Tag: decluttering

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Decluttering tips from professional organisers

The experts at Tidee share their top tips to make decluttering your home much less daunting!

Tip 1: Start small 

You have to start somewhere right? Think about the areas in your home that need attention, choose one space and tackle this first. In our experience, if you try and take on all the spaces at once you will likely become overwhelmed and demotivated. Start small to win quick! 

Tip 2: Have a vision 

Before you get started it is important to have a vision. Imagine how you want the space to look and function. Start building your bank of ideas, social media is a great place to start – lots of inspiration! 

Tip 3: It’s all in the planning 

Planning is key to your organising success. Before you go crazy buying lots of different organising products, measure the space first – this step is really important! There is nothing worse than buying a whole lot of organising products only to find they don’t fit or work in the space. 

Tip 4: Product is key 

Try to balance functionality and beauty. These are fundamental components to any space we organise. There’s no point using products that don’t work well for the space. The organising products have a dual purpose – they have to work well and they have to look beautiful. 

Tip 5: Lock in the time 

Organising requires commitment and part of that commitment is your time. Make sure you set aside at least 3-4 hours straight. There is nothing worse than not finishing the job and having to live with a messy space. Be prepared for things to get messy before they get organised! 

Tip 6: Give me some space 

Clear a space in the room you are organising so that you have plenty of space to put all the items eg clothes out of the wardrobe or food out of the pantry. To make the sorting process even easier, get 3 empty bins (bags, boxes or baskets) and label these: KEEP, DISCARD & DONATE and sort items into one of these 3 categories.

Tip 7: Moving on out 

Get everything out of the space – yes we mean everything! Once everything is out give the space a good wipe down. A clean space is the foundation of any organised space. 

Tip 8: So long, farewell 

Time for the sorting to begin. Group your items together into the same categories. Once this is done it’s time to get your Marie Kondo on. Do you love the item so much you have to hang onto it or are you better off saying so long farewell to it? Be ruthless otherwise you will simply end up storing things for the sack of it! 

Tip 9: Put it back baby 

Time to put back all the items you are keeping in their newly assigned homes. A basic rule of thumb is to keep the items you use regularly in prime real estate zones eg vegemite in an easy to reach spot and items you don’t use daily up high. 

Tip 10: Label label label 

The final step is to make sure your storage containers are labelled. This will act as a visual reminder to put things back in their new home and lets others know where things go. Labelling is key to the organising system being maintained.

Tidee are Melbourne professional organisation technicians Emma and Michelle with a passion for bringing calm to your space.

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Expert Tips Outdoor & Exteriors Styling

Refresh your home and garden this spring: expert ideas

Analysis by all you can read magazine subscription app Readly has found that, based on what we are reading, Aussies love rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck into renovations and the garden. We’re making, crafting, and learning to DIY! The stats show that there has been a 242% increase in the readership of the home and renovation magazine category. That’s huge!

With spring in the air, this is only set to increase as we will be pulling up our sleeves and getting stuck into our homes a little more. 

So, what can we start thinking about this spring? We have rounded up some advice from the experts. 

For our gardens:

Tammy Huynh, horticulturist and owner of Leaf an Impression says that if you have been thinking of starting a veggie patch, now is the time to do it. Here are her tips:

