WOODSTOCK – Home organization is becoming more popular thanks to social media, but professional organizer Jennifer Osborn's interest started long before infinite scroll.
“I think this trend started with a popular show on HGTV,” Osborn said. “There have been a lot of reality shows where people have hundreds of millions of dollars and live in luxurious houses and everything is perfect. But that's far from real life.”
Cleaning your home office or organizing your kitchen pantry may seem daunting to many, but not to Osborn. For a professional organizer who enjoys staying organized and building organizational structure, this is a task he can complete in a day.
“Remember 30 years ago when our parents were watching HGTV and it was so boring that you wondered, 'How do I watch this?' Do you remember that? They really upped the entertainment value. What used to be dry is now interesting while providing information. ”
The mother of four, who is also the executive director of TEENS Inc., likes to store all of her family's cheese in clear plastic containers, properly labeled, and to store orange juice in clear plastic containers just for aesthetic reasons. He said that it was not realistic to pour it into a bottle. .
“I try to keep it real,” she said. “Not everyone can afford clear containers; they're really expensive. If you're trying to stay on budget, you may need to declutter and use what you already have.”
Being organized is important to Osborne, but so is sticking to a budget. One of her favorite places to buy organizational tools is Dollar Tree, where she said you can get a great deal for $20.
“Just getting rid of things or letting things go can be difficult for some people. But recognizing what you need and what you don't is the first step.”
Sitting in Osborn's home office, you can see that each item has a home. Rather than hanging photos on the wall, she has a photo shelf where she shares her family's favorite moments. Her desk is cleared of clutter, as is her workstation. The only cluttered place in her house is likely the junk drawer in the kitchen, which is surprisingly organized compared to the rest of her house.
Like any busy family, the Osborn home is no exception. I have accumulated keychains from golf tournaments, pens from business trips, and gift bags from events.
“We always make sure that items are put back where they came from and that items that we don’t really need are donated or thrown in the trash,” she said.
Osborne's interest in organizing began in 2022, after her daughter was born and Osborne took 15 weeks of maternity leave. After four weeks, she realized she was frustrated, so she approached her husband with her idea of sharing her love of organizing with the community.
“I felt like that was something that people really needed and still need,” she said. “Her husband asked me to write a business plan, so she typed it up and emailed it to him because it required a $500 investment.”
She bought a business card and insurance, but then went back to work. It took her a year to bring her Thought After Spaces, her business that provides staging, decoration and organization, to fruition, but once it did, Osborn's business blossomed into a reality.
Projects include homes, businesses, and non-profit offices. Osborn has helped homeowners free themselves from the burden of clutter. Although Osborn can complete most projects by herself, for projects that require heavy lifting, she hires her teenage son.
It takes Osborn about eight hours to transform a cluttered space into an organized one. She works closely with her clients to understand and meet their needs by completing a consultation first. Osborn can tackle almost any project with a wheeled workstation that can store everything from tools to label-making tools.
“I really encourage people to look at the items they have and recognize their uses,” she said. “For example, take these pictures,” she said, pointing to the office wall. “Personal photos, memorabilia, Happy Mother's Day cards, etc. are cute, but you don't want them taking over your office. If you want to have a home office, you need that separation.”
Osborn said it's even more important for remote employees without office space to convince them of what is and isn't necessary.
“It's a good idea to start with a thought process that goes something like this: 'This might not fit in this space,' or 'Maybe I should take a look at what I have and get rid of some things. do not have” . ”
Using the kitchen as an example, Osborne explained how cluttered spaces, such as the pantry, can be decluttered and made more practical for the whole family.
“If you want kids to be able to reach items, those items are at the bottom. Items you don't want them to reach move up towards the top shelves.”
Osborn's shelves consist of an array of mismatched containers and simple labels. This is because, as she has said before, beauty is not important to her, but rather functionality.
“I don't throw anything away,” Osborne said. “I always let my clients make that decision. I'm here to help guide them the best I can in completing the necessary tasks. I want people to be happy in their own space.” I hope you feel that way.”
For homeowners looking to declutter and create a more harmonious living space, Osborn's biggest tip is to start small.
“You don't have to organize your whole house today,” she said. “Instead, start by organizing your kitchen spice cabinet and drawers.”
Tidying up tips from Osborn:
• Know your household budget and stick to it when purchasing containers.
?Please return it immediately after use.
Clean throughout the week, leaving time for your family on the weekends.
No need to worry if the basket doesn't fit. Rather, make sure it meets your space needs.