How to Become a Neater Person (Even if You're Naturally Messy)

There are two kinds of people in this world: neat and messy. If you’re a messy person, life can feel a bit more challenging and frustrating. It can be difficult to find things, and the aesthetic of your home might never feel quite right. Changing isn’t easy, but it isn’t impossible either. To find a way to keep your house—and, in turn, your life—together, you just need to follow a plan and make a true commitment to yourself. Here’s how to become a neater person even if you’re naturally messy.

Establish the “Why”

The first step to becoming more organized is to figure out why you want to change, says therapist Bonnie Scott. “Maybe it will make you feel more relaxed or less scattered," she says. "Maybe you're generally trying to take better care of yourself and having a tidier space would reflect that. Maybe you're tired of being hassled by people you live with, or you're frustrated when you can't find your keys on the way out of the door. Take time to understand your motivation and intentions.”

Once you figure out your driving reason, it will be far easier to create a plan and stick to it.

Start Small

As ambitious as you might feel about becoming a neater person, it’s best to start small. “Many people get overwhelmed with mess," says professional organizer Emily Preciado-Fonseca. "To help with that, pick a room to start in. We always start by asking our clients what areas give them the most stress and work on that first."

Once you tackle one project, it will be easier to find the motivation to do more and tackle other areas.

Declutter and Purge

The more things you have, the more difficult it is to keep those things neat and tidy. Preciado-Fonseca advises simplifying and decluttering as much as possible. “Excess leads to mess," she says. "So, apply this tried-and-true rule if purging is hard for you: If it costs $25 or less, and you haven’t used it in a year, let it go.”

She also notes that other major culprits of clutter include paper (like those bills you can easily access online), books, kids' toys they’ve outgrown, gifts you won’t use, magazines, tchotchkes, and kids' goodie bags. So make sure you take the time to get rid of items in those categories. 

Lastly, commit to decluttering regularly. While you might need to declutter places like your medicine cabinet more than once a quarter, you should probably focus your efforts on places like your pantry at least every month.

Have a Place for Everything

It’s easier to keep your home in proper order if you have a place for everything, so it’s important to take the time to establish those spots. “The toaster has a space, and the coffee mugs, and the toothbrush," Scott says. "That way there's no scrambling to figure out where to put something or the temptation to leave something lying around. It also helps you clearly see when something is out of place and prompts you to correct it.”

Invest in Supplies, if Necessary

While having a container for everything might look trendy and aesthetically pleasing, decanting your milk likely won’t make you a neater person. However, things like drawer dividers will. “If your drawers are a hot mess, consider using drawer dividers or inserts that allow you to sort and categorize items," says professional organize Kris Hargrove. "This will help you put things away quickly and find them even faster,”

Another example she shares is a dock for cords. If you always tend to have chargers and cords scattered about your house, investing in an organization system for them could help to make your space feel much less chaotic.

Create Systems

Preciado-Fonseca says implementing solutions to prevent messes in the first place can be a game changer. “Establish contained drop zones to store things, like big baskets at your door for when you first walk in to drop daily items, including backpacks and purses, or to house outgoing items,” she says.

She also suggests using smaller baskets to temporarily store small things that you might not have the energy to get to every day. “Once those baskets are full, return things to where they belong," Preciado-Fonseca says. "The key is that these be areas that contain and hide a mess. A desktop isn’t a good drop zone because it’s just a mess on top of a desk.”

Work on One New Habit a Week

Trying to change everything at once can be overwhelming, so Preciado-Fonseca recommends focusing on just one habit a week. “For example, take 10 minutes every night to get things back to the room they belong in to keep your common areas clearer or get the week’s incoming paper out of your house every Saturday," she says. From there, some of these habits will become common practice and you can fall into a more organized routine.

Be Patient With Yourself

Give yourself some grace. After all, major change isn’t always easy. Preciado-Fonseca suggests being patient with yourself while you work to incorporate better habits into your routine. “Don’t expect perfection, but do implement small changes that your future self will thank you for," she says. "When you feel unmotivated, remember how the mess makes you feel and that you want that to change. Also, don’t judge yourself for it. It can get better.”