Learn The ‘Container Theory’ for Organization

By Melissa Moore on March 22, 2023

16 January 2023, Hessen, Frankfurt/Main: The accessories in Sabine Nietmann’s closet in her apartment in Frankfurt are precisely organized. In addition to her job as a flight attendant, the 35-year-old works as a tidiness coach and helps her customers to create order in their personal living environment. (To dpa “Order coach helps in everyday life” of Jan. 25, 2023) Photo: Boris Roessler/dpa (Photo by Boris Roessler/picture alliance via Getty Images)

If you know me, then you know this:  1. I Hate Clutter and 2. Hate having a dirty house.

In my mind they usually go together.  Too much ‘stuff’ leads to clutter and then dust.  I am constantly going through my closet, drawers, kitchen and getting rid of things I no longer need or want.

According to organizing expert Dana K. White, she has a theory called the ‘The Container Theory’.  In it’s simplest form, it means your stuff should fit into the space in your house.

Here are a few of her main points:

• The size of your closet determines how many clothes you can have.
• The size of your bedroom determines how many dressers you can have.
• And your house determines what a bedroom is – and no other room should change itself to hold the overflow. So the office should not become a make-shift closet space.
• It’s like only being able to spend the cash you have in your wallet. Once the cash runs out – you can’t spend anymore.
• Bottom line, once your closet space runs out, you can’t bring any more stuff into the house without getting rid of something else currently taking up space.

I love this theory! What do you think??

xox

Melissa