How to Declutter Together Without Losing Your Cool (or Your Partner) with Colette Roy (Ep 261)
About the episode
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.
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Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links):
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.
Key Takeaways:
1. Why clutter can create hidden emotional tension between partners
2. How to navigate different communication styles during organizing projects
3. Tips to set healthy boundaries and share the load fairly
4. The power of understanding your partner’s perspective when decluttering
5. How to transform your garage into a peaceful, functional space—together
About Colette Roy:
Colette has been a Professional Organizer in Boulder, Colorado, for 20 years and is an expert in helping couples navigate the sometimes dire challenge of their combined clutter. She’s recently published her first book, Clutter And Couples: How To Organize Your Home & Transform Your Relationship, which speaks directly to those challenges. The book offers a deeper understanding of the impacts of clutter and how to communicate effectively while staying on the same team with your beloved. She’s passionate about helping couples prioritize the health of their intimate life through cutting-edge communication rituals and evolving 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
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About Deanna Yates
Based in San Diego, CA, Deanna helps high-achieving moms clear the clutter from their homes and lives.
Through coaching, courses, summits, and her top-ranked Wannabe Clutter Free podcast, she supports modern women in building organized, peaceful homes where they can thrive.
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