Don’t Buy the Bins Yet
One of the most common mistakes people make when trying to organize their home is starting with containers. Bins, baskets, drawer dividers, shelf risers — they’re tempting. They look productive. They promise order. And they make it feel like you’re doing something.
But here’s the truth: buying bins before decluttering almost always creates more frustration, not less. As a professional organizer, I’ve seen it over and over again. Homes filled with beautiful containers… and systems that don’t work. Let’s talk about why.
Organizing Is a Process — Not a Product
True organizing is not about buying things. It’s about making decisions.
There is a clear, intentional process to organizing that professionals follow for a reason:
Edit (declutter)
Categorize
Measure
Design systems
Select and install products
When you skip the first step — editing — everything that follows is compromised.
You can install the prettiest bins in the world, but if they’re built around expired food, duplicates, unused items, or “just in case” clutter, the system will fail. Not immediately. But inevitably.
That’s when people say, “Organizing just doesn’t stick for me.” The problem isn’t you. The problem is the order of operations.
Why Decluttering Must Come First
Decluttering isn’t about getting rid of everything. It’s about being intentional.
When you declutter first, you:
Eliminate duplicates
Remove expired or unused items
Identify what truly needs a home
Understand how much space you actually need
Without this step, containers are guesswork.
I’ve worked with many clients who previously tried organizing on their own by buying bins first. In almost every case, the bins were either:
the wrong size
the wrong quantity
filled with items that shouldn’t have stayed
or abandoned entirely because the system felt forced
The result? Money spent, time wasted, and still no functional space.
The “Cart Before the Horse” Problem
Buying containers before decluttering is like buying furniture before measuring a room. Or designing a closet before knowing what clothes you actually wear.
It feels proactive, but it’s backwards.
Here’s what often happens:
Bins get filled too tightly
Categories don’t make sense long-term
Items overflow or migrate
Maintenance becomes exhausting
When a system is built around everything you own instead of what you intentionally keep, it becomes fragile. One grocery run, one busy week, one life change — and the system collapses.
That’s not a personal failure. It’s a structural one.
Why This Step Is So Hard to Skip
People often want containers right away because:
They want visible progress
They want a “finished” feeling
They’re overwhelmed and want relief
They equate organizing with storage solutions
That makes sense.
But lasting organization doesn’t come from hiding clutter in nicer boxes. It comes from clarity.
Decluttering is where clarity lives. It’s also where the biggest transformation happens, even if it’s not as Instagram-worthy in the moment.
What Professional Organizers Know
Professional organizers don’t withhold products to be difficult or slow the process down. It’s our responsibility to create systems that last — not just systems that look good on day one.
When we declutter first, we:
Design systems based on real use
Avoid over-buying products
Ensure every container has a purpose
Create flow that matches daily habits
That’s how organization sticks.
How to Shop for Containers
Once decluttering is complete, containers become tools — not crutches.
At that point, you can:
Measure accurately
Buy only what you need
Choose products that fit both the space and your habits
Invest in fewer, better solutions
This is where containers shine. They support the system instead of trying to create one.
The Long-Term Payoff
When you declutter first and add containers second:
Maintenance becomes easier
You buy fewer products
Your space feels lighter
Your systems work with your life, not against it
The goal of organizing isn’t perfection. It’s sustainability.
A system that breaks down quickly isn’t a system — it’s a temporary fix.
Final Thoughts
If you’re feeling stuck in your organizing journey, ask yourself this: am I trying to contain clutter… or reduce it first?
When you slow down and follow the proper process, organizing stops feeling like something you constantly redo — and starts feeling like something that supports you.
Bins have their place. They’re just not the starting line.
Need help organizing your home the right way?
Signature Organizing provides professional home organizing services throughout Seattle and the Greater Eastside area. If you’re ready to declutter first and build systems that actually last, we’d love to help.
Schedule a complimentary phone consultation to get started!
Jessica is the founder of Signature Organizing, a Professional Home Organizing Business in Washington (servicing the greater Eastside and Seattle area). She loves transforming chaos into functional spaces and is known for bringing creative solutions to improve the quality of life for her clients. She shares her tips and tricks on Instagram @signatureorganizing
