Darren Jamieson:
On this week’s episode of The Engaging Marketeer, I am taking a massive risk because I am interviewing Korina Venn, who helps people declutter their lives. And I am probably one of the biggest cluttermongers and hoarders you could ever possibly meet. I have thousands, no word of a lie, thousands of Transformers in my house. If Korina saw my house, she would have a field day. So let’s see whether I own up to being a massive hoarder, and what Korina says about clutter and your mental state and living in a nice, clean, perfect home.
I can see from your background, as we discussed in the preamble to this, that you live with an artist and you are in an artist environment. You being somebody that declutters people’s homes, those two do not really mesh. How does that work for you, being a declutterer but living with a messy artist?
Korina Venn:
Well, I love him, so that is a bonus.
Darren:
That goes a long way, does it not?
Korina:
I find my experience that can only go so far though.
Darren:
Yeah.
Korina:
He is messy, but messy for me. He is quite neat in his own kind of way, because that is just the way things flow in his studio. So I am not allowed to touch anything in his studio. The fact that I am using his computer is a huge treat. But it is actually a calming space. Even though for me it is a little bit cluttered, it is a calming state for him. And when I am in it, I feel calm because he is calm, which is very interesting.
When I do go and see clients, it is not about what I want. It is about what they want. It is about what is going to make them happy and comfortable in their home because they are the ones living there, not me.
Darren:
So I know about the calming thing because I experienced this myself, and I will talk about that in a bit, but is there a difference between somebody’s home that is cluttered and an artist studio that is cluttered? Is there a different kind of clutter that you are amongst now that an artist has that is calming?
Korina:
Yes, it is very different because it is not really cluttered. Everything has its place, and that is the key. That is what I am trying to teach people or help people with.
Very often, I do not have a problem with social media. I have a problem with people going onto Instagram or any kind of social media platform and looking at something and saying, “Oh my gosh, I am such a failure because my house does not look like that,” or “I am such a failure because I am not fit and trim,” or “I am such a failure because I do not eat this kind of way.”
We look at it in a holistic way, because what works for me might not work for you. As long as everything has its place and it is not dangerous. No wires on the floor, no tripping, no hurting yourself. My husband knows exactly where everything is. Even if I think it is a mess, if I move a pencil, he knows I have moved his pencil because it is his domain and he is comfortable, and that allows him to be creative.
A declutterer is not there to come into your environment and change it so that you feel uncomfortable or like a guest in your own space.
Darren:
Because I am quite creative, or at least I think I am creative, is there a difference between what an artist considers decluttered and what somebody else might consider clutter? Do people just have different perceptions?
Korina:
They absolutely do. I did a short course on hoarding disorder, which is growing in the UK and other countries, and there are a lot of TV programmes about it.
I do not like watching those programmes. I feel really bad for the people. They tend to make the hoarder the villain, like we are meant to laugh at them. That upsets me because it is not true. There is always a bigger picture.
There are nine stages of hoarding. What I thought was serious was actually level three, and it is only considered dangerous at level eight. That shocked me. What I think is too much is not too much for somebody else.
You have to understand the story behind the person.
When I first got into this, I thought my clients would be footballers’ wives and I would be putting labels on everything. I do not even own a label maker. There is no point decanting pasta into pretty jars if you cannot get into the kitchen.
Most clients do not need labels. I personally do not like them because I get bored. If I use a beautiful jar one month, the next month I want to reorganise and use it for something else. Labels do not work for me, but if they work for a client, then of course I will do it.
People often misunderstand what I am going to do. That is why it is important to meet first, to explain expectations. It is an intimate relationship. People feel exposed and vulnerable. If we do not click, I am not the right organiser for them.
Darren:
You mentioned social media earlier. How do you think that affects people’s mental health and happiness in their own environment?
Korina:
I think people are becoming more alienated. We are supposed to live in community, and we do not anymore. Social media adds to that, and a lot of it is fake. With AI now, you do not even know what is real.
It creates false expectations, and you are always going to let yourself down. That becomes a vicious circle of disappointment and depression. I tell people, including myself, if you feel low, stay off social media. Even if you know it is fake, it plants a seed.
