Pinch me moment! Our Founder and CEO, Ryen Toft, sat down with Valerie Bertinelli on Getting Naked: The Podcast for an episode called “When You Know It’s Gotta Go.” It is all about the things we hang on to out of love, guilt and good intentions, and how to finally make peace with them. The episode is out now, and we could not be more excited to share it.
Inside Valerie’s Garage
Valerie was refreshingly honest about her garage. Her mom’s sewing machines, her dad’s scrapbooks, a pool table and a whole lot of extra copies of her second cookbook have all found their way out there. Like so many of the families we work with, she does not want her son to be the one sorting through it all someday. So she called Ryen.
What followed was a warm, funny and very real conversation about sentimental clutter, with zero judgment. If you have ever opened a closet or garage door and quietly closed it again, this one is for you.
We weren’t meant to be the family museum.
Ryen Toft, Founder and CEO, Simply Luxe Organizing, on Getting Naked: The Podcast
That line stuck with Valerie, and it is one we come back to in client homes every week. You can honor the people you love without keeping every single box they left behind.
Watch the Full Episode
Prefer to listen? Find When You Know It’s Gotta Go on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Valerie’s Place. Valerie’s Place members can also watch the Full Reveal, where Ryen shares her favorite organizing hacks.
Takeaways From the Episode
- Start small. Twenty minutes is plenty. You do not need a free weekend to make real progress, just a timer and one shelf, box or drawer.
- Try the red dot test. Ryen walks Valerie through this simple way to decide what stays and what is ready to go. Give the episode a listen to hear exactly how it works.
- Honor the person, not the pile. Keeping a meaningful piece or two can mean more than holding on to everything, and it lets the memories breathe instead of hiding in storage.
How We Help Clients With Sentimental Items
Sentimental spaces are some of the most tender projects our Happy Organizers take on. A few ways we keep the process gentle and moving forward:
- Go at your pace. We sort first and decide second, so nothing leaves the house before you are ready.
- Choose the stars. Pick a few favorite pieces to display or use every day, so they are part of your life instead of tucked away in the garage.
- Give keepsakes a home. One clearly labeled bin per person or per chapter of life keeps memories protected and easy to find.
- Let things live on. Passing items to family, friends or local organizations that can use them often makes letting go feel lighter.
Curious what a garage reset looks like start to finish? See the full Woodland Hills garage project or explore our garage organization and decluttering services.
Our Go-To Organizing Essentials
Once the editing is done, these are a few of the simple, hardworking pieces our team reaches for again and again to keep drawers, pantries and cabinets calm:
- SUNEE Mesh Zipper Pouches (24 pack) corral cords, puzzles, craft supplies and more, and the black mesh keeps it all looking tidy.
- Vtopmart Clear Drawer Organizers (25 piece) let you mix and match trays so every small thing has a home you can see at a glance.
- SpaceAid Bamboo Expandable Drawer Dividers stretch to fit almost any drawer and make utensil and dresser drawers feel custom.
- TB Home 10 Inch Bamboo Lazy Susan brings the back of the cabinet to you with one spin, and the warm bamboo looks so pretty in a pantry.
- iDesign Deep In-Drawer Bins keep things from disappearing into the depths of your pantry and kitchen drawers.
Browse more of our favorites on our Amazon storefront and our Luxe Living page.
Thank You, Valerie
A huge thank you to Valerie Bertinelli and the Valerie’s Place team for having Ryen on the show and for being so open and so fun. You can catch more of our TV segments, podcasts and press on our Media page.
Ready to Make Peace With Your Garage?
Whether it is a garage full of family heirlooms or one closet you have been avoiding, our Happy Organizers serve homes across San Diego, Orange County and Los Angeles. Explore our home organizing services or get in touch to book a virtual assessment, and we will help you decide what stays, what goes and where everything lives.
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