In 2015, Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin joined forces to create The Home Edit. From the outset, the goal was to revolutionize organizing, making the practice stylish and design-forward as well as merely functional.
Soon after, Clea, who came to the partnership with a background in social media and PR, and Joanna, whose professional experience was focused on stationery, realized they were really on to something. In the almost decade since their launch, the mom duo has written two New York Times bestselling books, starred and produced the Emmy-nominated Netflix show, Get Organized with the Home Edit, and launched a product line, podcast and YouTube channel. Their services continue to expand as well.
The Local Moms Network asked Clea and Joanna about changing the way millions of fans approach organization, working motherhood and more.
Learn more about The Home Edit or book organizing services here. Use code LOCALMOMS when booking for a free consult or 10% off your service.
After nearly a decade of organizing, you have built an extraordinary empire-products, magazine, books, a Netflix show, and podcast! Why does the Home Edit resonate so much with people?
People are starting to understand that organizing can be a form of self-care. Just having a little bit of order and control in your life can feel very meditative. Organizing is not just a chore and doesn’t have to be a looming thought of, “Oh, I have to clean the house today.” It’s an opportunity to create systems that will simplify your life on a daily basis, and make your space look beautiful.
Moms struggle between feeling sentimental and wanting to declutter. How do you help clients get rid of stuff holding them down?
We always say, “You get the item or you get the space, but you don’t get both,” which tends to put things into perspective. It’s okay to own things, as long as you want or need them. Our job isn’t to tell our clients what to keep or toss—we’re just there to find smarter ways to store these items, whatever they may be.
For moms who are both new to Home Edit or fans of your show but have never used your services, what can people expect if they use you to organize their home?
We always start with a consultation. Our team will run through a list of questions to get a better sense of your routine, what’s working, what’s not, and come up with an organization plan to fit your needs, and a pricing estimate based on the time and product it will take to finish. During the project, many clients enjoy learning and working alongside us. But at the same time, you are also more than welcome to let us do all the heavy lifting. We’ll have a few questions during the editing process, but otherwise, feel free to sit back, relax, and let the magic happen.
What do you tell people who feel guilty about needing help with organizing?
There is no reason to feel guilty! In the same way you hire a plumber to fix a leak, sometimes it takes a professional organizer to come in, peel back the layers, see where the real issues lie, and build you a better path forward.
Clea, thank you for sharing your breast cancer journey. How has cancer affected how you approach your life/motherhood/business?
It taught me how important it is to prioritize your health over your busy schedule. There’s a reason the flight attendants tell you to put on your oxygen mask before helping others. When you find small ways to show up for yourself every single day, it becomes a habit that benefits all areas of your life.
What are you most excited about with the business and what’s next in the coming year for The Home Edit?
It’s impossible to choose what we are most excited about because we are excited for everything! We have books for kids and teens coming out this fall, which is a whole new venture for us. We can’t wait to inspire the next generation of organizers. Speaking of new ventures, we’re thrilled to now have a local organizing team in Greenwich—one of our favorite towns!
We also recently launched a YouTube channel where you can find weekly episodes and new content series, and will be the new hosts of Extreme Makeover Home Edition on ABC next year.
Speed Round! What are your top 3 favorite organizing items for:
A play room: Clear bins, divided turntables, and labels
An office: Drawer inserts, modular desktop organizer, and clear file boxes
A bathroom: Drawer inserts, two-tier storage tower (for under the sink), and two-tier turntables.
Favorite celebrity clients: Impossible to pick, but since Reese Witherspoon changed our lives, we have to go with Reese!
Dream client: Clea – Zendaya Joanna – Oprah
Learn more about The Home Edit or book organizing services here. Use code LOCALMOMS when booking for a free consult or 10% off your service.
