Many of us see our homes as a sanctuary we can retreat to but a cluttered space can make rest and relaxation difficult.
Not only does clearing out the clutter from our homes have a positive impact on our overall health and wellbeing but it’s also a great task to get on top of when considering or planning a move.
Despite the many benefits and the great sense of accomplishment we know decluttering brings; it can still seem like a daunting task and getting started is often the hardest part. So while we are currently spending a lot more of our time at home, we wanted to share some of our top tips to get you on your way.
- Make it manageable
Decluttering is a process; it’s not always something that can be done in a day. Set goals and don’t put pressure on yourself. Why not consider tackling room-by-room, starting with a smaller room first. The sense of achievement after decluttering, even a small area, will definitely motivate you to tackle those larger spaces.
- Create a declutter checklist
As well as tackling each room individually, it can also help to create a declutter checklist. This can include a list of items to go through, such as pots and pans, or clothes and shoes.
- Organise
As you decide on which items you’re ready to let go of, organise them into boxes or bags ready for rubbish and recycling, charity shop donations or items you could sell or pass on to friends or family.
- Don’t forget to dust
While decluttering isn’t about ‘cleaning’, it’s a good opportunity to wipe down those areas you might not usually reach. This helps to improve the air-quality in your home as you get rid of the dust, so don’t forget to wipe those cupboards and wardrobes as you go!
- Get the kids involved
If you have children, then get them involved. Show them the bags you have cleared out and challenge them to do the same. If possible, empty their room and then ask them to only put back the toys that they regularly play with and love. Although they may not want to part with anything at first, this is a good way to explain to them that any unused toys would go to other children that are not as fortunate as they are.
- A digital declutter
If you want to declutter but don’t feel like being as physically active, then why not work through your laptop, tablets and/or phones. You could tidy up your inbox, delete copies of photos, organise your desktop into clearly marked folders and trash all old and unwanted documents.
For more tips on how to approach decluttering your home, check out the blog Declutter, feel better, get ready to move home from Ocean Estate Agents, How to make your home market-ready during lockdown from Savills and of course the queen of tidying Marie Kondo.
All photographs used from our Cubis Bruton Show Home.
