Labelling can be one of the easiest ways to keep your home organised, but only if it helps you find things quickly. Here’s how.
A well-organised home starts with being able to find things quickly. Labelling your storage is a simple way to make this happen.
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With clear labels, you spend less time searching and more time enjoying your space. It also makes life easier for kids or anyone else using your storage.
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Why label your storage?
Labels help you find things faster and keep your space tidy. They make it easier for everyone in the home to know where things belong.
If you’re drawn to the minimal, tidy feel of Japanese organising, labels help keep that look functional. They make it easy to tell what’s inside, especially when all your containers look similar or the contents are hard to see.
Good labels save time, reduce frustration, make your storage system feel effortless, and, most importantly, help everyone locate things quickly.
Simple labelling tips that help the whole family stay organised
Here are four easy tips to help you label smarter without overcomplicating things:
1. Use images or icons whenever possible
Visual cues are always faster for the brain to process than written words, which is why images work so well compared to just text. Adding icons keeps your storage intuitive and easy for everyone to use.
This is especially helpful for young kids who can’t read yet but still want to be independent. A small picture of a car, a jumper, or a glue stick tells you immediately what’s inside without needing to think.
2. Use numbers for containers with rotating items
Some storage categories change constantly, and rewriting labels every time can become tiring. Using numbers is a simple workaround that still keeps your system organised. If you know what each box holds, you can just tell others the number when they need something.
This also works well for when you’re not sure what icons or images to put, or for containers that look similar to each other. It keeps your storage system clean while giving you flexibility to change what’s inside.
3. Keep label placements consistent
Consistency is the small detail that makes a big difference in how fast you find things. When every label sits in the same spot (such as top-right, bottom-left, or centre), your eyes will intuitively know where to look.
This reduces visual clutter and scanning time, especially on shelves with many containers. It also makes your space feel more orderly and keeps everything easy to navigate.
4. Avoid over-labelling
Not everything needs a label. Over-labelling can make your space feel distracting and busier than it needs to be. Label only where it genuinely helps, and let the rest stay minimal.
Some items are so obvious that adding a label does nothing but add more visual noise. If everyone in your home already knows where something is, keeping it unlabelled can actually make the area look cleaner and tidier.
How to know if your labels are working
A label is only useful if it actually helps you find what you need. If you or anyone else in the home still struggles to identify a container, the label might be too vague or unclear.
Check if labels are easy to read from a distance and use words, numbers, or icons that make sense to everyone. If you find yourself opening multiple containers to see what’s inside, it’s a sign the label needs to be improved.
It’s completely fine to want your labels to look nice and match your home’s style. An attractive label can make your storage feel more put-together and even inspire you to stay organised. But function should come first. A label that looks pretty but doesn’t make it easy to see what’s inside isn’t doing its job.
Focus on quick recognition, not decoration
A short word, a simple icon, or even just a number is often all you need. When you label intentionally and only where needed, it helps your home function better and look neater, even on the busiest days.
