Your Personal Comfort Tops Minimalism 

We decided to dive into a topic that we feel very passionate about with home organization: your personal comfort. Many times, professional organizers are automatically viewed as minimalists who want to help everyone become a minimalist too. That’s just not the case, especially at Organized by Keli & Co where we value being organized enough for your space and comfort level. That will look very different for everyone. 

We like to think we approach organizing sentimentally

Letting a professional organizer into your space is a big step. Your home is your personal space and many of the items you cherish in your house are private, sentimental, and not necessarily shared with the world. The thing about organizing is that it is a very personal journey. Our team recognizes this, so we would never encourage you to get rid of an item that you deem as special. 

At the end of the day, the quantity of things that you choose to keep is not what is important.  What is important is that your vision is realized in the space and that it brings you peace and comfort while being manageable. 

Let me tell you a story about myself to show you just how important your personal comfort is. Just how important it is to find special places for those unforgettable moments and connections to special people and places.

My pillow 

I don’t keep very many sentimental items. In fact, due to my ADHD, I really need my spaces to be as streamlined as possible to flourish. But it doesn’t matter how long I have had this pillow or will have this pillow—this item will remain in my home. So what’s so special about this pillow? It has a story and life that makes it an important part of my space. 

When I was growing up, I would go to New Mexico to see my family. But most importantly, I went and saw my Granner—and our connection was a rare and special one. I would get so sad to leave her house every time because it was my favorite place on Earth. It was where I went on long walks by the creek and searched for arrowheads and rusty nails. It was where I learned to bake the best chocolate chip cookies and drink iced tea on the patio. It was where I spent many holidays and innumerable Wednesday evenings while my grandpa played poker in town. It was where I always felt at peace and wanted to be. And it's where I never wanted to leave—I dreaded the goodbye of each visit long before the goodbye took place. 

I always thought my grandma just had the very best pillows in her house—fluffy feather pillows that felt like love and luxury. They gave me a sense of home and security. When I was about 12-years-old, Granner bought a pink satin pillowcase and put it on one of her feather pillows. During that visit, she gave me this pink-satin-covered pillow and told me to take it with me so I could always lay my head on it at night and feel like I was still there with her. 

So, that pillow came home with me and it always brought me that same sense of security I had when I was there in New Mexico with my Granner. At 45-years-old, here I am with this not-so-pillowy pillow. There is almost nothing left of the feathers—but still, I have it. And if things go my way, I always will. 

“It’s just a pillow”

Maybe from the outside looking in, you can easily write this off as being a ratty old pillow. You could easily say it’s well past its time to replace and that it should just be tossed. Try telling a child to get rid of their baby blanket or favorite stuffed animal—they mean too much to just toss out. And so does my pillow. It’s a symbol of the love between my Granner and me. It is an item that gives me joy and comfort. And anyone that knows me well knows that this pillow has a special place on my bed. 

I’m giving you permission to set your personal boundaries on the items that bring you joy

When you work with the team at Organized by Keli & Co, you aren’t working with just another minimalist organizer looking to logically and systematically help you get your house in order. What we do is more complex, and we understand the importance of these special items and the need to integrate them into your systems and order. 

What you decide to keep or toss is irrelevant to us. We don’t put a limit on the number of items that bring you joy, as long as you have places in your home where you can find them, access them, and they are not taking up the space required to create your vision of your best life. What matters is that you are surrounded in your home by things that you have a connection to or a need for. We care that your home is functional enough for you to successfully find what you need and move on with your day in 5 minutes or less. 

There are no hard + fast rules about what to keep/toss

Organizing is a very personal journey and it takes the right person to come in and help you make all the pieces of your life fit together in a cohesive and comforting way. Our team takes the time to get to know you and understand your personal boundaries while offering support as you find that comfort in the midst of your most favorite items. No matter what, you’ll find empathy and understanding from us as we navigate through the memories that have taken root in your home. 

I know it is easy to want hard/fast rules about what to keep and what to let go of, but at the end of the day, this is a very different task for each person. A one-size-fits-all approach is not what we do at Organized by Keli & Co. We care more about your vision and your personal boundaries than we do about following “the rules of organization.”

For those that need structure as they go through their belongings

We also understand the need to have a set of guidelines as we work through your home. So, we keep it simple and give our clients these steps to follow as we sift through your spaces:

1. Do you love, need it, or use it?

2. If yes, is it relevant to your present?

3. Do you commit to managing this item?

Knowing the answer to these questions helps us zone your items accordingly and make sure you can find items when you need them, no matter how frequently you need them. 

Ready to set your boundaries?

If your spaces need a bit of editing or a complete overhaul, know that you are in good hands with Organized by Keli & Co. We’re here to create structure in a way that brings peace and happiness by making sure your most prized possessions have a place in your heart and your home. 

You can contact us today for a complimentary consultation to see if we are the organizing team for you. We promise to work through the tough moments so you can renew your spaces in a way that serves your lifestyle—special pillow and all. 

Originally posted DECEMBER 17, 2021