Barbara Metzel

Professional Organizer and Founder of Professional Organizing Plus

Barbara Metzel is a professional organizer in Phoenix, AZ, and the Founder of Professional Organizing Plus (POP), a leading home organizing company. Born and raised in Milan, Italy, Barbara brings a European flair to her work, blending function with style and beauty. She has completed thousands of hours of organizing projects and specializes in home organizing, decluttering, unpacking, home management as well as commercial organizing. Barbara is a proud member of the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (NAPO), and her expertise has been featured in The Spruce, Homes & Gardens, VoyagePhoenix, and more.

Professional Achievements

Featured in The Spruce, Homes & Gardens, VoyagePhoenix, and other national and local publications, where she has shared organizing tips and strategies with a wide audience
Known for her judgment-free approach and European flair
Has built a reputation for creating spaces that are both practical and stylish, and for providing clients with long-lasting, stress-free solutions

Certifications & Organizations

Member, National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (NAPO)
Member, NAPO Arizona Chapter

Favorite Piece of Advice

One piece of advice I always share with clients is to start small and stay consistent. You don’t have to organize your entire home in a day; begin with one drawer, one shelf, or one closet. Small, steady steps build lasting systems that make life easier and less overwhelming.

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Forum Comments (1)

How do I get rid of clutter?

Typically, when I go into a space, the first thing I do is take everything out. Let's say you’re decluttering a pantry. First, take everything out of that pantry. Then, look for expired items to get rid of. Next, group like items together – pastas, snacks, canned food, etc. At that point, you can decide what to keep and what to get rid of. So it's a matter of categorizing and then making a decision. You’ll want to make three different piles: keep, trash, and donate.

Once you have everything in the keep pile, you can start organizing and putting everything away. And then a huge part of the process is also going to be containment. You can contain all the like with like items and create sections to create permanent homes for things.

Co-authored Articles (10)

How to Create and Maintain an Effective Filing System

Organize paperwork in your home office or shared workspaceIf the paperwork is piling up, an efficient office filing system can help you straighten out your space. The first step is to divide all the paperwork you have al...

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Be Clean

If you want to be a clean person, you need to dedicate some time every day to maintaining your hygiene, clothes, and home. First, practice good hygiene by showering often and brushing your teeth twice a day. Next, make s...

How to

Deodorize a Room

A smelly room is embarrassing, and it can prevent you from enjoying your living spaces the way you should. The secret to deodorizing a room is first getting rid of the source of the odor, which you can do with thorough c...

How to

Be Organized

Most people do not like being disorganized. True organization takes time, but when you get the hang of it, life becomes much easier. To be truly organized, you need to organize your space and organize your time, making s...

How to

Organize Your Locker

Sometimes, it feels like keeping your locker organized is harder than advanced trigonometry. But it doesn’t have to be that way! If you feel overwhelmed by the state of your locker, start with a clean slate (literally)...

How to

Clean and Organize Your Room

Between dirty clothes, clutter, and other waste, cleaning your room might be a trouble in your to-do list. And you do not need to worry! The solution to simple, effective cleaning is breaking the task down into smaller c...

How to Get Rid of Clutter in Your Home

Handy tips for decluttering & organizing your homeWhen you walk in the door, do you feel like you're tiptoeing through a minefield of clutter? When you go to clean up, it can be frustrating if you find your drawers, cabi...

How to

Live Like a Minimalist

Minimalism is a lifestyle choice that encourages the elimination of excess in one's life. The move to live simply, and with as little as possible, is an aim for freedom from the pressures of consumerism and materialism. ...

How to

Organize a Kitchen

A disorganized kitchen can be a big headache! Being able to quickly and easily find the items you need can save you time and unnecessary stress. Before you start organizing your kitchen, sort your belongings according to...

How to

Create a Minimalist Home

Minimalism isn’t just a personal aesthetic choice—it’s a streamlined, organized, and refreshing way to reorganize your home so you’re only holding onto the essentials. If you have a lot of different odds and ends...