Labeling your Home 101
Trust me when I tell you there isn’t a professional in the organizing industry who doesn’t love labels. We seriously label all the things!
For those of you who are looking at organizing your home on your own, my biggest tip for you is to find a labeling method you love and run with it! There are so many options out there, so we’ve gathered a few of our favorite tips, tricks, and methods to give you a head start!
The Benefits of Labeling When Organizing
Sure, you can easily just organize and forgo the labels. But, before you decide to just categorize and throw your items into bins, let me tell you why labeling makes all the difference in the world.
YOU KNOW WHAT’S INSIDE WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING
Labeling is a quick and easy way to find exactly what you need when you need it! Without having to open a lid or peer into a box, you can read the label and know what’s inside. This makes restocking items and locating items so much easier for everyone in your home.
YOU PUT THINGS BACK WHERE THEY BELONG
Sorry…there’s no excuse for throwing groceries on a random shelf in the pantry anymore. Labeling helps you keep your home clean, clutter-free, and sets you up for a new mindset: this has a place and it is not okay to just dump it somewhere. Labeling creates a new lifestyle for you and makes it easy to stay consistent with putting items into their homes.
LABELING COMMUNICATES TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY
No need to tell your kids where to put their toys or your husband where to find his favorite snack. Labels eliminate the constant back and forth of helping others in your family locate items. With labels, everyone will know exactly where to find what they need!
Keeping Your Labels Sustainable & Flexible
At The Orderly Space, we aren’t just addicted to our label makers. We’re addicted to creating solutions with our labels that have longevity! Your labels should be both flexible and sustainable so you can continue to use your system for years to come. Pro Tip: Always use broad categories as opposed to specific ones so that new items can easily be incorporated into existing systems as they are added to your home.
Check out some of our favorite ways you can label your home!
CHALKBOARD LABELS
Labels that are easy to wipe off and re-label are going to be flexible for your family’s needs as they change and grow. Chalk pens and chalkboard labels are going to be a lifesaver if you need to switch something up on the fly. Chalkboard labels are peel-and-stick, and fit easily on canisters and bins so you can reapply when needed.
BIN CLIPS
If you’ve followed us for any amount of time, you know we’re obsessed with bin clips! Bin clips allow you to label containers that you wouldn’t normally be able to apply a label to (think fabric or wicker). But the bonus of using bin clips is that added versatility factor. Should you ever want to switch things up, relocate, or replace your bins, the bin clip pops off and can be reused elsewhere!
Picture Labels
Labeling can be a visual asset! Using images may be just what you need if your brain organizes visually. There are hundreds of clipart images available right on your Microsoft word program or Canva that can be used to create labels for your home. We also love using picture labels accompanied with the words for pre-readers in playrooms or kid spaces.
CABLE LABELS
These cable labels are a lifesaver when it comes to keeping your electronics straight! Keeping everything in check and easy to read makes it simple to move around gaming systems, phone chargers, and more.
CREATE A STORAGE BIN INDEX
When storing broad categories of items (such as holiday, memorabilia or keepsakes) in large storage tubs, we’ve found it’s useful to use a simple Letter or Number indexing system. Then you can individually list items within each indexed bin in a coordinating binder. You’ll no longer have to open every bin labeled “Keepsakes” to find out what’s inside -- you have the binder to quickly and efficiently locate the specific items within each bin.
CUSTOM PREMADE LABELS
Nothing is better than having custom labels made for your home organizing projects. If you’re ready to really personalize your home, here at The Orderly Space we can assist you with our custom vinyl labels and bin clips . Just send us your words and your font preferences via our Etsy shop and your custom labels will arrive within days!
LABEL MAKER
There are many label makers on the market today and they all make labeling a breeze. In a previous blog post, I shared my 3-favorite label makers that we use daily at The Orderly Space. These label makers run from your trusty easy-to-use home label maker, to a professional tool that gives you the style and sophistication your home deserves with high-end vinyl labels.
Labeling Makes Organizing Easy & Fun
Not only do we love labeling spaces when we help our clients, but our ability to make custom labels that are beautiful is the icing on the cake! Here at The Orderly Space, we love to help clients make life a little bit easier. Labeling does just that!
If you’re ready to start a home organizing project today, find a labeling system that inspires you. The more joy you find in the process, the easier it will be. And labeling all the things will make everything 100% easier from start to finish!
