Client Interview: Julie’s experience organizing an office playroom with OWK

When Julie contacted me, she was looking to organize a shared office playroom to make it into a functional and streamlined space that the whole family could use and enjoy. The beautiful light-filled space greets you at the top of a curved staircase and is open to the rest of the top floor of her home.

Today I’m excited to be sharing an interview with Julie, a busy working mama of 2 children under 3. She’s dishing out all the details of what is was like to work with an organization coach (me!) and her process of using “the sort method” to tackle her shared office playroom space. 

I developed the Sort Method: Simplify – Organize – Refresh – Transform for the overwhelmed mom who is searching for more calm in the chaos of raising children. It’s a simple step by step method that can be used in any area of your home. Room by room we create a home that serves you and your family in your current season.

1. What space in your home required OWK’s services?

Our upstairs bonus area (loft).

BEFORE:

2. What were your primary needs for the space?

Toy organization, streamline family paperwork, and create a functional minimal office space.

3. How did you feel when Sarah came into your home to work with you? 

Sarah was so warm and uplifting when she arrived in to my space. And you know what? She just gets it, the whole mom thing. No explaining, no excuses, she just gets it.  It was refreshing and comforting. 

Sarah uses “the SORT method” to tackle organization projects.  Simplify – Organize – Refresh – Transform. Let’s walk through your individualized experience!

SIMPLIFY:  The goal of our 1 hour coaching session was to get to the root of your organization problem areas in your office/playroom. We stayed focused by using a detailed checklist to walk through the simplifying process. We broke down the needs in your space into doable simple steps.  

4. What were your main takeaways during the 1 hour SIMPLIFY coaching session with Sarah?

  • Try not to get caught up in the big picture. If you can break it down into manageable pieces, it will all work itself out. 
  • Just do it! Kind of like writers block, I had “organization block”, so it took me back to my university days of setting a timer and just writing. Sarah set a 10 minute timer and we just started. Even just touching things, taking them off their space can help you figure out which category they go in. 

5. After the coaching session was over, explain your process of working through the simplify steps in your office playroom.  

I was SO mentally exhausted!! Together, we had tackled quite a bit of the things and surfaces in my space, but I still had lots of work to do. The next few days/weeks were an interesting challenge. We decided to set a week timeline of when Sarah would check in with me. But a week went by, and I really had not moved further with the space. Instead, I kept tackling smaller areas in my house (my bathroom cabinet, my hall closet, and laundry room). 

Turns out, the office was probably the most challenging area in my house to do this project. It was chocked full of sentimental items, and was a place that was going to be my future work space. I gave myself a lot of grace and patience when I realized this.

I enlisted my partner to help me through this roadblock (to which he re-read Sarah’s steps for me. Funny the things you don’t realize you need!)

Sarah was so encouraging with her check-ins. Slowly but surely, the space was pared down to exactly what I needed. What a relief. (Did I mention the anxiety I USED to feel when I walked past this space?) 

ORGANIZE: While you continued the SIMPLIFY process in your space, Sarah created a step by step organization guide for your office/playroom. She recommended functional systems to keep your space organized & everything in its place. Room specific solutions were personalized to your lifestyle and needs. The guide was completed digitally and emailed to you for easy reference whenever needed. A coaching call was included with this service. 

AFTER:

6. Was the detailed organization plan geared to your specific needs helpful and useful? 

Yes! It was super helpful to review with my partner so we were on the same page when it came to toy storage, office supplies, and Sarah’s tips for managing the flux of mail and eventually school stuff from kids. 

REFRESH: After everything was simplified, organized and streamlined it was time to learn how to create a space that “feels like you” and fits your style. Sarah worked with you to create the space of your dreams by providing you with a personalized mood board for your office/playroom. In order to save you time, a detailed resource list was provided that included direct links to purchase exactly what you needed at the touch of a finger. 

AFTER:

7. Did Sarah capture the interior style needs for your space? Did you find the mood board and resource list useful? 

This was truly the cherry on top (plus every other topping imaginable!!) Sarah created a beautiful vision that was neatly organized into a plan. She used as many things as possible that I already had on hand. This was key to keeping costs manageable. She completely grasped the feeling I wanted in the room. 

TRANSFORM: The goal after organizing a space is to learn simple daily, weekly, monthly and yearly maintenance routines to keep your space simplified for the long term.

AFTER:

8. Did you find the maintenance strategies useful and geared to your specific needs?

Definitely. This is an area I struggle in and having a plan to check in and keep me accountable was key. 

The most helpful tip, which I come back to frequently is to not get too far ahead of myself and just SET THE TIMER!!! (I’m referring to the strategy of setting a timer for 10 minutes and sorting, etc). Breaking it down into manageable pieces, regardless of what stage you are is an essential strategy and has helped me tackle many other places in my house.

9. The great thing about the SORT METHOD is that its principals can be used in other areas in your home. Have you been able to simplify, organize and refresh other areas in your home after working with Sarah? 

Yes! The kitchen pantry, hall closet, laundry room and bathroom cabinets have been tackled so far!

10. Do you have any encouragement or advice to offer to the busy, overwhelmed mama reading this right now?

Piece by piece, drawer by drawer, room by room. You can do it! Invite conversations about it, unload the mental aspects with your partner or a friend. This so called “organizing thing” can be heavy, it is uncomfortable before it is comfortable. 

Have fun, and remember that the process is just as important as the final product! 🙂

AFTER:

Working with Julie and coaching her through the process of simplifying, organizing, refreshing and transforming this space has been such a pleasure. The best part of my job is seeing clients learn how to make their home serve them, one room at a time! 

If you have been considering working with an organization coach, I would love to work with you! I look at organization as a step toward self care and wholeness. The impact that a refreshed space has on your mind and heart is transformational! I’d love to be part of your process.

If you are interested in finding out more about my services, head HERE!

Sharing is caring! Please PIN this image for future reference! 

Do you have a space in your home that is at the top of your “get organized” list? Share in the comments section!