Home Organizer
Los Angeles
Why hire a Home Organizer and home Decorator?
No matter the size or budget, home organizing will help make your house more beautifully and efficient. Having a simple, organized, aesthetically pleasing space is essential for positive mental health, cleanliness and efficiency. Having an organized home will also save you time and money.
Home Organizer Lisa Shields
I, Lisa Shields, have been organizing homes in Los Angeles since 2014. Organizing your home will help you progress in other areas of your life. Once the clutter is gone you are able to focus on moving to the next level up.
Just A Few Of My Reviews
Aja King | Actress (How To Get Away With Murder)
I made one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life, hiring Lisa!
Lisa has transformed my home into a joyful place. Originally I thought I needed an interior designer to make my home feel like a home and I'm so glad I realized that instead of putting more stuff in my apartment I really just needed someone to help me get rid of stuff and then arrange the things I do have in a beautiful and appealing way.
Now my home is just that, a home. It's become a beautiful sanctuary where I can rest easy because there isn't an unbearable pile of stuff taunting me and making me feel embarrassed to have people over. I'm so excited to be in my space because it's so beautiful now and I can't thank Lisa enough for giving me that, true peace of mind in my very clean, organized, and well-styled home. Thank you!
Jenny Carleton-Nathan, MD
My good friend Shawn referred Lisa to me. Lisa organized, styled, and installed plants in Shawn's home. Shawn was ecstatic. Shawn insisted she was trustworthy and highly recommended her to do the same for me. One of the goals was to transform my very bare bedroom into something more romantic. In the end, Lisa dreamed something up that was above and beyond my expectations. She works tirelessly with a strong work ethic while at the same time her approach was highly imaginative and unique. The plants are the best part, probably because they are her passion. It's almost like they are art installations but instead of standing out in an obvious way they create harmony and balance in the space. On top of it all she has a dry sense of humor and is really fun to have around. The house feels like a home now thanks to Lisa!
Johanna Maska - Former publicist to Barack Obama
Lisa is awesome. We had moved across the country with a 3 year old and all our stuff from 10 years together and downsized only to find ourselves completely disorganized and crazy busy. I had heard of the new trends in Japanese organizing tactics but just didn't have enough time with a crazy work schedule. Lisa sorted thru things, gave us piles, let us take as much control as we needed to oversee what went out and stayed, but took a huge relief of organization off my plate. I highly recommend Lisa as a phenomenal design and organization professional. Grateful for her help in clearing away years of clutter we didn't even know we'd picked up. Our house works now; we're grateful.
Why should I hire a home organizer?
Often my clients husbands ask this question when their grinning wives sheepishly bring me into their home, like a newly adopted puppy that was never discussed. But by the time I’m done BOTH are ecstatic.
There are many benefits to hiring a home organizer. Especially when this organizer is not only a professional organizer, but also a decorator, and interior plant designer. A lot of people live with blank walls, single source lighting, non-functional and uncomfortable spaces. I give away ideas freely for my clients to improve their home while I organize. I make lists of things to buy and email it to them. Not everyone can afford to hire an interior designer. I try and give everyone the tools to improve their space with my help or on their own.
I make things happen in one day that might otherwise take a week or a month or even a year. I have over 10 years of experience working as an organizer, personal assistant to actors/directors/interior designers, in addition to my lifelong passion for design. I’ve worked for an art adviser in Los Angeles and know how to properly hang art. I’ve worked as an assistant to an interior plantscaper and know how to expertly design, pot, and take care of almost every kind of plant. I tell all my clients even if you don’t end up hiring a professional to help you with an organizing or design project you should at least consult with one. Merely consulting with an experienced professional could save you money, and several headaches. A professional might suggest an alternative option you wouldn’t have thought of on your own. I often save my clients from making many bad decision when I help them organize, choose plants, purchase a new sofa, or lighting. I have my own handymen I work with for particular jobs and know about standard pricing.
A fresh perspective is an advantage in itself. People get used to things and fail to notice their potential as time goes by. A lot of my clients are doctors and lawyers who simply don’t have the time or aren’t naturally concerned with aesthetics.
