Too tired to tidy? This is how pro organizers give themselves 'a grace period' but stay mess-free, even on their laziest days

We've all seen beautifully curated homes that are clutter-free at all times, but life can easily deviate from this ideal. However, it is possible to keep your home looking tidy when life gets hectic or motivation dips.

There is one simple trick professional organizers use to keep the 'clutter creep' at bay, even when they are running on empty, and you can benefit from using the same: A catch-all basket.

Deceptively simple and highly effective, this isn't about deep cleaning or fancy decluttering tips, but having a designated, temporary landing spot for everyday items that helps prevent chaos from taking root.

Why the clutter catch-all is the key to a tidy home

The problem it solves

The biggest challenge to maintaining a tidy home isn't the occasional big mess; it's the cumulative effect of items steadily multiplying around the home, leaving you feeling overwhelmed by clutter.

Individually, these are minor. Collectively, over hours or days, they transform a comfortable living space into an overwhelming mess.

Karina Toner, operations manager at Spekless Cleaning, explains, 'The mail on the counter, the shoes by the door, the blanket left on the sofa, the dishes by the sink – when you're feeling tired, down, or just plain lazy, it's so easy for these things to build.

'The item's home is either unclear, or that bit too far away – plus, there's already a mess, so what difference is one more blanket going to make With all this context, it's understandable that you resolve to come back to it later, but the truth that we all know is you're soon drowning in stuff!

'The reason clutter keeps creeping back into your home is that you haven't prepared a 'back-up plan' – a way to still keep surfaces clear, even when you're not feeling up to a full-scale tidy. That's where this insider trick comes in.'

Why it works

The effectiveness of the catch-all basket lies in its ease of implementation and the immediate, positive visual results.

Professional organizer Kenna Lee, founder of Calm Spaces, says, 'The catch-all basket works because it offers a defined, enclosed space for short-term clutter. You can think of it like a hotel room for your items: Temporary, not permanent.

'Ideally, every single item you own has an assigned home, and every time you use an item, you put it back in its home. But we're all human! That ideal isn't always realistic in our busy lives. A catch-all basket gives you a grace period without letting clutter take over.'

Much like the ODT method, the catch-all basket can help reduce a daunting mess to something simple and manageable.

Toner adds, 'In my view, this trick works so well for three key reasons. Firstly, it's low-effort: it doesn’t require sorting or decision-making in the moment.

'Secondly, it's visually calming: keeping surfaces like coffee tables and counters clear instantly makes a space feel neater. And thirdly, it's an easy habit for everyone: Once it becomes routine, even kids and housemates can pitch in.'

How to do it

Implementing this pro trick is a simple, four-step process:

1. Choose a basket or decorative bin that suits your space – open-top for easy toss-ins, lidded for visual minimalism.
2. Designate one per main room – typically the living room, entryway, and each bedroom.
3. Whenever you see something out of place, either put it where it belongs, or – if you're too tired – into the nearest catch-all basket.
4. Either daily or weekly, sort through the baskets, returning items to their home. In larger households, simplify the task by assigning one or two baskets per person.

Lee says, 'The key to using the catch-all basket system successfully is to pair it with a daily or weekly tidying routine. I recommend emptying your catch-all baskets at the end of the day, returning everything to its proper place before bedtime. Think of this as putting your items to bed at night!'

What to shop

The right catch-all basket should be both functional and aesthetically pleasing, blending seamlessly with your decor. Here are a few great options loved by the Homes & Gardens editors.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the experts

Karina Toner

With extensive contributions in Homes & Gardens, Real Homes, The Spruce, and many more, professional cleaner Karina has extensive knowledge of both commercial and residential cleaning as operation manager at Spekless.

Kenna Lee

A Certified Professional Organizer, Kenna is the founder of Calm Spaces, a professional organizing firm serving residential and business clients in the San Francisco Bay Area and Atlanta, GA. Kenna is an expert on controlling clutter, creative storage solutions, and ADHD-friendly organizing.

So there you have it – the one trick professional organizers always do to effortlessly maintain a tidy home, even on their laziest days.

The catch-all basket isn't a magical cure-all for all clutter, but it is a consistent, foundational practice that allows professional organizers to maintain impressive levels of tidiness.

By embracing this small, actionable habit, you too can effortlessly keep clutter at bay, even in your most unmotivated moments.

Next, learn how to organize any space in six steps for maximum functionality.