  1. You will need at least 6-to-8 hours of sun (depending on what you’re growing) and access to a garden bed or pots. If your soil is hard to dig, it’s likely to be made up of a lot of clay. You can help ‘soften’ the soil by adding soil conditioners like compost, aged manure, blood and bone, and gypsum. If it’s too difficult to dig, consider a raised garden bed and fill with a good quality mix from your nursery. 
  2. For most parts of the country, now is the time to sow: tomatoes, beans, eggplants, zucchinis, chillies, sweetcorn, silverbeet, squash, leafy greens like lettuce, rocket, spinach, bok choy, endive and herbs. Always check plant labels, especially on seed packets, to understand when to plant in your area. Just because you can buy tomato seeds in winter, it does not mean you should sow them!
  3. To maximise your harvest, ensure you prepare the soil well beforehand. This includes adding organic matter like compost or aged manures. My go-to is always homemade compost and handfuls of dynamic lifter (which is made up of composted chook manure). Fork all the ingredients into soil and blend in well. Sow seeds or plant seedlings, ensuring there is sufficient spacing between plants, otherwise this will cause problems with air flow and sunlight later down the track. As plants are growing, feed with a liquid fertiliser specially formulated for veggies. 
  4. For leafy greens, you can start harvesting quite early. Always remove the outer leaves first and take a handful at a time. Pick fruiting veggies (tomatoes, zucchinis, beans) when ripe, otherwise pests, birds, or other critters will quite happily help themselves. To help extend your harvest, sow successive seeds or seedlings, but only grow as much as you will eat, otherwise you end up wasting food and precious resources.
  5. Veggies are growing plants, so they also need to be watered quite regularly, especially during the hotter months. Watering early in the morning is ideal, as the plants take up the water before it evaporates. You can also mulch plants with lucerne or sugar cane mulch, which will help conserve soil moisture. 

For our clutter:

Jo Carmichael, from All Sorted Out, gets you started on this with four easy steps: 

  1. The wardrobe: It’s best to start with our own wardrobe and clothing edit first, before moving onto rifling through the kids or partner’s things. Move seasonal items, heavy jackets, sweaters, and wintery boots up to the top shelf. Bring down the summer items – placing them within easy reach. 
  2. The entrance or Mudroom: Store and remove the items which have been left here the last few months. Maybe the numerous rain jackets could be rotated out, and the straw hats could hang ready for sunny days outside. A fresh pump pack of sunscreen to match the hand sanitiser should now be stationed here. Tidy the shoe basket – are there old sneakers here no longer worn, that could be tossed? A decluttered entrance ready for spring is just what you need. 
  3. Pet paraphernalia: Dogs, cats and other beloved animals certainly come with their fair share of equipment. Now is a good time to check their blankets, bedding, where the food is stored ensuring it all smells fresh and looks welcoming. Glance at the leads, brushes, and toys – maybe the worn out ones could be replaced!
  4. The pantry: With Covid-19 we have all been working and cooking from home more than usual. The hot weather can affect the freshness of some pantry items. Get the condiments, sauces and spices out of the pantry, check they are still fresh, wipe bottles and lids clean if in good order, or toss – making a note on the shopping list of what needs replenishing. Wipe the pantry shelf clean before returning the items.

Freshening up the interior of our home:

Jane Thomson, interior designer, says, “With naughty Covid still impinging on our lives, we’re spending more time in our abodes. Now more than ever, we are bound to make our surroundings as yummy and as nurturing as possible.”

Here are Jane’s insights into kitchen makeovers that won’t cost the earth:

  1. Obviously the easiest way to refresh your kitchen is to paint your existing cupboards and drawers. Painting gives maximum impact and is inexpensive. These days there are so many products available from your local Bunnings or hardware store to transform surfaces, in order for you to prepare the surfaces and paint over most door and drawer materials.
  2. Changing your kitchen handles is super easy and takes no time. Look for brands that have gorgeous accent handles and some practical door and drawer pulls. A personal brand favourite of mine is LO & CO.
  3. Re-tiling your splashback is also one of the easiest and inexpensive ways of zjooshing your look. Mosaics, subway tiles, stone tiles all look amazing. Alternatively, use tile paint, which is one of the cheapest ways to reinvigorate your tired look. 
  4. Adding a humble pendant or pendants to an island bench can also change the overall look of your kitchen. Some cheeky concealed lighting to the underside of your top kitchen cabinets also looks amazing. Lighting is everything. 
  5. Another way to zjoosh your kitchen look is to remove a door from your top cupboards and replace with open shelving. Style with plants, cookbooks, and artwork that can sit easily on a shelf.
  6. New faucets or mixers also add a quick and easy way to freshen your look, especially brass and black fittings.
  7. If you have a little extra budget in the kitty, you could also look at installing a new benchtop. 

