A Decluttering Expert Reveals: 3 Things I Wish My Clients Knew
A professional organiser shares three important things to know before embarking on a decluttering project
Georgia Madden
26 April 2018
There are many reasons you might choose to enlist the services of a professional to help get your home in order – perhaps you’re short of time, planning to downsize, or need a fresh pair of eyes to help you distinguish the trash from the treasures. Whatever the reasons, the process of letting go can be harder – but ultimately more rewarding – than you might expect. Here, decluttering queen Amy Revell of Simply Organised reveals the three important things to know before the start of a project.
1. Decluttering is more than just practical – it’s an investment in your family’s happiness
Have you ever been on a camping trip, living with just your basic supplies, and found you felt noticeably more relaxed, happier and strangely satisfied… and then you came home to a cluttered house, desk and garage and felt your stress levels instantly rise?
Have you ever been on a camping trip, living with just your basic supplies, and found you felt noticeably more relaxed, happier and strangely satisfied… and then you came home to a cluttered house, desk and garage and felt your stress levels instantly rise?
What’s going on? Studies have shown that the practice of decluttering has strong links to your health and happiness. People who shift their mindset and learn to let go of things are not only clearing the clutter in their homes, but also the clutter in their minds.
I wish I could give each new client a glimpse into their future decluttered life, because the small investment of time and money to declutter now is one of the best investments you can make into your family’s future happiness.
Need to call in an expert to declutter and organise your home? Find a professional organiser and storage designer near you
I wish I could give each new client a glimpse into their future decluttered life, because the small investment of time and money to declutter now is one of the best investments you can make into your family’s future happiness.
Need to call in an expert to declutter and organise your home? Find a professional organiser and storage designer near you
2. It can be quicker than you might think
Potential clients often overestimate how long it will take for us to declutter their whole homes. They expect it will take months of hard work, tens of thousands of dollars, and they’ll end up living in a stark, minimalist home.
Potential clients often overestimate how long it will take for us to declutter their whole homes. They expect it will take months of hard work, tens of thousands of dollars, and they’ll end up living in a stark, minimalist home.
On the contrary – even if clutter has been building for decades, with professional guidance you can often have your entire home decluttered in a matter of days.
My focus is on helping you declutter your home so you can get back to enjoying the good life. The magic happens when we work together. The habits, mindset changes and secrets I teach will help you declutter your home, and teach you how to stay organised.
Browse more beautiful wardrobes to inspire your own
My focus is on helping you declutter your home so you can get back to enjoying the good life. The magic happens when we work together. The habits, mindset changes and secrets I teach will help you declutter your home, and teach you how to stay organised.
Browse more beautiful wardrobes to inspire your own
3. Expect a few tears
Something people don’t expect is that more than likely there will be tears during a decluttering session. This is because our attachment to things is usually grounded in an emotional experience. Your resistance to parting with a broken teacup or an out-of-fashion dress is not usually about the items themselves, but the stories connected to them.
Part of my job is about building your self-awareness around your relationship with stuff, and then giving you the power to decide what your story will be going forward. Setting your vision is a really important part of decluttering, because once you know the life you want to build, it’s easier to remove those things that don’t fit the picture.
Something people don’t expect is that more than likely there will be tears during a decluttering session. This is because our attachment to things is usually grounded in an emotional experience. Your resistance to parting with a broken teacup or an out-of-fashion dress is not usually about the items themselves, but the stories connected to them.
Part of my job is about building your self-awareness around your relationship with stuff, and then giving you the power to decide what your story will be going forward. Setting your vision is a really important part of decluttering, because once you know the life you want to build, it’s easier to remove those things that don’t fit the picture.
I was once decluttering an artist’s studio and she told me that she wasn’t going to part with any of her artwork – it was all too precious to her. When we talked about her strong feelings, she came to realise she wasn’t actually connected to the pieces themselves, but the fact they were physical proof of all the hard work she’d put into her craft. The realisation that nothing could take away her experience or passion freed her from keeping hundreds of art pieces she wasn’t very fond of.
Instead of keeping them all, she kept just a couple of pieces she loved, and was able to display them in her home.
Instead of keeping them all, she kept just a couple of pieces she loved, and was able to display them in her home.
What’s the one thing you always get asked by clients?
Almost every client asks, “Is this the messiest house you’ve ever seen?” The question is really about people feeling vulnerable in sharing the true state of their homes and wanting to work with someone who shows acceptance, grace and understanding.
Whether my client is living in an overwhelmingly cluttered state or their home is just a bit messy, we work together to create the beautiful home they’ve been dreaming of.
Almost every client asks, “Is this the messiest house you’ve ever seen?” The question is really about people feeling vulnerable in sharing the true state of their homes and wanting to work with someone who shows acceptance, grace and understanding.
Whether my client is living in an overwhelmingly cluttered state or their home is just a bit messy, we work together to create the beautiful home they’ve been dreaming of.
What’s your ‘golden nugget’?
Decluttering can be one of the most significant shifts you choose to make in your life. It’s not always easy, but when you declutter the unnecessary from your life, you can focus on the things that will bring you joy and happiness.
If you feel stressed or overwhelmed (or you’re sick of nothing ever being put away properly!) then decluttering could well be the answer you’ve been looking for.
Decluttering can be one of the most significant shifts you choose to make in your life. It’s not always easy, but when you declutter the unnecessary from your life, you can focus on the things that will bring you joy and happiness.
If you feel stressed or overwhelmed (or you’re sick of nothing ever being put away properly!) then decluttering could well be the answer you’ve been looking for.
Your turn
Would you consider hiring a professional organiser, or have you done so in the past? Tell us about it in the Comments below. And don’t forget to like or share this story and save your favourite photos. Join the conversation.
More
Want more professional insights? Don’t miss A Property Stager Reveals: 3 Things I Wish My Clients Knew
Would you consider hiring a professional organiser, or have you done so in the past? Tell us about it in the Comments below. And don’t forget to like or share this story and save your favourite photos. Join the conversation.
More
Want more professional insights? Don’t miss A Property Stager Reveals: 3 Things I Wish My Clients Knew
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Alison
I made a resolution this year to deal with the junk mail and normal mail the day it lands in my letterbox, so I quickly check the junk mail before taking it into the house, if something attracts my interest I keep it to look at and once done it goes straight into the recycle bin the same with the junk mail that I am not interested in.
Normal mail gets checked and the envelopes go in the same bin. I have a inbox to put any bills that need paying.
Now I have no more rubbish laying around the house waiting to be removed.
Not sure I really want a professional looking at my clutter. But yes, I could just take photos and then give away what I no longer need or want. Maybe an album or a photo screen would be as good, and take up less space!
“Your resistance to parting with a broken teacup or an out-of-fashion dress is not usually about the items themselves, but the stories connected to them. “
That was exactly how I felt - the story connection, and so I always ended up putting things back on the selves. Nowadays, I am getting better at managing the emotion process.