DECLUTTERING YOUR HOME
Need to sort your life out? Don’t worry – it doesn’t have to be quite the immense undertaking you might think. Our helpful guide breaks it down bit by bit
In of terms your wishlist. of dream We’re living talking spaces, a a wardrobe clutter-free filled home with is just probably the clothes top you love to wear; kitchen shelving neatly stacked with glass jars and (unchipped) crockery; a drawer containing the sticky tape and no dried-out pens. Too good to be true? Nope – it’s fully within your grasp. Just ask yourself some simple questions…
QUESTION 1: WHY SHOULD I DECLUTTER?
Your home is your sanctuary, so when it feels messy, your mind can feel a little muddled, too. Having to extricate a plate from a too-full crockery cupboard or scrabble around a cluttered drawer to find something you need might sound like minor inconveniences, but these micro-stresses can build up, leaving a lingering sense of frustration, and who wants that? Life already throws plenty of inconveniences our way; no need for extra hassle at home.
QUESTION 2: OK, BUT HOW DO I DO IT?
First things first – take stock of what you’ve got. Having a good knowledge of what’s in your home will stop you from buying too much new stuff and stand you in good stead for deciding what can be thrown away and what needs keeping. Next, pick one thing at a time to focus on, be it clothes, books or crockery, because trying to tackle too much in one go will always be dispiriting. Finally, be ruthless. When it comes to clothes, the lockdowns can act as a marker – if you’ve not worn something since before Covid, chances are its days are numbered. And what about that broken bowl you’ve been intending to repair for months? If you haven’t done it yet, it’s time to say goodbye.
QUESTION 3: WHAT NOW?
Still feeling overwhelmed? It’s worth acknowledging at this point that we all have strange attachments to what others may view as rubbish, whether it’s an old boarding pass from a treasured holiday or magazines from years gone by. What matters is choosing the right place to store them. For sentimental items, pick up a decorative box that will sit pretty on shelves. The same goes for those documents you’ve never really needed but which seem too important to throw away (we’re looking at you, provisional driving licence). And those old magazines you can’t quite bring yourself to get rid of ? The sensible thing would be to pull out your favourite features and store these in a box file. But another possibility is letting the mags pile up. After all, they look good anywhere – and you can always claim them as an extra side table or footstool. Work smarter, not harder.