TL;DR
Tetris organizing means grouping like with like, cutting the duplicates, then fitting what is left together by shape and size. Keep it simple, always leave open space for growth, and start in a confined spot like a drawer or cabinet.
Here are a few tasty bytes from a recent interview with details and tips about home organizing and why I co-authored the Organizing With Tetris book.
Why connect decluttering and Tetris?
Over the last 19 years as a pro organizer, several clients have commented that I am really great at Tetris. I do play Tetris frequently to de-stress, but without their comments, I would not have thought to package these two skill sets into one book.
How does the Tetris decluttering technique work?
Organizing your possessions ‘like with like’ is a key aspect of organizing anything. Once you have gathered all like items together AND minimized the duplicates, triplicates, etc., you can then consider organizing by shape and size, just like when playing Tetris.
What is the one big takeaway?
Keep it simple. The best long term solutions are simple and easy to remember. Do what makes sense to you and make sure there is always extra room in your spaces for growth. Just like Tetris, there should always be open space to capitalize on later!
Where in your home should you start?
Every area in a home will benefit from using Tetris principles. The easiest place to begin is in a confined space, like a drawer or cabinet. This way, you will be able to quickly see how to merge and fit organizational components, like drawer dividers and bins, together to form a cohesive storage strategy.
If you want to get your home better organized, pick up a copy of Organizing With Tetris and start playing the game of organizing!
Keep reading
- Finding Storage in Small SpacesWays to make every inch of a small home work harder.
- Tips to Keep Your Kitchen Drawers Organized and Your Life From OverflowingDrawer-by-drawer tips for a kitchen that stays tidy.
- Unique Storage Solutions for Your HomeCreative storage ideas for the spaces you already have.
Frequently asked questions
What is Tetris organizing?
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Tetris organizing starts by grouping your possessions like with like and cutting the duplicates and triplicates. Once only what you need is left, you organize those items by shape and size so they fit together, just like the falling blocks in the game, while leaving open space for later.
Where should I start organizing with Tetris principles?
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Start in a confined space, like a drawer or cabinet. A small area lets you quickly see how drawer dividers, bins and other organizing components merge and fit together into one storage plan. Every area of the home benefits from Tetris principles, but small spaces show results fastest.
Why should I leave empty space when organizing?
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Just like in Tetris, there should always be open space to use later. Leaving extra room in drawers, shelves and cabinets gives your belongings space to grow without the system breaking down. Kathi’s advice is to keep it simple and do what makes sense to you.
Originally published on Organized and Energized on June 18, 2024. Moved to addSpace and updated November 7, 2026.
