Ashley Murphy and Molly Graves’ Home Organization Tips

Organization Tips from Ashley Murphy and Molly Graves: Transform Your Home with The Neat Method

Creating an organized, clutter-free home is more than just aesthetics—it’s about building a foundation for a calmer, more peaceful life. Ashley Murphy and Molly Graves, founders of The Neat Method, have dedicated their careers to helping thousands of families across the United States achieve exactly that. With a shared passion for functional design and organized living, these organizational experts have transformed homes from Dallas to Denver, New York to Las Vegas, and everywhere in between. Their philosophy centers on one simple truth: when your home is organized, your life becomes more manageable, and you gain the freedom to focus on what truly matters—peace, calm, and time with your loved ones.

Understanding Why Your Home Feels Cluttered

Before diving into organizational solutions, Ashley and Molly emphasize the importance of understanding the root cause of your clutter. This foundational step determines which strategies will work best for your unique situation. According to The Neat Method’s analysis, homeowners who struggle with clutter typically fall into one of three categories.

Too Busy: If you’re constantly on the go, you likely lack a solid system for managing the items you purchase. Without designated storage spaces, new acquisitions pile up without a home, creating excess clutter throughout your space. The solution involves establishing clear organizational systems before bringing new items into your home.

Too Worried: Some people hesitate to let go of items due to sentimental attachment, guilt about unused purchases, or the “just in case” mentality. This emotional attachment to possessions makes decluttering emotionally taxing and requires a compassionate, thoughtful approach.

Too Overwhelmed: When facing a massive organizational project, many people freeze and do nothing. The sheer volume of work feels impossible, leading to procrastination and continued clutter accumulation.

By identifying which category resonates with you, you can tailor your organizational approach to address your specific challenges rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all solution.

The Purge First Philosophy: Toss Before You Store

One of the most critical mistakes people make when organizing is purchasing storage solutions before purging their belongings. Ashley and Molly strongly advocate for the “Toss First” approach, which involves removing items you no longer need, use, or love before buying any organizational products.

When evaluating items, ask yourself the crucial question: “Will I REALLY ever use this?” You’d be surprised at how often the honest answer is a resounding “No.” This mindset shift is transformative. Instead of organizing things that should be recycled, donated, or repurposed, you’re creating systems for items that genuinely add value to your life.

The benefits of purging first are substantial. You’ll eliminate unnecessary items, create more physical space, and gain clarity about what truly belongs in your home. Only after this crucial step should you venture to storage retailers to purchase organizational tools specifically sized and suited for the items you’re actually keeping.

Start Small: The Bite-Sized Approach to Organization

Ashley and Molly understand that tackling an entire home at once feels overwhelming and often leads to failure. That’s why they champion the “Start Small” strategy, which breaks large organizational projects into manageable, bite-sized pieces.

Rather than dedicating an entire week to spring cleaning, consider organizing one shelf, one drawer, the refrigerator, or one closet in a single sitting. This lower barrier to entry makes projects feel achievable and prevents burnout. The key is consistency—pick one small space today, complete the project, then return in a few months to evaluate what’s working and what needs adjustment.

This gradual approach has several advantages. It allows you to implement systems without feeling overwhelmed, gives you time to adapt processes based on real-world use, and builds momentum. Success in organizing one drawer often inspires confidence to tackle the next project. Small wins compound, gradually transforming your entire home from cluttered to organized without requiring an exhausting marathon effort.

Group Like Items Together

A fundamental organizational principle that Ashley and Molly emphasize is grouping similar items together. This strategy works whether you’re organizing a closet, kitchen, bathroom, or pantry.

When working through your belongings, collect all items in the same category from different locations. For example, if you’re organizing linens, gather all sheets, pillowcases, and blankets from your closet, guest bedroom, linen cabinet, and any other storage areas. Seeing everything in one place provides perspective on quantity and helps you identify duplicates or excess.

This approach also prevents the frustration of discovering you already owned something similar hidden in another room. By consolidating like items, you create unified systems and can store everything in one logical location, making items far easier to find and maintain.

Essential Organization Tools and Products

While Neat Method doesn’t believe you need expensive or fancy organizational products, having the right tools significantly improves results. Ashley and Molly recommend several proven solutions that work across different spaces.

Expandable Drawer Organizers and Dividers: These budget-friendly tools keep drawers tidy and prevent items from shifting. They don’t need to be expensive—quality options are available at retailers like Walmart and other mass-market stores. Expandable dividers adapt to various drawer sizes, making them versatile for different rooms.

Matching Hangers: If you do nothing else for your closet, switching to matching hangers creates an immediate visual upgrade. Slim hangers save valuable space while ensuring all items hang at consistent heights, creating a polished, elevated appearance.

Coordinating Bins and Baskets: Use matching or coordinating bins to corral categories like scarves, swimwear, or athletic wear. Mismatched containers create visual clutter, while coordinated options enhance the overall aesthetic. Label everything clearly so family members know where items belong.

