronic fatigue 😢. Decluttering should really have been number 1 on this list, and less buying of stuff. It's hard when the rest of the members of your household don't help with the maintenance of the space 😢.

[@patrickkordon6434]

Don't organise. Throw out.

[@MyFocusVaries]

Oof, that sounds tough. Not having control of your space is difficult. Of course you didn't create that space expecting others to fill it with things you don't need. 💜 Maybe a hard talk with them about your need for a decluttered space for your health would help.

[@pansepot1490]

Time to raise your voice with the other household members. Dogs and cats need to be trained to live in the house without making a mess, same applies to two legged big apes.

[@YaaLFH]

You've wasted years trying to force a system that doesn't work for your family. Hidden storage works for some people like Daniel (and presumably you) but for many people what's not visible might as well not exist. What you consider clutter can be the only way for them to organise - they need to SEE what's available. Stop trying to enforce your system and find something that works for them: open shelves, baskets, hanging rails, etc.

[@suzannecarter445]

I love the solution to your daughter's clutter. The rest of your tips were great (I like the hierarchy) but I expected that. Good job!

[@joshh.510]

What is the go to brand for vertical storage? This is my first dive into organization so I’m clueless. Is it IKEA?

[@sablethompson4729]

I got a really great vertical cabinet for my apartment from Amazon! It was $100 and it’s made my kitchen so much neater. Definitely key to read reviews and look for good materials

[@zohy98]

I enjoy tidying up more than gaming lol, I'm the girl you call when you need to clear sapce in a closet or help declutter when moving 😊

[@ChrisW228]

I think people also don’t install high (full wall) storage is because it’s daunting to effectively shave a full foot off of room dimensions, e.g., making a 12’x14’ room only 12’x13’ after a full wall of storage is added.

[@anthonyrondolino8148]

We all have way too much STUFF!

[@jackthemadpirate]

4:52 it's actually much more important because on the computer you can search within seconds, in real life it takes minutes and hours.

[@AAAA-vu7fp]

Excellent video

[@fandommenace9575]

Thank you, great practical doable ideas.

[@eskimoki9630]

Great video! But I was really hoping for tips on how to organize the clothes clutter in the bedroom and the bathroom. We have a coat stands in both rooms and put our stuff there, they act as the drop zone. The coat stand gets messy and needs regular tidying up, but on top of that still clothes pile up on every clean surface. Any tips how to keep them clean?

[@leacalais]

I don’t understand this problem. When you arrive home or after your shower, you change into house clothes/pyjamas - rehang clothes that aren’t dirty and take the others to the laundry room as soon as you take them off. If it’s late when you get home and you can’t be bothered to re hang things, most people will have a chair or something in their bedroom where you can put the clothes you have just taken off. In the morning while you are getting dressed, this is the time to deal with the items from the night before.

[@sct4040]

A hamper for dirty clothes in each bedroom. A vertical narrow shelf as a place for rewearable clothing and daily house clothes. Hooks for handbags at the front door. Shoes are left at the front door as well on a tall vertical shelf.

[@Alicia-ij6gt]

Extra coathangers on the clothes stand. Once on a coathanger, much easier to put back in the wardrobe.

[@jeremyhendersonphotography]

What are the interlocking containers you show at 14:27 ??

[@kraxen72]

i have to say awesome videos like these are keeping me subscribed even when sometimes only vidoes that come out are iphone / backpack ads packaged as an EDC video lol.

[@pjesme7209]

Thank you, very helpful

[@kimesch9698]

Terrific video. Thank you!

[@renesalinas9491]

I`ma fan of Euro Boxes, Sturdy, stackable, several colors, even transparent, in different configurations

[@DDD-d1g]

Great content! Thanks!

[@dorinatudisco1308]

Great video. Glad I fell upon your channel. 😊

[@macsmiffy2197]

Daniel, can you please give more ideas for living in the tiny spaces currently being built in England at the moment? Some flats don’t even have a functioning kitchen. I like to entertain, so I need storage and seating! I like to craft and that needs storage. I like to cook, but I only have space for one 1200 food cupboard. I have storage wracks in the garage to store bubble wrapped cooking pots kept clean in big plastic boxes. Why don’t our kitchen cupboards go to the ceiling and have 3 or 4 shelves instead of the 1000 with one shelf, like they have in Scandinavia? …and thank you for the dry wall filler. Leaving massive holes in drywalls has put me off using the walls.

[@YaaLFH]

Our cupboards can go to the ceiling, but the small ones are cheaper.

[@LaurenDangelis]

Can’t wait for the next video!

