Whether you're in the process of moving out of your current property and need to get rid of some things, or just thinking about reorganising your home to create more space, these 10 simple steps will help you achieve a clutter-free home.
1. Decide what you really need
The best way to begin the decluttering process is by being strict on yourself. Whether you've lived in your property for 12 months or 12 years, we're all guilty of hiding away things that we don't use.
Whether it's a top you haven't worn in the past six months, or tins of food you bought three years ago that have been shoved to the back of the cupboard, it's time to be realistic about what you really need.
2. Take everything out and only put back things you're keeping
Start by pulling everything out of your wardrobe, cupboards and dressers, so that you can see exactly what you have. Not only will this make it easier to identify multiples of the same thing, it's also a good chance to clean inside your storage spaces and allow you to put back the items you're keeping in an orderly way.
It's a good idea to invest in cupboard and drawer dividers, which allow you to store your items in an organised and easy to identify way.
Many of us will reach for items at the top of the pile, which means those at the bottom don't get much use. By organising the space inside your storage units, you're likely to get more use out of your belongings.
3. Don't ignore bookcases or inside drawers
While many of us will go through our wardrobe now and then to get rid of things we don't want, bookcases and drawers tend to get left to gather dust for a very long time.
If like the majority of people you listen to music on your phone or watch films on Netflix, it's likely that you never reach for your once loved CDs or DVDs.
Departing with things like books, CDs and DVDs to clear up some space is a great idea and there's no better time than now. There are many timesaving mobile apps that allow you to quickly scan and sell media items from the comfort of your home.
4. Choose how you will get rid of unwanted items
Separate out the things you don't want into piles for charity, food banks and clothes recycling centres, which will often pay you by the kilogram for unwanted textiles that aren't quite good enough for the charity shops.
Although it might be difficult to let go of things, someone else will be able to make good use of the stuff you don't use anymore.
Most furniture and electrical items can be gifted to charity, or recycled through them as well. And many of the larger charities have their own pick up service, so you don't even need to take things to the shop yourself.
Gone for Good is a charity collection app that makes it even easier to donate your unwanted items.
5. Clear surfaces as a priority
You know the saying, 'tidy house, tidy mind'? Well, there's a lot of truth in that. If your home is starting to look a bit chaotic, chances are you're finding it hard to relax and are often thinking about tasks that you never get around to doing.
Start by clearing surfaces in the most used rooms of your property, such as the kitchen and living room, as this is where you will notice the biggest difference.
Put away items on your kitchen worktops that you don't use on a regular basis and remove knickknacks from fireplaces and windowsills, which tend to get dusty and make it harder to clean.
Sometimes we don't consider trinkets and everyday items to be clutter, but too much can be overbearing and can make it difficult to relax.
6. Turn your attention to the bathroom
The bathroom gets used numerous times a day, but it's often the room that gets most neglected in our homes. We often jump in the shower in the morning in a rush before work and quickly brush our teeth at night. But it can be a lovely place to relax and unwind.
Most people stack shampoos, conditioners and body washes around the edge of the bath or shower, but it's unsightly and can make the space look chaotic.
Putting up a shelf on the wall next to your bath or in your shower cubicle is an easy way to cut the clutter and organise your products. Or, an even simpler idea is buy baskets that attach to the wall with rubber suckers, so there's no need to put holes in the tiles.
Store everyday products in easy to reach baskets or on trays on the top of drawer units and throw away products that you don't use often – most of us are guilty of keeping beauty gifts that we never use, so now might be the time to get rid.
7. Storage can be beautiful
If you're still struggling for space even after throwing away all the things you don't want anymore, it's time to invest in some fashionable storage containers.
A good place to store spare bed linen or winter coats is in boxes on the top of your wardrobe, or your footwear in wall-mounted shoe drawers in the hallway – a neater alternative to chucking them in the bottom of your wardrobe.
In the kitchen, dried goods can be stored in matching glass jars, which look better than various food packets and in the bathroom, storing your products on shelves in baskets can help to keep the space looking tidy too.
You'll find most of the things you need on a trip to IKEA, which sells a huge number of storage boxes and space-saving contraptions at affordable prices.
8. Consider outdoor storage containers
If you're lucky enough to have some outside space with your property, whether it's a large garden or small terrace, outdoor storage containers are a good way to free up space inside your home while keeping your belongings safe and secure.
Garden centres and stores such as Argos sell outdoor storage containers at reasonable prices. However, be careful to buy one that is waterproof if you plan on storing things that can be damaged by water and moisture.
9. Utilise technology to save space
Now, we know that some people don't like the thought of this, but digitising your photos and keepsakes can be an easy way to save space in your home.
Although not quite as special as keeping the real thing (although we would never say throw away something as precious as your wedding photos), scanning your photos and putting them onto memory cards – or even storing them virtually in the cloud – can cut down the clutter and make moving home easier.
You won't have to lug around boxes of photos every time you move and you might find that a lot of photos aren't even worth keeping. Thank goodness for iPhones and being able to perfect your shot every time!
10. Organise your loft space
If you have usable loft space, this can be a blessing for storing large items such as suitcases that you don't use on a regular basis. However, loft spaces – as well as cellars and garages – tend to be the messiest parts of our home.
While it's easy to chuck stuff up there and forget about it, it's probably not the best use of the space you have.
We recommend installing a fixed pull-out ladder if possible, so that you can easily access the loft whenever you need to. If your loft is easy get into, you're more likely to use the space and keep it organised.