Jane also points out that when you’re looking to freshen up the rest of your home with paint or accessories, the colours of the season are soft whites, greens, coral and peacock blue or green.

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Appliances Expert Tips

Decluttering tips: tackling your messy house post-isolation!

Being in isolation for nearly three months has been tough both mentally and physically, and for some of us, it is showing in our home environment as well! Isolation has pushed many of us to our limits as we remain confined to our houses, picking up unhealthy lifestyle choices or bad habits such as hoarding. Professional organiser Jo Carmichael, shares some tips on how to declutter our homes and breathe some fresh air back into our lives!

The hoarding must stop 

During the lockdown period, we’ve seen people being influenced and edged on by one other, partaking in behaviour like bulk buying hand sanitiser and toilet paper. People were buying things like they would never see them again. Coming out of isolation, it is evident that keeping stock to a minimum is enough. Save space and storage areas around your home by only having what you need.

One room at a time 

Start slowly and working your way around the house one room at a time. Start with one room a day or maybe even a week. Taking on too much at once can be overwhelming and demotivate your commitment to downsizing the clutter. Remember the rule: if you haven’t used it in six-to-12 months, get rid of it!

Key areas to target 

Make sure you target areas such as the linen cupboard or pantry as these are key areas that seem to hold a lot of junk. Old sheets and blankets can accumulate over the years and it’s important to know that you only need two alternating sets per bed. The pantry can be home to a whole collection of junk that has stocked up over time, especially throughout this isolation period. Always check expiry dates and be sure to buy only what you need.

Working from home 

How do you stop your working-from-home stuff from taking over? You may have been working from the kitchen bench or the dining table, whilst another family member was working from the bedroom. Now is the time to sort through your work-related items, and ensure they can be packed away somewhere at the end of the work day, so real home time is reinstated.

Keep your kitchen clean 

We have been preparing meals and eating more at home these last few months. Kitchen benches are overloaded with leftover containers and other household items. To refresh your home, clear the benches and wipe them clean. Put items away into a pantry or cupboard rather than leaving them out. Clear benches are much more calming and less distracting, especially when you are spending most of your time in the house.

-Jo Carmichael is a decluttering specialist from All Sorted Out, a professional organising company that works with real estate agents and property stylists to declutter homes in preparation for sale.

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Expert Tips

How to Declutter a Room Fast With These 5 Easy Steps

how to declutter a room fast with 5 easy steps

If you’re short on time, but your home is big on mess, you will want to know how to declutter a room fast with these 5 easy steps.

A messy home can make us feel overwhelmed, stressed and defeated. There is a correlation between the state of our homes and our wellbeing.

How to Declutter a Room Fast using storage
Image: IKEA

These tips will take away the overwhelm and give you a sense of accomplishment once the space is neat.

5 Tips on How to Declutter a Room Fast

Remove what doesn’t belong

Grab an empty washing basket and start placing items in the basket which don’t belong in the room. From toys to books to shoes – even socks, whatever is misplaced, place it into the basket. If its mugs or glasses of water, take them to the kitchen sink. Place valuables on the kitchen bench to be sorted through later. Once the basket is full, take time to put these things away to where they belong. Get the kids to help you if some of their stuff has ended up in the basket.

Critique the room

Look at the room and critique how it feels and looks. Are there too many cushions and throws on the sofa? Is the tower of books on the coffee table necessary? Could some be placed on a bookshelf instead? Is there too much décor on display? Could it be placed elsewhere or used for another purpose? Much of the clutter we own is often pieces we’re not sure what to do with. If you’re indecisive on an item, put it away in a box to see if you will miss it.

