For years, a single idea of order has been marketed, based on perfectly compartmentalised drawers, clear surfaces and everything classified in meticulous detail. And it has been believed that order could only be achieved with a fixed set of behaviours and actions, the same for everyone.
However, as Sara Domínguez explains, professional organiser and creator of the From Chaos to Calm method, studies show that there are different organising personalities and that forcing oneself to use someone else’s system is usually the main cause of chronic disorganisation. As a result, order can take on different appearances and can be reached by several routes.
Not all brains organise in the same way
Sara Domínguez starts from the idea that, in relation to order and organisation, there are different brain types or personalities. There are genetic components and mental patterns that directly influence how we store, classify and retrieve things.
There are different kinds of organisers, and none of them is superior to another. Therefore, the most common mistake is to try to copy systems that work for other people without first asking whether they fit your own way of thinking.
When a system demands more energy than the person is willing to invest, or qualities they do not possess (because they have other ones), the result is always the same: things are left out and disorder appears. Understanding your organising personality isn’t about labeling you, but about designing spaces that work for you and not against you.
Visual organisers and hidden organisers
One of the first major differences Sara Domínguez highlights on the podcast Tiene Sentido is between visual and hidden organisers.
1. The visual organisers
They need to see things to remember that they exist. Keeping objects in view gives them calm and practicality.
The problem appears when too many things are left exposed. By accumulating visible objects, the space can feel chaotic, even if the person knows exactly where each item is. Kitchens with cluttered countertops or desks that are full tend to respond to this profile.
2. The hidden organisers
They prefer to have everything stored, out of sight. While the doors close, they feel the space is ordered.
The block arises when storage is unlimited and the cupboards become overloaded, to the point where opening them becomes awkward or chaotic. For these people, cultivating detachment from things will help.
Organising by large categories or by small categories
The second major variable that Sara Domínguez explains is how to categorise. Some people organise by large groups, in a way that puts all similar items together without subdividing too much. They know that “it’s there” and that is enough. This profile is very common in children, who store toys without classification because they prioritise speed.
Other people need small categories. They enjoy sorting, dividing and assigning a specific place to each item. In this case, small boxes, rigid separators and detailed compartments help them maintain order because they fit their way of thinking.
Neither approach is better than the other. The conflict arises when you try to organise without considering what you feel most comfortable with: when a person of large categories tries to sustain a micro-classification system, they won’t be able to keep it up for long. Or when someone with small categories is forced to use too open systems, because then they will feel that everything is disorganised, even if it isn’t.
The most common blockages according to each profile
Each personality has its own weak points when it comes to sustaining order:
- Hidden organisers: tend to accumulate because “it’s not seen,” until the space collapses.
- Visual organisers: can saturate surfaces and create visual noise.
- Large categories: struggle to maintain very detailed systems.
- Small categories: may spend too long tidying or get frustrated if others don’t respect their system.
Recognising these blockages allows you to anticipate and adapt the space before disorder appears.
Practical solutions that do work
Sara Domínguez stresses that the key isn’t to tidy more, but to tidy better according to your personality.
For hidden organisers and large-category organisers the following work especially well:
- Large, flexible baskets.
- Shelves with wide modular sections.
- Containers without fiddly lids.
- Systems that allow quick storing and retrieving.
For visual people, particularly if they also organise by large categories, she recommends:
- Clear trays and boxes to group objects.
- Clear labels that help establish a home for each item and reduce mental effort.
- Accessible, lidless containers that let you see contents without having to remove everything.
When different personalities share a home
One of the most important points Sara Domínguez makes is what happens when a home accommodates people with different organising styles.
In these cases, one person’s approach does not impose itself on others. In communal areas, such as the hall or the living room, the system should be adapted to the simplest, most functional level for everyone. Often that means visual and large-category solutions because they require the least effort to maintain.
Private spaces, by contrast, can be organised according to each individual’s taste. A drawer, a wardrobe or a dedicated desk allow the personal needs to be respected without generating conflicts.
Discover your way of organising and adapt your home to it
Choose a small space that tends to get untidy, such as a surface, a drawer or a shelf. Observe what kinds of objects accumulate and how you naturally leave them. Ask yourself whether you need to see them to use them or if you prefer to group them or separate them. Based on those observations, try changing only the container, not the habit. If the new system is easy to maintain for several weeks, you have found your organising personality. Order stops being a struggle when the system adapts to you, and not the other way round.
