Meet this decluttering and organising business founder from Northampton who leads without judgement to tackle everyday overwhelm
Meet this decluttering and organising business founder who leads without judgement to tackle everyday overwhelm across Northamptonshire.
Dee Atalay founded DeeCluttered in July, which aims to help people create calmer and more functional spaces through decluttering, resets and organising – as well as moving and downsizing support and a resale service for unwanted belongings.
Before starting this venture, Dee spent more than 15 years working in corporate office management, events, operations and PA roles in London and it was her experience of redundancy which gave her the push to start her own business.
Dee has sadly also experienced multiple miscarriages and this made her reflect deeply about the challenges women face when trying to build a career and start a family.
The founder decided she wanted to take control of her future by stepping away from the security of permanent employment, and she has used the skills developed throughout her career to genuinely help people.
“Time is precious,” Dee, from West Hunsbury, told the Chronicle & Echo. “Being able to put systems in place that save people time and make everyday life easier feels incredibly rewarding to me in the long term.
“I’m really proud that the service isn’t just about physically creating a more organised space either. The feedback shows it can have an impact on how people feel too – whether that’s feeling less overwhelmed, sleeping better, feeling more in control, or simply being happier in their home.
“Once you move into a home, you put things into cupboards and it lives there. No one questions if it should be there and if it’s the best use of space in your home. It all saves time in the long run.”
Dee has deliberately kept her pricing transparent and as accessible as she can, with her most expensive package being her most popular at £200 for a full-day reset session.
When asked what feedback she has received from the Northamptonshire community, Dee said: “I’m told I’m very methodical, calm, approachable and completely judgement free. It’s scary to ask someone to come into your home and I have people who burst into tears as they are completely overwhelmed.
“There is guilt around letting things go and we work through that sensitively to make your home your safe space again. Clutter is not a sign of laziness. I don’t judge people who prioritise their time differently, and I’m an extra set of hands to be able to get things back on track and put the structures to keep that in place.
“It’s not one size fits all. I go into a space and understand the person. It has to be different from one person to another, and I can do anything to help them create systems around their lifestyle.”
Dee’s hope is that people will continue to feel they can approach her and for more to realise they do not need to deal with their overwhelm alone.
“I don’t want people to feel embarrassed,” Dee concluded. “As soon as you take that first step, a lot of times people can carry on on their own. I help them see through the clutter, especially with the resale service as it removes the guilt of getting rid.
“They get 50 percent of the money back that items sell for and often they make more money back than the actual service has cost. It’s a win-win because my time is covered and they’ve made money on items they no longer need.”