From Catch-All Chaos to Purposeful Spaces
How to Transform Your Home's Problem Rooms
Do you have a room (or two) in your home that has no clear identity? Maybe it started as a guest room but somehow evolved into part office, part exercise space, and part storage unit for random items that don't belong anywhere else.
You're not alone. I was recently chatting with a friend who described her two spare rooms as "black holes" where everything without a home seems to gravitate. She was frustrated not just by the clutter, but by her inability to decide what these rooms should actually be.
"I can't decide what to keep or how to organize it because I don't even know what these rooms are supposed to be," she admitted.
This is a common challenge I see with my clients. When a space lacks a clear purpose, it becomes a magnet for clutter and indecision. But there's a solution that goes deeper than storage bins and organizing systems.
Why "Catch-All" Rooms Happen
Before we fix the problem, let's understand why these spaces develop in the first place:
Unclear priorities: Without deciding what matters most, everything seems equally important
Future planning: Keeping items "just in case" for hypothetical scenarios
Delayed decisions: Temporarily placing items somewhere "for now" until you decide what to do with them
Competing needs: Genuinely needing space for multiple functions but not having a system for coexistence
The result? Rooms that serve many purposes but excel at none of them. A treadmill buried under laundry doesn't support your fitness goals. A desk covered in holiday decorations doesn't enhance productivity.
Start with Feeling, Not Function
The breakthrough moment in my conversation with my friend came when I suggested a different approach: "Instead of starting with what you want to do in each room, start with how you want to feel in them."
This simple shift changes everything.
Rather than getting caught in the weeds of "where will I put this stuff?", begin by envisioning the emotional experience you want from each space:
Do you want to feel energized and focused?
Peaceful and restored?
Creative and inspired?
Connected and social?
When you clarify the feeling you want, decisions about items become much clearer. That exercise bike either supports your vision of an "energizing" space or it doesn't. Those craft supplies either contribute to your "creative" environment or they're just adding visual noise.
Step-by-Step | Transforming Your Catch-All Rooms
Define Your Desired Feeling for Each Room
Take some time to sit in each space and ask:
What feeling would best support my life right now?
When I walk into this room, what emotion would I like to experience?
What words describe the atmosphere I want to create?
Choose 2-3 words for each room. For example:
Guest Room: "Welcoming, Comfortable, Peaceful"
Office: "Focused, Inspired, Organized"
Exercise Space: "Energizing, Motivating, Spacious"
Write these words down and keep them visible as you work on the space.
2. Evaluate Each Item Against Your Vision
Now comes the decision-making framework. For every item in the room, ask:
Does this item contribute to my desired feeling?
Does it actively work against my vision?
Is it neutral but necessary?
Be honest with yourself. That pile of papers doesn't create "peaceful." The exercise equipment hidden behind boxes isn't supporting "energizing."
3. Prioritize Functions Based on Frequency and Importance
If you truly need a multi-purpose room, determine a clear hierarchy:
Primary function: What will you do here most often? (70% of the space)
Secondary function: Your next most important use (20% of the space)
Occasional function: Used infrequently (10% of the space)
For example, if a room is primarily an office (focused) that occasionally hosts guests (welcoming), design it as an office first with thoughtful elements that can transform it for guests when needed.
4. Create Visual Boundaries for Different Functions
Multi-purpose rooms work best when different functions have clear, visual separation:
Use area rugs to define different zones
Position furniture to create natural divisions
Use room dividers, bookcases, or curtains for physical separation
Apply color coding to visually distinguish areas
Each zone should visually communicate its purpose at a glance.
5. Choose Storage Solutions That Support Your Vision
Only after you've clarified purpose and feeling should you consider storage solutions. Choose options that:
Reinforce your desired feeling (closed storage for "peaceful" spaces, visible storage for "inspired" areas)
Fit the primary function of the room
Make transition between functions simple if it's a multi-purpose space
Remember: storage should serve your vision, not determine it.
Real-Life Example | Jamie's Transformation
My client Jamie had a spare room that had become a dumping ground for everything from holiday decorations to workout equipment to old files and papers.
We started by identifying her desired feeling: "Focused and Inspired."
Once she had this clarity, she realized that while she wanted space for occasional guests, what she really needed was a dedicated home office where she could work productively without distractions or having to set up and clean up each time.
We established:
Primary function (70%): Home office with a proper desk, ergonomic chair, and organized filing system
Secondary function (20%): Reading nook with a comfortable chair and good lighting
Occasional function (10%): Guest accommodation via a sleek futon that complemented her office aesthetic
By focusing on how she wanted to feel in the space rather than just what to do with all the stuff, Jamie created a home office that actually enhanced her productivity rather than adding to her stress.
Your Turn: From Catch-All to Purposeful
Ready to transform your catch-all chaos?
Choose one problem room to start with
Identify 2-3 feeling words for your vision
Evaluate every item against those words
Establish a clear hierarchy of functions
Only then consider storage solutions
