How Many Organizer Bins Should You Have (And When Is It Just More Clutter?)

Anyone who dreams about a perfectly organized home has probably fallen in love with the concept of organizer bins. Finding that perfect woven basket, acrylic bin, or color-coordinated container that promises the secret to a tidy life can be hard to resist. Who wouldn't want to learn how to organize their home like The Home Edit — with a pantry that looks like it popped straight out of their favorite home magazine, or a closet that even their favorite interior designer would envy? But the truth is, all the lovely boxes and bins that make your nooks and crannies look neat and tidy can also become "clutter coffins," where unnecessary stuff goes to die.

So how do you know when you are actually organizing and when you are just making stuff pretty that you would be better off without? While we would love to give you a magic number, there isn't one right answer to that question. How many organizer bins you actually need depends entirely on your lifestyle, what you plan to store in them, and how much space you have to work with. And even though it's impossible to say what the perfect amount is, it's important to know when you have too many. It doesn't matter if you already have a collection or are thinking of getting started; we are here to help you avoid just hiding your clutter.

There's a big difference between decluttering versus organizing, and when it comes down to it, you should begin with assessing your possessions before you start putting them into boxes. It's tempting to pile your belongings and get them out of sight, but if it's stuff you don't use, you are designating valuable home real estate to items that you might not even need. Before doing that, ask yourself some important questions, like have you used this item in the last year, or would you know you had it if you needed it, or would you replace it if you lost it? Really scrutinize it and ask yourself if it belongs in your life. If you find that you are answering no, it might be time to let the item go instead of storing it in a container where it will most likely be forgotten.

Storage bins should fit your stuff and not the other way around, so don't run out and buy containers without a plan. While it's easy to assume that having more will equal more organization, it's usually just wasteful. Focusing on decluttering first ensures that what remains actually needs organizing. Your bins should serve a purpose, so consider what bins you have and only buy containers you actually have a purpose for. Remember, they should make your life easier. If your system is so complex that you find yourself digging through multiple boxes to find a single item, ask yourself if it's truly working for you.

The ideal system would have items you use most often within reach, and items you use less often stored in higher places or in harder-to-access areas of your home. If you think that your bins have reached a point where they are no longer helpful and possibly adding to the clutter, there are ways of recognizing that you have a problem. For example, if you have empty bins waiting for a purpose, maybe even with others stacked inside them, it might be time to let go of some of them. If you find yourself buying new ones with no clear purpose in mind, filling them without clearing out existing ones, or even forgetting what's in your containers, you might want to reconsider how many you have collected.

To avoid organizer bins getting out of control, try setting a limit to how many you have and designating one bin per category, like office supplies or seasonal decorations. Once you can't fit additional items in a certain bin, it's a good indication to reassess what you are keeping in it. Look for strategies that work best for decluttering your home and find one that works for you. While storage bins are extremely helpful when it comes to organizing a home, it's more important to know what you have and make sure your belongings are accessible. Getting carried away with bins isn't always the answer, and at some point, you might need to consider that you just need less stuff.