The Art of Decluttering

Are you ready to declutter your home but feel overwhelmed and not sure how to tackle it? Here we share some tips on the task of decluttering and refreshing your home for the summer ahead.

It’s official! Minute by minute the days are getting longer and the mornings are getting brighter. It’s time to rise and shine. Slowly but surely, we are starting to feel more energised as spring bursts into bloom and lockdowns ease. 

A fresh season calls for a fresh start and we naturally feel more motivated to take action during times of transition. Which means now is the perfect time to take back control of your living space and edit out what is no longer serving you.

I follow simple principles when it comes to home accessories, as I like to keep my house looking minimalist and clutter-free. The thing with tidying and organising is this; the easiest way to do it is to get rid of stuff. We stand in front of our overflowing pantries and cupboards feeling overwhelmed and not knowing where to start. You can rearrange your home to your heart’s content but unless you get rid of all the surrounding clutter you’ll never feel truly organised. My advice is to start with whatever feels easiest, it might be your pantry, a junk drawer, or your desk. If you answered no to this simple question - "have I used this in the last year?" and if your telling yourself "this might come in handy one day" it's time to let it go. 

Past predicts future and if you haven’t used something in a year, chances are you never will. Allow yourself to enjoy the feeling of a more minimalist lifestyle. 

When it comes to your no pile, divide this into ‘sell’ and ‘donate’ piles. Be careful not to leave things you want to discard lying around. If you do that, you’ll lose momentum and they’ll end up stuffed in a cupboard, which defeats the whole point of decluttering. Facebook marketplace, Trademe or Depop are great for unwanted items that others may find value in. I also find giving to charity really rewarding. 

Every possession in our home, must either function as a ‘tool’ or add a positive aesthetic value to our life, so by asking myself “does this add value to my life?” I am then able to work out if an item serves a valid purpose or brings me joy. If it doesn’t, it goes in the box.