Organizing Styles: The Home Edit, Marie Kondo, and Hoarders—Which One Are You?

When it comes to organizing your home, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Some people dream in color-coded bins, others swear by only keeping what sparks joy, and some just want a clean path from the couch to the fridge.

Whether you're binge-watching The Home Edit, reading Marie Kondo's book for the third time (without actually starting), or watching Hoarders in horror and mild recognition—you're in good company.

Let’s break down the major organizing styles, what they’re really about, and how to find what works for you.

1. The Home Edit: Rainbow-Colored, Instagram-Ready Glam

Aesthetic:

⭐️ Sleek
🌈 Color-coded
📦 Clear acrylic everything

The Method:

The Home Edit (made famous by Clea and Joanna’s Netflix show) is all about organizing by category and color, then storing everything in beautiful bins and containers with picture-perfect labels. It’s not just organizing—it’s styling your storage.

Great for you if:

• You love a visual system

• You believe every drawer deserves its own moment

• You enjoy matching baskets and have a slight obsession with The Container Store

The Catch:

It can get expensive (hello, $200 worth of clear bins) and may not work long-term if you or your family are more “toss it anywhere” types.

2. Marie Kondo: Joy, Simplicity, and Folding Magic

Aesthetic:

✨ Minimal
💛 Zen
📚 Book pile on the floor during step one

The Method:

Marie Kondo's KonMari Method™ is a category-based approach that focuses on decluttering first, based on what sparks joy. You go through clothing, books, papers, miscellaneous, and sentimental items in that order—and only keep what truly lights you up.

Great for you if:

• You’re emotionally connected to your stuff

• You want to be more intentional about what you own

• You love folding things into tiny happy rectangles

The Catch:

Not everything will spark joy (batteries? your tax paperwork?), and this method can feel overwhelming if you have a lot to go through or ADHD tendencies.

3. Hoarders-Style: The Deep-Dive Intervention

Aesthetic:

🚨 Crisis mode
📦 Floor-to-ceiling
🧼 Professionals in hazmat suits (sometimes literally)

The Method:

This isn’t so much a method as it is an emergency intervention. When clutter turns into a safety, health, or habitability issue, organizing becomes a life-saving process that often involves therapists, cleaners, and major emotional work.

Great for you if:

• You or someone you love is overwhelmed by stuff to the point of shutdown

• You need non-judgmental support through trauma-based clutter

• You're ready for transformation but need help making the first move

The Catch:

This is not a DIY job. It’s real, deep, emotional work—and often requires a gentle, consistent support system (not a bulldozer of tough love).

So… Which Organizing Style is Right for You?

The truth? Most people are a blend. You might love the rainbow bins for your pantry but feel totally at peace with Marie Kondo’s minimalist mindset in your closet. Or you might need to start in “Hoarders mode” just to clear a path to the pantry in the first place—and that’s okay.

What matters most is this:
👉 Your system should work for you, not the other way around.
👉 It should support how you live, not how you wish you lived.
👉 And it should be flexible enough to grow and change with you.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a Netflix deal to organize your space. You just need the right method (or mix of methods), a bit of support, and maybe a label maker you actually like using.

Whether you want spark-joy simplicity, rainbow glam, or just enough space to breathe—there’s a way forward that fits your life, your brain, and your goals.

And if you’re not sure where to start? That’s what I’m here for.