Dust and wipe down surfaces

In order to dust and wipe down surfaces like the TV unit, sideboard and coffee table, all items need to be removed. Be intentional on what goes back onto these surfaces.

Empty one cupboard at a time

Often we tackle a room by wanting to empty all the cupboards at once, but tackling one cupboard or storage basket at a time helps with clarity in thought when culling items and placing back what is necessary. Don’t buy more storage until the existing storage pieces have been emptied and culled.

Designate spots for items

New habits need to be formed to maintain a room so it stays clutter free. Setting up designated spots for items will introduce routine within the home. Have a drop off zone to prevent bags and shoes being dumped in the lounge room. Create a spot for mail and bills. Practice placing items back in their designated spot to avoid clutter.

how to declutter a room fast with chic storage in walk in wardrobe
Image: Freedom Wardrobes

Decluttering a room fast can be as simple as emptying its contents and being intentional on what is placed back into the room. For many of us, clutter is accumulated from day-to-day living so having designated spots for item placement will help keep the clutter at bay.

8 Ways to Declutter Your Home

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Expert Tips

Positive energy in the home: Feng Shui basics to try

Image: Stefan Schweihofera/Pixabay

Emily Hruska from Fire Lotus Feng Shui takes us through some of the basic principals of Feng Shui we can try for ourselves

Whenever we look into the potential Feng Shui of any given building, there are quite a number of different theoretical approaches that we can take. These theories come from the many different ‘schools’ of Feng Shui whose origins date back as many as 5,000 years. Some of them are incredibly involved, and some of them lessso, but all have their merits and most appropriate uses.

Image: Stefan Schweihofera/Pixabay

Feng Shui is an intriguing field that combines an understanding of metaphysics, science, mathematics and art, and involves the use of equipment and skills such as compasses, electromagnetic field readers, dowsing rods, interior design and intuition.

When working on a consultation, I will always consider all of the different methods that can be employed to assess and improve the energy within a home or building. However, I strongly believe that despite how many advanced methods are put in place, unless the fundamentals of Feng Shui are addressed first, then the advantages of the most powerful techniques are always going to be less effective.

At the absolute, most basic level of Feng Shui we are looking to increase the presence of positive energy within a home and to diminish the level of negative energy. The energy that we refer to in Feng Shui is known as ‘Qi’ (sometimes also spelled ‘Chi’). This is what the Chinese call life-force energy. It permeates all of existence and affects everything within our environment – including us.

There are many other cultures around the world that have their own word for this vital life-force energy, including Indians who know it as ‘Prana’, Japanese who call it ‘Ki’, Polynesians – who refer to it as ‘Mana’, Ancient Eqyptians who named it ‘Ka’, and the Australian Aborigines who refer to it as ‘Maban’.

In Feng Shui terms, the energies can broadly be categorised as either ‘Sheng Qi’ – beneficial energy; or ‘Sha Qi’ – harmful energy. There are many ways we can locate and assess these energies, including–as mentioned previously–compasses, dowsing rods, mathematical formulas and intuition, however, I believe that the very best and most effective ways to recognise both beneficial and harmful energies is to engage the senses.

So, when you move through your home (or office), what are your senses telling you? If we focus on one sense at a time and mindfully assess all aspects of our immediate environment, then you will find that it’s quite easy to identify a lot of the sources of both positive and negative energies.

Image: Monfocusa/Pixabay

Firstly, sight. What do you see as you look around your environment? Is it beautiful? Does it inspire you? Or are there areas that are less than attractive that bring you down? Is it clean and well maintained – or is it messy and are there things that need your attention for improvement?

Is your home filled with beautiful objects and art and colours that make you happy? Or is it cluttered with unnecessary things, old unattractive objects and decorated in drab colours that are depressing? Are there lush, healthy indoor plants throughout your home that contribute beautiful energy or is there a vase of sad looking, half-dead flowers on the kitchen bench that should have been thrown out last week?

