A guide to organizing that makes tidying up easier and helps you keep it up.

Have you ever resolved to keep your room clean this year after your big year-end cleaning, put real effort into it, only to find yourself growing weary bit by bit until you're sighing at the same old cluttered scene? Living with as little stress as possible at home is what matters most. That's exactly why this year we want to make full use of organizing goods to tidy up our rooms easily, without forcing ourselves.

First, keep it "loose and simple"

Even if we say "without forcing ourselves, take it easy," leaving things untouched only lets dust and clutter pile up, which becomes the biggest source of stress of all. What matters is being able to keep it up over the long term. Let's start by thinking about mindsets that lower the hurdle of tidying up.

1. Don't aim for perfection—start with what you can do

It's a familiar tidying-up scenario: once you start on one spot, you suddenly notice all the other places that have been bothering you, and your to-do list keeps growing. That feeling is important, but if you're going to tackle things you normally can't get to while juggling housework and work, why not set small, manageable goals instead of trying to do everything at once—today just the visible part of the sink, tomorrow just around the dining area? Organizing is really about creating a system that makes tidying up easy. By not spreading yourself too thin and carefully facing one spot at a time, I think you'll gradually increase the number of places you can use with a pleasant feeling.

2. Decide firmly that tidying up is only for weekends

Nothing is more exhausting than being chased by a task within limited time, and all that remains is the memory that tidying up equals feeling weighed down. Organizing your room is also about putting your mind and body in order, so it only works if you can keep it up without forcing yourself. On days when you have no room to spare, it's important to stick to the bare minimum of housework and firmly decide to save the tidying for the weekend, when you have more time and mental space. Rather than treating it like a punishment, it's more enjoyable if you approach it like a role-playing game, gradually getting closer to your goal.

3. Detox your belongings

Are you holding onto things you only used once, or things that no longer suit who you are now? We shouldn't forget to let go of things we no longer use—by giving them to someone who wants them, or recycling them. I myself am not great at tidying up, but I've recently made it a rule to reassess my belongings whenever storage space runs out. It's very simple, but I try to keep things stored as close as possible to where they're used—for example, keeping kitchen items in the kitchen. When storage is about to overflow, it's a good moment to figure out what's rarely used or unnecessary, and you often make discoveries—like wondering why on earth you bought something, or realizing you'd stashed things carelessly and created dead space. I feel this has also helped me build the habit of not buying things unnecessarily, and of really considering whether something is needed before I buy it.

Once you think about organizing your own room with these mindsets in place, the vague negative image of it being an exhausting chore fades away, and I think you can face tidying up with a more positive attitude. Now, let's take a look at some storage goods that let you start organizing your room casually, without putting too much pressure on yourself.

Storage goods that make simple, tidy spaces possible

◇ Baskets worth collecting a set of

Baskets, perhaps the classic staple of storage goods, gently conceal what's inside them, so if you're not confident about tidying up, why not start by gathering some baskets? Keeping the material and color consistent instantly makes a room look neat, so we recommend having several of the same kind on hand.

Storage Basket

Clockwise from top left: S, L, deep type

These glossy bamboo storage baskets have been closely connected to Japanese daily life since ancient times. Their soothing, comforting form is carefully crafted by hand, one by one, by skilled artisans. Taking advantage of their beautiful presence and the way bamboo baskets discreetly conceal contents, they're convenient for storing things you just can't seem to tidy away neatly.Storage Basket comes in a lineup of three sizes: S, about the size of an A4 sheet; L, which holds plenty; and a tall deep type. Depending on where you're storing things and what they are, having a few different sizes on hand lets you use them in different ways, expanding the possibilities for tidying up.

For storing clothing (top: S, bottom: L)

The deep type is large enough to hold an A4 document case, so it can also be used to gather up bulky textbooks or papers. If you decide once and for all that this is where your necessary documents go, you can grab the whole basket to study, or sort papers during odd moments of free time—an easy, good-looking way to tidy up that we highly recommend. Since this storage basket, being made of a natural material, doesn't require any special care, you can start using it right away without hesitation. You can also enjoy watching the bamboo's sheen and texture change and deepen the more you use it.

For organizing documents (deep type)

Handbasket

Left: S, Right: L

Beautifully woven bamboo baskets that make you want to take good care of even the things you put inside them—the handbag type is especially recommended. At our staff member's home, since the family drinks coffee after every meal, the filter, canister, and coffee maker are left out on the kitchen counter, and this handled basket is helpful for neatly gathering together the things you want to keep visible.

