Which is right for you? Clear vs Colored Organizing Products?

Everyone agrees that when it comes to organizing your home, one of the most fun parts is choosing the right bins, baskets, and containers. There is debate about what is best, either clear or colored organizing products. It is one decision of many you will need to make in purchasing products for your space. Both have their benefits and the best choice really depends on your space, your goals, and how your brain works. Here is how to break it down so you can find the best product for your organizing style.

Benefits of Clear Organizing Products

Clear bins, drawers, and containers are the best choice for many people for several reasons.

Pros:

• Visibility
  • Out of sight is often out of mind. You can easily see what’s inside without opening anything. It is easy to remember what you have without any effort.
  • Clear containers are often the best choice for highly visual people. That is often the case for people with ADHD.
• Inventory at a glance
  • What you have is easily visible, so you can know what inventory you have. This can be especially helpful in pantries, craft spaces, and toy rooms where you want to quickly access an item.
  • Your clear bin defines the quantity you can keep. You know your complete inventory because you see it in the bin.
• Easy maintenance
  • Seeing what’s in each bin may make you more likely to keep it tidy and avoid overbuying duplicates.
  • Less decluttering because you see all the items together.
  • Easy to put away the items because of seeing items in the bin.Visual learners or “out of sight, out of mind” types.

Cons: Clear bins require more effort to look neat since everything inside is visible.  It can seem visually overwhelming to see a cluttered group of items stored together.

Benefits of Colored (or Opaque) Organizing Products

Colored bins, baskets, and boxes can be both beautiful and functional.  These are best for people who don’t want to see everything all the time.

Pros:

• Visually tidy
  • You can hide items that appear messy in the bin or are not aesthetically pleasing.
  • Adding a label on the exterior of the bins makes it easy to know what is inside.
• Adds creativity and color
  •  These bins can match your decor or make a bold statement in your space.
  • You can use the eco-friendly bins that you have around your home.
• Establishes categories
  • Colored bins appeal to those with ADHD since color can be associated with specific content.
  • You can apply the same color in the same way in each space, such as assigning a green laundry hamper to one kiddo and having green walls in that kiddo’s room.

Cons: Keep your containers in uniform shapes to make the best use of space. All different shapes add to the chaos in your home.

So…Which Should You Choose?

The answer can be both! You don’t have to pick only one option since many homes benefit from a mix. Use clear bins where you need visibility. These are also useful in drawers and cabinets to create order.  Use colored bins where you want to keep color coordinated. Typically, I use 3 -5 different bins throughout the home to be able to switch up organizing products as needed.  I interchange these as needed and nest them for storage. There is no one perfect, best-organizing product. Use what you love where you love it.