Do Not Rush to Buy Storage Boxes for Seasonal Organizing: Do These 3 Things First

The biggest mistake I have made is rushing to buy storage boxes every seasonal transition.

So what happened? I bought a dozen boxes, used three, and the rest piled up on top of the cabinet collecting dust. Later I realized the first step in seasonal storage is not shopping—it is doing these 3 things first.

First: Take Everything Out

I know it is troublesome, but I am telling you, this is the most important step.

Take out all seasonal clothes, comforters, and clutter. Spread them on the bed or floor. Only then will you discover: I have so much stuff.

Last time I did this, I found 47 pairs of socks. You read that right—47 pairs. I do not even know how I accumulated them.

Second: Declutter Before Categorizing

This step has two actions: declutter and categorize.

The declutter standard is simple—anything you have not worn, used, or felt attached to in the past year, let it go.

Categorizing is also simple—sort remaining items by usage frequency:

• Daily use → Store at the front, most accessible positions
• Weekly use → Store in middle layers
• Used less than once a month → Tuck away, in the back or top of the closet

Third: Measure Your Cabinets

This step is important, but I completely ignored it before.

Before buying storage boxes, measure your cabinet first—depth, width, height, all of it.

I once bought a popular drawer-style storage box, only to find it was too tall and the cabinet door would not close. Returning it was a hassle, so I ended up giving it away.

My Conclusion

The core of seasonal organizing is reducing decision costs. Do you want to spend 5 minutes or 30 seconds finding clothes every day? The answer is obvious.

Put frequently used items at the front, less used items in the back—it is that simple.

What is your biggest seasonal organizing headache? Let us chat.