Stuck on how to group things together? Coming up with categories can be tricky. So when organizers say “group like with like”, what does that even mean?

I am breaking down home organization categories for every space in your home, so you can group like with like and not worry if you are “doing it wrong”. Which you aren’t!

But sometimes having a list helps us feel better!

What Is The Like With Like Method?

This may be the oldest organizing trick in the book. It’s how stores group items together. And how the most organized individuals group items together.

Which means, you just have to group items together too!

That’s all the like with like method is. You may have heard it as “giving everything a home”. Or “zone things”.

They all mean the same. Just group the items together based on what type of product they are in the location you use them in.

That’s it. Don’t overthink this.

But if you are an over-thinker, like me, then I have a full breakdown for every single room with actual lists of categories.

How to Use Like With Like to Declutter Faster

This concept actually helps you declutter faster. Because when everything is grouped together, you can find those items that don’t fit.

I have a story for you about this very topic.

Back when I was doing in home organizing, we categorized a clients’ kitchen. As we were finishing up, we had a pile of things that didn’t fit with the kitchen categories.

So we presented these outliers to the client. As she was going through the items, she quickly realized she didn’t need them. They just had been taking up space because they were in a cabinet.

Once we got rid of the random items in cabinets, she was able to declutter confidently.

Then, as she was bringing things into the house, she was able to keep the items together based on the categories and didn’t have to do big declutter sessions because everything stayed together.

Why This Method Works for Every Room

Every room has items that need to be grouped together. Your brain does better when things make sense. And grouping items together by how you use them makes sense.

So the lists below include every area of the house. They are broken up into each area with category lists and additional posts based on your needs.

Take your time going through every area and you will find that grouping items together will help you stay organized!

Kitchen

I always recommend storing kitchen items together in one of two ways.

The first way is store the items together based on how you use them.

If you bake a lot, store all the baking items together like rolling pin, egg separator, and other baking tools with your baking flours. It just makes it easy to grab and bake.

The other way to group items is based on what that item is and store those similar items together. All cooking utensils can be stored together. All mixing bowls can be stored together.

This helps keep the entire kitchen organized if you have many people using the space.

Some of my favorite organizational categories to store like with like in the kitchen are listed below.

• Tupperware
• Cups/Mugs
• Water Bottles
• Bowls
• Silverware
• Serveware
• Plates
• Pots
• Pans
• Towels
• Vitamins/Medications
• Spices
• Meal Prep
• Strainers
• Hot Pads/Kitchen Mitts
• Cooking Utensils
• Baking Utensils
• Measuring Cups/Spoons
• Baggies + Storage Containers
• Mixing Bowls
• Small Kitchen Gadgets
• Large Kitchen Gadgets
• Baking Dishes
• Cutting Boards
• Baking Trays
• Serving Dishes/Trays
• Placemats
• Formal Place Settings
• Lunch Boxes

Here’s the specific post on how to group items together in the kitchen: Organizing A Kitchen- Full Category List And Where To Store

Pantry

When grouping items together in the pantry, try to group like with like based on how you prepare the meals. Below are some of my favorite ways to group pantry items together.

• Meal Prep
• Pasta
• Spices
• Breakfast
• Chips
• Cereal
• Baking
• Dinner
• Cooking
• Grains
• Snacks
• Rice
• Seasonings
• Flours
• Mixes
• Treats
• Sweets
• Cookies
• Fruits
• Veggies
• Crackers
• Extras
• Kids
• Nuts
• Oats
• Overstock

You can read specifics on how to categorize your pantry: How To Group Pantry Items

Clothing

When creating home organizational categories for clothing, I highly recommend looking at how you like to see your clothing.

Sometimes it is easier to group clothing by how you wear things. While other times it works best if you color-coordinate your clothing.

Either way, you will be able to find the clothing you want once you get things organized. Below are ways I like grouping like with like for clothing.

• Accessories
• Hats
• Sweaters
• Scarves
• Socks
• T-Shirts
• Long Sleeves
• Winter
• Summer
• Leggings
• Belts
• Swim
• Travel
• Shoes
• Bags
• Purses
• Shirts
• Seasonal
• Pants
• Shorts
• Bras
• Underwear
• Undergarments
• Athletic
• Tank Tops
• Lounge
• Pajamas

I have more posts on how to categorize your clothing:

How Do You Categorize Your Clothes?

