I clutter. You clutter. We all clutter. That’s the reason Cornwall’s Courtney King launched Organisée in 2019. She helps clients organize their possessions and reset their spaces. We chatted with her about the art of tidying and whether or not she is guilty of being messy, too.
Why did you start your business?
A few years ago, Marie Kondo [the infamous tidying expert] inspired me to get organized. So, I decluttered my home from top to bottom and when it was all done, I felt amazing. My business stemmed from wanting to help other people find that same feeling.
What makes you a good professional organizer?
I’m, ahem, a perfectionist so I like every item to have a home. That’s not to say that I judge anyone who needs help organizing. It’s actually the opposite. Before I started my business, I was a nurse. So I use a lot of my nursing skills with my clients: communication, compassion, understanding, and trust-building. Basically, I’ve always wanted to help people. And I’m really happy I get to do that.
Is being organized really that important?
I think so because it’s tied to your mental health. Messiness leads to stress, anxiety, and distractions, among other things. In a tidy room, we know where to finds things. And that makes us feel good and have more confidence.
Let’s cut to the chase. Are people incapable of tidying for themselves?
Some people might have the skills, some might not. Either way, there’s no shame in needing help. Sometimes it’s just nice to have another person—someone who is not attached to any of the items or who doesn’t have clutter blindness—help you through the process. Hiring me is like hiring a cleaner. You could probably do it yourself but maybe you just want someone to come to do it for you!
Who are your clients?
I help many families with young kids which I love because their situation is so close to my own.
I also work closely with the Canadian Mental Health Association so 80% of my clients come through them. People who struggle with mental health issues, like hoarding disorders, anxiety, and depression have real struggles that often lead to an untidy home.
Do you have a favourite space that you like to organize?
Closets! I like them the most because people either hide or forget about things in there. It’s always a surprise when we pull something out that they haven’t seen in some time. And once we clear it out that space and make more breathing room, it’s a big “ta-da!” moment.
What’s some quick and dirty advice you’d give to people who don’t know how to start decluttering?
Start small. Don’t bother to look at everything you need to do. You’ll get overwhelmed. Sure, you can set a goal of cleaning your whole kitchen but start with and focus on one drawer.
Establish categories like Trash, Recycle, Donate, Sell, Give Away, whatever works for you. And then sort your stuff, item by item.
Finally, don’t forget to follow your decisions! There’s no point in having a Donate pile if you’re just going to keep it all!
Once a person gets organized, what would you suggest for keeping tidiness in check?
I’d say resetting the home at the end of the day is one of the best habits to get into. It makes waking up the next day so much more pleasant because there’s nothing to tidy! So clear those dishes from the counter! Put away the toys! Fluff the pillows!
Can you confess to having a disorganized space in your home?
Ha! It was a storage closet. It was full of boxes and boxes of baby stuff, Christmas decorations, and an artificial tree. Recently, I went through everything, got rid of the tree, and some of the baby stuff like a bottle that my son used two and a half years ago. To be honest, I had to ask my husband to throw it out because I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Even I’ll admit that sentimental items are hard to get rid of!
Now I feel much better about my storage closet. It was the last frontier.
