STYLE Then & Now: Containers, College and Changing Spaces

Tomorrow, we accompany my daughter to Connecticut to move her out of college housing for the very last time. That trip, combined with yesterday's True Confession, made the post below (from the archives) particularly apt today. 

As I re-read the post today, I thought about the containers that lasted all four years and the ones she discarded. Perhaps most notable, though, were the ones she sought out, especially this year when she lived in an off-camps house with more room to maneuver and more space to fill. Over the past four years in five different spaces (not including her bedroom at home), her tastes and styles have combined to create a personalized organizational system that works for her. I'm glad I was smart enough to step back and enjoy my front-row seat as her process took shape. 

And she's not finished. I have no doubt that process will continue to evolve as she refines it for whatever space she is in. 

For now, that space is her childhood bedroom, which she's already begun to shape into something new. Over the past few weeks, she's been sorting and tossing, making room for young adulthood as she ushers childhood out the door. 

I'm sure I'll have stories to share. Stay tuned.

Last week, we brought my daughter home from college. When we sent her off to school last year, we weren't sure what her storage space would look like, so we sent a variety of containers -- soft and squishy, round plastic without lids, rectangular see-through plastic with lids, rolling....

It was quite a combination. Some have survived the transition from one year (and one dorm room) to the next; others have been abandoned based on space restrictions, functionality or both. 

Container selection is one of my favorite parts of organization, but it can also be the most overwhelming, especially when each year brings a new room in a new building. There are so many choices, both functional and beautiful, that it's easy to get lost in the aisles, trying to narrow the choices. Add responsible shopping (matching your styles and your budget) to the list, and it can be tempting to run screaming from the store, empty-handed. 

Confused about what might work for your styles? Check out this chart, which summarizes the preferred container qualities for each personal and organizational style. As you look over the chart, think about whether or not the recommendations match your personal preferences. Where can you find crossover? 

As an I need to see it/drop and run person, I can use containers that are clear, color-coded, labeled and/or unusual/unique because these container attributes match both of my styles. My container preference, however, will change depending on what I'm storing and where I'm storing it. In addition, two people who identify themselves as the same style will have different personal preferences. Clear drawers may be a perfect match for one I need to see it person, for example, but be a disaster for another because she can’t see what’s at the back of the drawer.  

Alexas Fotos via Pixabay

What if you've identified yourself as one style, but you're drawn to containers listed in another category? As long as they haven't proven unsuccessful in the past, give them a shot! There’s no harm in trying different things to get an idea of what works and what doesn’t. 

Once the chart reflects your personal preferences, tuck it into your wallet, your purse, your glove compartment or your reusable shopping bag so you have it with you when you go to the store. 

If you’re still in the sampling stage, there are many worthwhile containers to be had at dollar stores, grocery stores and on sale at variety stores. 

If you know just what you're looking for, more power to you! Feel free to buy those perfect containers in multiples if you already know they work for your styles. Just keep the receipt in case you over-buy or underestimate in terms of size or usefulness. (Not that I would know anything about that).

What's your favorite container?