20 secrets to better living Handy tips to declutter your life and home

Declutter your life, reorganise your home and create space to unwind and refresh to bring in the new year

SEE IT, DO IT

The dawn of a new year is the perfect time to take a second look at the spaces you love. “Start with a vision of how you want your space to be before you start any decluttering, cleaning or rearranging,” suggests organising expert and interior stylist Sarah Shanahan. If you can visualise your goal, you are more likely to want it and therefore achieve it.

PACK IT UP

If you are lost for a starting point, it might be more obvious than you think. “Believe it or not, the first thing we need to do before embarking on a new year refresh is to pack away the Christmas tree, decorations and lights,” advises professional organiser Jo Carmichael, founder of decluttering business All Sorted Out. “I go into many homes to find Christmas decorations still out in June.”

3 CONTAIN CLUTTER

The secret to stylish storage? “Baskets, baskets, baskets,” says organising expert and interior stylist Sarah Shanahan. “There are so many styles and sizes to suit any budget, taste and room. They not only add warmth and character to the home, but can store so much, and in any room of the house.” Bookcases are a great way to control clutter in combined spaces, such as a living room or study nook, and stylish boxes and baskets act as ornaments as well as storage essentials.

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START ‘KEEP’, ‘MAYBE’, ‘DONATE’ AND ‘RUBBISH’ PILES, AND DISCARD ACCORDINGLY. ASK YOURSELF, ‘DO I LOVE IT, DO I NEED IT AND DO I USE IT?’ IF YOU CAN’T SAY YES, IT’S TIME TO LET IT GO.

5 LIST IT

There’s nothing more satisfying than crossing tasks off a list. “Write down all the areas that need decluttering and start with the easiest, least emotional area for instant results,” says Sarah. Working your way down to that last ‘to-do’ should be motivation enough to keep you going.

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CONSIDER NEW WAYS TO LAYER LIGHTING. CANDLES AND FLOOR LAMPS ARE EASY ADDITIONS FOR INSTANT AMBIENCE. A SERIES OF WALL LIGHTS IN DIFFERENT FORMS IS A MORE PERMANENT OPTION.

7 CREATE AN EASY WAY OUT

As with this example by Minted Interiors (below), placing a bowl on the hall table for car keys or mobile phones can streamline getting out the door. Professional organiser Jo Carmichael suggests placing a basket with a lid close to the entry for shopping bags or shoes. “This always looks great and makes things easy to find,” she says.

8 CONNECT WITH COLOUR

Don’t underestimate the power of colour. “It’s a powerful tool to transform a space and entirely change its feeling,” says Taubmans colour consultant Grace Garrett. “Colours can make you feel happy, calm, energetic, or tired, depressed and constricted.” This doesn’t have to mean a new coat of paint for the entire house – look to soft furnishings such as throws, cushions and artwork to inject happy hues.

9 EAT WELL

Is there anything more enviable than a well-organised pantry with matching canisters? “The pantry is the engine room of the house. If it’s ordered, labelled and organised, it leads to healthier eating choices,” says organising expert and interior stylist Sarah Shanahan. “A calm, organised pantry instantly lifts the mood and can set the tone for the rest of the house.”

10 PURIFY THE AIR YOU BREATHE. “PLANTS CAN REDUCE AIR POLLUTION LEVELS,” SAYS GISELE ZANIER, FOUNDER OF PLANT EMPORIUM BEYOND SUNFLOWERS. THOSE PRONE TO ASTHMA OR ALLERGIES SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER AIR-PURIFYING FANS TO KEEP THE AIR CLEAN.

11 GO GREEN

Indoor plants are no dying trend – in fact, they are more popular than ever. “For years we’ve been seeking to create a sanctuary in our built environment that reflects the need for relaxation, contemplation and escape from stress,” says Gisele. “If lack of space is an issue, utilise your walls and ceiling by installing hanging baskets of foliage.”

12 MAKE AN ENTRANCE

Set a warm and welcoming tone from the minute you walk in the door – not only will this impress guests, it will also boost your mood as soon as you get home after a long day at work. “Plants add a sense of life and energy to your entryway to create a natural and vibrant ‘wow’ factor,” says Gisele. Above a console, add a mirror to reflect light and find a diffuser in your favourite scent to place nearby.

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UPCYCLE OLD PIECES AND PUT THEM TO USE. “RE-PURPOSING FAVOURITES WILL ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF MAINTAINING AN ORDERED, DECLUTTERED SPACE,“SAYS JO. IT WILL ALSO HAVE THE BONUS OF HELPING THE PLANET.

14 USE IT OR LOSE IT

Give your wardrobe some love. “The new year is the perfect time to try the reverse hanger trick – place all your hangers the opposite way and, every time you wear an item, put it back on the hanger the correct way,” instructs organising expert and interior stylist Sarah Shanahan. This will help you determine what you actually wear and what should be donated to charity.

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“LEAVE YOUR DOONAS AND PILLOWS IN THE SUN FOR AN HOUR – IT REFRESHES THEM AND HELPS THEM FLUFF UP AGAIN,” SAYS PROFESSIONAL ORGANISER JO CARMICHAEL, FOUNDER OF DECLUTTERING BUSINESS ALL SORTED OUT. SIMILARLY, OPEN THE WINDOWS AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE. “OR SPRAY A NATURAL DEODORISING MIX OF WATER, TEA TREE AND LAVENDER TO FRESHEN THE AIR,” SHE ADVISES.

16 GET STORAGE SMART

Reconsider how you’re storing your clothes. “Fold underwear and shirts in a practical way so your drawers remain tidy and it’s easy to see what you have and to decide what to wear,” recommends Jo, who swears by the Kon Mari method – items are folded into rectangular shapes and stored upright in a drawer, with the edges facing upwards.

17 BEAUTIFY YOUR BEDROOM

“Nothing promotes wellbeing more than a tranquil place to sleep,” advises Jo. “Give your bedroom the once over, and inspect your bedding, perhaps investing in a new bedcover or cushions. Add a new plant to complete the refresh.”

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IF YOU LOVE IT, SHOW IT OFF. “I’M A BIG BELIEVER IN HAVING WHAT SPARKS JOY ON DISPLAY,” SAYS ORGANISING EXPERT AND INTERIOR STYLIST SARAH SHANAHAN. ROTATING ITEMS IS A GOOD IDEA IF SPACE IS LIMITED.

19 PICK UP YOUR PAINTBRUSH

If it’s time for a new coat of paint, consider your colours carefully. “Opt for a soft grey-green colour that can be used in larger quantities,” advises Taubmans colour consultant Grace Garrett. The effect will be instant. “It will create a cool, refreshed and relaxed mood,” she says. “It’s a colour that connects us to nature and makes us feel calm and restful in a space. Use it in bedrooms, lounge rooms and bathrooms, combined with lots of natural light.”

20 CREATE AN ESCAPE

Find a forgotten corner, invest in a comfortable chair and add a side table for a teacup or candle to make the space your own. Designate it a screenfree area and use it to consciously disconnect from technology, read a book and unwind. “Use softer pastels and greyed-off colours or neutrals to create a relaxing nook,” suggests Grace.