What’s your organizing Style?

Discover our Clutterbug organizing style and put our space and life in order.If you had a penny for every time you called yourself messy and lazy, you’d probably own a private jet by now. That’s likely why we are here: we want to become a pro at organizing. But don’t run out and buy the trendiest storage box and filing cabinets just yet. Your journey should first begin with understanding your unique type of organization style, a.k.a. your Clutterbug personality. In this content, we’ll learn the four different Clutterbug types as well as each type's unique approach to organizing. From there, we’ll outline some handy tips and tricks we can use to organize our own space according to our type. 

So, ready to transform your space once and for all? Then let’s get started!

The Clutterbug Classification System. When you think of an organized home, what are the first things that come to mind? Maybe dozens of color-coordinated boxes tucked inside cabinets, or meticulously arranged file drawers. Maybe a minimalist visual with not one thing out of place.

Growing up, that’s exactly how an organized space was described to you. Everything needs to follow a cookie-cutter standard of cleanliness. If you stray from that norm, you’ll be labeled as unorganized – or, even worse, messy. But here’s a shocking eye-opener: that isn’t the only method for organizing a space. There are many ways, and they all depend on the type of organizing personality style that comes naturally to you. There are actually four different organizing styles: Butterfly, Bee, Ladybug, and Cricket. Each one has a distinct approach to placing and sorting things. To figure out your type, the easiest test is to take note of your current surroundings and the way you naturally organize things. Look at your room, drawer, or even your computer. If you want your things out in the open and without using a detailed system, you’re a Butterfly. If you want your things out in the open but follow a detailed system, you’re a Bee. If you want your things hidden away but without using a detailed system, you’re a Ladybug. If you want your things hidden away and follow a detailed system, you’re a Cricket. It’s important to know exactly what kind of Clutterbug you are to help you identify the kind of organizing style to employ in your home. When your space isn’t in constant chaos, you’ll feel more in control of your life, and this, in turn, can lead to a happier, more productive you.

The Butterfly

For all his life, forty-three-year-old Bob had been convinced that he was nothing but a slob, and his messy home was proof of it. His coats dangled on the stair railing instead of being stowed away in the hall closet. Mountains of papers were piled on his kitchen counter instead of in his upstairs office. Dirty clothes sat on his bedroom floor instead of in a closed laundry basket. One look and it was immediately obvious that Bob was a classic Butterfly. More often than not, Butterflies struggle with traditional organizing methods. That’s because they thrive on visual abundance and organizational simplicity instead. Visual abundance means having things in plain sight, and for a Butterfly, this creates a sense of ease and comfort. Otherwise, they’re afraid that once their stuff disappears from view, they might forget about them. This leads Butterflies to keep their daily-use items on tabletops, counters, and even on the floor. The only things you can find inside this Clutterbug’s closet are items they rarely use.  Organizational simplicity, on the other hand, means macro-organized systems, or those sorting methods with general categories like “Medicines” instead of “Painkillers” and “Cough” and “Bills” instead of “Credit Card” and “Mortgage.” Butterflies prefer organizational simplicity because their brains primarily focus on the big picture instead of the tiny details. They dislike having to think about how to put stuff away, so if it’s hard to place an item in the right category and order, they won’t do it at all. That’s exactly why Butterflies can’t follow traditional methods. Traditional methods call for hiding and micro-organizing things, which both run in contrast to their natural way of organizing. Because Butterflies are visual organizers, it’s also common for them to develop an attachment to their stuff. They see their belongings for their memory and value, and as a result they’re inclined to hoard. So how can Butterflies organize their space? First and foremost, get lots of clear bins without lids and put them all around the house where you can easily access them. They will serve as the containers for your macro categories. Make sure that everything you own has a designated container, or else you might be tempted to just place homeless items on tabletops. These designated containers should also be close to where you use the item. Stick some labels on the outsides of the bins. This way, your Butterfly brain won’t have a hard time figuring out where to put what. It’s also a great idea to get rid of cabinet doors and invest in hooks and open shelves instead. The more daily-use items out in the open, the better. If you have too many items to fit in your space, start decluttering. It can be a bit tough to let go of things to which you already have an attachment, but a good way to kick it off is by sorting your clutter into bins for keeping, for trash, and for donations. Encourage yourself to do the 21-Item Toss monthly to lessen your belongings twenty-one things at a time. Whatever organizing system you chose, it should make it effortless for you to put things away. Then, pair this system with a commitment to build new habits. If you’re not a Butterfly but live with one, then you’re in a divergent home. In this case, the rule of thumb is to cater to the needs of the Clutterbug who prefers visual abundance and/or organizational simplicity. Since a Butterfly is both, be prepared to organize your home the way that person needs it to be. This can mean a lot of open communication and compromise. Being willing to adapt will go a long way in creating an organized home that works for everyone.

The Bee

There is probably not one craft or hobby that Jess hasn’t tried. She cooks, bakes, sews, paints, knits, makes bows – and that’s not the end of it. Naturally, the more hobbies she has, the more gadgets and gizmos she also acquires. Her craft room is filled with all sorts of supplies carefully arranged in neat piles, but also strewn out on top of desks or displayed on floor-to-ceiling shelving. Jess is what you call a Bee. Bees are typically known to be creative, hardworking, and perfectionist people. Just like Butterflies, they prefer visual abundance, with all their stuff placed right where they can easily see it. However, contrary to Butterflies, who need organizational simplicity, Bees follow organizational abundance instead. They want to micro-organize every little thing, like sorting bills into color-coded clear cases. In short, they’re perfectionists at heart. Unfortunately, this same perfectionist attitude is exactly why Bees struggle with clutter in the first place. They want to arrange their belongings in such a detailed way, but they often lack the time, energy, and resources to set up a system. So because they don’t yet have that perfect organizing system in place, they resort to the next best thing: piling their stuff up in open spaces. Bees tend to be perfectionists even when disposing of their things. They don’t just throw everything in the garbage— they have to research and plan the best ways to recycle and declutter every bit of junk they own. While their eco-consciousness is admirable, it can be time-consuming, and not everything has a designated recycling place to go to. For Bees to get started with organizing, they first need to master quick decluttering. This is no easy feat, though, as they’re just like Butterflies who get attached to all their belongings. That’s why it’s helpful to follow the four-step decluttering method. 

