Last Updated on 2 weeks
After nearly a decade working inside clients’ closets, kitchens, garages, and guest rooms, I can tell you this: home organizing is never just about “stuff.”
Behind every overflowing drawer or chaotic pantry is a person longing for peace, clarity, and control. Over the years, we have been invited homes, even though people feel vulnerable, or overwhelmed, because they are ready for change!
What I’ve learned along the way goes far beyond bins and labels—it’s about trust, transformation, and the quiet power of being seen.
This Work Is Not Superficial
People deeply want their homes to be organized and functional, and feel beautiful. It makes life easier, it saves time, it saves money, and it feels good.
Why People Invite Me In — Even When They’re Embarrassed
It has always amazed me that, despite people feeling anxious or ashamed of their living conditions, they still invite me into their homes. They are hopeful. They want help. They want change, but don’t know where to start.
What Does a Home Organizer Do?
Not every project is a complete transformation. Some need their closets tweaked, perhaps with color coordination, or their pantries organized.
Others need ideas for containers or shelving to utilize their space more effectively, whether it’s for a bathroom, garage, or guest room.
Sometimes people need a system for packing away holiday decorations (making it easier to decorate for the next year), or maximizing use of space in a guest room, or for storage. A home organizer wears many hats, including providing ideas for their clients’ renovations.
The Clutter We Keep Tells a Story
Over the years, I’ve seen it all:
- Piles of clothing, papers, and electronics.
- Too many toys, too many decorations.
- Loads of near-empty bottles of shampoo.
- Clothes that no longer fit.
- Exercise equipment they no longer use; but maybe they would if placed more optimally.
- Items for hobbies they no longer enjoy, or really need to organize so they can enjoy them!
- Boxes with inherited china, books, and memorabilia from loved ones who have passed.
These things aren’t just messes — they’re stories people are still processing.
Collectors v. Over Shoppers v. Sentimentalists
I’ve learned to recognize different organizing “personalities”.
Reasons for needing help range from being too busy, having just moved in or are moving out, blending families, downsizing, renovating, expecting a baby, breaking up, growing up, leaving for college, retiring, or having an injury or condition that keeps you from being able to do things yourself.
Each one needs a different approach — and a different kind of support.
What I’ve Learned From This Work
I am moved to note that most people are kind and generous of heart.
Most people are grateful.
It feels good to be in service. The relationships are highly interactive. I have learned to listen, to suggest without pushing, to be creative with solutions, and to be respectful of budgets.
This work is deep. It’s emotional. It’s personal. And deeply human.
I’ve been hugged, I have seen teary eyes of appreciation, and I have received beautiful reviews. And I have heard stories, so many stories.
At the heart of it, organizing is about care.
I have learned to respect people’s pace, their opinions, and be considerate of their level of energy. It’s a beautiful process of transformation — not just of the home, but of the person living in it.
Simple Sensory Upgrades That Transform Your Space
When organizing a space, it’s not just about functionality—it’s also about how your home feels. Here are a few often-overlooked sensory details that can personalize, highlight, and enhance your space without a huge investment.
Lighting
The versatility of lighting is often overlooked. Beyond its obvious function, consider various aspects, including temperature, wattage, size, shape, the light bulb itself, color, and shadow.
- Consider filling a corner with a low-watt, cool, hanging wood, slotted shade that throws shadows after sunset.
- Or choose a strong color shade that complements an accent wall—such as aubergine—that can change the mood with a dimmer.
- Artwork and crystals can be accented with display lights. Dark areas in closets can be lit with motion-detecting, energy-efficient sensors that come in inexpensive strips or flat rounds.
- Dim the area for romance. Brighten the area for playtime with the kids.
A little imagination with lighting can enhance any occasion.
Scents
Aromas are sometimes overlooked. However, I highly recommend finding one you love for this summer.
I choose natural and organic essential oils, to use with a diffuser. Known as aromatherapy, scents register instantly in the brain, before we are even aware that we are enjoying a fragrance. Then it can forever trigger an emotion and a memory associated with the time and place you are in.
My pick for this summer is Bergamot, likely a hybrid of lemon and bitter orange. It hails from Italy, although research of earlier history reveals that its seeds were a part of the trade routes along the Silk Road.
Among the categories of fragrances—Citrus, Fruity, Floral, Fresh, Gourmand, Spicy, Woody—Bergamot is considered a complex mix of most, and can blend with all.
Bergamot’s scent is a unique and sophisticated citrus aroma, with hints of lime, both earthy and floral. It can be uplifting yet calming. Bergamot is often included in blends named “Peace.”
Art – Visuals and Color on a Budget
Do you have great taste, but not the pocketbook to express it your way right now?
Try posters of the works of your favorite masters. They are easy to access online, and can be configured to most sizes and can usually be purchased as horizontal or vertical, to accommodate your space.
Impressionist, Abstract, Digital, Whimsy, Surreal, Photography, and much more.
Don’t settle. Add gorgeous colors and works of art that lift your spirit and express your true personality.
Shoot for the stars and surround yourself with the best — without the price tag.