The “Wallet Trick” Got My Kitchen Cabinets and Spice Rack So Organized

A while back, I started using visual cues to help my preschooler stay organized. I taped pictures of different clothing items onto his dresser drawers so he could see where everything belonged. The change was almost immediate: He became more willing to get dressed, put away laundry, and take ownership of his things. I expanded the idea to toy bins, and it worked just as well.

Meanwhile, I was still struggling to get my own organizing habits to stick. My biggest issue is speed: It takes 15 seconds to shove groceries onto the nearest pantry shelf and maybe 45 seconds to put them where they belong. Without a reminder in the moment, I always choose the faster option — and that’s how organized spaces slowly turn into junk drawers. I even tried labeling shelves with blue painters tape, hoping a constant visual reminder would retrain my brain on where things needed to go. It helped for a while, but in the end, it didn’t last.

I needed something that would stop me right when I was about to cut corners. Enter the wallet trick.

In an Instagram Reel, pro organizer Amber of Brightly Organized shows a simple visual organizing method using 2×3 wallet-size photos placed inside cabinets and drawers. The idea is straightforward: Take photos of your spaces when they’re fully organized, print them small, and keep them visible where items are stored.

The photos act as a visual reminder of where everything belongs and how the space is meant to look. Instead of relying on memory or motivation, you can glance at the image and reset the area accordingly. This is especially helpful in shared households, since everyone is working from the same visual guide.

I organized my cabinets and spice rack exactly how I wanted them, then took photos of each space in its “ideal” state. I ordered wallet-size prints, slipped them into photo sleeves, and attached them inside the cabinets using Velcro dots so they’d be easy to swap out later.

The difference was immediate. Instead of letting things slowly get messy, the photo reminds me there’s a clear, easy way to reset the space. I don’t have to rethink or redesign — I just follow the picture. It’s also made our home more accessible. My son can help put dishes away by matching items to the images, and my husband can quickly check where things belong instead of guessing.

Our home still doesn’t look like an Instagram Reel — and that’s fine. But the wallet trick makes it much easier to get back to our baseline, and because it’s modular, I can update it anytime our needs change. For the first time, an organizing system feels realistic for everyone in our house.