Let’s be honest. Organising isn’t just about tidying up. It’s about creating a space that feels good. A home that flows. A place where you don’t stub your toe on a the laundry basket every morning, or open a cupboard only to have an avalanche of Tupperware lids come crashing down.
And that’s where interior design comes in! You don’t need to be an architect or have a Pinterest-perfect home to apply some simple design principles that will make your space both beautiful and functional.
Balance: No, I Don’t Mean Yoga
Ever walked into a room that just felt "off"? Maybe all the furniture is crammed onto one side, or one wall is cluttered while another is bare. That’s a lack of balance.
When organising, think about how your space is visually weighted. If one side of a room feels heavier, like too much furniture, or too many items on display, try rearranging things for a more even look. Same inside of a cupboard. Align your larger containers at the bottom, and your lighter, smaller containers up top, and spread them evenly across the shelves. This creates symmetry, and gives formal structured balance.
For a more casual and visually interesting approach, try using asymmetrical balance. If one side of your shelf is filled, add an object of equal visual weight on the other side of the shelf. The break in visual uniformity creates interest, but still provides balance.
Function Over Fancy
Listen, I love a good aesthetic moment as much as the next person, but if your beautifully styled pantry means you can’t actually find the food item you’re looking for, we have a problem.
Organisation should always start with function. Ask yourself:
Do I use this regularly?
Can I access it easily?
Is it stored in a way that makes sense for my daily life?
Am I naturally inclined to put it away here?
Can all the family members access it, and is it a natural spot for them to find this item?
That’s why open shelving in the kitchen works for some people and drives others bonkers. The key is choosing systems that fit your lifestyle and natural tendencies, not just what looks good on Instagram.
The Power of Negative Space
Negative space is just a fancy way of saying: leave some breathing room! Not every surface needs to be covered, and not every wall needs a shelf.
An overstuffed space can feel chaotic, even if everything is beautiful, and technically has a "place." So, next time you organise, give yourself permission to leave a little emptiness. It makes the things you do keep stand out more and gives your brain a break from visual clutter.
Repetition is Your Best Friend
Ever notice how well designed rooms tend to repeat colors, shapes, or textures? That’s because repetition creates harmony.
You can apply the same principle to organising! Matching storage baskets, wardrobe hangers, or even just using the same style of labels on your containers can instantly make a space feel pulled together.
Bonus: It also makes things easier to find when your brain isn’t trying to process a million different colors and patterns at once.
Lighting Can Make or Break a Space
Even the most beautifully organised room will feel off if the lighting is wrong, or the windows are blocked by heavy furniture. Dim, yellow light can make a space feel cluttered, while bright, natural light can make it feel airy and open.
If your space feels heavy or chaotic, try switching out lightbulbs, opening the curtains more often, or even adding a mirror to bounce light around. You’d be surprised what a difference it makes!
The Takeaway
Organisation isn’t just about making things neat. It’s about creating a home that works for you.
By applying these simple design principles, you can turn your space into a place that feels as good as it looks.
And if you need help finding the balance between organised and actually livable? You know where to find me!
xoxo
Henda
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