Rita Meneses, Certified Home Organizer® and founder of WOW ME Organizer® in Cascais, Portugal, helps people create calmer homes that make everyday life easier and leave more room for what matters most.
We recently interviewed Rita to learn more about her and what you can expect from a typical organizing session.
What inspired you to become an Organizer?
I spent many years working in the pharmaceutical industry, first in pharmacy and later in marketing. Throughout my career, I was involved in developing and improving work processes, creating more effective ways of working. Alongside my career, I was also raising a family and managing a home, where organization was something I naturally relied on to keep everything moving.
After many years in the corporate world, I felt ready to take a new direction. I wanted to build something of my own and turn a natural strength into work that could make a real difference in people's lives.
Around that time, I also went through belongings I had kept after my parents passed away. It made me think about our attachment to the things we own, and how deciding what to keep can sometimes help us make room for a new chapter.
I began to see that something I had always done naturally could become a way to help others create homes that work for them.
How has becoming an Organizer impacted your life?
One of the biggest lessons has been that we do not have to do everything ourselves.
For a long time, I was the person who would simply take on one more thing and find a way to manage it. I know how easy it is to feel that we should be able to handle everything on our own.
That is why it means so much to me when a client reaches out for help. It takes courage to admit that something is becoming too much, especially when we think we should be able to handle it ourselves.
What I love most is seeing how relieved clients feel when things finally start to fall into place at home. Every home and every family is different, and helping people find what works for them is what makes this work so rewarding.
How has your past career or education tied in to becoming an Organizer?
My previous career taught me to plan carefully, solve problems, and pay attention to the details without losing sight of the bigger picture. These are skills I now bring to organizing homes.
A cupboard may be where we start, but I also consider how the home is used, what the family needs, and how the different spaces can work together. The aim is to find practical solutions that make sense for the household as a whole.
Who are your ideal clients, or what is your niche?
I particularly enjoy working with busy families, especially mothers juggling work, family life, and everything that comes with running a home. When there is always something to do, keeping the house organized can become yet another responsibility. I help create practical systems that make daily life easier, so people have more time and energy for the things they enjoy.
I also work with people moving to Portugal, particularly Americans setting up a home in a new country, as well as people who are already settled here. Finding local shops, choosing organizing products, and making the most of unfamiliar storage spaces can be challenging. I help clients unpack, organize their belongings, and make their new home feel like home.
I am based in Cascais and work across the greater Lisbon area, including Oeiras and Sintra. My clients may have very different circumstances, but they share a common goal: a home that makes life easier.
What drives your clients to hire a professional organizer?
Often, people get in touch when they feel overwhelmed by their homes. They may have moved and never finished unpacking, renovated, welcomed a new baby, or simply found that life has become too busy to keep up.
Sometimes, they have tried to organize things several times but keep ending up back where they started. They can feel frustrated, and sometimes embarrassed that they have not managed to sort it out themselves.
I understand that feeling, and there is no need to feel guilty about asking for help. We all need a hand sometimes, and getting help with your home is simply one way to make life a little easier.
Tell us about your approach to organizing or your philosophy.
For me, a home needs to work for the people who live in it. It is not just about having tidy cupboards or everything looking perfect.
I take time to understand what people own, how they use their belongings, and what their daily routines look like. Then I look at the home as a whole and work out where things make the most sense.
I also help clients choose organizing products that suit their belongings and their spaces. Knowing which products and suppliers are available in Portugal is particularly useful for people who have recently moved here.
Some clients want a beautifully finished space where functionality and aesthetics go hand in hand. Others just want to open a cupboard without everything falling out! Both are equally valid.
Decluttering can be part of the process, but I never tell clients what they should keep or let go of. My role is to guide them through those decisions and find solutions that feel right for them.
Ultimately, organizing should make home life easier, not give us another reason to be busy. For me, it is about creating spaces that work, so life can flow more easily.
What challenges can you help with, and what might people miss if they try to organize on their own?
When organizing on their own, people sometimes focus on one area at a time without considering how it fits into the rest of the home. They might buy containers because they look good, only to find they are not the right size or do not work well for what they need to store. Or they may organize one cupboard without considering whether those items might be better stored somewhere else.
My training and experience help me look at the home as a whole and find solutions that are practical, cohesive, and suited to the people who live there. It is not just about making a space look organized, but about making sure the choices work together and make everyday life easier.
For people moving to Portugal, finding suitable organizing products locally can be another challenge. I help clients navigate the options available here and find solutions that work for their new homes.
Is there anything you wish your clients knew before contacting you?
Please don't tidy up before I arrive! Seeing your home as it is helps me understand how you use your spaces, what is working, and where you are running into difficulties. There is no need to feel embarrassed or judged. I'm here to understand your needs and help you find solutions that work for you.
Life gets busy, circumstances change, and sometimes things simply get away from us. Whatever has brought you to this point, you don't need to explain yourself or have everything figured out before asking for help.
I offer an initial home visit so we can talk about what you need and how I might help. There is no obligation to move forward.
Some clients prefer to work alongside me, while others are happy for me to organize independently. We can find the approach that suits you best, and your privacy and confidentiality are always respected.
Are there any services you would like to highlight?
I help people organize their homes, make better use of their existing storage, and settle in after a move. For those relocating to Portugal, this can include unpacking and finding practical organizing solutions using products available locally.
I also help people navigate life changes, from welcoming a baby or adjusting to a new family situation to sorting through belongings after losing someone they love. Every project is different, and I adapt my approach to each client's needs and circumstances.
Contacts:
You can reach Rita Meneses at:
(+351) 961 511 141
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wowmeorganizer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wowmeorganizer
