Neat: Home Decorating TV Show
Hellen Buttigieg Hosts the Show for Cluttered and Messy Renovators
Aug 22, 2007
It’s one thing to have a messy house; it’s another to have a messy life. Or are the two related?
That’s the question at the root of every episode of Neat. While most decorating shows gloss over the “before” part of disorganization in order to highlight the renovation, Neat dives right in with equal doses of reality check and cleanliness. Viewers get to see the participants in the worst areas of their home and hear them vent about how they think it got that way.
Straightforward Assistance from Helen Buttigieg
A refreshing part of each Neat episode is the demeanor of host Hellen Buttigieg. Buttigieg doesn’t make fun of her clients for their cluttered ways, but she doesn’t baby them either. Her straightforward and no-nonsense manner is as engaging as it is effective.
Episodes usually begin with a tour of the participant’s often obnoxiously cluttered house or room. After the tour, Buttigieg will ask the person how they usually like to work (or sleep, or play – depending on the room in need of organization.) Determining the habits and work style of the participants is the first step in putting them back in order since Buttigieg will then aim for storage, workable surfaces, and general order that supports the way a person thinks and acts. For example, if one is “visual” (meaning they keep things out for fear of forgetting them) Buttigieg will often use clear or see-through storage so the person can easily view everything they have going on at a glance. This way they stay organized without leaving their materials all over the place.
Emotional Issues and Clutter
The second part of Buttigieg’s process is then finding out why the mess began in the first place. Participants often admit to emotional or financial issues, thus helping Buttigieg get to the root of the behavior. This part of Neat is ultimately what sets it apart, as Buttigieg is often stern and serious when broaching this issue with participants. No matter the cause, Buttigieg reminds the participants that all “stuff” has energy, and if you surround yourself with something that reminds you of a bad memory or negative thought, you are ultimately holding your entire life back from embracing the positive nature of life.
As each episode of Neat concludes, we get to see not only a transformation of space, but of emotional well being also. Buttigieg will ask participants how they “feel” being in the new space, again reinforcing the message that neatness is more than just a habit, it’s something crucial to a successful life.
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