When Swedish furniture store IKEA announced they would be hiring ten ‘tidy technicians’ to de-clutter and organise homes across Australia, Megan Dryden knew she was perfect for the role.
The Canada-born, Sydney-based woman, 28, was one of thousands of people to apply, and one of just a few chosen for the esteemed challenge.
Speaking to FEMAIL after attending IKEA’s ‘tidy technician’ bootcamp, Megan shared her top tips for homeowners around Australia – and why you should only tidy the home on one day each week.
Megan Dryden (pictured) is one of the ten tidy technicians chosen by IKEA to de-clutter and organise homes around Australia – she shared her secrets
When asked about her own tidying regime, Megan explained there are certain tasks and tricks she and her husband execute daily to maintain an organised household.
At night before going to bed, they ensure all the dishes are put away, lunches are ready and everything is prepared for the following day.
‘It’s a really simple and great way to start the day on the right foot and start fresh,’ Megan told Daily Mail Australia.
But while this might sound organised, Megan also said she only dedicates one day to full-on tidying and cleaning each week.
‘We use Sunday for tidying the home, rather than organising small sections of each room every day,’ Megan said.
‘No home is perfect – it’s real life not a magazine cover so there will always be times when the house is messy.’
Megan (pictured) said there are certain tasks she executes to maintain an organised house, including putting away the dishes before bed and dedicating every Sunday to tidying
When it comes to her other secrets, Megan said one of the best ways you can be organised is by ditching excess stuff and making sure everything has a specific home.
‘Owning fewer items makes everything a lot easier to quickly tidy up, especially when company unexpectedly pops over or if you have regular family dinners,’ she said.
‘I always try and encourage clients to set items to a designated area too so they can be found easily.’
To maximise space in the home, she also suggested buying specific types of IKEA furniture that incorporates storage into its function, such as a chaise lounge which rises to place items inside.
‘It’s important to make the most of every metre in your home,’ she said.
If you occupy a busy lifestyle and have little time to tidy the house on a specific day, Megan recommends owning fewer items and ensuring everything has a specific spot in the house
A specific tidy technician bootcamp was held in store to teach the technicians why storage is the main frustration people face and how IKEA can help solve storage or space issues
‘With the help of the tidy technicians, we want people to be able to enjoy their space and get excited about coming home to unwind and relax from the day,’ interior designer for IKEA Australia Christine Gough said
Christine Gough, interior designer for IKEA Australia, said the temporary technician roles are part of the ‘Tidy by IKEA’ campaign.
This aims to help alleviate stress within the home so Australians can enjoy their spaces and live a better everyday life.
A specific tidy technician bootcamp training was held across each state inside IKEA stores for the successful candidates to gain an insight into why storage is the main frustration people face.
The bootcamp also focused on how selected IKEA products can be adapted into the four main areas of the home: the bedroom, bathroom, pantry and children’s room to help with being organised.
‘For example, the KVISTBRO table doubles as a coffee table and a storage piece as you can keep throws and cushions inside,’ Christine told FEMAIL.
‘Additionally, mobile storage is key to keeping the home neat and tidy as it provides a place to keep your belongings and allows you to move it around from room to room which prevents you from leaving your things lying around.
‘The NISSAFORS trolley is a great versatile option that you can keep kitchen utensils, desk accessories for study and work or bathroom items.
‘With the help of the tidy technicians, we want people to be able to enjoy their space and get excited about coming home to unwind and relax from the day,’ Christine concluded.
‘Having an organised and decluttered space contributes to an overall feeling of positive wellbeing.’