Honoring Neurodiverse Homes with Queen of To Do

At Queen of To Do, we believe traditional standards do not define a well-functioning home. Success is defined by what feels right for you.

As we wrap up Autism Acceptance Month, we proudly celebrate the beauty and individuality of neurodiverse people and their homes.

Throw Out the Rulebook! Why Conventional Organizing Fails Neurodiverse Homes

Most mainstream advice about tidying, organizing, and “getting your life together” is built on assumptions that don’t hold true for everyone - especially for those with Autism, ADHD and other executive functioning differences. 

Strict minimalism, opaque bins hiding the contents behind them, or rigid task schedules often create more stress, not less. We’ve seen (and lived!) firsthand how so many of the conventional “shoulds” can set up neurodiverse individuals for constant, painful feelings of failure, even when they appear to have it all together outside of those walls. 

At Queen of To Do, we reject the “shoulds” and embrace a simple philosophy: the best system is the one that works for you.

How We Support Neurodiverse Homes Differently

Customization Over Conformity 

We work closely with clients to create systems that honor sensory preferences, energy rhythms, and cognitive strengths - even if they look completely unconventional. 

What does this look like?

Unconventional Refrigerator Layout - Welcome to my ADHD fridge

KC Davis (renowned author of Struggle Care) puts condiments in her refrigerator’s produce drawers and relocates produce into the doors. Condiments don’t expire as quickly (and people will dig for them), whereas fresh produce is often forgotten, and left to rot when hidden in a drawer.

Throwing Out the “Shoulds” of Baby Clothing

I struggled to keep up with laundry when my twins were infants. For the first year after they were born, I emptied half of my pantry shelves (which shared a room with my washer and dryer) and replaced the overstock with 6 laundry baskets. Two for each twin (tops and bottoms), plus 2 for their burp cloths, bedding, etc. When a load of laundry was finished in the dryer, I’d swivel 180 degrees and toss the clean stuff directly into the appropriate laundry basket. Was it pretty? No. Did it mean I saved myself the guilt of never folding their clothes and putting them away “properly”? 1000% yes, it saved me.

 

Visual Management Tools

This depends largely on the client’s needs, but instead of hidden-away organization, we often use visible, accessible cues like open shelving, labeled bins, and color-coded zones that remind household members where everything is. 

What This Looks Like:

Clear bins instead of opaque “doom bins” filled with stuff you forget you even own. A different colored laundry basket for each family member. Swapping cabinet doors for those with a transparent panel, or open shelving. Labels that are functional, attractive, and dopamine-giving.

Bringing the System to the Person, Instead of Guilt and Shame

If the mail is “supposed to be” on your desk but always ends up on the kitchen counter, forget trying to retrain the habit. If it doesn’t work for you, give yourself permission to let it go! Put a basket in the easy dump zone and give yourself a pat on the back for putting it where it belongs.

 

Radical Acceptance Gives Radical Results

Autism Acceptance is about radically, unconditionally celebrating different ways of thinking, feeling, and living. 

At Queen of To Do, we know neurodiversity is to be embraced and supported with thoughtful, compassionate design. We believe everybody deserves a home that empowers them.