In CafeMom’s monthly series, Work It, Mama, powerful moms detail how they navigate their professions and home life.
Yes, it’s that time of year to clean house, get organized, and toss old things cluttering your space. It’s spring cleaning season, and we’re ready to tighten the drawstring on our sweats, pull up our sleeves, and straighten up. But let’s be real — sometimes it all just feels like too much. Where do we start? How long is this really going to take? Actually, I just want to sit down.
Jen Rowe, owner of Neat Method in Toronto , knows all too well how overwhelming getting and keeping homes organized can be, especially when you’re cleaning up after the whole family (that big kid you’re married to included!). Not only did she get her act together, but she also started a business to help other families do the same.
“When my husband and I were expecting our first child and living in a small urban-sized home that’s over 100 years old, I found myself not only researching the most compact baby items but also the most effective ways to organize things so it didn’t feel like our home was being overrun with baby things,” Jen tells us. “Part of that came down to simply setting boundaries around what was actually needed versus what was cool/nice to have. Once we were settled into parenting one child and another was coming along, I realized some of our organizational systems might not work with one more person in the home.”
After she researched different cleaning methods, she remembers spending hours organizing her primary closet with her husband. “We both had the best sleep of our lives that night,” she recalls. “We truly felt a weight lifted. Later, when I joined Instagram, I realized it was a franchise.”
The Neat Method became a way a life.
After checking out the Neat Method on Instagram , Jen became curious about what it might be like to own a Neat Method franchise. “I reached out to find out if they had ever considered opening a franchise in Canada and learned they were preparing to open up applications,” she says.
She launched her franchise in July of 2019 but was soon faced with the pandemic, which stuck a thorn in her business plan. But instead of throwing in the towel, Jen used the time during lockdown to network virtually and to rely on her previous career in brand marketing and communications to keep the momentum going for when she eventually reopened. Now, Jen’s business is thriving!
So, how does the Neat Method work?
First, you have a consultation with the Neat team. “We never want anyone to feel ashamed of the state of their space — there’s zero judgment,” assures Jen. “I structure my consultations as a casual, friendly conversation, asking questions to get to know them better: how many kids they have, if they have any pets, whether or not they have help in the home, what their typical day looks like, what the biggest pain points are in the given space, if they have any specific requests.
“We tour the space(s), they show me inside the cupboards, drawers, closets, etc.,.” she continues. “If they’re interested in an entire home overhaul, we narrow it down to start with one to three priority spaces so as not to overwhelm their household. Once the conversation and tour are done, I go through each space and take photos and measurements. Then I put together a proposal and we go from there.”
We all remember when Marie Kondo admitted to having a messy home after having kids. So what’s the key to maintaining an organized life?
“At Neat, we completely understand that life is hectic and homes — especially those with kids — cannot look ’gram-worthy all day every day, but we take great care in identifying aspects of our clients’ lifestyles so we’re implementing systems that will work for them,” Jen says. “That way, when there’s time at the end of a day or week, it’s very easy to reset the space.”
Jen adds that she understands systems fall apart when they don’t work for a client’s lifestyle. “For example, if we know a client doesn’t have the bandwidth or interest in taking the time to decant items into gorgeous canisters every time they need to replenish those items, we wouldn’t use that system for their space,” she says.
On the Neat website, the team detailed five practices of organized people. We compiled the Cliff Notes below, but check out the full article HERE :
- Give every item a designated home.
- Update labels as needs change.
- Put things away as soon as possible.
- Shop with available space in mind.
- Declutter frequently.
And, of course, part of trusting a solid mompreneur is in knowing she’s not all talk! Jen breaks down how she keeps her life in order.
“One of the things I like most about owning my company is that no two days are alike,” she tells us. “I try to reserve at least two days a week for admin work and consultations with prospective or returning clients and two to three days a week to be on projects with my team.
“I don’t think it’s ever possible to be in complete balance between work and family,” she adds. “Some weeks work is weighted a bit more heavily and others family is. It all tends to average out to be equitable between the two, though.
