5 Tips for decluttering your home

If you are in the market for a move or are getting frustrated as you feel like you have just accumulated too many things, you may be in need of a good declutter.

From what method to take, the best way to tackle it and how to make it fun, here’s our 5 top tips for decluttering and reorganising your home.

1. Choose your method

That’s right; there are methods to decluttering! If you’re able to find the most efficient one for you, then you’re more likely to see it through and find it less of a chore. A quick Google search will provide you with an endless list of methods, however one of the most popular, the KonMari method, may be one that you’ve already heard of.  Coined by Japanese organisation guru Marie Kondo, it recommends you sort through things category by category rather than room by room. There are six basic rules and five categories to tackle to get you started.

2. Set yourself goals

It may sound a little dramatic, but having a goal for each area of your home and a plan of action will give you the drive and motivation to get started. Write a quick list of the areas you want to declutter in order of importance, and the zones within them you want to tackle. If feasible, set time limits for each area too, that way you won’t lose track of the day and end up with a half-finished home.

3. Be ruthless with unloved toys

There’s no time like the present to take a look through your little ones’ toys and have a bit of a clear out. There will always be things have been neglected for a while; some that they simply don’t like any more and others that they have grown out of. So, if they are in good condition, why not consider upcycling them by giving them to a charity shop or local playgroup?

4. And for those a little older…

Gone may be the toys but the ‘chair-drobe’ or ‘floor-drobe’ is probably a permanent fixture! To try and encourage your teenagers to be a little tidier, take a good look at their rooms. Do they need more storage? Would some decorative hooks allow handbags, rucksacks or sports bags to be hung neatly rather than dumped on the floor? Or perhaps they just need some good old motivation to clear up their clutter.

Once their rooms are clear, perhaps you can take a look together to see if you can refresh their space. A lick of paint or introducing a small seating or study area, can make all the difference.

5. Make it fun

It’s no surprise that for most of us, organising, decluttering and tidying aren’t our first choice when it comes to choosing how to spend our free time! However that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun with it.

Try taking before and after photos so you can feel proud of your efforts, or maybe create a playlist to help you power through. And don’t forget to gather your favourite snacks to keep you going…or as a reward for completing a room!

A final note

Remember, items you no longer could go to a new home, school or workplace and start a new life there.

Also, try to recycle as much as possible, even if it means a trip to your local recycling bank!

Happy decluttering!