Organise products around how customers browse, and distinguish lasting categories from attributes better handled by filters.
Categories are your store's shelf layout. Customers should not need the exact product name to find something. Start with customer vocabulary rather than copying internal stock classifications.
Collect the language customers use
Listen to sales conversations and enquiries. Usage terms such as indoor, outdoor or replacement part can guide grouping. In a furniture store, observe whether people begin with rooms or product types.
Separate categories from attributes
Stable product families may deserve categories. Colour, size and price often work better as filters. Creating a category for every attribute combination makes navigation and maintenance unnecessarily complex.
Provide visible connections
Category pages should link to products, with a clear route back. Google's e-commerce structure guidance explains how navigation helps communicate product relationships. Do not rely exclusively on an internal search box to expose products.
Run a small task-based check
Ask someone to find a product with specific requirements and observe the first click. Wrong turns may reveal unclear labels. Try several tasks before changing the structure; the objective is understandable routes, not identical behaviour from every shopper.