If you've ever marvelled at a friend who seems to effortlessly manage to keep their home tidy, while you're constantly waging a war on clutter, you may have grudgingly accepted that this is one battle you're never going to win.
But according to a new book by professional declutterers and sisters Katie and Kelly McMenamin, Organise Your Way, anyone can get organised but different personalities need individual strategies, the Daily Mail reports.Â
After 30 years of observing their clients, the sisters have identified four personality types or "pixie types" - classic, fun, organic and smart - and the organisational strategies you need to employ based on which category you fall into.
According to the sisters, getting to know your personality type is key because you can develop organising strategies to suit, rather than what you feel you "should be doing".
"If you create a home for your keys where you tend to drop them by instinct as opposed to where everyone tells you they 'should' reside, then you're more likely to find them the next morning," they explain. Â
Classic pixie: Traditional and organised
You are without question the proverbial Type A, often accused of or self-described as OCD. You feel best about life when striving toward a goal and getting things done. You love being organised and try to create a routine and structure in your life. You have a harder time relaxing and having fun, especially if you've let something unfinished.
Classic characteristics:
- Likes things hidden, orderly and decluttered
- Detail and scheduled orientated
- Does well with routine
- Makes advance plans
- Likes physical to-do lists
- Likes to file paperworkÂ
You're happiest with orderly, sparse, magazine-perfect kitchens. This means lots of drawer bins and shelf risers. You can even get knife blocks that fit into cupboards, and you should get built-in waste and recycling bins or at least ones that slot under your sink.Â
Fun pixie: Adventurous but practical
You're the world's engineers and craftsmen, hands-on learners, creative problem solvers and occasional rule breakers. You enjoy getting lost in the moment so much that it means you're late a lot. You get things done but are flexible over the when and how. You are master improvisers.
Fun characteristics:
- Orderly and detail-orientated (when it matters to you)Â
- Prefers flexible scheduling
- Accomplishes things in the moment
- Relies on habit over routineÂ
- Prefers mental to-do listsÂ
- Files only with an easy systemÂ
If you're tempted to hide clutter in pre-existing bins, there are only so many vintage hatboxes a living area can handle before it starts to look like hoarding. Step away from your comfort zone and embrace the idea of a big storage desk, shelving unit or desk and keep a handful of your coordinating bins as decorative addendums. You're not indecisive as such, but you do tend to change your mind. So enlist the help of someone very decisive and a little judgmental when it comes to detoxing your wardrobe. Â
You're not indecisive as such, but you do tend to change your mind. So enlist the help of someone very decisive and a little judgmental when it comes to detoxing your wardrobe. Â
Organic pixie: Idealistic and creative
Your main goal in life is to help people. You are the idealists of the world, placing personal growth and relationships above all else. You often feel alone in your battle to place authenticity and meaning ahead of achievement and ambition.Â
Organic characteristics:Â
- Likes things out in the open
- Has a more visual memory
- Not always detail-oriented
- Prefers fixed scheduling and advance planningÂ
- Tends to pile things
- Prefers physical to-do listsÂ
 You have more clutter to clear than most, but be brutal. You'll know you're doing it right when the amount of stuff you've put in a plastic bag to throw away makes you feel anxious. Leave it sitting there for a week and rescue any items you still want. You'll find the chances of serious attachment to many toiletries is low.Â
You're an instinctive grand planner who knows how to make living space decor look good. But you probably have a ridiculous amount of books, photos and ornaments, so when it comes to setting up the storage bones for this room get floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.Â
Smart pixie: Â Inventive and clever
You are analytical and driven and set high standards for everyone, including yourself. You're the one who always ends up running things, even if you consciously try not to do it. So many CEOs, presidents and leaders are smarts. It's probably because you're intellectually curious and adept complex problem-solvers.Â
Smart characteristics:Â
- Needs to see to remember
- Detests boring routine
- Finishes things in the moment
- Prefers flexible scheduling or recurring appointments
- Also tends to pile thingsÂ
- Prefers mental to-do lists
You work best when you're motivated or have a deadline, so force your hand a wardrobe clear out by scheduling a charity pick up to take away old clothing.Â
A multipurpose living area is a bad idea for you, and it's almost essential to have separate family and living rooms to keep you sane. But if it's unavoidable, invest in attractive bins to tuck away stray toys or invest in vintage toys to match the decor so the kids can play by your side while you entertain.
NZME.
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