The Hanger Trick For Your Closet

The Most Effective Way To Get A Color Coordinated Closet

Office

Every office space is different. So when you are thinking of categories for grouping like with like, start with how you use the space.

Then create categories based on how you use your office. Below are some of my favorite home organizational categories for grouping like with like in the office.

• Pens
• Pencils
• Scissors
• Hole Punchers
• Paper Clips
• Binder Clips
• Files
• Technology
• Chargers
• Batteries
• Travel
• Lights
• Manuals
• Gadgets
• Electronics
• Stickie Notes
• Notepads
• Notebooks
• Label Makers
• Mailing Items
• Interview Items
• Receipts
• Art Supplies

Office organizing and categorizing can be tricky based on how you use the space. So these posts can help based on how you use your office.

Where To Store Office Supplies

Going Digital With Paper Clutter

Decluttering Your Home Office

Garage

Depending on how you use your garage, you can find many ways to categorize the items. Below are some of my favorite ways to store like with like in a garage.

• Sports
• Pets
• Car
• Outdoor
• Seasonal
• Holiday
• Lights
• Kids
• Dining
• Entertaining
• Yard
• Gardening
• Paint
• Storage Covers
• Ladders
• Cleaning
• Supplies
• Tools
• Hardware
• Utilities

You can find specific ways to categorize garage spaces: How To Group Garage Items

Bath

Bathroom home organizational categories can also be used in your linen closet or linen cabinet. Use the space you have to create a grouping that makes sense to the space you have using the categories below.

• Bath
• Body
• Make-Up
• Beauty
• Cosmetics
• Teeth
• Face
• Eyes
• Hair
• Lips
• Travel
• Shaving
• First Aid
• Masks
• Lotions
• Lady Stuff
• Bath Bombs
• Daily
• Towels
• Medicines

Based on who is using the space, you can find more bathroom organizing and grouping posts:

How Do You Arrange Things In A Bathroom?

Keeping the Kids’ Bathroom Organized

Primary Bathroom Tour

How to Organize Your Linen Closet Like a Pro

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous items are anything that is left over. So the like with like groupings is even more important to these categories.

But they can also be super random when looking at these groupings. Below are some miscellaneous categories you might want to find a place to store within your home.

• Pets
• Cleaning
• Gift Wrap
• Home Decor
• Frames
• Books
• Manuals
• Vases
• Craft Supplies
• Tools

I call these random items floaters: How To Organize Random Stuff- Floaters

Is Like With Like The Same As Category Organizing?

They’re very similar, but not exactly the same. Category organizing is the broader concept of putting things into groups—like “office supplies,” “craft materials,” or “pantry snacks.”

The Like With Like Method goes one step deeper by grouping items that serve the same purpose or are used together.

For example:

• Category organizing: All school supplies in one bin.
• Like With Like organizing: Pens with pens, pencils with pencils, markers with markers.

Both methods work beautifully, but Like With Like gives you more clarity, reduces visual clutter, and makes everything easier to find (and put back).

What If I Don’t Have Space To Put Everything Together?

You don’t need one giant spot for every item in a category. The goal is to create consistent homes, not necessarily a single location.

If space is tight:

• Store items in micro-zones (small grouped sections in different rooms).
• Use containers or bins that clearly separate “like” items even if they live in multiple places.
• Create a “primary home” and a “secondary home” for items you use in different areas.

The magic of Like With Like is in the grouping—not in forcing everything into one big bin or shelf.

Does This Method Work For ADHD Brains?

Yes — and it actually works especially well for ADHD brains. Sorting items into clear, simple categories reduces overwhelm, decision fatigue, and visual noise. It creates an organizing system that’s fast to understand and easy to maintain.

People with ADHD often benefit from:

• Fewer, simpler categories
• Open bins or drop zones
• Clear labels
• Consistent homes so cleanup becomes automatic

Like With Like works beautifully because it removes ambiguity. When everything similar lives together, your brain doesn’t have to think about where things go—your system does the thinking for you.