Decluttering Dynamo: A Conversation with Tina Schwab, Owner of TSO

Meet Tina Schwab, the creative force behind TSO (Tina Schwab Organizing). With a passion for decluttering spaces and bringing order to chaos, Tina has carved a niche for herself in the realm of professional organizing. As the owner of TSO, Tina brings a unique blend of expertise, creativity, and a personalized touch to each project. In this exclusive interview, we delve into Tina’s journey, insights, and the principles that drive her organizing prowess.

Can you take us back to the moment you decided to pursue a career in professional organizing? What inspired you to turn your passion for organization into a business, and how did you get started?

My background is in education. I started my career as a teacher and then moved into high school administration for 15 years before transitioning to owning my own business. I knew organization was a personal passion from early on. I regularly applied these skills in my classroom and admin duties. As Dean of Students, for example, one of my roles was to create the high school master schedule. The skills that I used for many years “organizing” the high school are the same I apply in my clients’ homes. I made the decision to take these organizational skills and start my own business on the side in 2020. Quickly, I realized this was where my heart was. I love helping clients feel better in the space that they live in everyday.  

Do you have a favorite success story of transforming chaos into order?

I have met many favorite clients over the years. In particular, I love working with senior citizens to downsize and transition into a smaller space. I appreciate hearing the many stories connected to the memorabilia we find as we clean out closets and drawers. However, one favorite experience was working with an 11 year old girl to help her organize her “room.” This was a bit of a challenge, as her personal space was actually a section of an open family room. It was hard to walk in because the floor was covered with clothes, toys, debris and other household items. Through a couple of sessions, I was able to reclaim this “room” for her and give this preteen what she needed to start developing a sense of identify through her space. I taught her how to save sentimental things in a special memory box and to have pride in displaying things that were meaningful for her. Her smile was so bright when we were done!  

Can you share a unique or quirky organizing tip that most people wouldn’t think of but that you find surprisingly effective?

When organizing any area of the home, it is important to utilize the space that you have to work with. Vertical spaces are KEY to creating the most efficiency. For instance, if 2 shelves are too far apart, you need to find a way to use risers or under shelf organizers to create another space for more storage; or in a closet, you can look above the top shelf or below the hanging bar to recognize the portions of the closet that are being underutilized.  

If you could go back in time and give one piece of organizational advice to your younger self, what would it be?

As we all realize as we get older, others don’t often think the same way that we do. I have always been a very organized person. I remember rewriting my notes in school because they weren’t neat enough, and I wanted to work on perfecting my handwriting. Who does that?! I didn’t realize that being organized and having skills to stay organized and implement systems is a special gift. I wish I realized when I was younger that I could have been teaching others about organizational strategies at a much earlier age.

Everyone has a guilty pleasure when it comes to disorganization. What’s your messiest or most disorganized habit or space, and how do you justify it?

Currently, my paper situation is, well, not so good! I keep stacking, and it seems to be the last thing on the list of priorities. 

If you had to choose a song or playlist that perfectly captures the energy of a successful organizing session, what would it be, and why?

I like strong female artists like Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson. I would be playing Carrie Underwood’s The Champion or Hannah Kerr’s Warrior. They embody the powerful feeling of success when I wrangle a space into an organized, useful area. 

If you had to live and work in only one type of space—be it a minimalist apartment, a cozy cottage, or a sleek modern office—which would you choose and why?

Definitely a sleek modern office…I feel really energized and productive in a clean office space. My mind is ready to tackle any task!

As technology and lifestyles evolve, how do you see the future of professional organizing changing, and what trends or innovations are you most excited about?

I am constantly impressed with new innovations from designers that think like professional organizers. I appreciate new products made of new materials that are well structured and follow the interior design trend for storage that is both useful AND pretty. Form and function! 

On another note, because much of our lives exist in the digital realm, I think that finding help with digital organization will become a stronger need. We need help with picture and video memories to be saved, sorted, organized, and archived. We need support with the storage and transfer of important documents and information on a personal or professional level. How will this all get “passed down?” Just as it is hard to go through a deceased loved one’s house, this same task will happen more frequently in a digital format.  

If you were faced with the ultimate organizing challenge—a room filled with a mishmash of items from different time periods, cultures, and styles—how would you approach the task, and what strategy would you use to bring harmony to the chaos?

Categorizing is a very personal task. Whenever I approach an organizing project, I first identify the purpose and end goal of the organizing session. I start by asking open ended questions to help my client communicate their expectations and desire for a space. If a space has many different items like those you described, I start by discussing their purpose. Are these items for use, decor, or memorabilia? These follow up questions would help me to 1) designate a storage system for things that can be put away with low need for immediate access, 2) create stations or homes for items that need to be used together and regularly need to be accessed, and 3) find creative, orderly ways to display items that create beauty and grandeur. 

Tina Schwab’s story is not just about organizing physical spaces; it’s a testament to the transformative power of order and the pursuit of a more harmonious life. As we wrap up this interview, we invite you to explore more about Tina and the array of services offered by TSO on Tina’s website. Whether you’re seeking to declutter your home, office, or life in general, Tina’s wealth of experience and dedication to creating organized, functional spaces make TSO the go-to destination for those ready to embrace a clutter-free lifestyle. Thank you, Tina, for sharing your insights and inspiring us to embark on our own journeys of organization and simplicity.