[@toryevanss4512]

Great advice on hanging things on the walls .... :::cries in my plaster & lath home::: 😢

[@JanetM-ro6xc]

Thank you!

[@Graeaeae]

I feel like I should've payed for some of the advice, life changing

[@michellelau4253]

I wish I had learned these things or hired someone to help design our place with more storage 5 years ago!

[@theSingingMole]

Great ideas. Cheers!

[@isabellabihy8631]

As you were talking budget and space, a saying came to my mind: It's like the man who found a button and had the taylor make a suit.

[@sazennonumber]

Thank you so much for this ❤

[@piaandersen3220]

Great Video and advices. Thanks

[@ODINS_daughter]

Use drywall Spackle!!Not Wood filler! Which was used as "Spackle " in the home we purchased. 😠 The previous homeowner used it liberally and everywhere!!! One wall was so bad that it had to be completely sanded back and skim-coated!

[@katannyadirkson6147]

1:53 - That's a *dream*! NO visual clutter, and *everything* in its own proper cupboard!

[@awkwardxt]

8:59 Property owner is the USA. Please attach your furniture to the walls as per instructions. There are legal protections against frivolous fees or security deposits. White toothpaste also hides holes if you have it handy

[@golightly5121]

Very helpful info, please consider not having background music.

[@readaloudkids1407]

If you use clear containers, you can make them prettier by adding pretty paper, even wrapping paper, on the front (whether on the outisde or inside)

[@patriciahutton9575]

Clear containers are for those of us who NEED to see what's on the inside. I used to use boxes wrapped in wrapping paper, pretty, but I had to open them to see what was inside (more or less). I'm ADHD so your experience may vary 😊

[@so.many.obstacles]

I like the way you got right to it.

[@mariusmarius4832]

Good video ❤

[@Dark0Storm]

Personally I think the main reason people avoid putting storage on walls is that it has an impact on how big you perceive your room to be. Even if you have low level storage against thew wall that takes up the same footprint, the room feels bigger if it doesn't extend full height.... of course having a cluttered and busy floor/room also makes it feel smaller :-D

[@lacunae2784]

I think in most cases having storage that really goes from floor to ceiling (especially closed storage on the full extent of a wall) actually makes a room feel cleaner and bigger than multiple units of lower storage. Those create more visual clutter for less storage space.

[@sunilp5487]

what’s that storage system at 00:21? I love it

[@pbhogl]

Vitsoe 606

[@kaycee1076]

9:38 Your advise on this video is awesome but I have to disagree here: where I live it's common for rental agreements to prevent you from choosing what pictures or paintings you have up on the walls or moving furniture about if they're furnished, nevermind drilling holes in the walls! A lot of rental agreements can be ludicrously restrictive!

[@bvy2970]

i use a suitcase in the garage as a transition bin for clothes. it gets emptied out and goes to charity once a year

[@Chaosqueenngami]

Thanks for the video.

[@betsyv8276]

Can you a plastic-free version, please?

[@pejisan]

Daniel - if you saw my computer desktop you'd have a heart attack! 50 stickies sorted by color, many open windows with many tabs, etc. Barely works for me.

[@nagranoth_]

Guess I'm lucky. I do all these things naturally, except for one in one out. With me it's one is so ragged I can't use it as normal wear anymore, so it become clothing for doing messy jobs, and maybe if I really really have to I'll buy a new t-shirt because I _HATE_ shopping.

[@Killerhippo111]

Great Video :D

[@renesalinas9491]

The max of 10 T shirts was the best advice.

[@Metro6am]

The problem with vertical storage is the nice stuff costs thousands to have made!

[@JunaidTheGrenade]

Good video, had to watch in 2x speed tho 😂

[@goodenoughgirl8102]

I’m lucky to have a lot of tongue and groove walls. 😬 Still feel intimidated by learning to use a drill tho. 😅😅 I prefer a hidden organization style except for food. I want all food to be highly visible at all times whether fridge, freezer or pantry. I wound up using a lot of mason jars and glass storage containers (for food).

[@rken100]

great video

[@vkmi5776]

vertical storage is expensive though, and in a small home it makes everything feel more cramped

[@renesalinas9491]

Haha, I rather would uy this bubbely sofas, With this groove it's hard to maintain clean. Some peaces look great, but are hard to maintain nice, like black sinks with hard water

[@DrNickBailey]

Great video, but my overwhelming thought 4:28 is.... what a boring kitchen you have. You really need a little clutter to make it feel alive.

[@exintrovert1337]

My labels say “stuff” “things” and “misc” 😅

[@M-M-EXTRA]

titch, as always, superbly structured and good advice. on all matters architectural how to get in touch with you as i need some advice!