https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/luxury/article/house-a-mess-call-the-high-end-declutter-times-luxury-knq6r7rpp
House a mess? Call the high-end declutterer
Helen Constantine is part of a growing tribe who make it their business to sort out other people’s properties, from stately homes to suburban kitchens. Joanne Clark discovers the luxury of having someone else organise your mess
Helen Constantine never expected that she would have a career in decluttering. Working as an account manager for an online marketplace, she enjoyed helping small businesses thrive and grow.
However, after having her first child she felt exhausted and overwhelmed. She concluded that one crucial part of her life needed organisation — her home.
“Once I emerged from the newborn haze, I started getting my house back in order and realised how good this was making me feel.” This realisation inspired a new career path.
She is now an in-demand “organiser” working on projects as small as a wardrobe reset to entire houses. She charges £250 for a six-hour day — this includes emptying the space, editing out what the client no longer needs and then rearranging in the most logical way for the room and the person.
Constantine explains that labelling in particular can be extremely helpful — it can free you both physically and mentally for more productive tasks.
The idea that organising our exterior world might result in a more functional inner world took hold in 2011, when Marie Kondo published her book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, selling more than 13 million copies globally. The popularity of the book led to a television show on Netflix.
A show by the organising duo The Home Edit was also released on Netflix in 2020, where Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin help well-known figures organise areas of their homes. Their projects have included rearranging Reese Witherspoon’s wardrobe and Gwyneth Paltrow’s playroom and pantry.
The Home Edit offers both in-person and virtual services. For the virtual service package, which is described as providing “the tools you need to get organised on your own time”, the cost is $895.
The increased interest in tidying has also spotlighted the work of official groups like the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers (APDO) in the UK. The group aims to promote a “clutter-free lifestyle,” and has been offering training and a database of organisers for nearly 20 years.
When organising a specific room, Constantine likes to empty the contents into the nearest free space, arranging and cataloguing items.
“Kitchens often take the longest as they contain a lot of small objects. But it also depends on how much stuff is in the room — everyone has a different opinion on what ‘a lot’ is.”
Clients’ emotions can also play a huge role in the timing — if they struggle to part with items the process will take much longer. “You need to be mindful of peoples attachments to things, and consider that they might need to revisit certain possessions before making the final call.”
Constantine explains that the amount of belongings no longer needed can vary from person to person.
“It’s so client specific. For some people saying goodbye to 1 per cent of their belongings can change their life. For others we might finish the day with half of what we started with.”
With household items and belongings narrowed down, Constantine plans out where these items will now live, using sticky notes.
Studies have shown that clutter can have an effect on your stress levels, increasing cortisol, whereas the act of tidying up releases dopamine. Clutter can also decrease our ability to focus as your brain needs to process more visual information.
This is one of the reasons Constantine loves using containers, especially the ones by IDesign and The Home Edit — “they’re fantastic in kitchens”.
For bedrooms she recommends the Skubb organisers from Ikea, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and for playrooms or bathrooms Constantine loves the colourful crates by Hay, a Danish brand.
Once the room or house is fully organised, Helen Constantine’s job still isn’t complete, as she stresses the importance of an exit plan — which she also provides as a service. Whether it’s to the skip, the charity shop or the recycling centre, Constantine will take your things with her. Which, for many, is the best part.
To book a consultation with Helen Constantine, visit https://www.helenconstantine.co.uk/
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