What’s Your Tidying Level? A Simple Guide to a Neater Home
Hi, I’m Sato Shimo, a Feng Shui interior therapist in Tokyo, and I write about home organizing, cleaning, and feng shui in everyday life.
Have you ever tried to organize your home and felt overwhelmed by all the “rules”?
Maybe you've read books telling you to assign every item a "home" or to label every drawer… and you ended up exhausted before even starting.
I like to categorize tidying habits into levels, inspired by how we often group things in school—like beginner, intermediate, and advanced.
Beginner Level: Start Simple, Stress Less
If you’re new to tidying and feel buried under detailed storage plans, you’re likely a beginner. You might think, “Every item needs a perfect spot!”—an idea pushed by books or influencers. But that can feel exhausting before you even start.
What to do:
Focus on one simple habit—put things back where they came from, even if it’s not a labeled or “perfect” spot. For example:
Return scissors to a tool container, not necessarily a specific drawer.
Keep pens in a cup on a desk or shelf.
Small, consistent steps build the habit without the pressure of perfection.
Intermediate Level: Organize Smarter, Save Time
If your old way of “tossing things wherever there’s space” isn’t working anymore, you’re probably at the intermediate level. Maybe your shelves are overflowing, or you can’t find what you need because items like batteries or books are scattered in multiple spots.
What to do:
Start thinking about where things should go, not just where they can go. Ask yourself, “Where would I look for this item first?” For example:
Keep all batteries in one container near where you use them, like a kitchen drawer.
Store clothes in one area, not spread across different rooms.
This way, you’ll spend less time searching and avoid buying duplicates.
Advanced Level: Tidy Faster with Smart Storage
If tidying feels easy but you want it to take less time, you’re at the advanced level. Here, it’s about making your space work for you with minimal effort. In Japanese organizing, there’s a concept called Action Count—the number of steps it takes to grab or put away an item. For example, if you need to move a box and open a drawer to get a pen, that’s too many steps!
Another key idea is the Golden Zone—the most accessible spots in your home, like eye-level or waist-high shelves. These are perfect for things you use every day, saving you time and hassle.
What to do:
Store your most-used items in the Golden Zone and reduce Action Count. For example:
Keep your favorite mugs on an open kitchen shelf, not in a high cabinet.
Place your phone charger in a basket by the couch, not buried in a drawer.
This keeps your space tidy and functional without wasting energy.
Final Thought
Tidying isn’t about having a flawless home—it’s about creating a space that makes your life easier. Whether you’re a beginner returning pens to a cup, an intermediate organizer grouping batteries together, or an advanced tidier optimizing your Golden Zone, every small step counts. Start where you are, build simple habits, and enjoy a home that supports you, not stresses you.
