The Walsh Makerspace gets an organizational overhaul courtesy of decluttering expert Debbie Horton.
We’ve all read about the life-changing results of a simple tidying session. For The Organized Nest’s Debbie Horton, refining a space for maximum functionality is her life’s calling. Tasked with revamping the Walsh Makerspace to define areas for each creative project, Horton has transformed one of Walsh’s most intriguing amenities into an even more user-friendly space.
Says director of community relations Bexie Nobles, “We had a soft opening in March, but we needed to do more to truly complete the space. Debbie and her team were able to bring our vision to life: making this workshop warm and inviting, and showcasing all of the features that make this space fun, unique and engaging. Now every item now has a purpose and a place where it can be stored.”
A former speech-language pathologist, Horton fell into the organized life organically when she helped some friends clean out their homes.
“It truly started over a girl’s weekend, and now we’re over seven years in and all over the Metroplex. We do a lot more than just organize—we have moving relocation services, seasonal décor, and personal styling.”
Approached by Walsh to makeover the Makerspace, Horton first took a look at each area, deciding to compartmentalize without using solid dividers so that the room kept its open feel. At Horton’s suggestion, the Walsh team built three clear acrylic walls, instantly creating four distinct spaces—an office, a graphics lab, a design lab, and a kid’s corner—without compromising the space’s open floor plan. Clear clips on the walls throughout the area can hold designs and sketches.
Next, Horton and her team created storage solutions for every area. Rollout carts under desks allow members to access materials easily and just as easily clean up. Two six-foot-long stainless steel tables were sourced for the middle of the room, creating as prep area with additional storage for art projects. Horton also lined the space with stationary shelving to keep supplies like paint organized and accessible. The kid’s area was revamped to be even more welcoming; with supplies such as stickers, beads, and blocks stashed in clear bins so everything can be grabbed easily.
“We broke down and organized every single detail (of the workspaces),” says Horton. “When you get to the soft arts, we have thread boxes and sewing tables, and we moved the embroidery and sewing tables next to each other so that people can bounce ideas off of each other.”
Solving an organizational puzzle is all in a day’s work for Horton, who says that decluttering is a “very personal” experience for each of her clients.
“There are general ideas you need, but my closet may not work for you, and your closet may not work for me,” she explains. “But I’m a firm believer that anybody can keep an organizational system if they are willing to put in the time and effort to implement a plan that works for you.”
For more information on the Walsh Makerspace, click here!
