Why Side-by-Side (Part 2: Systems)

I frequently get inquiries asking if I will come in and organize a space or home. I always politely explain why I only work in people’s spaces with people.

Every person is different. It’s hard for us to understand this because we live in our own lives. Most of our preferences and ways of doing things seem normal and even the way most people do things. Sure, we understand that not everyone likes peanut butter and banana sandwiches but you may also think, “I live in the South where everyone loves sweet tea” simply because you and your whole family love sweet tea. When in fact there are plenty of people who live in the South and do not like sweet tea.

For this reason, I have found that working side-by-side with the person whose belongings we are going through is the most efficient and sustainable way to work through things. The biggest reasons are possessions and systems. In a previous article I addressed possessions, the physical items in the home. In this article I will address systems, how those physical items are used within the home.

Systems: how the physical items are used within the home.

Systems: I can’t possibly know how your family life works without your input.

I see a coffee pot on the counter and a bunch of coffee mugs and coffee pods so I devote time and energy and products to making an adorable and very functional coffee station to make mornings easier. Working with you, I find out that you drink tea now but no longer drink coffee so the coffee station that you have set up needs to change.

I see dressers in bedrooms and spend time, energy, and products to set up a good system for clothes to make mornings easier. Working with you, I find out that your family prefers to have a family closet in the laundry room and the dressers are just for looks.

I see a spot near the garage door that is already set up for a drop zone. Working with you, I find out that your family comes in a different door and needs a drop zone there instead.

I see a pantry and put like with like throughout the space. Working with you, I find out that some snack foods you want your children to have easy-to-reach, any-time access to and other snack foods you want out of reach.

As you can see it is easy to answer the wrong problem when we don’t work side-by-side to help you find peace and freedom in your home. Working together lets me know what the problem is and how to best solve it with a system that works with how your family is already living in your home. The best systems are ones that work with you and not making you work with it.