Why on Earth Would I Hire a Professional Organizer?

Guys…when people ask me what I do for a living, my eyes light up as I tell them I have the privilege of helping families get more organized in their daily lives and homes (with a dash of party styling and event planning on the side).

But it is super common for them to say in response, “I didn’t even know that was a thing.” You see, everyone is aware of hiring house cleaners, wardrobe stylists and interior designers, but home organizing sits somewhere in between.

So if you are feeling bogged down with clutter, are prepping for a major life change or are convinced that there must be a better way to maximize the space in your home, enter the beauty of a session (or two) with a professional organizer. I wanted to lay out some of the reasons why I think hiring an organizer might just be the answer to your prayers (or at least help you whittle that To-Do list down this year).

PROJECT // Nursery to Kids Study Conversion

I'm SO excited to unveil this space to you as this was quite the transformation! The evolution of this room has been pretty interesting - initially it was a storage room when my client's purchased their home. About five years ago they converted it into a nursery, but their boys are now sharing a room down the hall.

So, it was time to transform this space into a little nook perfect for studying, crafting and building some pretty incredible Lego creations. I think we have a couple of future engineers on our hands with some of the designs I saw!

The Baer Minimalist's Favorite Organizing Products

As we settle into the new year, I'm sure many of you have made resolutions that include things like decluttering your house, spending more time with family and friends or just being more organized/on top of things in general.

By starting small, with a single closet or space, you might be surprised at the motivation this causes in other areas of your life.

I recently had a friend reach out as she was stumped with how to organize her hall closet which needed to house everything from linens to beach towels to medicine for her family of four. She was several states away, so this was my first time tackling a virtual organization job and it was so fun to see the progress after a shopping trip on her end and about one hour of time organizing the closet.

Which leads me to sharing a few of my favorite products for organization (many of which I recommended in her space).

PROJECT // Kitchen Pantries Before + Afters

Oh Pantries! How I love organizing these little (and sometimes big) spaces!!

It always starts the same way...checking those handy expiration dates. It's amazing how many items are hidden inside the pantry that expired one, two, sometimes eight years ago. Once we've cleared the clutter, it's time to get things in order.

No matter what the space looks like, my goal is to create zones on the shelves that fit the family's lifestyle. These could be anything from beverages, to breakfast, to baking, to grab-and-go snacks.

Pantries are also probably the space in your home that are replenished most often, so labeling is uber-important. My favorite markers for labeling are these chalk markers that come in such vibrant colors and work on tons of different surfaces. White and black are certainly the go-tos, but adding a pop of color is so fun, especially when kiddos are using the space.

PROJECT // Polished Family Room for Four

A few months back, I was tasked with helping a family of (almost) four style their family room. They wanted a cozy, comfortable vibe, but also felt like it was time to upgrade furniture that had been moving from house to house with them since college!

Could I help pull together this room? Shop on their behalf? Style the bookshelves?

Um....yes please!

Here is a sneak peek from my very first visit - it was time to say goodbye to the maroon chair + ottoman and pull this room together!

Organized | LIFE, Organized | SPACESMaria BaerNovember 20, 2017The Baer Minimalist, LLCBefore/After, Stylized, Client ProjectComment

Tiny Space // Max Potential

I recently worked with a client who lives in a one-bedroom home in a really cool little pocket of Indianapolis called Fountain Square. This lucky gal is within walking distance to work, groceries, restaurants & bars. Dream life, right?!

However, this 600-square foot home has just one closet (located in the bedroom), so she’s had to be very creative when it comes to housing all of her possessions. Upon move-in she opted to have the stackable washer/dryer removed so that she’d have one more space to keep belongings.

Well, this space has become her true catch-all. In her words, “The only spot I have for major storage had become a black hole for odds and ends in my house.” She had quite the mix of electronics, toiletries, gift wrapping supplies, sheets, towels, games and and memorabilia all craving to be organized.

Just Get Started!

One of the benefits of working with a professional organizer is the ability to kick-start a project into gear. My approach when working with clients is to just get started.

Here are a few tips to make the process easier:

1. VISUALIZE how you want the space to look once it has been cleared of unwanted items – maybe you’ll treat yourself to a candle, turn on your favorite tunes (Leon Bridges is top of my list right now) and relax with a book. Maybe not, but do think of the sanctuary that you deserve your home to be. What does that space look like? How will you use it? Breathe easy knowing you are just a few hours away from this reality.

The Baer Minimalist® Blog -- Tips, Tricks and Hacks on living a more ORGANIZED + STYLIZED Life