SPACE SAVERS

Professional organizers and downsizing experts help Mississippians conquer clutter, manage mayhem, and tackle tough life transitions.

- KELLI BOZEMAN

Marie Kondo makes it sound so easy, all of the thanking your possessions and keeping only the ones that “spark joy” and arranging your clothes vertically in the dresser drawers. But simplifying a home filled with the things that accumulate over a lifetime, or even over a year’s time, can be too daunting for many people to tackle alone—even with the words of a Japanese organizing expert ringing in their ears.

That’s where the local pros come in. Long before Kondo had written the Life-Changing Magic books that would eventually sell more than 10 million copies, three Mississippi experts had felt their call to help others get their houses in order. Today, they are part of a growing industry aimed at sorting through the clutter of everyday life. At the same time, some specialize in managing the big moves and downsizing that often occur during retirement.

“I think there’s such a huge need for professional organizers these days because no one has time,” says Cassidy Turnage of the Jackson-based firm Chaos to Clean by Cassidy. “There aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. These projects might seem overwhelming to people trying to juggle work, kids, and everything else life throws at them.”