As a professional organiser and declutterer, I help restore calm, clarity and order to my clients’ lives. Many of the people I work with are managing busy, demanding schedules or navigating periods of transition — such as relocation, bereavement or other significant life events. During these times, even the most capable people can feel overwhelmed by their surroundings, and that’s where practical, compassionate support can make a real difference.
I am also ADHD-friendly and understand the very real mental and emotional strain that clutter, disorganisation and decision fatigue can create. Whether you have a diagnosis or simply feel overwhelmed by your environment, I work at a pace and in a way that supports focus, reduces pressure and removes judgement.
Inviting someone into your home or business to organise personal spaces requires trust. It’s essential to feel confident not only in that person’s ability, but also in their discretion, sensitivity and understanding. My aim is always to work respectfully and collaboratively, helping to transform chaos into calm in a way that feels supportive rather than overwhelming.
I’m friendly, down-to-earth and easy to get along with, and I pride myself on creating a relaxed, non-judgemental environment for my clients. Outside of my professional work, I’m actively involved in Scouting and enjoy motorbiking, rugby, and spending time with family and friends. I’ve travelled extensively — visiting all seven continents — and spent 18 months living in New Zealand, experiences that have shaped my adaptable, open-minded approach to life and work.
As a decluttering professional, I don’t believe a balanced life is about perfection. Instead, it’s about creating a home or business environment that works for you — one that feels comfortable, functional and easy to maintain, and ultimately supports the way you want to live.
Specialisms
Move Management
Moving home can be stressful, regardless of how many times you’ve moved or what stage of life you’re in. For many people — particularly downsizers — a move represents a significant transition. Whether you’re relocating to a new area, moving to a new or smaller home, or adapting to a different living situation, the practical and emotional demands can quickly become overwhelming. Alongside the logistics, letting go of possessions and making countless decisions can bring uncertainty, stress and anxiety.
By outsourcing some or all of your move, you can ease that pressure. As your Move Manager, I offer calm, practical and non-judgemental support throughout the entire process. My role is to make your move smoother, more efficient and far less stressful, while helping ensure a well-organised and successful transition into your new home — particularly when downsizing requires thoughtful decision-making and careful planning.
Home move support includes (but not limited to):
1. Sorting and downsizing – sensitive, practical help deciding what to keep, donate, sell or let go of
2. Floor planning – ensuring furniture fits comfortably and works well in your new space before moving day
3. Inventory management – creating and managing a clear record of furniture and belongings
4. Move administration – including change of address notifications and essential paperwork
5. Sourcing and liaising with suppliers and contractors – such as removers, auctioneers, clearance services and charities
6. Coordination of packing and moving days – acting as a calm point of contact to keep everything running smoothly
7. Unpacking and settling in – overseeing furniture placement according to the floor plan, unpacking boxes, making beds, organising wardrobes and kitchens, and putting everything away so your new home feels comfortable and functional from day one
Hoarding behaviour
I specialise in supporting individuals affected by hoarding behaviours, offering calm, practical and non-judgemental help at what can feel like an overwhelming time.
Hoarding behaviours are often rooted in complex emotional experiences, and I approach every client and situation with empathy, patience and respect — never judgement or pressure.
My work focuses on gentle, structured support, helping clients regain a sense of control over their living spaces at a pace that feels safe and manageable. By breaking tasks into small, achievable steps and creating simple, sustainable systems, I help reduce anxiety, build confidence and support lasting change.
Above all, my aim is to create a supportive environment where clients feel understood, empowered and able to move forward — creating a home that feels calmer, safer and more functional, and that works with their brain rather than against it.
ADHD
I specialise in approaching decluttering and organising from a neurodiversity-aware perspective, supporting clients with ADHD, autism, or other neurodivergent traits to create spaces that work for them. I understand that traditional organising methods don’t always fit every brain, and that what feels straightforward for some can be overwhelming or frustrating for others.
My approach is flexible, empathetic, and practical. I work collaboratively with each client to develop systems that suit their unique needs, breaking tasks into achievable steps, reducing decision fatigue, and creating environments that support focus, calm, and confidence.
I believe that organisation isn’t about perfection — it’s about making your home or workspace functional, manageable, and aligned with the way you think and live. By recognising and valuing neurodivergent ways of processing, I help clients feel understood, empowered, and in control of their surroundings.
Phew, we did it! Two days of decluttering resulted in 2 carloads to the charity shop, two big binbags of rubbish, several piles of recycling and all done with immense patience and kindness on Michelle's part who coped with my dithering and fúuthering and changing of mind and back again. Now I can see what is in my office/craft room without having to wade through a pile of mess. Fantastic!"
It is, quite simply, transformative, turning a late-life move involving downsizing and de-cluttering into a manageable, even enjoyable, experience. Michelle Garwood has a sympathetic and uniquely equable temperament and delivers every time., able to deal with difficulties to the point where they present 'no problems'. She has an extraordinary capacity for remembering minute detail, as well as access to a comprehensive range of nation-wide contacts able to deal with the most apparently intractable situations, both national and international. She never avoids a difficult problem but will work at it until she has found a way to undertake its solution, constantly taxing herself to go the extra mile to help and following up where necessary. This is a little-known service, and a very special person, deserving the widest publicity and support"
I am ever so slightly (and selfishly) hesitant to write a glowing review for Michelle of KE Lifestyle Management Services only because, like a good secret, I want to keep her all to myself! If I tell everyone how truly amazing she really is, she will likely be so busy that I will have to wait my turn to get an appointment with her again!! Alas, in all good conscience, I must share my honest views about her. Michelle, without question, is “the best thing since sliced bread”! Truly! You couldn’t ask for a better professional in terms of assisting with decluttering and organising! If I’m going to "say it like it is", I need to admit that before we met, I had my reservations about how my time with Michelle would go. Not because of anything that she had done, but because I had attempted my decluttering/organising project twice before in the past, to no avail. I was hoping for “third time lucky” and not “three strikes and you’re out”!! Happily, I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that it was the former and not the latter!! Having learned from my previous experiences, I was very clear with Michelle from the outset about what I did and didn’t want from her. Michelle took everything that I relayed to her on board, and at the end of our time together, I knew that I had struck gold! Honest to the core, empathetic, amazing work ethic, kind and just the right sense of humour are all evident in Michelle’s personality and work style. But…don’t be fooled…she’s no pushover and she will challenge you (in a caring way) when necessary! I truly couldn’t have asked for more. There was nothing that she wouldn’t do for me or try to help me figure out. Full of helpful suggestions for challenging problems and/or advice for how to deal with any number of things are at the fore of Michelle’s style. To say that she went out of her way to assist me numerous times during (and after) our time together would not be an understatement. If you are “on the fence” about whether or not you think you want to work with Michelle on a decluttering/organising project of your own, trust me…run to her, don’t walk - for if you walk, you may be too late as others will have surely snapped her up!!! I simply cannot thank Michelle enough for her amazing assistance and not only would I unquestionably turn to her again in the future, I would recommend her, to the highest degree, to anyone who is looking for an amazingly fantastic helping hand!! Now, how’s that for a “glowing reference”?!!!!!