A DECLUTTERING expert has revealed five key things you should do now to clear out your home in time for summer.
She shared the importance of giving yourself a set time frame to declutter, and encouraged getting the whole family on board with the process.
As the school summer holidays near, now is the perfect time to clear out any old toys the kids don’t use any more and potentially make some cash by doing so.
Kerry Murfin, decluttering expert and Marketing Vice President at Curver, shared the exact steps you take to make your clear out smooth and stress free.
Kerry explained that it is important to think of decluttering as a slow and steady process, instead of aiming to get it done in a few minutes.
She said: “Focus on one room at a time to ensure it gets the attention it needs without you feeling overwhelmed.
“You may find it useful to zoom in on a specific area, such as a chest of drawers or shelving unit, giving you the satisfaction of creating order from chaos even on a small scale.
“A decluttering checklist can also provide structure and give you a great sense of achievement as you tick each item off your list.
“When you see the progress of one room, you’re more likely to stick with it.”
Kerry recommended setting yourself a specific time frame for each room you tackle so that you don’t get overwhelmed by the task.
She said that between 30 minutes and one hour is usually the ideal amount of time, and stressed the importance of taking breaks in between.
She said: “If you really struggle to find the time – or energy – to declutter, you can use something called the ‘five-minute tidying challenge’ coined by influencer, Lynsey Queen of Clean.
“Designed to make tidying more manageable, it involves setting a timer for five minutes and tackling any clutter hotspots around the home.”
Kerry revealed that a large part of decluttering is deciding which items in your home you no longer need or want.
She advised splitting your belongings into three piles: things to keep, things that are broken and need throwing away, and things that you no longer need but that can be donated to the charity shop, or sold on the likes of Vinted or eBay for some extra cash.
She said: “Letting go of things, even if you no longer use them, can be tough.
Charlotte Reddington and Gemma Lilly have over 15 years experience decluttering and organising celebrity homes...
“It may sound a little ruthless but a one in, one out rule in your home and wardrobe can be effective to avoid over accumulating items in your home,” they said.
“It can also make you more mindful about the purchases you are making.”
“In any space, however big or small – from a utility room to your make-up box – organising items by category is the perfect way to keeping super organised,” they said.
“This allows you to know exactly where everything is and what you’ve got.
“Plus, it will make it super easy for the rest of the household to put away and keep tidy.”
“Storage is key, especially if space is an issue in the home or if the room is used for items like storing toys for children,” they said.
“Consider decorative storage baskets, side boards with plenty of storage or even a media wall or bookshelves with doors.”
“However, many of us fall prey to hanging on to items that have outgrown their purpose.
“If you’re in two minds whether to keep something, put it in a box and set an alert on your phone for six months’ time.
“If by then you haven’t used or thought about those things, it’s time to bid adieu.”
Kerry said that decluttering isn’t just about throwing things away but is instead about organising and storing the items you do own in a stylish and efficient way.
She said: “To maximise storage and elevate your space, utilise stackable drawers and beautiful baskets, that tie in with the overall look of your home and don’t feel out of place on display.
“As such, make sure you select storage that isn’t just practical but stylish too. .
“Make use of other spaces around your home that you may have overlooked, such as under your bed, on the back of doors – including cupboard doors – and shelving units.
“There are also various furniture options that double up as storage spaces, including ottoman beds, benches, and pouffes to stylishly disguise items you’d rather not have on show.”
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Kerry explained that decluttering doesn’t have to be just a one person job and recommended getting the whole family involved.
She said: “It’s true that two heads are better than one, which is why when it comes to decluttering and keeping shared spaces tidy, all family members can chip in.
“Even something as simple as teaching the children to put toys away at the end of the day can help you stay on top of mess.
“Having a second pair of hands while you complete a task not only helps take some of the weight off your shoulders but can also be super motivating.
“Not least, it can turn what is typically considered a tedious task into a fun one.”
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