Clutter is “Unmade Decisions”
“Clutter is unmade decisions…when you declutter, you give people space to enjoy & room to think,” says Kim Cosentino.
“I’ve seen an excess of unwanted items donated, or on street curbs during this new wave of DeCluttering and recent downsizing,” says Kim Cosentino, professional organizer and founder of The De-Clutter Box. “People [often] have so many things that will not fit into their simplified dream home.
“Many people struggle with deciding what to keep, or not, and where to put things,” she says. “[This is when] The De-Clutter Box steps in and creates custom-tailored systems and solutions to both make sense of and solve this problem.”
Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, Kim was put in charge of keeping the toy room organized for her three younger siblings. This weekly routine is where she honed her skills for sorting quickly & decluttering. During her college summers & holiday breaks, she was a Stouffer Girl / Waitress where “I learned you should never go in or out of the kitchen empty handed”. It was a perfect job for learning customer service & time management.
After graduating from Miami University, Ohio with a degree in Communications, she spent 10 years in the hospitality industry both in Cleveland and downtown Chicago as a Sales/Catering Manager. A hotel is open 24/7 & so are customer needs and the importance of follow through on what was promised.
Kim left Corporate America to concentrate on raising a family. When her second child was a toddler she started The De-Clutter Box, initially helping friends unpack & organize their homes. At the time, Kim was one of only a handful of Professional Organizers in the US. Shortly after, upon a visit to her hometown, one of her grandma‘s friends told her a story that confirmed her new calling.
“She came up to me and said, ‘You may not remember me, but I remember you,’” recalls Kim. “‘When you were three years old,I caught you organizing my utensil drawer.’”
“When we were done laughing, I let her know about my new decluttering business and she responded, ‘That is exactly what you should be doing!’ It helped me feel confident in my choice of changing my career path,” she says.
Now, more than twenty-seven years later, Kim has become one of the leading experts in the now-thriving organization niche. She has been featured across mainstream media outlets, making guest appearances in TV interviews and sharing helpful tips in popular publications, including Parents magazine, IVillage, WGN, the Chicago Tribune, and Real Simple. One such tip? “I often tell people to ‘think of your home as your personal department store,’” she explains. “Keep like things together (and close to where used) as well as, Maximize Space by thinking vertical not horizontal - File, Don’t Pile.”
Kim has also helped educate the public about the lifestyle benefits of an organized space in everyday life.
“Clutter is unmade decisions,” she explains. “People become brutally aware of how much stuff they have once they are ready to move & downsize after 20, 30, 40 years of living in a home. They are “OVERWHELMED”. The DeClutter Box steps in to help them pair Down to what they truly Use, Need & Enjoy. Some items can be enjoyed at other people’s homes too. But, the majority of items that are not stained or broken are part of a Moving/Estate Sale or ultimately donated.
Over the years, Kim has served as president for the National Association of Professional Organizers, and has been involved in the Main Street REALTORSⓇ Association and Westmont Chamber of Commerce. She has been named among the top eight organizers in Chicago and has been enlisted by the local news channels as a representative of professional organizers.
When Kim is not helping clients, she enjoys gardening in her backyard and spending time with her family. She has a nineteen month-old grandson who keeps her amazed every week with his new skills. She also takes time to support local and global causes, like Charity Water.
In addition to home organization,The De-Clutter Box assists clients with home staging with what they have, packing & organized unpacking, and Estate/Moving Sales. They offer consignment advice and a donation outlet as part of their service offering. This is what makes The De-Clutter Box one of the most sought-after organization companies in the Chicago western suburbs for sellers who are moving into smaller spaces or out of state.
“Over the past two years, most of our clients are [people who are] going through downsizing,” she says. “We’ve become well-versed in selling or the donation of unsold items that are in good condition. In this way, all of our clients’ unwanted items are no longer a burden.”
Because a home is a private place, and a client can feel embarrassed by their mess, Kim brings empathy, humility, and her expertise to every session. And when asked the secret to her success, Kim says it’s about being a good listener and always starting with understanding the desired end result—understanding her clients’ lifestyle goals is crucial before the first room is decluttered. “I pride myself on taking people from overwhelmed to overjoyed,” she says.
To learn more about how Kim and her team at The De-Clutter Box can help you organize and make the best use of the space in your home, or approach your downsizing project efficiently, visit their website www.DeClutterBox.com or call 630-542-8782.