Not knowing your organizing style keeps tidying your home feel like a never-ending job. You clean, you sort, you put things away… and yet somehow it always ends up messy again. If that sounds familiar, I’ve got great news for you: it’s not your fault. You’ve just been organizing the wrong way for your brain.
Today, we’re diving into a simple, fun, and shockingly accurate way to figure out your natural organizing style—so you can finally set up your home to stay tidy without driving yourself crazy.
Why You’re Still Struggling to Stay Organized
After 15 years of helping people get organized, I realized something important—most of us are trying to use systems that don’t match how our brains naturally sort and store things. That’s why even with the cutest bins and Pinterest-worthy pantries, the clutter still creeps back.
The secret? Learn how you organize best. And that starts with understanding two things:
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How you naturally sort things
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How you naturally store things
Let’s break it down.
Are You Detailed or Big-Picture?
Imagine you’ve got a pile of random kitchen stuff—beans, utensils, snacks—and I ask you to sort it into piles in 45 seconds. No thinking, just go!
Here’s what we discovered from doing this game live with the crew here at Clutterbug:
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Detailed Sorters (like Emily) group things into tiny, precise categories: forks with forks, tea separate from coffee.
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Big-Picture Sorters (like Mara) use broad categories like “food” and “not food.” That’s it. No muss, no fuss.
Neither is right or wrong—it’s just how your brain works. And knowing that can help you create systems that feel natural and that you’ll actually maintain.
How Do You Store Stuff? Visual vs. Hidden
The second part of your organizing style is how you like to see (or not see) your stuff.
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Visual People keep things out where they can see them—like papers on the fridge or makeup on the bathroom counter.
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Hidden People like things tucked away neatly in drawers or behind doors.
Pop quiz: Is the front of your fridge covered in stuff or completely bare? That’s your clue!
The Four Organizing Styles (a.k.a. The Clutterbug Types)
Now that you know whether you’re detailed or big-picture, and visual or hidden, you fall into one of four “bug” styles. Each style has its own strengths—and its own organizing kryptonite.
🐝 The Bee – Visual + Detailed
You love to see everything and crave lots of categories. But you also tend to spread across every surface. The fix? Clear containers with drawers, pegboards, and vertical storage systems so everything is both visible and sorted.
🐞 The Ladybug – Hidden + Big Picture
You’re a “chuck it and shut it” kind of girl. You like things out of sight and aren’t into nitty-gritty sorting. Your best bet? Big bins without lids and pretty baskets to toss things into quickly. No more piles on the counter!
🦋 The Butterfly – Visual + Big Picture
You need to see everything, but don’t want complicated systems. Open shelving, big clear bins, and labels everywhere are your best friends. Skip the filing cabinet and opt for labeled baskets you can drop stuff into.
🦗 The Cricket – Hidden + Detailed
You’re a perfectionist who loves tidy drawers, labels, and file folders—as long as everything stays out of sight. Drawer dividers, portable totes, and caddies you can tuck away are perfect for you.
Why This Matters
Knowing your organizing style isn’t just cute—it’s life-changing. You stop forcing yourself to use systems that don’t fit. You stop feeling guilty when the bins don’t stay organized. You finally create spaces that make sense for how your brain works.
And when your systems work for you? Tidying takes minutes. You actually want to put things away. Your home stays cleaner with less effort. Yes, really.
Real Life Fixes for Real Homes
Here are just a few examples of how matching the system to the style made a huge difference:
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Shawna (a Bee) was overwhelmed by piles in her craft room. Adding some $20 bookcases to get things off the floor changed everything. Watch Shawna’s home makeover here.
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Stephanie’s husband (a Butterfly) struggled with dressers. A simple open closet system saved their sanity. Watch the closet transformation here.
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Kelly (a Ladybug) chucked groceries into a closet. Once we added shelves and baskets, she still “chucked”—but now everything had a home. Watch Kelly’s extreme makeover here.
One-Minute Fixes for Every Style
If you’re ready to make small changes with big impact, here are quick wins tailored to your organizing bug:
🐞 Ladybug Fixes:
🐝 Bee Fixes:
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Use wall-mounted storage (magnetic shelves, pegboards)
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Get clear stacking bins with drawers
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Use trays to limit spreading
🦗 Cricket Fixes:
🦋 Butterfly Fixes:
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Remove closet or cabinet doors
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Use floating shelves everywhere
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Label everything like it’s a preschool
Take the Free Quiz to Find Your Style
If you’re still unsure what bug you are, or just want to double-check you’re not picking answers as your “fantasy self,” take the free quiz right here. It only takes a minute—and it could change how you organize forever.
You’re Not Messy—You’re Just Organizing Wrong
I know you’ve probably tried a million organizing systems before. You’ve watched the shows, bought the bins, labeled your life. But this is different. This is about knowing yourself, how your brain works, and creating a home that finally clicks.
🧺 ORGANIZING & STORAGE SOLUTIONS FOR EACH STYLE CAN BE FOUND HERE
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