by Natalie Morey | Jul 29, 2016 | Home Office, Home Organisation, Office Organising
Whether you call it a professional organiser, clutter buster or home organiser, the names all mean the same thing. A home organiser is a person who helps to organise your home.
The job of a home organiser
You don’t just need to be super organised to be a professional organiser or a home organiser. Whilst that is important you also need some other important skills. You need to be able to understand and empathise with people. You need to be assertive without coming in and taking over. You need to be able to look beyond the clutter and create a vision for a room by simply standing at the door to the room. You need to be a quick thinker, faster worker and motivator.
As a home organiser, our job is not just about coming to a clients home and organising the perfect bedroom, office or kitchen, it’s about more than that. It’s also about giving our clients the necessary tools and strategies so they can keep this space organised once we leave. Therefore, being able to communicate is an important skill that any professional organiser or home organiser needs. Small rooms, the lack of storage and systems in a home or home office means that some nifty problem solving and troubleshooting is also required at all times.
About our home organisers
Luckily, we have a team of lovely and trustworthy ladies who perform our professional organising and home organiser services. They each have different personalities and specialise in different areas of organising. For us, when we start work with a new client, we always like to match them up with the most suitable professional organiser or home organiser (both skill and personality wise). After all, you have got someone coming into your home and going through your wardrobes and belongings with you, so you want to like them. That is one of the benefits of having a range of professional organisers and home organisers. You get the right person, who’s perfect for you and your home.
More than just a home organiser
I also think that is why we have so many repeat clients. (The Lifestylers Group started in 2005 and is growing from strength to strength each year). When you work with a homer organiser who is perfect for you and your home, you build up a level of trust. Once a client experiences what our professional organiser or home organiser can do for them, they often get them back again. For some clients, this might simply be an annual spring clean. For others it might become a regular occurrence, whether that be weekly, fortnightly or monthly until their home is organised. And for some clients the role becomes more than just home organising. It’s more like a private pa, virtual pa or personal concierge service. Basically, whatever is on their list gets organised. One of my team does the most diversified range of tasks for a regular client – things like:
- Paying bills and filing
- Buying the kid’s birthday and Christmas presents
- Booking restaurants and helping to plan holidays
- Organising home maintenance and supervising trades
- Visiting Australia Post
- Running errands
- Planning the kids birthday parties
So if you have a list of things on your “to do list” that you never seem to get done, then perhaps a professional organiser or home organiser might be the solution you need.
If you have ever wondering how a home organiser can help you, then give us a call. We can have a chat and go through the challenges you are facing in your home, office or life. Our home organiser services are available in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.
by Natalie Morey | Jun 3, 2016 | Home Organisation
I have met Peter Walsh a number of times and have heard him speak on all things decluttering and organising. It’s great to see an Aussie be so successful in the USA especially on a topic that I am so passionate about also. He is a lovely, down to earth guy who has some very practical tips to help you declutter and get organised. Decluttering the Peter Walsh way is fun and an easy process. After watching him on the Living Room, it got me inspired so I have included a couple of my favourite Peter Walsh declutter tips below. I hope you find them useful too.
Peter Walsh with Natalie Morey, Professional Organiser, The Lifestylers Group
He once said that “the secret to successful decluttering is this: you’ll never get organized if you don’t have a vision for the life you want”. This is so true. People have got to want to change the way they do things. They need to have a goal in mind about how they want that space to work. When I start working with a client, I get them to stand in the room and tell me how they would like to see it. It helps them develop a vision and get them motivated for the declutter process.
Another point that I think is really important to mention is that a large portion of why people need help to declutter and get organised is that they have developed bad habits. The kitchen table becomes the dumping ground for your bag, the mail and anything else you bring into the house. That pile of newspapers sits on the bench because you plan to read them at some point. When we do a declutter session with our clients we spend some time talking about this, because it’s important that people start to identify how and why the clutter is building up in their home.
Decluttering the Peter Walsh Way – The Linen Press
I love Peter Walsh’s brilliantly simple linen system. To store his white sheets, he the folds fitted sheet, top sheet, and extra pillowcases inside a pillowcase of the same set. Needless to say, he never has to ransack his linen press for an elusive match.