I tell all my clients if they work with me they will probably say, “what a great idea, I would have never thought of that,” at least three times. People often hire me just to do one thing, like their closet or office, but once they see what I can do I often end up doing their entire home, and also helping them purchase lighting, furniture, etc…as well as bring in plants. I give my ideas away freely and will help clients instigate projects on their own by giving them the information and connecting them to a professional or I will facilitate the project for them. I will always crunch the numbers for you and tell you what makes the most sense. I make lists for my clients and orchestrate everything for efficiencies sake. Orders are usually placed last and handymen are all scheduled for one day.
Have you seen the movie A BEAUTIFUL MIND? I’m like John Nash, but instead of math I’m really good at organizing and styling. People have a hard time believing I enjoy organizing because often is completely overwhelming and bewildering to them. I’m never overwhelmed, I’m literally energized by it. I love problem solving and making things beautiful.
I’m not the kind of organizer that merely brings in plastic bins, dumps or folds your stuff in and places labels on that bin. That’s not functional, it’s expensive, it takes up too much room, it looks bad (or may look good, but only temporarily), and is terrible for the environment. I’m the organizer people hire after they hired other organizers that made them buy thousands of dollars worth of plastic for their kitchen cupboards and closets. I will organize your space and make it look good. I use what you have and if you don’t have it I make suggestions and offer solutions that you can use forever and that look good. I email my clients lists and links. I know what you should purge and what you should keep. I know where everything should go. I have witnessed and researched the degree to which sentimental attachment borders on and becomes hoarding.
Having an overstuffed unorganized unattractive home will add weight to your shoulders. Sometimes you won’t realize the enormity of that weight until until it’s gone. It’s a very exciting process to witness. Organizing and helping people elevate their homes often leads to other kinds of positive change. I’m happy to be a part of it.
My goal is to make sure every client is happy, so that they feel compelled to give me a positive review. If I can do that I’ll never be wanting for work and I’ll always be able to do what I enjoy.
Services
Organizing
Residential Organization: bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room, playroom, closets, home office, craft room, garage
Commercial and office organization: storefront, warehouse, art studio, workroom, storage room
Home Setup: Unpacking & temporary management
Consultation & Design Assistance
Rearranging furniture to improve organization and flow
Interior Design
Art arrangement
Collection curation
Bookshelf styling
Lighting design
Adding texture and warmth with accessories
Furniture rearrangement and purchasing
Backyard patio design
Interior Plant Design & Patioscaping
Natural decorating alternative
Draws the eye away from clutter
Detoxify indoor air (which can be worse than outdoor air)
Provide privacy and screen unpleasant views
Help divide, define and add interest to large spaces
Direct traffic
Create aesthetically pleasing backdrops and frame views
Fill awkward empty spaces
Services Details
Space Planning
Spatial reasoning is my strongest skill. My father was an air traffic controller - I am wired to worry about how something can function most efficiently. Whether it be your living room or your closet it’s important to have good “flow.”
Interior Plant Design or “Plantscaping”
Second to lighting, you can make a huge difference aesthetically by adding plants to your space. Plants make rooms come alive because they are alive. Their natural material helps soften hard unnatural corners and uber modern interiors. Plants help a room breath. A room becomes vibrant and aesthetically elevated after you bring in a plant. Not to mention they clean the air and are proven to help alleviate stress. Plants are a game changer. They are my favorite part of the design process.
Home Office Organizing
Lighting
I tell all my clients if I was limited to investing only in one thing to make someone’s home look better it would be lighting. I am captivated by good lighting. My favorite memories, movies, bars, and restaurants are only my favorite because they had good lighting. It’s a game changer.
Closet and Storage Organizing
Not unlike your kitchen your closet should be extremely functional, and most people’s closets are not. I work in all types of homes and even very large very expensive homes are sometimes poorly planned for storage, not to mention old craftsmans. I love it. I love problem solving and coming up with solutions that prevent my clients from thinking they have to move.
Clutter Removal
Kitchen Organizing
People spend 40% of their time in the kitchen. It’s where I prefer to start because it’s the most rewarding. My clients often say “wow, I’ve never knew it could be like this.” I’ve organized kitchens in small studio apartments and large homes with private chefs. Having an overstuffed unorganized kitchen will add a weight to your shoulders. Sometimes you won’t realize that you were carrying that weight until it’s gone.
