Mastering the art of organization is easier said than done, no matter the size of your space. It may seem that no matter how often you try to regain control over your home, things have a way of slipping back into disarray – and you find yourself looking for more effective home-organizing ideas once again.
While there are some contemporary decluttering tips that will help you achieve a tidy home, the best solution may be rooted in the past – in 1906 Italy, to be exact.
Enter – the Pareto Principle – an economic theory that stemmed from the work of Italian Vilfredo Pareto, who wrote about the '80/20 connection' while at theUniversity of Lausanne.
The original teaching may seem like a world away from the kitchen or closet organization ideas you crave now, but that is not the case. Here's how this theory translates into the home – and how it may change your tidying habits for the better.
You can incorporate the 80/20 rule in your home by filling in the time between a 'big clean' by tidying 20 percent of your things more regularly. This keeps your home looking tidy on the surface and makes it feel less daunting when it comes to deep cleaning the other 80 percent of your home. With this in mind, the small jobs (such as making your bed and keeping on top of washing up) are hugely impactful.
Interiors Therapy expert Suzanne Roynon says there’s a lot to be said for using the 80/20 rule when it comes to keeping a home organized, clean and tidy.
'While a deep clean is incredibly good for the heart and soul of a home, having the option to do a whistlestop 20 percent version (so everything shines at surface level when guests are arriving or just to get you through the week) is better than doing nothing,' Suzanne says.
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'You can accomplish a great deal visually with the best vacuum cleaner, some anti-bac wipes, and multi-purpose cleaner. Having sparkling taps, mirrors and clean kitchen surfaces can disguise sneaky pockets of dust elsewhere.'
(Image credit: Anna Stathaki / Future)
Plus, as the expert explains, the 80/20 rule is reflected in homes in many different ways beyond organizing a living room, kitchen, or bedroom. 'It’s well established that most people only wear 20 percent of the clothes in their wardrobe 80 percent of the time, and in reality, that extends to other possessions too,' Suzanne says. And this can be interpreted in regard to cleaning tips, too.
'When we look at a home from an Interiors Therapy perspective, we start by identifying anything which is surplus, unused or unloved,' the expert adds. '
'Again, we find 20 percent of belongings actively in use whilst the rest languish in drawers, cupboards, and garages, maybe coming out once every couple of years, if at all. People who had been convinced they need to move house to gain storage space suddenly realize they have plenty of room to spare in the home they already own.'
On the podcast Lipstick on the Rim with actress Molly Sims, the duo fervently recommend applying it to homes large and small, explaining that it's all about filling your space 80% at most and leaving the remaining 20% empty to “take a break.” This free space provides plenty of visual relief and allows new objects to ...
'The 80/20 rule is the concept that we use 20% of what we own 80% of the time,' says Sara Bereika, founder of Sara Jane Organizing. 'That means the remaining 80% (the stuff we use less frequently) is clutter. More than ever many of us have aspirations to live more simple lives.
There are many ways to figure out how to measure the effort of housecleaning, from 0% (as seen in some of my college friends) to obsessively clean (my grandmother, who mopped the garage floor weekly). If we look at the Pareto principle, this means that 20% of our efforts will take care of 80% of the dirt.
The five second rule is picking up an item, and making the decision as to whether it stays or goes within this amount of time. 'The basic premise behind this rule in decluttering is that you should know within five seconds whether you should keep something or not,' explains Amanda Wiss, Founder of Urban Clarity.
The Core 4 Organizing Method, created by professional organizer Kayleen Kelly, breaks down the daunting task of decluttering and organizing into 4 simple steps: Clear Out, Categorize, Cut Out, and Contain.
Created by professional organizer Kayleen Kelly, the three-second rule for decluttering requires you to decide in three seconds if you'll keep or get rid of an item. If you hesitate for more than three seconds, then the item stays. Lately, I've noticed that even non-dining room items have ended up stuffed inside it.
This rule is “so simple, yet so life changing”. Simply by dealing with an item immediately, whether it is your shoes, incoming mail, or your used coffee mug, less clutter will be created. One touch, one movement, equals less effort overall. This rule can also be applied when you are purging, editing, and organizing.
Take it room by room: Start decluttering one room at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Focus on a specific area before moving on to the next. Sort methodically: Divide items into categories (keep, donate, sell, discard) and work through each category systematically to prevent decision fatigue.
The 12 12 12 rule is a decluttering strategy that involves three simple steps: finding 12 items to throw away, 12 items to donate, and 12 items to return to their rightful place. This method helps reduce clutter while promoting a sense of accomplishment by achieving small, manageable goals.
The idea behind Project 333 is simple: Wear only 33 articles of clothing for the next 3 months. All clothing, accessories, jewelry, outerwear, and shoes count towards your number.
Have you used that item in the last 90 days? If you haven't, will you use it in the next 90? If not, then it's okay to let go,' write Joshua and Ryan on their blog. The 90/90 rule isn't limited to the wardrobe (in fact it's applicable to many areas of the home) but it's definitely a good place to start.
Sort with purpose: Categorize items into keep, donate, recycle, or discard piles, making decisions quickly and decisively to avoid second-guessing. Establish a system: Develop a system for organizing belongings that prioritizes functionality and accessibility, ensuring everything has a designated place.
What is the 50% rule in decluttering? The 50% rule was coined on TikTok, and the idea is that you keep any storage areas only around 50% full. So your closet, underbed storage and kitchen cabinets would only be half full. This might be a good goal to have in mind while allowing ourselves some wiggle room.
So, it makes sense to leave particular possessions behind. It makes less sense to allow them to clutter our homes! Otherwise known as the 5x5 rule, the 5-year rule suggests that if you haven't used something in the past five years, don't spend more than 5 minutes thinking about it.
Introduction: My name is Barbera Armstrong, I am a lovely, delightful, cooperative, funny, enchanting, vivacious, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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