It is really important to understand just how much all of these things will actually affect the way we feel both on a conscious and an unconscious level.

From here you should also employ your other senses–especially smell and touch–to assess the quality of your environment. How do different areas of your home smell? Are the laundry and kitchen and bathroom fresh and hygienic? When you feel the surfaces of your home are they beautiful, clean and inviting to touch?

Keeping your home’s surfaces clean and making your home smell beautiful are easy ways to increase the Sheng Qi in your life. Scented candles, diffusers and oils work well to mask unattractive odours, but keeping things clean and fresh in the first place is even better. Invest in good exhaust fans and a laundry hamper with a lid and open your windows to let in the beautiful, beneficial fresh air to work its magic as often as possible.

Sound can also play an important part in how we feel about our environment. Do you have noisy neighbours, live near a busy road or train line or have squeaky doors or floorboards? Any noise that is unpleasant can be considered Sha Qi and will affect a person to some degree over time. It is important to address anything that can be improved, and to add pleasant sounds like windchimes and beautiful music to your environment wherever possible.

Obviously, the more inviting and pleasant that our environment is, the more relaxed and happy we will feel on a day-to-day basis. Taking steps to ensure that we experience beautiful, beneficial energy whenever we are in our homes helps us to lead happier, healthier lives – and this is ultimately what Feng Shui is all about.

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DIY

Marie Kondo mania: Declutter your life with Pinterest

There’s no denying that the world is currently in the grip of Marie Kondo mania. Not only was the book a best seller but the new Netflix series has beamed the diminutive Japanese dynamo into countless households and further evidence of the frenzy can be found on Pinterest where searches for the KonMari method are up a whopping 710 per cent! She was even invited to the Oscars this week!

And aside from specific KonMari searches, searches are also up for ‘minimalism’ and ‘decluttering’ with the Eastern Zen mindset of letting go (and living a less cluttered life) clearly resonating with people in the West. But I’m sure this won’t be news for many of you who have been using Pinterest to organise your life for years now.

Whether it’s Kondo’s hugely popular method of folding and storing clothes to decluttering the kitchen and organising books and paperwork, Pinterest is brimming with ideas to inspire your very own KonMari journey.

The ultimate pastel pantry
Gorgeous sorbet hues aside, the inspiration to be found via ‘From Great Beginnings’ has given me serious pantry organisation envy. There’s information on how to create a DIY command centre (the administrative hub of the home), a dedicated baking corner and an oil, vinegar and spice organisational set-up that is the stuff of OCD dreams.

Pinterest image
Image source: Pinterest/From Great Beginnings

The Organised Housewife
From a DIY compost bin to how to seriously organise a child’s wardrobe (think labels!), this board is full of countless ideas to inject some order into the chaos of home life.

Pinterest image
Image source: Pinterest/The Organised Housewife

Pinterest image
Image source: Pinterest/The Organised Housewife

Bathroom organisation
I don’t know about you but I feel like my bathroom cupboards are an organisational disaster. From random medicine to miscellaneous (and often old!) makeup and half used moisturiser I’m desperately in need of some bathroom organisational inspo which is why this board is rather handy.

Pinterest image
Image source: Pinterest/My Organised Home

Pinterest image
Image source: Pinterest/My Organised Home

For more | 2019’s top home decor trends according to Pinterest

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Expert Tips

Is Marie Kondo’s KonMari all it’s cracked up to be?

By Alexandra Ganipeau

Unless you have been living under a pile of laundry, you have no doubt heard of, watched or are totally hooked on the Kondo phenomenon.

Seriously, her family name has become a verb, her fans are true devotees and everyone is on board hoping to have found the formula but what are we really looking for? The formula to a clean home, the formula to a happier marriage, the formula to well mannered and behaved kids?

I get it, I would be lying telling you didn’t feel a well managed house does indeed bring a sense of calm and comfort to my soul. I am a neat person, I vaccum my house regularly, I put dishes and clothes away, no super neat Kondo fold but I like to keep a house clean and tidy. Even my childrens’ bedrooms are organised.

