A TikTok follower of @Unjumbled recently commented, “I’m a maximalist but want to be a minimalist.” It was a great comment that we were delighted to address.

As professional organizers, we can help clients achieve their elusive goal of becoming minimalists. Let’s take a high-level look at how Unjumbled would work with fictional client Jane to achieve her vision.

We start with helping Jane understand and articulate how she thinks a minimalistic home looks. She may have a Pinterest picture in mind with lots of open space, natural light, and a few plants to provide a pop of color, but she lives in a small home with her three children and husband. The house she’s picturing wouldn’t serve her family well. Discussing Jane’s mental picture, what her family needs, and how to mesh these things will help her realize that minimalism needs to look different than the picture in her head. We’ll help Jane develop and write down goals that provide a road map to minimalism to let her know when she’s arrived rather than looking for a Pinterest-perfect home.

When Jane finishes de-cluttering a room, we’ll ask her to evaluate whether the results meet her written goals. If so, success! We’ll ask her to take pictures of the room so that if clutter creeps back in, she can remember what’s possible and reclaim it. If she doesn’t think she’s achieved her goals, we’ll review them and see what’s interfering. We can help her revise her vision or show her how to de-clutter more. Either way, she’s on track to achieve minimalism.

Some people are naturally minimalistic. Others, like Jane, benefit from guidance to set goals and achieve minimalism that works for them and their family.