A Simple Shift That Can Change How You See Clutter
When it comes to organizing your home, most people think in terms of what they’re tolerating. The piles on the counter, the overstuffed drawers, the things that have slowly blended into the background of daily life.
But what if that’s not the most accurate way to look at it?
In this conversation, Miriam Ortiz y Pino from More Than Organized introduces a different perspective. Instead of asking what you’re tolerating, she invites you to consider what you’re accommodating.
That shift matters more than it might seem.
Tolerating vs. accommodating
To tolerate something means you’re simply putting up with it. It exists, and you’ve learned to live around it.
But to accommodate something means you’re actively making space for it. You’re providing room, energy, and attention. You’re giving it a place in your home and, whether you realize it or not, in your life.
When you start to look at your belongings through that lens, clutter takes on a new meaning.
You’re already making space for everything
Every item in your home is there because you’ve made space for it. You’ve allowed it to stay. You’ve created systems, even unintentionally, that support its presence.
And when those items no longer serve you, that’s where the disconnect begins.
You may still be accommodating them, even though they no longer align with your needs, your routines, or the way you want your space to function.
Why this creates that “stuck” feeling
This is where many people start to feel stuck.
It’s not just about having too much stuff. It’s about continuing to provide space for things that no longer belong.
Over time, that leads to frustration, overwhelm, and a sense that your home isn’t working the way it should.
Start with awareness, not action
One of the most practical ways to start shifting this is by taking inventory.
Not in a complicated, time-consuming way. Just by looking.
Open the drawer.
Check the back of the cabinet.
Lift the lid on the box you haven’t touched in a while.
You don’t need to make decisions right away. The goal is simply to become aware of what you’re actually accommodating.
That awareness is powerful.
Ask better questions
Once you see what’s there, you can begin to ask better questions.
Do you need multiple places for the same category of items, like batteries?
Would it make your life easier to have one designated space?
Are there things you’ve been holding onto out of habit rather than intention?
These are the kinds of shifts that start to change how your space functions.
Make space for what supports you
From there, organizing becomes less about decluttering for the sake of it and more about creating space for what truly supports you.
The goal isn’t to get rid of everything. It’s to be more intentional about what you continue to accommodate.
When you start making those shifts, even in small ways, your home begins to feel different. More functional. More aligned. Easier to maintain.
And that’s where real organization starts to take shape.
A simple question to start with
If this idea resonates with you, take a moment to look around your space today and ask yourself one simple question:
What am I accommodating that I don’t actually need to be?
You might be surprised by the answer.
