CLUTTER BE GONE!
It’s that time of year when ambitious resolutions are made and organising is top of our agendas. And there’s nothing like a good old house clear out to get you on the right path to a clutter-free life both physically and metaphorically speaking.
I’m sure, like me, you’ve got a heap of holey socks, broken phone chargers and old books taking up valuable drawer space.
‘Your stuff should live around you, you shouldn’t live around your stuff,’ says Melanie Cantor queen of sorting out the cluttered homes of messy people in her hit Channel 4 series Making Space.
Melanie believes that the key to a successful declutter is to cure the symptoms, so to speak, and identify the behavioural habits that led you to hoard all these unwanted possessions in the first instance.
Having spent considerable time getting homeowners to tidy up, Melanie has identified four types of hoarders.
‘First, there is the magpie that can’t leave behind pretty shiny pieces, like trinkets and glassware, when out shopping. There’s the bargain hunter who just can’t resist a bargain even if they have no real use for the item – I do recall a friend of mine buying a massage table just because it was at a knock-down price. We all know a squirrel who buys up items and stashes them away in case rationing returns. And then of course there is the ostrich, people like me who dip their head in the sand rather than deal with it. If you can begin to recognise these behaviours, you’ll be well on your way to controlling your hoarding,’ says Melanie.
Another clear out guru, Breda Stack (thedecluttertherapist.ie), a declutter expert based in Limerick, has also made it her mission to empower homeowners to tidy up their lives.
Founder of National Declutter Day (nationaldeclutterday.ie) and author of Declutter Therapy, Breda advocates for the many long-term holistic and practical benefits of ‘letting it go’.
‘Most people confuse decluttering with organising, but they are actually two very different skills. Where organising is putting systems in place for the items you love and want to keep, decluttering is the ability to let go of clutter which doesn’t serve you or make you feel good,’ says Breda.
It can be really hard to part ways with items that hold strong emotional attachments and memories – so Breda works with clients to not only clear physical but mental and emotional clutter with her online and in-person decluttering services and workshops.
No matter what, starting is the key. So start with the easy stuff and avoid overwhelming yourself by picking a room or a drawer even to get the ball rolling, advise the experts. Old magazines, past their sell-by-date toiletries and defunct phones or cameras are clearly items you should have no problem parting with in 2016.
Then, there are duplicates and the things you have too much of – we have three juicer models in our kitchen taking up valuable shelf space and I honestly cannot remember the last time we had fresh orange juice.
Spare bed linens, towels and extra pillows are another offender that takes up too much space. Ask yourself if you really need them – How many guests do you honestly expect? – and you might just free up some storage.
When it comes to clearing out your wardrobe, that old adage ‘if you haven’t worn it first time round...’ should spur you on.
Just imagine waking up to a tidy, streamlined, relevant wardrobe where each item fits rather than spending half your morning rummaging for something to wear.
Look out for handy and accessible storing and hanging solutions and make the most of all the available space in your room – under the bed is a great spot for storing shoes, bedding, sports kit and even bags.
IKEA have nailed the art of organising our lives, particularly small bedrooms, with their creative solutions like the Komplement multi-use hanger.
Take advantage of a bare side of your wardrobe in the same way as you would a wall, by adding hooks for accessories and even small mirrors and think about having two rails at different heights – it saves space and takes care of pants, dresses, shirts and skirts.
Next, it’s time to tackle your dusty paper trail. It’s worth investing in a shredder to help you really cull the
mountains of paperwork like old utility bills, bank statements, college notes – I still have my first year assignments! – holiday brochures. Argos have affordable options starting at €20.
In the kitchen ditch odd sized pots and pans and opt for those that stack together to save on shelf space and the same goes for crockery.
Bulky sitting room furniture only adds to a sense of clutter, slim pieces on legs or wall mounted pieces will help create a spacious feeling. Check out made.com for sideboards and media units, which are great for hiding cable TV boxes and modems.
Finally for those who are emotionally not ready to deal with a mass throw-out, self storage is a perfect solution. ‘It allows you to gradually whittle it down,’ says storage company NESTA’s (nesta.ie) managing director Brian Hefferson. ‘Its an ideal temporary option, that gives comfort and peace of mind.’