I’ve always described my style as “organized chaos.” My desk isn’t pristine, but I know exactly where everything is. My living room may not pass for minimalist, but everything has its place. And yet, when it comes to food storage, I repeatedly let the clutter win.

On the rare occasion I steel myself to clear out my kitchen cabinets, I’m met with the same familiar shame: tins of tomatoes years past their expiry date, half-used packets lurking at the back of shelves, and panic-bought duplicates taking up valuable space. Determined to break the cycle, I turned to the Japanese art of the 5Ss — a ruthlessly efficient organizational method rooted in order and intention, and it might just be the best decision I ever made for my kitchen organization.

If you’ve already embraced Japanese design principles for their calm, considered aesthetic, it’s time to look beyond the visuals. Their approach to organization is just as transformative — and, in my case, entirely worth the hype.