She was visibly irritated. Agitation was steeping in her voice. “Why do they make this look so easy?” “Why I can’t do it?!!!” I knew she was talking about organizing TV shows featuring miraculous, nearly instantaneous transformations each episode. Earlier in the session she told me she had TV binged hoping some of the magic would rub off on her. She wasn’t the first, nor likely the last, client fooled by the illusions of TV production wracked with denigrating self-flagellation. I get it. I don’t look like airbrushed models on Vogue covers. In fact, most days, I don’t even look like my own headshot. All the years of watching medical series, “ER”, “Chicago Hope”, and I still don’t know how to perform an appendectomy. I don’t learn by osmosis.
Organizing isn’t easy for everyone. It helps to have the magic of a TV production crew at your fingertips. Most of us don’t.
It’s not that organizing TV shows aren’t useful. They’re great for learning new techniques for arranging and storing household goods, seeing that you’re not the only one who struggles with purging decisions, and frankly escaping your own home for 30-60 minutes with the hopes that when reality returns, ideas and inspiration will come too.
Before getting lost in despair that you’re not good enough, smart enough, or have the “right” skills to create a home or at least spaces you love, let’s reality check.
1. Reality
Yes, reality. That’s something that TV is not. We may refer to certain genres as Reality TV. Interior design and organizing programs fall into that category. Supposedly they’re based on true life experiences. But you only see what’s not on the cutting room floor. You’re treated to the angles and scenes that the director wanted you to witness. You may or may not have seen the mental and physical breakdowns; the incorrect, delayed, or broken products; long lines at check-out counters; late crew arrivals; and disagreements between spouses, family members, and roommates. Some shows give glimpses into emotional upheavals and bloopers. We all have them. They’re part of life whether they make it on camera or not.
2. The Real You
You’re not them. You’re you. Chances are you might not be able to organize like me either. I don’t necessarily want you to do it my way even if I’m the so-called “expert”. I gladly give suggestions and recommendations when asked. I’m not attached to whether you decide to embrace those ideas or not. You live there, your home needs to reflect your preferences and anyone else living with you. Keep in mind, we each come equipped with unique skillsets and natural abilities. That doesn’t mean we can’t learn new skills, techniques, and strategies. Some will be easy, others not so much. Some are worth our time and effort, others not really. It’s up to you to determine how much time and energy to invest. Occasionally, it’s more advantageous to pay someone else with the expertise and time if the budget allows. Believe me, I don’t even try to fix my own car when weird noises crop up or internal workings go haywire. I might make the situation worse then I’d be without a car and never gain back those lost, misused hours.
3. AWOL Production Crew
Rearranging a pantry can take 15 minutes or over an hour depending upon how much stuff is stuffed in there and how quickly decisions are made.
Keep in mind that organizing projects big and small take time. If you’re on your own, it will take longer. Even when I work side by side with clients, rearranging a pantry can take 15 minutes or over an hour depending upon how much stuff is stuffed in there and how quickly decisions are made. The more team members, the more headway. Think about how much faster a move is when you employ a moving company with 4-5 workers vs. you alone hauling every box, every piece of furniture in and out, up and down. There are numerous people working diligently behind the scenes to make it all happen in that one episode that you may never see on camera. Where’s your crew?
4. Elapsed Time
Yes, they got all that done in 30-60 minutes. Maybe even less if there were commercial interruptions. But you missed the time elapses that weren’t shown. That one episode may have taken a full day or maybe even a week to shoot. Scenes were likely shot several times. Rooms or spaces were arranged or rearranged multiple times until they looked just right.
Sometimes I wish that time wouldn’t elapse so quickly. There are circumstances where I’m slightly uncomfortable because I don’t feel like much was accomplished when the alarm sounds indicating that the organizing session is over. The clients however are joyful about the progress. Really? Other times, I’m ready to high-five when we clear out an entire section of a room in an hour, and they’re bummed that we didn’t do more. The reality is time passes, sometimes very quickly regardless of our expectations and goals. We get to experience our work and whatever results occurred in real time. We experience TV highlights in the wizardry of TV time. We see what they want us to see, and they need to make it happen for their time slot with crackerjack editing.
5. Deep Pockets & Bins Won’t Solve All Your Problems
Let’s face it, your pockets may or may not be as deep as a television production company’s. Even though reality TV shows are cheaper to produce than fiction, scripted shows, they’re very popular and highly profitable which means they can make things happen that us mere mortals might not. Add to that licensing and product branding, their revenue streams allow for fanciful makeovers and product purchases. I’m aware that some shows require the residents to fork out their own dough for bins, hangers, and hooks. That’s real life. And if you’re thinking about hiring an organizing TV crew, depending upon your location, it may cost anywhere from $185-$250+ an hour, plus product costs, plus air travel and lodging for the team members. Of course, in return you receive their expertise as long as privacy is not a concern. What if your situation isn’t a one and done? There are less costly ways to hire a top-notch organizer to fit your budget and tackle more than one area if you choose without the TV cameras filming.
Bins, baskets, cubes can help alleviate some storage woes.
Before heading to stores, surfing online, and pulling out your wallet, the process begins at home. Wrap your head around what’s there, what should be there, and what to do with it all. Bins, baskets, cubes can help alleviate some storage woes, but if your home is currently overflowing, extra receptacles boil down to extra stuff that you’ll need to find room for. If you’re not sure where things should go, more purchases will cause you extra confusion.
Your house or apartment won’t increase in size no matter how many extra storage receptacles you purchase. I’m not saying that shelves and storage bins aren’t useful. And if cute, trendy bins make you happy, go for it because you’re more likely to use them. Knowing what you need and making the most of what you have will save you time, money, space, and hassle in the long run. I’m all about making this as easy and practical as possible.
The Real Bottom Line
The bottom line is even Reality TV is just TV. We’re not the characters, those are not our houses, that’s not our stuff. As you watch, make note of whatever beneficial information you can or simply sit back and enjoy. Leave behind thoughts and emotions that drag you down and impede your own progress. If you would like an extra set of hands, eyes, and perspectives without the Hollywood cameras, contact ThePracticalSort.com for a more practical scene.
