I confess: I am almost addicted—in a good way—to reality shows and podcasts that can give me a good home cleaning tip and cues on cleanliness, beyond Marie Kondo. I'm fascinated by the cleanfluencers who fill their feeds with videos of tidying and cleaning. Watching these videos is like a mental massage for me, providing the same relief as having a tidy home, which isn't always easy with a large family.
I've learned a lot from these cleanfluencers, but the rule that has helped me the most, both in maintaining order and peace of mind, is the 80/20 rule. This rule, recommended by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin of The Home Edit (their Netflix series is both addictive and practical), is their golden tip for organising homes. They've tidied the closets of celebrities like Khloé Kardashian and Eva Longoria, and they always emphasize this rule.
I first heard about them not on their show, but on the Lipstick on the Rim podcast hosted by actress and beauty expert Molly Sims. They strongly recommend the 80/20 rule to manage the 'negative space' in homes. The rule is simple: fill spaces to a maximum of 80%, leaving the remaining 20% free. This free space visually relaxes you and allows new items to be added without immediately needing to remove something else. Of course, regular cleaning is necessary to maintain that ideal 80%. This rule applies to all kinds of spaces—closets, pantries, rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, and hallways. Whenever I organize drawers or closets, I follow this rule to the letter. It provides room for manoeuvre, giving me peace and relief in equal measure.
It makes you feel as good as the Japanese Hara Hachi Bu
"We don't like to have our closets overflowing. Just as you feel better when you eat to 80% fullness, you also feel better when you apply this principle to tidying up your spaces," explain the experts from The Home Edit. They liken the well-being of tidying up to that of meditation. For them, order is a form of self-care because it reduces stress throughout the day—especially when searching for something or getting up in the morning—and even prevents arguments at home.
By always leaving extra space for "breathing" and unforeseen events, we follow a similar principle to the Japanese habit, Hara Hachi Bu, which means "fill your belly no more than 80%." This practice promotes a healthy caloric balance with room for indulgence and can be applied to other areas of life, including finances and general organization.
Organise objects by categories and invest in containers
The experts of this home cleaning tip talk about the benefits of organising, as it prevents overthinking and reduces the stress of not finding things immediately. They also say that maintaining this order is easy if you follow other rules, such as editing and categorising objects, using hangers and containers for closets, pantries, and drawers (especially utilizing unexpected spaces like under the sink), and tidying up gradually by dedicating each day to a specific category.
I can attest that leaving some free space in closets, drawers, the pantry, and any room in my house has been the best thing I've done to maintain order and cleanliness. This approach provides the added benefit of having a cushion for new items without the necessity of getting rid of something else due to space constraints.
It's important to periodically review your storage spaces and get rid of items you haven't used in a long time to maintain that 20% free space and a healthy environment (and a lot of peace of mind). Don't hesitate to remove things from your closet that you no longer wear or use. As psychologist Laura Palomares explained during our discussion on spring cleaning, "Having a more open space with fewer stimuli promotes calm and concentration. Letting go of what we don't need is liberating and creates a sense of control and mental order." For me, keeping that margin of free space is another way to achieve a bit of well-being and order in my mind.
Also Read:
How to do a closet cleanout this summer
