We all know the classic organizing strategies: by category, by room, by frequency of use. But if you’re looking for a new way to streamline your space and simplify decision-making, try the Cousins or Coworkers Method.
This playful but effective organizing hack is all about grouping your belongings based on how closely they relate to each other in function and use just like people in your life.
What Is the Cousins or Coworkers Method?
Imagine every item in your home or office belongs to a “family” or a “team.” Some are tight-knit like siblings—they get used together all the time. Others are more like cousins—related, but only see each other occasionally. And some? They’re coworkers—they don’t live in the same category, but they come together when it’s time to get something done.
By thinking in terms of how items work together in real life, not just how they’re labeled, you can create an intuitive, efficient, and visually calming space.
How to Use the Method in Different Spaces
In the Kitchen:
- Cousins: Group baking items like measuring cups, cookie sheets, rolling pins, and cookie cutters in one drawer or cabinet. You may not use them daily, but when it’s baking time, you need them all.
- Coworkers: Coffee mugs, filters, and your favorite bag of beans? They’re coworkers in your morning routine. Set up a coffee station so they can collaborate efficiently.
Hack: Use a lazy Susan or divided bin to keep “coworkers” in close proximity in cabinets or on counters.
In the Office:
- Cousins: Think of your art supplies—colored pens, markers, rulers, washi tape. They’re not used daily, but they “see” each other often during creative projects.
- Coworkers: Printer, paper, ink cartridges. They may not look alike, but they work together and should live close to each other.
Hack: Label bins or drawers based on task (“Mailing Station,” “Creative Supplies”) instead of category (“Markers,” “Stamps”) to make retrieval more intuitive.
In the Bathroom:
- Cousins: Hair products, brushes, and accessories. These all contribute to your styling routine but may be used at different times.
- Coworkers: Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss. They work together daily and should live in a tight team.
Hack: Use drawer dividers to separate by routine instead of product type. This way, you grab what you need without rummaging.
Why It Works:
- Reduces decision fatigue: You instinctively know where things “go” because they live with their related items.
- Supports task-based organization: Perfect if you like to think in terms of routines or workflows.
- ustomizable for any lifestyle: Works equally well for busy parents, creative professionals, or anyone juggling multiple roles at home.
Quick Tips to Get Started:
- Audit by activity: Think through your daily or weekly routines. What tools or items do you always reach for together?
- Zone your space: Create micro-areas based on tasks (e.g., a smoothie zone in your kitchen, a packing zone in your closet).
- Contain the group: Use baskets, trays, or drawer dividers to keep “cousins” or “coworkers” close.
- Label with context: Instead of labeling a bin “Misc,” try “Weekend Prep” or “Morning Routine” for more clarity.
- Edit often: As your lifestyle changes, so do your work teams and family ties—so revisit your groupings regularly.
Whether you’re dealing with cluttered drawers, chaotic cabinets, or just trying to make sense of a multi-use space, the Cousins or Coworkers Method brings function and fun back into organizing. It’s a system based on how you live, not just how things are “supposed” to be stored.
Try it out—and give your belongings the “family” they deserve.
