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