Rotating Racks and Risers: Keep frequently used items in view and easy to access. Rotating racks work wonderfully in pantries and cabinets, while risers and stands help display accessories, handbags, and jewelry at eye level where they’re more likely to be used.

Measurements Matter: The Before You Shop Strategy

Before purchasing a single organizational product, bring measurements of the spaces you’re organizing. Better yet, snap photos with your smartphone of drawers, closets, shelves, and cabinets you need to organize. This simple step saves countless frustrating trips back and forth between your home and the store.

Photographing your spaces also helps you remember exact dimensions, understand spatial relationships, and visualize how potential storage solutions will fit. You can reference these images while shopping, ensuring purchases are appropriately sized and prevent the common problem of buying organizational tools that don’t fit properly or aren’t suitable for your specific needs.

Closet Organization: Five Steps to Neat Success

The closet is often the first space people want to organize, and Neat Method has perfected a five-step closet organization system.

1. Matching Hangers: Invest in a matching hanger set. Slim hangers are especially valuable as they save considerable rod space. This single change immediately elevates the closet’s appearance while providing practical benefits.

2. Coordinating Bins: Use matching bins on shelves to store items like scarves, swimwear, and seasonal clothing. Consistency in bin style and color prevents visual chaos and makes the space feel curated and intentional.

3. File Folded Clothing: When drawer or bin space is limited, file fold your clothing. This vertical storage method allows you to see every item at a glance and maximizes space efficiency. Fold items to the height of your drawer or bin, then store in upright rows with the fold facing outward.

4. Accessible Daily Use Items: Keep frequently worn clothes and accessories at eye level and within easy reach. Reserve harder-to-access spaces for seasonal or occasional-use items.

5. Accessories Display: If space allows, dedicate eye-level shelves to displaying jewelry, handbags, hats, and clutches. Use stands, risers, and handbag inserts to provide structure and increase visibility. Beautiful, accessible displays encourage you to actually use these items rather than forgetting about them.

Maintaining Your Organized Spaces

Organization isn’t a one-time project—it’s an ongoing practice. To keep spaces neat long-term, consider implementing seasonal switches where you rotate seasonal clothing and items. This prevents closets from becoming overstuffed and ensures you’re only accessing items relevant to the current season.

Create a capsule wardrobe approach in your closet, keeping a curated collection of versatile, coordinating pieces. This reduces decision fatigue, saves space, and ensures you love everything you own.

The Ladies Swap Strategy: Creative Solutions for Excess Stuff

Not everything that needs to leave your home should go to Goodwill or be discarded. Ashley and Molly recommend hosting clothing swaps, book swaps, or kitchen swaps with friends, family, or neighbors. This approach provides several benefits.

First, it honors items you invested in but no longer use, allowing them to find new homes with people who will love them. Second, it strengthens friendships through an interactive, fun experience. Third, it’s environmentally responsible, keeping perfectly good items out of landfills. Finally, it’s economical—you acquire new-to-you items without spending money. These win-win-win scenarios transform decluttering from a guilt-ridden process into a celebration of generosity and community.

Bringing In Professional Help: When to Call The Neat Method

While DIY organization is absolutely achievable, sometimes professional guidance accelerates results. The Neat Method team offers comprehensive services, handling everything from single rooms to entire homes. Their process includes completely emptying spaces, sorting items into categories (keep, toss, donate, consign), and creating customized organizational systems.

Working with professional organizers provides emotional support during the decluttering process, expert system design tailored to your lifestyle, and access to professional-grade organizational products. Many clients report feeling a profound sense of calm and peace after professional organization—a feeling worth investing in if you have the means.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where should I start when organizing my entire home?

A: Start with one small space like a junk drawer, single shelf, or bathroom cabinet. Complete that project, then assess what’s working a few months later. This approach prevents overwhelm and builds organizational momentum.

Q: Should I buy organizing products before or after decluttering?

A: Always declutter and purge first. Buying organizational products before removing excess items means you’ll likely purchase the wrong sizes and styles. Purge first, measure second, then shop for specific solutions.

Q: What’s the best way to fold clothes to save space?

A: File folding is ideal for maximizing drawer and bin space. Fold items to the height of your storage container, then stand them upright in rows. This method allows you to see every item at a glance and uses vertical space efficiently.

Q: How do I maintain organized spaces long-term?

A: Implement seasonal switches, establish designated homes for everything, and use matching storage containers. Review your systems every few months and adjust as needed based on how you actually use your space.

Q: Are expensive organizing products necessary?

A: No. Functional, affordable options from mass-market retailers work just as well as expensive products. Focus on matching or coordinating containers and ensuring products fit your specific spaces rather than spending premium prices.

Q: How can I deal with sentimental items I don’t use?

A: Consider hosting a swap with friends or family, especially for clothing or books. This allows items to be loved and used again rather than stored or discarded. For deeply sentimental items you can’t part with, allocate one designated bin and store it properly.