Organizing Kid’s Bedrooms and Play Rooms
Kids quite possibly might be the biggest contributing factor to an unorganized home. I see the same problems over and over again. The stuff they market to sell to help you organize these spaces is usually terrible. I enjoy creating realistic solutions to these problems that will save you from having to constantly sort and pick up after them.
Custom Storage Solutions
Wall Art
One of my favorite things to do is help my clients fill the bare space on their walls and rehang what they do have. I will help them frame and hang old photographs or help them purchase new pieces. I worked as an assistant to an art adviser for a time. I myself paint and enjoy art. You don’t have to have anything on your walls but it can be enjoyable to have things that inspire you and make you happy. It’s fun to help showcase a client’s unique personality.
Unpacking and Home Management
When I comes to unpacking and setting up a client’s home we both often wish they had hired me before they moved. Typically a client will call me after they hit a wall and realize their things have been sitting in boxes weeks or months after moving in. Some of my clients move to Los Angeles with nothing and I’m hired to help set-up and furnish their homes as they are often too busy with work.
Bathroom Organization
About Home Organizer Lisa Shields
Owner, organizer, decorator, and interior plant designer
My name is Lisa Shields. I am a professional organizer, home decorator, and interior plant designer in Los Angeles, California. I started Design Organized in 2014. Since then, I’ve worked for and alongside various interior designers, architects, and plantscapers. Prior to working in home design, I worked as an assistant to A-list actors, agents, and film directors.
Beautifying my surroundings and transforming live/work spaces has always been my passion. Spatial reasoning is my strongest skill. I enjoy organizing chaos. Efficiency is always the goal but not if it negates aesthetics. I like beautiful things and it brings me joy when I make someone’s home more beautiful.
I give away my ideas freely. You can employ me to make those ideas come to life or I will happily instruct you so you can accomplish them on your own. I have trusted employees and resources to help me get jobs done if need be (handymen, electricians, contractors). I can also put clients in touch with house-keepers, landscapers, and gardeners.
I sometimes go into challenging homes. Most older homes were built in a time where people needed less space and had less stuff. When I go into craftsman homes or midcentury modern builds pre-1980 they are usually dark (no overhead lighting or outlets) and have limited storage space. I tell all my clients that investing in just one consultation with a professional is worthwhile…you will get a fresh perspective and ideas from someone with years of experience who could end up saving you time and money.
My approach to organization focuses on working with items you already own to create clean inspiring spaces. Though I am happy to assist my clients with sourcing new furnishing and decor. I design for you, the individual client, bearing in mind your sensibilities and tastes. I work quickly and discretely and strive to relieve unnecessary stress and out of balance elements.
EXPERIENCE
My experience staging homes gave me the confidence to trust my instincts. I know what to eliminate. I know what to move where to make a room flow better and feel more spacious. Space is luxury. Lighting is everything. I tell my clients that if I could do anything to improve a home if I could spend money only on one thing, it would always be lighting. Adding plants would be a close second. Please see my services page to learn more.
My past experience includes working as an assistant to such talented designers such as interior plantscaper Sharon Carter, architecht Michael Palumbo, home staging powerhouse Meredith Baer, interior designers Bonesteel Trout Hall, The Property Brothers, and Breeze Giannasio.
Where Do Interiors Designers Shop For Furniture And Decor?
I posted my master list of places to shop for furniture, lighting, window treatments, art, decor, rugs, hardware, and flooring FOR FREE WITH CLICKABLE LINKS! If you can’t hire an interior designer, at least you can shop like one!
Organizing & Styling The Greater Los Angeles Area
Bel Air, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Studio City, Eagle Rock, Larchmont, Santa Monica, Venice, Sherman Oaks, Culver City, Pasadena, Malibu, Topanga Canyon, Westwood, Redondo Beach, Marina Del Rey, Highland Park, Playa Del Rey, Palos Verdes, Manhattan Beach, Woodland Hills, West Hollywood, Hollywood, Century City, Larchmont, Encino, Echo Park, Silverlake, Atwater, Los Feliz...