Step one is to pick a small pile to declutter. Step two is to classify the remaining items into macro-categories. Remember, macro first, not micro. Micro-organization can take forever with your perfectionist attitude, and it will only overwhelm you. So always start with macro-organization. Step three is to give each pile a thorough inspection for anything that can be further decluttered. Last, step four is to designate permanent homes for all the items, preferably out on open shelves or in clear, labeled boxes. A Bee can also benefit from adopting a more relaxed approach to organizing. Aim for systems that are good enough to get the job done, and don't stress too much about making everything flawless right away. You can get to that later. More relaxed systems will also be less stressful for your housemates who are into organizational simplicity, like the Butterfly and Ladybug. Keep in mind that when living in a divergent home, compromise is key.

The Ladybug

Linda has always had a flair for home decor, and this passion shows in every inch of her home. She has magnolia wreaths and gorgeously coffered ceilings, and to top it off, her kitchen and living room are always spick and span. However, the insides of her cabinets and drawers tell a different story. Behind closed doors lie her stacks of disorganized belongings. That’s what a Ladybug is. Ladybugs are so serious about cleaning that even when they’re not expecting guests, they’re out and about stashing away all the surface clutter in the nearest closet they can find. They always aim for that aesthetically pleasing vibe – no visible mess allowed! It’s largely because, unlike Butterflies and Bees, Ladybugs favor visual simplicity. They can't stand the sight of their things just lying around, even if they use them daily. Unfortunately, this is what keeps things messy, too. They want the surfaces to be so tidy that they just keep shoving stuff into any closed door without organization. When it’s time to retrieve that stuff, they’re scratching their heads, wondering where they put it in the first place. Ladybugs’ craving for simplicity spills out to their organizational preferences, too. Just like Butterflies, they thrive in macro-organized systems. They want storage solutions that make it easy to put things away in broad categories. This is where labels, drawer dividers, and containers help with organization. Think of it like the Butterfly system, but inside cabinets instead of outside and cute baskets instead of clear bins. Ladybugs still prioritize keeping their homes pretty, so muted-colored baskets are always the way to go. Use these solutions everywhere, and watch yourself turn into an organizing pro. Occasionally purging your home can also do you good. Lucky for you, a love of visual simplicity means you’re not as attached to your things as the Butterflies and Bees. Decluttering will be a lot easier to do. 

Just like Butterflies and Bees, however, you will run into issues if your housemates are of a different Clutterbug type. As a Ladybug, you’ll constantly have the urge to put their things away and clean to your heart’s content. This can lead to resentment, especially since your housemates don’t have the same idea of cleanliness as you do. Make it a point to set realistic expectations and compromises right at the beginning. It all comes down to communication.

The Cricket

When retired teacher Cristina organizes her collection of classroom supplies, she doesn’t just pile them according to grade level or subject. That’s too broad for her. She’s more comfortable sorting them into subcategories, and once that’s done, she can then put away her neatly grouped things behind closets and drawers. Cristina perfectly fits the description of a Cricket. They’re the Clutterbugs who have no trouble sticking to the traditional system that requires hiding and micro-organizing stuff. They need visual simplicity, with all their things out of sight. And they thrive on organizational abundance with tabulated binders and subdivided storage boxes. Simply put, organizing is ingrained into Crickets’ DNA, and it’s their natural talent. However, just because they’re born organizers doesn't mean every Cricket’s home is as pristine as they want it to be. They still suffer from clutter, primarily due to their perfectionist tendencies. Just like Bees, they won’t put away their things until they have the most ideal system in place. And you already know how that goes: Crickets end up with piles upon piles of things around the house. Often, their obsessive need for perfection also traps them in the so-called Sorting Cycle. It starts with sorting everything into highly specific categories. The items are then stored in super-elaborate and complicated compartments that are overwhelming to manage. Over time, things inevitably become jumbled chaos, and the sorting process begins once again. If you’re a Cricket who wants to build a more sustainable and long-term organizing system, take a page from the Bees’ playbook. Learn to be okay with macro-organization just to kick things off. When you finish macro-sorting and shelving your stuff, you can move on to sub-categorizing them. Get your hands on bento-box-style organizers and stackable storage boxes with mini compartments inside. These will house your things in a more orderly way. But don’t forget to label your containers to avoid forgetting what item goes where. If you live with other types of Clutterbug, you will likely be the one compromising the most. You will have to loosen up a bit to accommodate the others’ need for organizational simplicity and visual abundance. However, this doesn’t mean you can no longer organize the Cricket way. Compromise with your housemates and assign a personal space just for you to enjoy. It can be as small as a closet or as big as a garage. The important thing is you can be who you really are.

Having a messy home has nothing to do with how lazy you think you are. The real culprit behind your clutter is the organizing methods you’re using. By first knowing your Clutterbug type, you can employ the right organizing hacks to help your space look and stay clean. Once you've got things in order, the rest of your life will follow suit. You’ll be more than ready to tackle anything, and create the life you've always imagined for yourself.