BEST OF PHILLY® 2026 WINNER FOR BEST HOME STORAGE
In our previous Q&A with Shane Bone of Simple Steps Consulting, we covered what helps people get and stay organized, make decisions, and build habits that stick. Now we’re taking the next step and looking at how custom storage can support those systems by reducing visual clutter, creating clear zones, and making it easier to keep up with day-to-day life.
1. As you’re helping clients get organized, what patterns or problem areas tend to show up again and again?
Shane: One of the biggest patterns I see is in how much stuff people accumulate and even forget. Disorganization is usually a mix of having too much stuff and no place to put it. As we work through full home projects, clients are amazed at how much they actually have. They also acknowledge how much they forgot about, and how they’ve often bought duplicates because they couldn’t find what they already had. Because of how accessible many things are today, there is little reason to hoard any one item. Rethinking how you shop, how much you buy, and being realistic about how much space you have to store things is a great way to get a handle on changing your patterns.
2. How quickly is it clear that the space itself is part of the problem, and does that change the conversation?
Shane: It’s often hard to determine the needs of the space until the contents have been processed. Sorting, grouping, and working through donations with a client will allow us to determine what is staying and how to plan accordingly. I’d prefer to only recommend necessary storage solutions that help accomplish client goals. If a client does not want to purge and donate, then honest conversations have to happen about how we can best manage what they are keeping and their organizational goals.
3. When custom storage comes in, how does it change what clients are able to do with the space?
Shane: Custom storage solutions almost always have to do with maximizing vertical storage and enhancing the aesthetic of the space we’re working with. Reducing visual clutter is a key element to creating organized, calm spaces. Custom storage allows us to consider the best way to enhance storage while also creating spaces that look clean and pulled together. When clients want things to completely disappear, we can always add doors!
4. What’s the difference between a custom storage solution and a quick “out-of-the-box” setup when it comes to staying organized?
Shane: There’s a time and place for both solutions, and evaluating the clients’ goals and the full project allows us to make the best recommendations. If we are working in a deep storage room or an attic, bringing in metal or plastic storage systems may serve the purpose and help us accomplish the goals. If we are focusing on bringing order to a playroom or enhancing a primary closet, a tailored approach to the storage systems is usually needed to maximize the project. Having the right storage system in place sets the client up for a more successful shot at getting and staying organized.
5. Are there certain situations where these challenges come up more often?
Shane: Life transitions like introducing new members to a family, sending kids off to college, moving houses, and growing a business often bring to light space challenges. These are examples of when the space around you can feel stretched or like it’s not working efficiently for you. During these times, rethinking your space with the help of a professional space planner can provide a clearer picture of how to consider the room you have to work with.
6. By the end of a project, how do you know when it’s been successful for a client?
Shane: Success is helping tease out a client’s goals, even if they can’t fully explain them, and providing a finished project that meets or exceeds their expectations. Sometimes this means helping them develop a custom storage solution to improve function and flow within their home, and sometimes it means walking them from start to finish through a full organizing and design project that allows them to love the space they are living in!
Key takeaway
Custom storage works best when it is planned around what you are keeping, how you use the space day to day, and how much visual clutter you want to eliminate.
Ready to Take the First Step?
In our first Q&A with Shane Bone, we focused on the habits and decisions that help people get started and stay consistent when organizing their home. In this follow-up, we looked at how custom storage supports those systems by reducing visual clutter, creating clear zones, and giving every category a defined home.
If you’re planning a closet, pantry, garage, home office, or any storage upgrade, start with a free design consultation with The Closet Works. If you also want hands-on support for decluttering, decision-making, and setting up sustainable organizing habits, Simple Steps can meet you where you are and help you follow through.
Partnership offering: Mention The Closet Works Inc. and receive $50 off your first project with Simple Steps Consulting.
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