As a holder for coffee goods or tea utensils (L)

The texture and form of the bamboo have a warmth that plastic baskets lack, and they let you tidy up scattered coffee goods easily and neatly. With a handle attached, you can lift it with one hand, which reduces the trouble of moving items aside one by one when you want to clean the counter—making wiping down the surface much less of a hassle. I'd also recommend it as a holder for small items around the table that tend to pile up, like remote controls and tissues.

As a holder for small items around the table, like remote controls and tissues (L)

◇Storage bags that adapt to different places and shapes

Storage bags are more flexible than baskets, so they work well for storing things in small gaps and corners. Since they can be folded flat when not in use, it's nice to keep a few on hand as temporary storage for items that don't have a fixed place.

Paper Bag LP

Left: S size, Right: LP size

UASHMAMA's paper bags are hygienic since they can be washed when dirty, and the key point is that you can fold down the top to adjust the height to fit your storage space. With a wide range of color options, they're great for keeping things organized—use different colors depending on the purpose, such as separating onions from potatoes, or as a laundry basket to keep delicate items and colored items apart.

Although it has the sturdy texture of leather or fabric, it's made from an environmentally friendly material called cellulose fiber, derived from wood scraps, and is said to last as long as 10 years if cared for properly. Since it can be hand-washed when dirty, it's also great for holding fresh vegetables with soil still on them, or as a bag for gardening supplies. When not in use, it folds down small, so you can use it as a handy storage bag in various spots around your home.

TEMBEA×mocT Storage Basket

TEMBEA, whose appeal lies in a universal beauty that transcends place and era, takes its name from the Swahili word for "wandering." True to its name, it's a basket that pursues the comfort of being used freely wherever you like—carrying study materials from room to room, or driving to a nearby park with picnic supplies packed inside—combining storage capacity with portability. The canvas fabric used in TEMBEA is durable and becomes softer and more supple the more you use it. It gradually changes to suit whatever you put in it and how you use it, so the longer you use it, the more character it develops.

◇Small item storage that makes things easy to find

Storage boxes to keep small items that tend to get scattered—like cosmetics and writing tools—from getting lost. If you have storage sorted by frequency of use, it becomes easier to find what you need, cutting down on the time spent searching.

A4 Tray Cabinet

A kiri (paulownia wood) cabinet where you can freely store A4 documents, accessories, cutlery, and more. The simple, gentle texture of kiri harmonizes with any interior, making the area around your desk look neat and beautiful. Kiri, which resists warping even after 20 years, has moisture-regulating properties that help protect the contents from mold, making it a material well suited for storing valuable items. It's also resistant to damage, since dents can be smoothed back out by moistening the wood, which is why it has long been loved in Japan as a material for storage boxes.

Place it together with the Book House, also made from the same kiri wood

The three A4-sized trays can hold stationery, cutlery, tablets, and more, offering many ways to use them. If you have a lot of writing tools and aren't sure how to organize them, try grouping duplicates of the same item into one tray, and keeping items you use less often in a separate spot. Once you can store things simply in the cabinet, it becomes immediately obvious if something goes missing. It's the kind of item that helps you naturally develop tidy habits, without even trying.

Subako Confectionery Box

A beautiful subako made using kaba-zaiku (cherry bark craft), a traditional handicraft of Akita Prefecture. Kaba-zaiku, which uses cherry tree bark, has moisture-retaining and humidity-resisting properties, so it was historically used for storing medicine and gunpowder. This kaba-zaiku develops more shine the more it's handled day to day, gradually and beautifully shifting in color from reddish-brown to brown, so it's recommended to use it for storing everyday items. Its simple structure allows small items to be placed on the lid as well—for example, you might keep your daily-use keys on the lid, and store your seal or bicycle key inside, keeping the whole thing by the front entrance.

The pattern and sheen of the bark elegantly accent the area around your desk, making it a great choice for holding business cards or memo pads as well. The Subako Square Tray from the same series fits together neatly with the subako, so having several on hand comes in handy for organizing your desk and drawers. This kaba-zaiku, which invites you to touch it gently as if conveying a feeling, makes you want to keep it close, watching over your daily life for years to come.