I have two boys and an artist husband. I had to lower my expectations to have a happy home. I picked one Pinterest place. My coffee station. That is my place. When I feel sad, I go there and it gives me pleasure.
The rest of the house is real life. Socks, cushions, mess. It is about keeping it real.
It is not just about your home. It is your diet, your lifestyle. People promote Mediterranean diets and living until ninety, but there are so many other variables. Small villages, no social media, homegrown food, no preservatives. You cannot compare.
Rome was not built in a day. If you want to change your home, it has to be sustainable. A lifestyle you can maintain, not one that I can maintain.
If I go into a family home, everyone has to be on board. I do not want to cause arguments or worse. These things are real.
What fascinates me is how much I have learned and how much I have grown doing this, and how many lives I have helped. I am not a therapist, but sometimes you see deeper issues. Grief, trauma, financial problems. You build trust, and then you can help connect people to the right support.
It has to be holistic. It is not just about a cupboard or a room.
You also cannot become a crutch. At some point, you have to say, you can do this yourself now.
Darren:
It sounds a bit like addiction!
You cannot just cut people off cold turkey.
Korina:
Exactly. It always depends on the person. You have to listen. It is not about making things pretty. It is about making them practical and sustainable.
I love folding clothes. It calms me. I fold everyone’s clothes differently so I know whose are whose. I know people think that is strange.
Darren:
That might be one of the strangest things I have heard on this podcast.
Korina:
It is like art for me. Clothes you do not use can still be displayed or repurposed. I helped a client display a robe in her bathroom like a piece of decor. It is about thinking differently.
Darren:
I am a hoarder. I have a room full of stuff. Is that common?
Korina:
Very common. Some people have a room. Some have a drawer. If you have the space and you are actively doing something about it, that is fine.
If you have time, sell things. If you do not, give them away. Selling with a purpose helps. I had a client who sold shoes and used the money to go on holiday. That motivated her.
Darren:
Why does clutter depress people?
Korina:
It is about control. Your environment reflects you. When there is too much stuff, there is not enough you. It is like a cluttered website. Too much noise. No clarity. Stressful.
There is nothing wrong with having things. It is about balance. Dopamine from buying does not last. You buy again and again.
Sometimes I am ruthless now. We even downscaled with two kids. I always say the bigger the bag, the more rubbish you carry.
Darren:
How do you help people decide what stays and what goes?
Korina:
I guide them. I never tell them. If you have not worn something for a year, consider letting it go. If it is sentimental, keep it, but make it part of your life.
It is just stuff unless it has emotional meaning. The worst case is regret. Is that really so bad?
Marie Kondo talks about joy. That works for some people, not all. I focus on purpose. Has it served its purpose?
I make sure donation bags leave the house. Otherwise nothing changes. Seeing space lifted creates momentum.
Darren:
You have inspired me to have another go at clearing out.
Korina:
That makes me happy. Sometimes people just need accountability. Like a personal trainer.
If it stresses you long term, get help. There are professional organisers everywhere. We support each other.
Darren:
If someone wants your help, how do they contact you?
Korina:
They can visit my website, Tidy by KV, or search the professional organiser directory using their postcode. I am always happy to chat first.
Darren:
I will link everything below the podcast. Korina, thank you very much for being on the podcast.
Korina:
It has been a pleasure. Good luck, and it would be lovely to help.
More about Korina:
Korina Venn is a professional organiser and decluttering specialist who helps people create calmer, more balanced homes through practical and sustainable organisation. She takes a holistic approach that considers lifestyle, wellbeing, and personal circumstances rather than rigid rules or aesthetics. Through her work with Tidy by KV, Korina supports individuals and families to reduce overwhelm, regain control of their space, and build habits that last.
You can connect with Korina here:
Website: https://tidybykv.co.uk/
APDO: https://www.apdo.co.uk/member/korina-venn.html
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/korina-venn-karagiannakis/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/tidybykv/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TidyByKV/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tidybykv/
About your host:
Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/
Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com
Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk
