Preface

Friends, being scared every time you open your closet by exploding clothes, getting a headache from desk clutter piling up like mountains - this is definitely a common problem for us young people today! I know you must have watched many storage influencers' videos, seeing their homes as neat as showrooms, and feeling super inspired. But when you look back at your own mountain of clutter, you don't know where to start, and end up continuing to be a happy hoarder.

As someone who went from being severely lazy to becoming a semi-storage expert, I totally understand this feeling. I remember my room used to be synonymous with a "dump," with clothes and miscellaneous items casually thrown everywhere - on the bed, floor, and desk. Finding anything was like archaeology; sometimes looking for a charger would unearth last year's shopping receipts. But after more than a year of exploration and practice, I finally found a storage method suitable for lazy people like me, and today I'd like to share my experiences with you.

Mental Preparation

First, let's talk about mindset. I know many friends' first reaction to organizing is "that's too troublesome," "I'm too lazy to keep it up," "what's the point if it gets messy again in two days." But actually, you don't need to pressure yourself too much - we can approach this with a relaxed and happy attitude.

After all, storage organization isn't about pursuing perfection, but making our lives a bit more comfortable. Think about it - isn't it tiring to rummage through everything when looking for something? Isn't it annoying when clothes you casually tossed become unwearably wrinkled after a few days? So our purpose in organizing is to make life easier, not add burden.

I started with just 15 minutes before bed. 15 minutes isn't long - it's just the time it takes to watch a couple of short videos. Plus, I found that doing some organizing before bed was particularly stress-relieving and made me feel completely comfortable. When you first start organizing, the room might get messier because you need to take everything out to recategorize. It's like organizing your phone's photo album - you need to look through all the photos before you can delete and categorize them. So don't rush at this point; this temporary chaos is for the sake of future order.

I remember being dumbfounded when I first started organizing and saw all the stuff in my room. Later, I set small goals for myself: today I'll just organize this drawer, or today I'll just sort these clothes. Breaking big goals into small ones, doing it bit by bit, immediately reduced the pressure. Plus, completing each small goal gives you a sense of achievement that motivates you to continue.

Practical Tips

After discussing mindset building, let's talk about how to actually do it. I suggest starting with a small area, like a bedside table, desk drawer, or makeup storage box. I personally started with my messiest bedside table. Back then, my bedside table was literally a treasure box containing everything - cosmetics, medicines, chargers, earphones, snack wrappers... you name it.

First, I dumped everything from the bedside table onto the bed. Then I started categorizing: frequently used, occasionally used, and rarely used items. When categorizing, you must be honest and not make excuses like "I might use this someday." If you haven't used something for half a year, it belongs in the "rarely used" category.

After categorizing, I planned fixed positions for each category of items. Frequently used things like hand cream, lip balm, phone charger, and earphones go in the top drawer, within easy reach. Occasionally used items like cold medicine, band-aids, and spare power banks go in the middle drawer. Those rarely used items either get thrown away or stored in storage boxes in the cabinet.

The effect after this organization was particularly obvious. Previously it took three minutes to find a charger, now you can see it as soon as you open the drawer; previously you wouldn't know when medicines expired, now it's clear at a glance. I also used different colored storage boxes for different categories of items, making it both neat and attractive.

During the organizing process, I also discovered many duplicate purchases. For example, I had five or six hand creams because I couldn't find them and thought they were used up. This made me realize that proper storage not only makes life more convenient but also avoids unnecessary waste.

Space Magic

Next, I'll share how to use space efficiently. Many young people today rent small apartments, so every inch of space needs to be well utilized. After so much exploration, I've summarized several particularly practical space utilization techniques.

First is the use of vertical space. Many people stack things horizontally, which not only takes up space but also makes retrieval inconvenient. I discovered this problem when organizing my kitchen. Previously, pots and pans were stacked horizontally in the cabinet, and I had to move everything on top to get to the ones below, which was very troublesome. Later, I bought a vertical storage rack to store cookware vertically, which not only saved a lot of space but also made retrieval much more convenient.

The same principle applies to closet storage. I now fold clothes vertically and place them in drawers. This way, you can see all your clothes at a glance and avoid wrinkles caused by stacking too many clothes. T-shirts, sweaters, and jeans can all be stored this way with great results.

Second is making full use of dead corner spaces. Places like behind doors and sides of wardrobes are easily overlooked storage spaces. I installed a hook rack behind my bedroom door for hanging towels, pajamas, and bags. This immediately made previously idle space practical. Hooks can also be installed on the side panels of wardrobes for hanging scarves, belts, and other small accessories.

Under-bed space is also key. I bought several flat storage boxes with wheels specifically for storing seasonal clothes and bedding. This not only makes full use of under-bed space but also allows easy access when needed.

Wall space is also important. I installed several shelves on the wall next to my desk for small plants and decorations. This beautifies the room without taking up desk space. Bathroom walls can also have shelves installed for shower gel and shampoo, which is much neater than placing them on the bathtub edge.

Corner space utilization is also crucial. I put a corner shelf in the living room corner for decorations without looking obtrusive. A narrow shelf can also be placed next to the toilet for toilet paper and cleaning supplies.

Ongoing Maintenance

Honestly, the hardest part of storage organization isn't starting but persisting. Many people have this experience: after organizing everything perfectly, it returns to its original state before long. After learning from multiple failures, I've summarized a particularly practical maintenance method called the "one in, one out" principle.

This principle is simple: for every new item bought, get rid of an old item. It might sound extreme, but it's the most effective way to control the number of items. For example, when I bought a new coat the other day, I immediately set aside an old coat I hadn't worn in a long time for donation. When buying new skincare products, throw away those that are almost empty or expired.

Besides "one in, one out," I also set myself a "ten-minute rule." This means spending ten minutes before bed tidying up the day's chaos. Like hanging up used clothes, putting desk items back in place, returning used skincare products to their original positions. The advantage is that chaos doesn't accumulate to an unmanageable level.

I also found it particularly important to designate a fixed position for everything. Return items to their original position immediately after use, so you won't have situations where you can't find things. For example, keys go on the hook by the door, skincare products go in the storage box on the dressing table, chargers go in the first drawer of the bedside table. After developing this habit, storage organization becomes natural behavior.

For items that are easily hoarded, like skincare and cosmetics, I regularly check expiration dates. Use soon-to-expire items first, and directly dispose of expired ones. This not only avoids waste but also controls the quantity of items.

Clothing storage also needs regular maintenance. I now check my wardrobe every season change, sorting clothes that don't fit or I no longer like. Those still wearable get donated to charity organizations, damaged ones get recycled. This not only keeps the wardrobe tidy but also helps people in need.

Final Words

Looking back on this year-plus storage journey, my biggest realization is: storage organization isn't a sudden revolution but a gradual process. Don't expect to make your home as perfect as magazine pictures in a short time - that would put too much pressure on yourself.

The ultimate purpose of keeping your home tidy is to make our lives easier and moods happier. When you no longer worry about not finding things, no longer feel anxious about room messiness, you'll discover the joy that storage organization brings.

Moreover, a neat and orderly environment really can increase work and life efficiency. At least my concentration has improved a lot when working because I'm not distracted by surrounding clutter. The ten minutes of room organization before bed has become the most relaxing moment of the day.

So, if you also want to start your storage organization journey, why not start now, beginning with the simplest things? How about organizing your bedside table today? Believe that you too can transform from a lazy person into a home storage expert like me!