5 Organizing Trends on Their Way Out, According to Professional Organizers
If you’ve seen “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” or “The Home Edit” on Netflix, then you’ve probably already noticed that style trends don’t just apply to home decor or fashion — they also exist in the world of organization.
That realization might make you roll your eyes (“So not only do I have to think about organizing, but now I have to think about trendy organizing?”), but don’t panic: These organizing trends aren’t the only way to maintain a tidy home, they’re just the latest, greatest ways to do it with style. And as is the nature of trends, they’re not going to be around forever. In fact, there are some popular organization trends that may be out of fashion before you know it, as organization experts told me.
If you feel overwhelmed by the perfectly-penned labels or have zero interest in learning a new way to fold a t-shirt (I’m with you there), then you’re in luck. There’s a good chance none of these things will be popular in a few years anyway. And here are five more organizing trends on their way out:
1. Rainbow Sorting
Color coding and bright, vibrant colors in organization and labeling were popular for quite some time, especially on Instagram — but not so much anymore, says Pamela Meluskey and Larisa Bright, founders and principal organizers at Settled. “Rainbow color coding certainly had its moment — and we were there for it — as more and more people were introduced to the power of a visual system,” Meluskey shares. “However, as people continue to live with their space, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the beloved but domineering rainbow motif take a back seat to bespoke styles like softer, more neutral palettes, or other bold monochrome looks.”
2. Cubbies in Closets
As Robbie Randolph, realtor and lifestyle expert shares, shoe cubbies in closets are almost never a good idea. “The best advice I can give you is do not spend extra money or invest in ‘shoe cubbies’ that are built into the shelving unit,” Randolph says. “The majority of these cubbies only hold one shoe, especially with bulky athletic shoes and designer sneakers that are trendy now. For all my clients, I use open shelving and make the shoes more of the focus than tucked away in a cubby.”
3. Wooden Hangers
According to Randolph, wooden hangers look great in a closet, but there are major downsides, and practicality should win. “When you go to replace, sometimes the hangers are out of stock or they changed the design a little so they don’t match, or the wood color is a little different. I like consistency in a closet for a more finished look.” Plus, wooden hangers take up a lot of room. So if you’re not already on the velvet hanger train, it might be time to jump on.
4. Super Specific Organizing Products for Each Space
This one is kind of a relief. If you find yourself overwhelmed at the idea of acquiring different organizational products designed for each and every room, cabinet, or closet, things are probably about to get a lot simpler, says Ashley Murphy, co-founder of luxury home organizing company NEAT Method. “The current trend is to incorporate versatile products that can easily be moved to different spaces depending on the use (i.e. work from home, homework stations, guest room, etc.),” Murphy says. “A sturdy oxford bin can serve multiple purposes, just swap out the contents and label and you are good to go.”
5. Built-In Laundry Hampers
In theory, having hamper built into your closet might seem like a great idea. But Randolph says to think twice about this old school trend. “It’s much better to have a large shelf there and put a nice wicker basket there for the dirty clothes,” Randolph says. “That way you don’t have to unload the built-in and then carry the clothes to the washer, an extra step.”
Of course, all of this doesn’t mean that if your closet hamper or rainbow labeling works for you that you should change everything immediately (please don’t do that). But it is a good reminder that your time and energy is always better spent when put towards the organizational techniques that you like rather than the ones that are trending on Instagram. After all, they’re only going to be trends for so long.
This post originally appeared on Apartment Therapy. See it there: 5 Organizing Trends on Their Way Out, According to Professional Organizers