Find What You Need When You Need It With Urgency Zones

Left: Woman efficiently organizing a shelf with bins and containers, creating clear urgency zones. Right: Bowl with keys and small items strategically placed for easy access.

I’ve written extensively about organizing solutions over the years, but I still come across interesting new ways to tackle this ubiquitous problem. I recently encountered a new-to-me organizing method called “Urgency Zones” that takes an appealingly practical approach to getting organized.

The method centers on four distinct storage zones based on urgency and frequency of use. The idea is to store urgently-needed items close at hand, while keeping items you don’t need urgently and don’t use frequently out of the way.

Jillee’s Take:

Organizing around urgency makes a lot of sense because it ensures easy access to things you need quickly, like medicine or batteries. It also helps you avoid cluttering up your most accessible storage areas with non-urgent items, like seasonal decor or old tax returns.

How To Use Urgency Zones To Get Organized

In the YouTube video I watched, Maurice Moves had impeccably organized cabinets and shelves replete with neatly labeled bins. But you don’t have to use urgency zones exactly like Maurice — the concept can still be useful, even if doesn’t look Pinterest-worthy.

Zone 1: Everyday-Use Items

The first type of zone concerns items you use every day. The idea is to keep these items handy, so you should be able to grab them without opening a closet or drawer.

Set up a small basket, tray, or box by the front door for items you need when leaving the house, like your keys and sunglasses.
Place a tray on your nightstand for your phone, jewelry, eyeglasses, lotion, and other necessities.

An easy and quick solution for clutter control, this cabinet houses both regular medicine and cold medicine.

Zone 2: Urgent Items

This zone is for things you need urgently (though you may not use them very frequently). These items should be easily accessible so you can get to them quickly when you need them.

Designate a drawer for storing batteries and small tools, and use dividers to keep them organized.
Keep pain relievers, cold medicine, and other urgent medications in a bin on a shelf that’s easy to get to. (Kids or grandkids? Make sure the shelf is out of their reach!)

Over the door organizer holds art supplies, including markers, glue sticks, popsicle sticks, and a glue gun in its clear pockets.

Zone 3: Frequently Used Items

The third type of zone is for items you use somewhat frequently but aren’t typically urgent. These items should be organized sensibly, but they don’t need to be kept somewhere you can get to them immediately.

Store hobby materials together in a clearly labeled storage bin or tote.
Hanging pocket organizers are great for Zone 3 items! They keep things organized and make use of vertical space that would otherwise go to waste.

Four plastic storage bins filled with assorted Christmas decorations, including ornaments and ribbons, stacked against a wall on a wooden floor.

Zone 4: Infrequently Used Items

The final zone concerns items you use infrequently and are not urgent. These items can be stored in areas that are less readily accessible, like your garage or attic.

Except for vital personal documents like birth certificates, most household documents can be kept somewhere out of the way. (I’ve got some great tips on how to organize household papers!)
Memorabilia, holiday decor, and items of sentimental value you don’t want to display can be kept in Zone 4 storage. (If you have an overwhelming amount of stuff that falls into this category, it might be time to do some decluttering!)

3 Helpful Tips For Using Urgency Zones

Try Groups Of Three. The video mentions that groups of three can help keep things looking tidy, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can only store three items in one place! Three baskets or bins in an area can look neat as well.
Label Your Containers. Neatly labeled storage containers are aesthetically pleasing and practical. Make sure you know where everything is by labeling storage containers with whatever you have on hand — even a piece of painter’s tape!
Hide Eyesores. Some household items can be unsightly even when they’re organized, like charging cables and cords. The best way to deal with these items is to store them somewhere out of sight — I’ve got some tips that can help you hide cords and cables.

A cozy living room with a brown leather sectional, a navy-blue armchair, a round coffee table, and a white entry door. A wall sign reads

Conclusion

Without some sort of organizing system in place, clutter can accumulate quickly and make it harder to keep your home clean. (Even a task as simple as wiping the countertop can take twice as long if you have to clear piles of clutter off it first!)

Urgency zones are a very practical way to approach storage and organization. They can help you store urgent and frequently used items in places that are easily accessible without adding to clutter. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

What’s your approach to organizing your home?