I feel the relationship between getting new things and joy is what it’s all about here. For the last few decades now, we have been made to believe that buying was good, more was better and basically owning more was a synonym with success.

Every opportunity was an excuse to buy something new, because we deserved it, because we were worth it, because why not? The reality was more because we wanted it and we could afford it. It all had to be fast and cheap as well, the food, the fashion, thanks to the Swedish giant, we could even furnish a whole house in one afternoon ! Ohh the euphoria ! Never were we supposed to wake up to the devastating consequences these habits had on the planet and our brain. We are now drowning in our own accumulated goods,which really do not seem to be sparking any joy to their overwhelmed owners.

Why is it so hard for some?

Let me indulge in a tiny bit of psychology here. The home is a metaphor for the self. What we decide to surround ourselves with means a lot. Framed degrees on the wall? You value education and are proud of your achievement. Sports trophies are found on your shelves? Maybe your athletic abilities have made you who you are. Look around someone’s home, within a very short amount of time you will understand so much about the owners’ values, interests and self esteem.

Over the years we accumulate curios, we are offered presents, we take photos, we find ourselves surrounded by sentimental items that stir a bit of nostalgia, and tell our history. These feelings can quickly become a crutch, a comfort zone for some that can get heavier over the years if they don’t shake a few things off every now and then.

Marie says her mission is “to spark joy in the world through tidying”. And she is, for now. Her ways might be a bit ruthless and drastic, which makes great viewing by the way but really, there are going to be many things in your home that won’t ever spark joy whatsoever and that’s a fact. Let’s not make a list of the necessary yet boring items we simply must use every day. The reality though is we need them, just like we must by law keep our tax returns for a few years for example. I can assure you, no joy there…

Also, we all have a different tolerance to mess or what someone else could call “we live here”. What works for me might not suits you. Does that mean only one of us is right ? No, it simply means we live differently, have different relationships with our space and our belongings at different times of our lives. The reality for new parents is very different to the one of the established family, or the empty nesters. Our home grows with us and so do the tidying levels and expectations we should put on ourselves. There are of course tips and tricks and some are better than others at tidying and forming good habits that works for the household. Some people need help, some are managing alone, some people should ask for help.

And that is where Marie Kondo‘s genius has struck. She is giving people The Formula, the precise template that will make everything fresher and better, the formula that will hopefully lighten the load of house chores as well as the mental load that brings families on the brink of distress. The formula that will ease the tension and Marie’s one-way-fits-all has made it so easy to follow. She has touched a chord in families around the world with her unapologetic yet gentle vision.

If you made the resolution to live in a tidy home this year, there is the Kondo way but there are many ways, don’t forget it’s more than ok to ask for help because getting your house in order is putting your past in order, and that’s no little task. Once you have found your own way to feel comfortable in your own home, you will feel comfortable in your own skin and your own life.

— Alexandra is the owner of The Roaming Atelier, an interior decorating company that focuses on using the beautiful, sentimental pieces you already have, to make your home as unique as your family.

Read her tips on mixing vintage and new furniture

Check out her beautiful kids’ bedrooms

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Expert Tips Interviews

Organise your linen cupboard in five steps

Sheets stored inside matching pillow cases
Store your matching sheets inside their pillow cases. Image source: Pinterest/Emma Hillhouse

While not the most glamorous of subjects, the linen cupboard is a life necessity and if yours is anything like mine, it’s a constant uphill battle to create order amidst the chaos. So when decluttering specialist (yes, there is such a thing!) Jo Carmichael, of All Sorted Out, reached out with some expert tips I was all ears.

Linen cupboard
The linen cupboard of my dreams. Image source: Pinterest/Fleecie

“An organised linen cupboard feels like you have an organised life, am I right? At one point or another everyone goes through the stress of a dreadful linen closet. You cannot find a towel or a sheet to save your life and somehow your husbands car parts have managed to find their way into a section of it,” says Jo who has identified five key steps in making your linen cupboard more functional and efficient to use.

The clear out
“First things first you need to empty the cupboard of what looks like a disaster. Start in a small section, whether it be top to bottom and work your way down. Place all your items in an area that you can go through everything clearly like a spare bedroom or lounge room,” says Jo. This is also a great time to dust and wipe down the inside of your cupboards before placing your organised items back inside.

Do I really need this?
“Once your cupboard is completely free the fun begins, and it’s time to start sorting. Start by making different piles of things, such as towels, blankets, sheets and so on. This is the time to start clearing away items that don’t need to be there. For example, start throwing the old towels with stains and the blankets with holes,” says Jo. And this is where the more exciting part lies because decluttering your old linens makes way for the new and you will also find that you have far more space to work with too. “It’s great to have a linen closest that is not bursting at the seams and is far more visually appealing and practical too,” says Jo who suggests parting with anything that hasn’t been used within the last twelve months.

Organisation
“The key to a neat and practical linen cupboard is all about coordination. Keep all elements together and not all over the shop. I like to organise my linen cupboard by placing items I use more frequently such as towels and sheets in the middle so it’s easily accessible, and the ones I use not as often up the top such as winter blankets. Make sure you fold all linens neatly before storing them because messy, thrown in linens will mean they are likely to tumble down on you while trying to jam the door closed,” says Jo. Ahem, guilty as charged!

Sheets stored inside matching pillow cases
Store your matching sheets inside their pillow cases. Image source: Pinterest/Emma Hillhouse

Label it
“Once you’ve grouped the king or queen bed linen in a pile and single linen in another pile, be sure that everyone knows this by labelling. It really helps to adhere to placing things back in the correct spot and the kids love it too,” says Jo. This is something I have been meaning to do for an age – when beds need to be quickly changed, it’s pretty irritating feeling like nobody in the house knows where the linen belongs but me and I’m sure I’m not alone on this one.

Linen cupboard with labels
Simple and effective: Labels can save you a lot of time rummaging. Image source: Pinterest/Eden Traylor

Keep it neat
“Baskets can help keep it neat and tidy inside the cupboard.  Face washers and flannels, while handy, can be contained in a small basket so they don’t get mixed up with the bath mats. Once you have finalised the placement of your cupboard it’s up to you to keep the space clean,” says Jo who believes you should only ever store what you really need. “Keep the space practical by having enough of what you need – not 30 towels for a family of four for instance,” says Jo.

For more | IKEA expert shares top decluttering & storage hacks

 

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Bedrooms Expert Tips Kitchens

‘Decluttering’ is trending on Pinterest – check out fave inspo

While Spring wasn’t that long ago, there’s something about January that makes me want to immerse myself in home organisation in preparation for the year ahead. And, according to Pinterest, it seems I’m not alone. Compared to last year, the number of ‘decluttering’ ideas saved has increased by 225 per cent and ‘DIY organising’ ideas have seen 415 per cent growth.

The sort of pantry that dreams are made of. Image source: Pinterest/Renee

Kitchen
Possibly my favourite area of home organisation (I know, I’m tragic!) is the pantry. Not only does an organised pantry make cooking easier, but it’s something that gives me great joy every time I use it. Family life is hectic and it’s my little bit of control amidst the chaos. Aside from some uniform containers and baskets, a label maker is a must.

This pantry is small but perfectly formed. Image source: Pinterest/Patricia Soto

Study
A clutter-free desk ensures a clutter-free mind – at least in my experience. And whether you’re working from home or simply paying bills, a clean, minimalist desk is just the ticket for productivity. Pinterest provides much inspiration on this front.

This home office is a minimalist’s dream. Image source: Pinterest/Alexis Brown

Laundry
Long time readers will know all about my obsession with folding fitted sheets, but the linen cupboard is an area of my home that I am constantly waging war with. Given it is a bit small for my family of five, organisation is key – from matching baskets to precision folding and a neutral palette (obviously not always possible) the example below is pretty fabulous.

Image source: Pinterest/Lisa Marchese

Store your matching sheets inside their pillow cases. Image source: Pinterest/Emma Hillhouse

Bedroom
From shoe and earring storage to whipping your clothes rack into shape, Pinterest is full of fabulous bedroom organisation ideas.

This is someones’ ACTUAL wardrobe. Image source: Pinterest/Charlize Watches

The bedside table is a bit of a serial offender, such is the clutter that can accumulate on top – especially if you don’t have drawers.

The trolley bedside is a novel idea that allows you to locate items swiftly. Image source: Pinterest/Nicola Duck

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Expert Tips

Decluttering and emotions: how to finally tackle your home!

By Cathy Morrissey

It’s really tough having to clear your personal space. Packing up photos of grandma and the kids is not something we want to do. There’s an emotional battle going on inside your head. “I really like that photo, why do I have to pack it away? I like looking at that photo!”

Chaotic clutter around home

De-cluttering is possibly one of the biggest challenges we have to face in our homes if we want change and there’s only one way, and that’s to start!

Whether you are doing it because you’re selling or de-cluttering to improve your home, here’s my secrets that I’ve been using for years to create a stress-free, uncluttered home. I have a process that I’ve used for a long time. It’s one I share with my clients and now I’m sharing it with you. Grab a pen and a coffee, have a seat.

Ready? Let’s go!

1. Make the decision that you want to make the changes you need to, to create an amazing result. Don’t be fooled into thinking this isn’t important, this is step one. Without a decision, nothing changes.

2. How do you get motivated to make change? The best way is to decide on your outcome. That’s right, go into the future, and start seeing your home how you’d like it to look. Take the time to do this. Remember, nothing changes until you do.

3. Enlist help. Get the whole family involved. This will lighten the load tremendously. Many hands make light work.

4. Get each family member to take responsibility of their stuff. Even if you have younger children, the sooner you teach them responsibility, the easier life is for you all. Buy some containers and help them create a space that’s fun and practical.

5. One room at a time! If you jump from room to room, you’ll find yourself unmotivated very fast! Trust your actions, not your words. (Jen really agrees with this one!)

6. Set a plan and a timeline to finish your de-cluttering. Even if you have to push yourself, do it! Everything shifts when you do.

I hope this has helped, at least a little. I know this can be tough. It’s no accident that things are the way they are. Transforming your life often requires help, and if it’s help you need, reach out. What cost is it to you to stay where you don’t want to be?

–Cathy Morrissey, aka The Reno Chick, aims to change lives through transforming homes.

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Expert Tips

Good looking storage ideas to suit your home

By Alicia Parsons

You spent weeks agonising over the right rug for the dining room and had a never-ending Pinterest board for your kitchen reno. But now your rug is less of a feature than the piles of paperwork on the dining table and you never seem to have enough room on your kitchen counters. Sound familiar?

storage-02

Continue reading “Good looking storage ideas to suit your home”

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Interiors Addict

Decluttering and styling with budget queen Michelle from House Rules

House Rules contestants Michelle and Steve

By Michelle Ball

I’ve loved decluttering and styling since I can remember, so I thought I’d share my top tips on these 2 topics. I hope they help you!

House Rules contestants Michelle and Steve
House Rules contestants Michelle and Steve

Decluttering

I am not, and have never been a hoarder. I believe in the principal of letting go of excess, and as you do, even more beautiful things come into your home. In saying this, when we had to let go of all our belongings as part of the competition on House Rules and give them all to the Salvation Army, it was difficult for me. We boxed up all our photo albums and personal belongings, then any furniture in the house, including rugs, went.

Continue reading “Decluttering and styling with budget queen Michelle from House Rules”