Today I spent a beautiful day working alongside a client I've had the privilege of getting to know over the past couple of years.
She's a busy mum who spends so much of her time working, supporting her family and looking after the people around her. She's one of those beautiful souls who is always thinking of others.
So today, it was her turn for a little TLC.
We were tackling her wardrobe, and while the goal was to make the space easier to use, it was also an opportunity for her to take a breath and do something for herself.
Starting at the top (with a bit of a bang!)
We began by pulling down the vacuum storage bags from the top shelves. One was so full that the bottom split open as I was bringing it down the ladder!
We both had a good laugh, and that pretty much set the tone for the day.
There was plenty of laughter, lots of climbing up and down ladders, and a whole lot of clothing to work through.
Rather than having my client constantly moving in and out of the wardrobe, we set her up comfortably in the main bedroom with a large mirror and a space to sort through her belongings.
I moved things in and out for her, bringing clothing over to look through, taking away the items she'd made decisions about, and gradually working our way through the space.
We had places for everything:
Clothes she definitely wanted to keep
Items she wanted to try on or wasn't sure about
Clothing ready to be donated
Winter clothing to pack away for the warmer months
Snow gear and other seasonal belongings
My client could focus on making decisions about her belongings without also having to manage the physical work of moving everything around.
Working at her pace
One of the things I love most about my work is getting to know my clients.
I've worked with this particular family on and off for a couple of years now, whenever they've needed or wanted some extra help.
Over time, you learn so much about how someone thinks, what they find overwhelming, what helps them make decisions and how their family uses the spaces in their home.
That knowledge makes such a difference.
Today, I knew when to offer a little encouragement to tackle another drawer, when to suggest trying on some of the items we'd put aside, and when it was time to stop for a cup of tea, a snack or a breather.
During those little breaks, I could keep working. There were clothes to fold, donation bags to fill, shelves to wipe down and plenty of things to put away.
We didn't have to stop making progress just because my client needed a moment.
And that's something I think is really important about working alongside a professional organiser. You don't have to do everything yourself, and you don't have to push through when you're feeling overwhelmed.
We can work together in a way that suits you.
Making the wardrobe functional
Once we'd sorted through the clothing, we could start putting everything back in a way that made more sense.
My client wanted more space to hang her dresses, and she was keen to get the job done properly while we were there.
So out came the drill!
We measured up and raised one of the wardrobe's hanging rails by almost 15 centimetres, giving her longer dresses more room.
We organised the shorter hanging items, including jeans and skirts, in the upper section and made better use of the space below for longer clothing.
We also cleaned and vacuumed the wardrobe, wiped down the shelving and folded seasonal clothing into storage tubs and vacuum bags.
It wasn't about creating a picture-perfect wardrobe or buying lots of new organising products. It was about making better use of the space she already had.
Our final result?
By the end of our session, we'd achieved quite a bit!
5 bags of clothing ready for donation
19 pairs of shoes let go
2 bags of rubbish removed
2 large tubs and 3 vacuum storage bags packed away neatly
Hanging storage adjusted to better accommodate her clothing
Shelves cleaned, clothing reorganised and a much more functional space
Most importantly, my client felt refreshed.
Later, when I sent her the reel of our work together, she thanked me for my support and said she couldn't have done it so smoothly without my help.
Those little messages mean so much to me.
It's about so much more than the wardrobe
One of the things I value most about being a professional organiser is the connection I build with the people I work alongside.
There is so much value in working with clients over time. Getting to know their personalities, understanding how their minds work, learning what systems suit their households and recognising when they need a little extra support.
I don't come into someone's home expecting them to work at my pace or organise things the way I would in my own home.
It's their home, their belongings and their decisions.
In fact, one of my golden rules is that we don't make decisions about belongings that aren't my client's. If something belongs to another household member, we respect that person's ownership and leave those decisions to them.
My role is to help my client work through the things that matter to them, with no judgement and no pressure.
Today was a lovely reminder that sometimes we all need a little support to tackle something we've been putting off, especially when we're so busy looking after everyone else.
It can be incredibly refreshing to have someone come alongside you, share the workload and help you make progress on something that has been weighing on your mind.
I'm so grateful that I get to be that person for my clients.
And to my beautiful client, thank you for trusting me in your home again. I hope you enjoy your refreshed wardrobe. You absolutely deserve it.
Could your wardrobe use a little TLC too?
At Orange Organising Co., I work alongside you to create practical, functional spaces that make everyday life a little easier.
Whether we're tackling a wardrobe, a pantry, a bedroom or an entire room that's become overwhelming, we can work through it together, at your pace.
No judgement. No pressure.
Just practical, hands-on support.