Decluttering a Linen Press
Decluttering the Kitchen
Image Credit: Photo: David Tsay
Decluttering the Peter Walsh Way – Plastic Food Storage Containers
To avoid accumulating a draw full of mismatched plastic containers in ten colours, Peter Walsh uses just one brand of food storage container so lids will always fit. He stacks just a few sizes in a cabinet for easy access.
However, if you don’t want to have the cost of replacing all of your plastic containers at once start with this declutter tip. It’s one of the first things I do when I am decluttering plastic containers in a client’s kitchen. Match up all the containers and get rid of any that don’t have any lids. I cannot tell you how many times I find tones of missing lids in client’s homes. They clutter up the cupboard and just get moved from one spot to another, because you can never find the matching lid. Once you have done this, stack them neatly inside each other to save space.
Decluttering your wardrobe
Decluttering the Peter Walsh Way – Wardrobe Decluttering: Reverse Coat Hanger Trick
Turn all the clothes hanging in your wardrobe so that the hangers face back-to-front. For the next six months, if you wear an item of clothing, return it to the wardrobe with the hanger facing the correct way. If you try it on but decide not to wear it, make sure you put it back with the hanger turned backward. No cheating. Be prepared for a shock; you are going to find you own lots of clothes you never wear. You should seriously consider decluttering and getting rid of anything you don’t wear regularly.
I love this quote by Peter Walsh: “Set limits for the amount of space you’re prepared to dedicate to items i.e. clothes, toys etc. – and stick to those limits. Three bins for toys, four shelves for baby cloths. Kids only need you, not all the stuff you feel attracted to”.
Keeping toys organised is a big problem many of our clients face. I am a big believer of the principal “one in” “one out” when it comes to containing the amount of “stuff” you have . So next time your child is given a toy, select an existing toy that you can donate to charity and know that you will be giving it to a child less fortunate than yours.
If you need help with your decluttering and home organising, then contact The Lifestylers Group. Based in Melbourne, we are experts at helping people to declutter and organise their homes, lives and houses.
by Natalie Morey | Nov 26, 2012 | Declutter tips, Home Office, Home Organisation, Office Organising, Tips
Christmas Organising
Now is the perfect time to get organised and make sure you write and mail your Christmas cards this year. Getting your Christmas cards out on time, only takes a little bit of forward planning, so what are you waiting for.
Tips To Get You Organised
Here are some of our key tips on making sure your Christmas cards get mailed this year.
- Type up your Christmas card list and keep it in a safe place so that you can refer to it (to add or delete names) year after year. I also put an asterisk next to any overseas addresses, as a reminder to post their card early.
- I find the easiest way to manage my Christmas Card list is in Excel. That way I can mail merge and print off addresses directly onto labels. You can also print directly onto the envelope, which saves you not only time but also the cost of the label.
- Create your own “return to sender labels” using labels purchased from Office Works. I have used http://www.coastallabels.com.au before and they were very quick and well priced. Also check out: https://www.thatsmine.com.au
- Set a date and plan to write your Christmas cards in the last week of November, because otherwise Christmas day will be here before you know it and that pile of blank Christmas cards will still be sitting on your desk.
- Christmas cards with ‘card only’ marked on the envelope can be posted at a reduced rate during November and December.
- Overseas mail at Christmas time takes longer to arrive. Plan ahead and arrange to send cards or presents in early to mid November, to avoid disappointments (and the very long queues at the post office).
- For great savings, buy Christmas cards, wrapping paper, ribbons and decorations at post-Christmas sales – you would be amazed how much you can save.
Until next time, happy organising.
Natalie Morey, Professional Organiser.
by Natalie Morey | Nov 15, 2012 | Declutter tips, Home Organisation, Tips
Christmas Organising
As professional organisers we like to be organised and start planning things well in advance, especially when it comes to Christmas. Suppliers book out quickly, so it is important to start thinking about the services you might need over the Christmas and holiday period. Home security becomes even more important at Christmas and holiday time, so now is the time to start thinking about this. Here are some tips for holiday home safety this Christmas.
