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[Oznell]

This is not for everyone, but for those who like exploring different household organizational systems.  And it was partly prompted by @rnmom 's ongoing "decluttering" thread, which I'm so happy to see is continuing this year-- I really appreciate that thread, and it gives lots of inspiration. 

I thought I was naturally not very organized, although I like and have gotten tips from people like the Organized Soprano, and the Minimal Mom.  They have great, useable ideas! 

But the ""Clutterbug", 'Cas', online, spooked me out by having an approach that recognizes four distinct organizational styles.  Hey, I actually have an organizational style!   I got a shock of recognition when she talked about "Ladybug" style.  It's not the typical, compartmentalized, closely ordered style, but it works for a certain kind of personality.

There's no way to do justice to all this in a puny post like mine, but I'll try to summarize, then I'll post a link to Cas herself explaining the styles in detail.

I took her quiz, but already knew from her discussions that I was a Ladybug--  and the quiz confirmed that!

Ladybugs don't want a lot of everyday objects lying out-- they want them behind closed doors.  They don't want to be organized on a micro-level, with elaborate files, etc., so, having large, open bins and baskets (preferably decorative) work best for them.

I get anxious if there are too many papers, mail, etc. lying around.  As Cas would say, I "crave visual simplicity".

Both Crickets and Ladybugs don't want a lot of visual clutter (although they may not be minimalists-- I know I'm not).  By contrast, both Butterflies and Bees actually like having visual abundance--  they're the types that want pegboards with all their tools on display, (shudder) and open shelves, etc.

Butterflies and Ladybugs want easy, "macro", very basic organizing storage solutions, while Crickets and Bees are natural organizers who like elaborate, "micro" organizing solutions.

Here's Cas doing a better job of explaining:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYtiQhCJ574&feature=emb_logo

And for anyone interested, here's the quiz to discover your style:

https://clutterbug.me/what-clutterbug-are-you-test

It isn't yet another fun, worthless, frivolous quiz to take.  Knowing your style actually helps you to find a way of organizing that you'll actually stick with, instead of giving up in despair!

I somehow got hubby to take the quiz, and yup, he's a Bee, which I also could have predicted.  Very opposite of me--  he likes "visual abundance" of objects that he uses, and he LOVES complicated, elaborate filing systems, the more complicated the better,  aaaaagh.

Interestingly, Cas is a Ladybug who has ADHD, and felt she had to evolve an efficient way of bringing organizational order to her household that wasn't necessarily the "textbook" way, and that she'd understand and stick with.

Edited to add:   Farther down in the thread, I remembered to put Cas's own house tour with some of her decluttering, storage and organizational ideas put into practice.  Thought I'd add it up here too in case some would miss it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWypmKdTICM    

[Still Raining]

Heart be still!  That pegboard of tools on the quiz!  Best thing today!  

Said the mom who fusses when DD doesn't put the clean plates on the bottom.  You know like towels 😂

[tucsongal]

I guessed that I was a cricket from reading the descriptions, lo and behold I am  🦗 . Fun post!

[Mellyg]

Thank you for sharing @Oznell (and fellow Ladybug).  My DH is also a bee (and drives me crazy with his "everyday items" being visibly accessible.

[eddyandme]

WOW!  I'm a cricket - described me spot on!

[Reconnaissant]

@Oznell 

Maybe @lolakimono will use the quiz for her coworkers.

Great thread

[jannabelle1]

So interesting! Thanks, Oznell. I'm a Ladybug for sure, and DH leans to a Bee. No wonder he drives me nuts with that pile of stuff on his desk! If he had his way, his favorite canned "treats" (oysters and other of those little fishies!) would all be piled up on the kitchen counter so he "remembers to eat them"!! He puts them out, and I put them back in the cabinets where they belong...need I say more?! I didn't understand it before - now I do! LOL!

[RoughDraft]

I think I'm a new kind of insect!

[Catiele]

Oh I am a lady bug most of the time. I do wander at times. 

[Oznell]

Agreed, it definitely is fun when you can immediately recognize yourself or loved ones in these organizational types!

I've been trying to collect a few good looking bins for "hidden storage" of my utilitarian items and even some bric-a-brac.  Found a couple online at "The Container Store",  and even the Q has a few options.  These handsome, tailored bins, the "Sorbus Grey Twill Baskets"  I found here on Q -- H 311314-- tonight are just what I need to stash my cookbooks in in kitchen, on my metal bistro shelves.  I like the two-tone grey-and-tan: