I am a big fan of using bins in my organizing. Not only do they look pretty, but they also help with accountability, containment, ease of access, and space maximization. When you have a bin for batteries, a bin for baking supplies, and a bin for sentimental items, it makes it easier to find what you’re looking for and keep your family accountable.
Example: If you’re in a rush and putting things away, it would be much easier to throw a sprinkler head onto an already cluttered shelf and not think twice about it. There’s not really a place for it anyway! But if your space had a specific bin for everything, it might feel weird to just throw the sprinkler head in the bin labeled “party supplies”. You would be more likely to look for a bin labeled “yard supplies”. Bins make you think twice, and they kind of “force you” to choose the BEST category for where your things should go.
All that being said, do you always need bins when organizing a space? Absolutely not! Do bins help the overall outcome and help clients maintain systems? Absolutely!
What Kind of Bin Should I Use?
There are two main categories of bins I present to my clients: Solid or clear. Regardless of the material of the bins, all bins will *pretty much* fall into one of these two categories.
Solid Bins
If you like your things “hidden away” and not visible in a space, you will probably want to go with solid. However, there are advantages and disadvantages to this type of bin.
Advantage – you can throw things into the bins and from the outside it still looks clean and put together!
Disadvantage – you can just throw things into the bins. It makes you more likely to put things in the wrong place because nobody will know except you! The bins could get junky quicker, thus making it harder to pull out the things you need later.
Advantage – the “uglier” items we all need are hidden away and not on full display. For those who deeply care about aesthetics, this will make perfect sense to you.
Disadvantage – You will really need to have labels. It does take a little extra time, but I would say it’s well worth it. Without labels, you’ll have to check inside each bin until you find what you’re looking for.
Clear Bins
If you are a very visual person and need to be able to see what you have, clear bins are probably for you! There are advantages and disadvantages to these bins as well (depending on the type of person you are)
Advantage – you can quickly and easily see everything you have.
Disadvantage – Sometimes with clear bins, a space can still feel “busy” even after organizing.
Advantage – for kids, clear bins are great! They can find things without having to read labels.
Another thing to note is the price. Bins can be very expensive. The trendy acrylic, hyacinth, and metal bins especially… But I think they are a worthy investment if you can swing it. And there are many places you can find bins for much less to get you started! Dollar Tree is a great place to grab smaller bins to try out in a space. They may not last as long as more expensive options, but they can help you get headed in the right direction!
Oh, in case you wanted to know which bin I like to use in my own home, I’m team solid bin! Hide my things away, please.