Christmas Home Security Tips
- This may sound a little strange, however don’t display your Christmas tree and gifts right in the front window. Whilst it looks great with the Christmas lights flashing, it’s also an invitation for burglars to check out your Christmas shopping! If you must place your tree in front of the window, make sure you display them in a way that they are not too obvious.
- This is an oldie but a goodie – Don’t hide your door key under a mat. The first place a burglar will look for a house key is under a mat. And the second place that they will look is under a rock, flower pot or door ledge, so think again when you are hiding your key.
- Speak with a trusted friend or neighbour and leave a spare key with them, if you need to. Alternatively, you could use The Lifestylers Group, key holding service.
- I’m sure your Christmas lights look amazing, however be mindful of your security if you run a cord from inside the house, out to the lights. Even if it’s ajar, this provides easy access for would-be criminals. I always say that opportunity creates a thief.
- Don’t leave information on you answering machine that indicates you’re on holidays.
- If you are away for a while, be careful that your answer machine doesn’t fill up with messages – as it’s another clue that you’re not home.
- Arrange to forward your home phone number to your mobile, a neighbour or to The Lifestylers Group for the duration of your holiday.
- Keep your drapes or blinds closed at night. If you’re not there, then get someone to pop in each night to close the blinds and open them in the morning.
- Buy an inexpensive, 24 hour timer for your lamps. This turns them on and off, giving the illusion that you are home.
- Don’t leave your rubbish bins out on the street.
- A good friend of mine once left their rubbish bin out for two nights and on the third day, they got broken into.
- Don’t let newspapers pile up on your front door step. Get Australia Post to hold your mail. It only costs a small amount. If you have run out of time, then get The Lifestylers Group to do it for you.
One of the girls at work always says “Opportunity creates a thief”. What opportunities are you providing for a would-be thief?
The Christmas Organising Services
If you need help in organising your home security this Christmas then contact The Lifestylers Group. The Lifestylers Group can visit your home, put the blinds up and down each day, water the plants and the put the rubbish bins out (and most importantly retrieve them). We can also collect and action your mail, pay your bills and follow up on any urgent correspondence whilst you are on leave. So, now you can relax and enjoy your holiday. For more information, call The Lifestylers Group on 03 9421 1070.
Until next time, happy organising.
Natalie Morey, Professional Organiser
by Natalie Morey | Nov 8, 2012 | Declutter tips, Home Organisation, Tips
Storing Magazines
I love my monthly subscription to Gourmet Traveller, but after a couple of years I’ve started to collect quite the pile of magazines. I often (and when I say often, I mean every couple of weeks) refer back to them as I love cooking and searching for new inspirations so I don’t necessarily want to throw them out, but I need to organise and store them differently.
Declutter your Magazines
Firstly, you need to do a cull. As professional organisers, our job is to go into clients homes and help organise their rooms. I am forever telling clients that there is only so much professional organising we can do. To get the most impact you often need to reduce down the amount of “stuff” that you have first, in order to get the most out of the organising sessions and the space.
Organise your Magazines
My first tip is to turn your magazines into a feature of your living room. Sort your mags into date order and group accordingly to the different publications. Then, lay them flat and put the biggest ones on the bottom of the pile and smaller ones on top. During this process you may decide to cull ones that you know you won’t refer to again.
Or alternatively, you may cut out recipes/articles that you think you will use, place them in a labelled folder and throw the rest out. Remember to recycle them too.
Place your pile of mags (about 40cm high) on the floor, perhaps next to your sofa or wall and then place a picture frame or little ornament on them. Your once pile of messy mags now takes on a whole new designer look.
For the serious magazine hoarder, this may not work, so you may need to look for different storage options.
You can also use cardboard magazine holders. You can get a great range of colours from places like kikki-k and Officeworks. Group your magazines by title and then order by month. Don’t forget to label the magazine holders accordingly.
Every 6 – 12 months you will need to do a cull. Some people like the method whereby when you purchase a new mag, you have to throw one out. It really comes down to how often you will refer back to them, how much space you have and how many magazines you have collected.
Happy magazine organising.
Natalie Morey
Professional Organiser
