What is a Home Organizer?

“So, You’re Like Marie Kondo?”

Marie Kondo, a Japanese tidying expert, has gained worldwide fame over the past decade and has become a household name associated with home organization. She has two Netflix shows, written several books on organization, offers training programs for aspiring tidying consultants, and speaks on the topic across various platforms. As a petite, soft-spoken Asian woman myself, I sometimes wonder if that’s why I often hear this response when I tell people what I do for a living.

More often, though, when I tell people that I am a home organizer, the question I'm asked is, “What does that mean, exactly?”

Basic Overview

Admittedly, I still find it hard to answer because my clients and projects vary greatly, making it difficult to give a brief description. Usually, I say something like, “I help people create homes that are more functional, safe, and comfortable. We work together to declutter and organize their physical belongings, and I support them through any emotions that come up in the process.”

Common Responses

Even when I describe the work itself, it can be an unfamiliar concept to many people, so these are usually the conclusions they reach:

○ “So, you do interior designing.”

○ “Oh, so you are a housekeeper,” or “Oh, you’re like a maid and clean things then.”

○ “This is like home staging where you make things look nice.”

If the conversation reaches this point, I find it helpful to offer concrete, real-life examples of people who hire home organizers. This makes the abstract concept easier to understand and relate to. You can find a list of these in a future blog post.

What We Actually Do

Although our scope is broad, home organizers focus on creating functional, clutter-free living and work spaces that boost their clients’ productivity and well-being. Home organizers: 

○ Listen to their clients’ pain points, needs, and wants

○ Create customized plans based on the goals they have for their spaces

○ Offer support and guidance for decision-making

○ Set up systems to improve order and functionality

○ Teach skills and share techniques related to their desired outcomes

The organizing method varies depending on the organizer, but the approach is always client-focused. At its core, we help people gain a better understanding of their possessions, habits, and spaces.

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What do you think a home organizer does? You can learn more about the services I personally offer on my Services page.