Organising is about people, not just possessions.

Behind almost every enquiry there is a back story.

Someone may have been through an illness or bereavement, be moving home or dealing with a change in family circumstances. Others may simply have a busy life, no longer have the time or inclination to keep on top of everything, need another pair of hands or would rather spend their free time doing something else.

I often speak to people who are in a vulnerable situation, and they may already feel overwhelmed or even embarrassed about their home. Inviting someone they do not know into their personal space can be a big step, so being compassionate, empathetic and, most importantly, not judgemental is a big part of what I do.

Being in someone else's home is very different from organising your own. I cannot assume that what works for me will work for somebody else. I need to understand how they use their home, what matters to them and what they want to achieve.

A different kind of organising

In July, Fiona from Professionally Sorted invited me to volunteer with her at the Seaview Project in St Leonards-on-Sea, a local charity supporting homeless and vulnerable people. I was still very new to professional organising, so it was a great opportunity to get some practical experience.

We reorganised an area used for storing donated clothing and shoes, sorting everything into categories and labelling the sections so items were easier to find. Although different from someone's home, the principle was the same: seeing what was not working and making the space easier to use.

Every home is different

My projects have varied from wardrobes and kitchens to living spaces that have become difficult to manage. I do not arrive at someone's home and start telling them what needs to go. We work through their belongings together and they decide what to keep, donate or dispose of, and then we organise what is staying.

It is not always about buying lots of new storage either. Moving things to where they are actually used or reorganising existing storage can make a big difference.

One thing I had not fully appreciated is just how physical this work can be. It is certainly not all Instagram picture-perfect spaces or particularly glamorous. Sometimes it means crawling into dusty cupboards that have not seen the light of day for years, moving boxes, filling donation bags and spending hours on your feet.

I can come home dirty and exhausted but absolutely buzzing from what has been achieved. Seeing a client realise that the space they had been overwhelmed by is now usable again makes the hard work worthwhile.

For me, that is what professional home organising is really about, making your home more manageable and less stressful to live in.