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By Vicky Silverthorn, Professional Organiser
Living a life with less stuff and transforming your home into the decluttered space you’d like it to be is predominantly about getting your mindset right. Preparing your thoughts and envisaging why you are starting the process is just as important as the process itself.
Here are a few key, important things I’ve found really helpful to read through way before you think about which baskets may look pretty or what containers you should be buying. The process works well when you think, declutter, organise and then look into any additional storage you may need to enhance your spaces.
Food Overwhelm
Since Covid many are still in the habit of stock piling food and the reality is that too much food causes waste. Crammed cupboards make it harder to locate what we need which in turn impacts our minds and makes us feel more disorganised and chaotic. It’s time to buy less, alter your food lists and just get what you need. The shops store the food, that’s what they’re there for and that’s the key thing to remember. Less food more organisation.
Decluttering Positivity!
Decluttering is thought of as a huge chore and yes it can take time if you are thinking of large areas. The second you break this down and target a drawer, a small cupboard or even a shelf you’ll find yourself making key changes more easily and without the big build up in your mind. Start small now and see how rapid the transformation can be.
Give It a Home
This really is the biggest tip for creating order within your house. As soon as you designate a place for something to live whether it’s a safety pin or a larger item it becomes easier to keep on top of things. If you end up with items which have no space then you know you have more than your home can hold and it’s time to cull. Often the problem of disorganisation relates to the fact we simply have too much stuff for the space we have. Option 1 buy a bigger house and option 2 declutter!
Look at Storage
Storage is key in our homes but is yours doing all it can? Sometimes we buy furniture because it looks great but it also has to be functional otherwise it’s surroundings will take its beauty away anyway (picture a desk that looks great but has no storage – it ends up covered in papers so we miss how nice it is!) Perhaps the solution is investing in built in furniture – if so plan what you need to store and ensure it suits what you need.
Can I Live Without This?
A question I ask myself daily when I look around my home. It’s a powerful question and shifts no responsibility. By this I mean we are responsible for what we bring into our homes and if there is guilt to be faced because we have bought in error or over shopped then feeling that feeling isn’t a bad thing. I never ask myself what I’ve used in the last year, I never try and talk myself around thinking something could someday potentially be useful – I acknowledge mistaken purchases and take them onboard so I can make changes in the future.
For more advice on decluttering and home organisation contact the You Need A Vicky team.