When we wrote about the organizational mindsets of "hiders" and "seekers" yesterday, a lot of people mentioned in the comments that, although they'd like to have everything organized inside hidden storage, they're really the "seeker" type that keeps stacks and piles in plain view. We say, don't fight who you are - embrace it and work with what you've got. Our number one tip for seekers is...
...Edit, Edit, Edit! For tips on clearing the clutter, click here. Once you've weeded through your stuff and kept it from accumulating too much, there are a lot of attractive open storage systems that can keep your home organized and stylish. A few from the Apartment Therapy archives:
For all organizing tips from AT:Chicago, click here.
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Why must you keep posting the picture with the Droog light I can't have? Teasers!!!!!!!!!
view lorettalynn's profile
As a mostly seeker, I am somewhat gently offended that your main tip to me is edit edit edit. Why whould I edit any more or less than a "hider"? Shouldn't editing, done properly, result in the same items regardless of your type of organizing?
Just because you can't see it doesn't mean you are neater or more organized for having it out of sight.
Is what we have here an anti "seeker" bias? Say it isn't so!
view Jen C's profile
I'd like to think I'm a hider living in a tiny seekers apartment, but truth be told, I think I'm just messy either way!
My apartment has absolutely no storage, so I'm currently working on gathering a collection of beautiful vintage suitcases to act as both storage and an informal room divider. Does that make me a hider or a seeker?
view MsUnreliable's profile
Thanks, AT for a really great series of posts!
view rockypondgirl's profile
Oh, how I long for a jewelry tree, but oh, how quickly the cats would destroy all my sparklies. I loved open shelving until I got cats. So, from seeker to hider, I am afraid.
view matchbookhymnal's profile
I agree with the person above who is a bit miffed about the assumption that people who love to display their things are messy! I would even go as far to say that we are probably tidier... there is no built in cupboards to shove things into, everything is out there for people to see, so we actually put a bit of effort into making sure things are arranged beautifully.
I would rather look at a beautiful collection of crockery in an open shelf (for example) than a shut cupboard door, any day!
view RedOrangePink's profile
I think I'm probably a bit of both...a hider of the messy and a seeker of the pretty things ^_^
view Juzevo's profile