THE KITCHEN COUNTER

AKA the dumping ground, these ideas will help you turn your kitchen worktop into a functioning home hub.

1 Start by gathering all the clutter. this means emptying all clutter-collecting places like fruit bowls and noticeboards. sift through into piles to action, file and recycle/shred, but you might have smaller piles of things like coupons, tickets and receipts. Keep the ones needed in jam jars. Pop loose change back in your purse, and put batteries to be recycled in with your shopping bags for the next time you go to the supermarket. try to do this life edit once a week, clearing out your handbag or purse at the same time.

2 Re-pin your noticeboard. Keep it to essential stuff only, ideally anything that’s happening that month, with next month’s notices tucked in a plastic wallet. Get in the habit of editing your board at the end of the month. Pop takeaway menus in a plastic wallet and tuck in a kitchen drawer.

3 Keep it tidy until your next life edit session. buy small bowls or tins for bits and pieces or a box file that everyone can put stuff in – anything that prevents this from becoming a dumping ground. Keep a pretty mug for pens and scissors, but don’t let it get too full – think stylish but useful. be prepared to name and shame regular dumpers in this area.