CLEAR THE CLUTTER

Get your home streamlined and spotless with these tips and clever buys

1 Time to tidy

A tidy home creates a tidy mind, so set yourself small, achievable goals – working room by room – to tackle the clutter and detox your home. Make a pile to donate, recycle and to be thrown away. Once you’ve done this for each space it will be easier to see what you do have and the solutions you need to be able to tidy them away quickly and neatly at the end of each day.

2 Blitz the bathroom

Don’t let out-of-date medicines and half-used bottles take up all the space in your bathroom cabinet. Stackable, clear storage boxes help make the most of taller shelves and allow you to see exactly what is where. Orthex Smartstore compact clear storage boxes, from £1.75, Homebase

3 Find stylish solutions

A shelving unit that provides ample space for you to display some treasured pieces and some boxes and baskets for smaller knick-knacks is ideal. Look for a solution that incorporates a cupboard or drawer so you can hide away less attractive essentials. Ercol Monza tall shelving unit, £765, Barker & Stonehouse

4 Put walls to work

Giving everything its place cuts the clutter and keep surfaces clear. If you’ve run out of cupboard and drawer space look to the walls. Hanging baskets are ideal for everything from laundry pegs to stationery, as well as small toys and even fruit! Small hanging basket, £5, Matalan

5 Create a calm hallway

Hallways often accumulate the most clutter. Remove all items that don’t belong there, then tackle what you’re left with. Allow one coat and pair of shoes per person and put the rest away in their rooms. Hats, scarves and gloves can be stored elsewhere when it’s out of season. Eight cubby hallway storage bench, £159.50, A Place for Everything

6 Store and order

Keep your wayward kitchen drawer in check with a handy tray to make sure everything stays in place. Not just for keeping your cutlery neat and tidy, these are ideal for storing batteries, pens, chargers and keys. This one can extend to fit your drawer, putting every inch to good use and preventing a tangled mess. Extendable cutlery tray, £19, Procook

7 Tricky cupboards

Under the sink storage has to work hard juggling cleaning products and other essentials, all while negotiating awkward pipes. This organiser tackles the clutter in no time. Simply slot the shelving unit into place, then move the platforms around the pipework. Under sink organiser, £28.99, Addis

8 Sort clothing chaos

An organised wardrobe can make mornings a breeze so don’t be afraid to be ruthless. Items you haven’t worn for six months or are no longer your style or size can all be sold or donated. This allows you to display the clothes you do have so finding an outfit is easy. Look for wardrobe organisers that utilise this space and keep you on top of the clutter. Wardrobe organiser, £6.50, Wilko

9 Divide and conquer

Organisation boxes are great for calming the chaos in drawers and cupboards. This bundle is for the nursery but could be used in any room and comes with labels so you can see what goes where. Drawer dividers are perfect for keeping socks, tops, make-up and accessories in one place. Nursery organisation bundle, £21, Ickle Bubba

10 Get creative with kids’ rooms

Labelling storage with a picture can encourage children to keep their space clear. Periodically going through the toys – to donate, sell or bin – will stop the space being overwhelmed. Book toy storage table, £40, bookcase with storage, £69, wood toy storage organiser, £69, shelves, £8 each, star mirror in pink, £18, rainbow wall hangings, £14 each, rainbow flex fitting, £40, Elena bright wool stripe rug, £45, all Dunelm

11 Declutter daily

Dedicate a box in the house for any items you come across on a daily basis that you may no longer need or have a purpose for. Simply pop them in the box and once it’s full it’s time to dedicate half an hour to sort through it properly. Divide into piles to donate, sell or bin. But be realistic about the items you put in the sell pile, if you don’t have time to list and sell them, then maybe it’s better to donate them straight away.

12 Pack it up!

Vacuumed storage bags are ideal for storing away items you don’t need daily access to. Organise your clothing by season and use these storage bags to stow away those you don’t currently need. You can also use them for spare bed linen and towels. The bags can then be stored under the bed, in drawers or up in the loft until you need them again. Packmate storage bags, from £9.99, buypackmate.co.uk