Decluttering your home can be an arduous task and a helping hand to steer you in the right direction could be a blessing.
Making your spaces look more fluid and presentable can go a long way toward improving your mood among other things.
If you're looking for some tips to help with a spring clean or just a bit of revamp then you're in luck.
The Sliding Door Wardrobe Company spoke to two professional organisers, Cath Hindle from Clear the Clutter and Tracy McCoull from Personally Organised, to find out what people need to do.
5 tips to help effectively declutter your home
Avoid blindly buying more storage solutions
“Buying multiple storage solutions without thinking about what you need to organise and why!” Cath says. “It’s much better to evaluate exactly what you need and invest in a storage solution that meets those specific requirements.
“In seven years of professional decluttering, I have only once suggested that a client buys additional storage. Usually, you already have the storage you need within your home – you just need to organise your belongings carefully.”
Tracy also cautions against just moving the clutter around your home.
She explains: “One of the worst mistakes people can make is not actually decluttering. It’s essential to get rid of the items you no longer need before you start to organise – otherwise, your task will quickly become impossible!
“I find that people have two main kinds of clutter within their homes: static clutter and nomadic clutter. Static clutter is the things we hide inside boxes, cupboards and drawers that we never use. Nomadic clutter is those things that roam about the house but don’t have a proper home.
“You need to get control of both types of clutter before you can begin organising or considering investing in storage solutions. The process should be: declutter, organise, contain.”
Avoid impulse buying
Decluttering involves not buying too many new items so impulse buying is definitely something to avoid.
Tracy says: “Without a clear intention or designated use, new items often end up drifting about the home and simply adding to the chaos."
Don't always follow viral trends
Cath explains: “I always advise my clients against following an organisational hack that’s going viral on social media. Organising books or clothes in rainbow colours may look pretty but it makes it really hard to find individual things when you need them!”
Tracy also advises that it's important to have a system for the things you are choosing to let go of.
She says: “Whether you’re giving items to a charity, selling them online or recycling them, getting them out of the house as soon as possible is key. Otherwise, you’ll just end up with more bags of clutter!”
Where's the best place to start decluttering?
Tracy reveals that she always asked her clients about what room would have the most impact on their day-to-day life if it was organised.
She adds: “Choose a small, manageable area and set a timer for 10-15 minutes so you can declutter without becoming overwhelmed.”
Cath agrees, saying: "Many people feel overwhelmed by the idea of decluttering their whole home, meaning they never actually get started! Start small. I like beginning the decluttering process with the cupboard under the kitchen sink or an underwear drawer – even tidying up one small area can make a big impact.
“Think of decluttering as an ongoing process. You can’t get everything done in a single day, so start small and do a little bit whenever you have time. If sorting out your whole wardrobe feels overwhelming, just start with your jeans or jumpers.”
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Implement effective organisational hacks
Cath says: “Store clothes vertically in drawers rather than horizontally along rails. This makes it easier to see exactly what you have and put outfits together in the morning!
"It will also help inform your buying habits – if you can clearly see you already have two camel-coloured jumpers, you’ll be less inclined to buy a third.”
Meanwhile, Tracy says: “One of my favourite places to organise is the wardrobe! Once you’ve decluttered and organised your wardrobe, hang all of your clothes hangers the wrong way round on the rail.
"Once you’ve worn something and it’s time to hang it back up, turn the hanger back the right way round."
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