“I’m lucky to have a partner who is excited for me to achieve my goals with my business and helps share the parenting load pretty equally. I’m also lucky to have the flexibility that if I want to volunteer to chaperone a school trip, with enough notice, I can just schedule myself as not available to work that day,” Jen shares.
How Jen manages stress is also key.
She makes sure to hang out with her husband, either watching a TV show or playing a board game, once the kids are in bed. “I’ve also recently gotten into audiobooks, so I sometimes listen to those to wind down before bedtime,” she adds.
Once that alarm goes off in the morning, she’s back at it! “For work I always try to picture what the best- and worst-case scenarios are for a given problem or challenge and gauge my comfort level with them,” she muses. “If there’s discomfort, I regroup and try to come up with other solutions or answers.”
To find a Neat organizer near you — they have 95-plus locations across the US and Canada — or to find out how you and can start your own franchise, visit neatmethod.com .
You’re strolling the aisles of Target on just another Monday. You turn toward the back of the store. Then you see them: the holiday aisles. It doesn’t matter what holiday or season it is. It could be June or December, but it’s there and you can’t miss it. You turn the corner and wonder if you have those jars already. Or that welcome mat. Surely, you need more candles .
And suddenly, you feel compelled to gather all the perfectly curated seasonal items into your cart. Pump the breaks, friend.
Did you know you don’t have to buy more decor for each specific holiday or season? You can use decor for longer. It doesn’t just have to be for one specific holiday. This helps save you money and storage space in your home. It also seriously reduces visual clutter.
First things first: Think about how to use what you have.
Shop your home.
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Start by using things you have in your home already. If you look hard enough, you can usually find things to repurpose. A container. A basket. Get creative and upcycle what you have. This way, you won’t feel compelled to buy new things each season.
Decorate around the four seasons instead of the holidays.
This works even if you don’t experience different seasons where you live. Don’t want 14 different holiday-specific welcome mats? Use seasonal ones instead. Or opt for greenery instead of Christmas garlands.
Think about what you’d normally change out. Wreaths? Signs? Rugs? Broaden your lens. Look at your decor and think about if it has one specific time of use.
Does your wreath scream Christmas? Do your signs have Easter eggs in them, rather than florals or something else that has a general spring vibe? Look for items that can stay up for longer than just a month.
Focus on textures.
Delmaine Donson/iStock
Things like placemats, blankets, and throw pillows make for simple and easy swaps. When decorating, consider patterns, textures, and colors. This keeps your decor from being too holiday-specific.
Another way to decorate without buying too many new items is to use containers you already have.
Large lanterns, vases, or jars are easy decor staples. Just swap out their contents. For example, use a large lantern for your table centerpiece.
Instead of buying a new centerpiece every few months, change out its contents. This helps keep your decor spending on budget. You can use a candle, some pine cones for winter, a jar of sand or some shells, greenery for spring, or a wooden pumpkin for the fall.
Make things you already have more customizable.
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Chalk art or vinyl decals are an easy way to change up decor without taking up much space or effort. First, upcycle a large wooden sign or chalkboard. Then, decorate the front.
You can even switch out holiday pictures. This is a great way to customize your decor without breaking the bank. Avoid buying new frames or larger wall items and print some pictures instead. Want to add in the feeling of summer, without spendy decor? Swap some family beach pictures into your frames.
Look for items that have more than one purpose.
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Find a reversible seasonal sign. Or use a floral wreath for spring and summer. Use large outdoor planters year-round, but change what they hold. In spring, fill them with flowers. You can swap out flowers for pumpkins in the fall. In the cold weather, put small faux evergreens inside of them.
Use consumables as decor.
Fresh greenery, flowers, pumpkins, and other items found in nature are all great ways to create seasonal decor with little effort. This also reduces storage space. Once you use them, you can compost or recycle them for a second life.
If you’re looking to use less decor or stretch what you have for longer, it’s possible. But be intentional about what you have. Consider carefully what and if you really should buy something new, and think about how the decor you already own can serve you longer.
Adding a few new cute seasonal items is fine, but you don’t need to buy the entire aisle every year.
