How to Declutter Together Without Losing Your Cool (or Your Partner) with Colette Roy (Ep 261)

Deanna chats with Colette Roy about the emotional and practical challenges of organizing with your partner. They dive into how clutter affects relationships, why communication is key, and how to tackle big home projects together (like the garage) without the arguments. **************** Resources Mentioned (some may be affiliate links - thanks for supporting the show at no extra cost to you): ⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/261⁠ Connect with Colette Roy ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Colette’s Book⁠⁠⁠: Clutter and Couples Organize Your Garage without Killing Your Partner ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on: ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ **************** Tired of fighting every time you try to tackle a home project with your partner? In this episode of the Wannabe Clutter Free podcast, host Deanna Yates sits down with professional organizer Colette Roy to talk about how to declutter shared spaces without losing your cool—or your relationship. Whether you’re tackling the garage, the basement, or just trying to agree on what to toss, Colette brings real talk and practical strategies for making home organization a team effort (without the tension). Drawing from her course How to Organize Your Garage Without Killing Your Partner, Colette shares why organizing together is so tricky, how emotional clutter plays into the chaos, and how better communication can lead to smoother projects and stronger connections. You’ll walk away with smart, relationship-friendly tips to finally get that garage in shape—without turning it into a battleground. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why clutter can create hidden emotional tension between partners How to navigate different communication styles during organizing projects Tips to set healthy boundaries and share the load fairly The power of understanding your partner’s perspective when decluttering How to transform your garage into a peaceful, functional space—together Time Stamps: 00:00 – Intro + what to expect in this episode 02:53 – Meet Colette Roy & her clutter-with-compassion approach 03:55 – Smart strategies for getting started on home projects 07:11 – Why clutter causes friction in relationships 13:12 – What makes organizing with your partner so hard 17:03 – How to design a garage that actually works 22:01 – Key communication tips for couples 27:00 – Why home projects spark arguments 28:36 – Behind the scenes of Colette’s course 32:46 – Practical communication tools you can use today 40:40 – Understanding needs: yours and your partner’s 43:11 – Why having personal space matters 47:11 – Rapid fire wrap-up + final thoughts **************** Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠ **************** We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices