‘Decluttering is the secret to happiness’

Vicky Silverthorn, 40, from London, took a leap of faith and turned her brilliant organisational skills into a flourishing career.

‘It might sound strange to some, but I find opening my wardrobe in the morning very uplifting! Everything inside is wonderfully organised and there aren’t too many items – each jumper or pair of jeans is one I know that I love. It’s so simple, but the state of a wardrobe can set your mood for the rest of the day. If it’s messy, you might spend an hour longer getting ready in the morning and it’ll put you in a bad mood. I truly believe organisation and decluttering is the secret ingredient to everyday happiness.

I became a tidy person because my childhood home was quite chaotic. I liked my bedroom being just-so, as it was my little sanctuary. I hated the feeling of not knowing where something was and the stress of losing something important.

After leaving school, I found work at a golf club, serving drinks and sandwiches. A year in, I was approached to become a personal assistant for a golf management company and began looking after 25 professional golfers. Then, after six years of looking after sportsmen, I became

Lily Allen’s PA. I toured with her around the world, staying in amazing hotels and flying in private jets.

TAKING CONTROL

My job required a huge level of organisation. There were so many small details to think about, such as having different outfit options and making sure Lily knew where she needed to be on a tight schedule. When we were around music industry people who looked flustered,

Lily’s agent would nudge them

‘Keeping your home organised can really boost your mood’

and say, “You need a Vicky!” And this gave me an idea...

In 2010, I quit my job and started my own decluttering and organisation business called You Need A Vicky. My goal was to help people organise their homes. This could range from having a clearout to finding storage solutions. I spoke to everyone I knew, promoted it on social media and often worked until 2am, thinking of ways to help my clients.

People told me how something as simple as tidying a wardrobe or decluttering a kitchen impacted their general wellbeing. This is something I strongly believe in – if you keep your home organised, it feels like you have control over your life and it can really boost your mood. I’m also

passionate about mindful shopping, which means thinking carefully before you buy something. Not only does it save you money, it prevents waste and is good for the planet, too.

People are starting to see the value of a decluttered home – and my business is booming. I even have my own PA! I’ve written

a book called Start With Your Sock Drawer

and I’m also the in-house storage expert at John Lewis & Partners.

As much as I love organising for clients, I still adore sorting out my own home. I’m a big fan of small, simple changes – such as putting seasonal items away in storage and having a tray to put your keys on. There is so much joy to be found

– a clear home equals a clear mind.’ • Visit youneedavicky.com