Help! I need to declutter my home… where do I start?

Our homes should be our safe space where we can relax, recharge and release all the stresses and pressures of a busy day. However, the reality is that those same stresses and pressures can prevent us from having the time and energy to keep on top of our homes, leading to them feeling like places of overwhelm and chaos.

When the overwhelm kicks in, we know we need to take action but it can be such a challenge to know where to start decluttering. A burst of energy one day might lead to lots of cupboards being emptied with good intentions, and then the contents of these cupboards lay around the room in piles gathering dust when burnout hits. So what should we do?

My advice is to take a breath, grab a pen, paper and a drink of your choice, and follow these steps.

1. Write down everything you want to declutter and organise in your home. Everything. Your wardrobe, the garage, your photos, the kitchen cupboards, all the things that are bothering you. Get it all out of your head, and then allow your mind to release this mental checklist of areas in your home, knowing it’s all on your piece of paper.

   
   

2. Concentrate on your vision. For each space in your home, what do you want it to look like? What do you want to feel when you walk into each room? Think carefully about your end goal – a clear vision gives you something to work towards and celebrate your achievements when you get there.

   
   

3. Prioritise. So often when we think of decluttering and organising our homes, we think of the worst room, the worst cupboard, the mountain task that sends our mind spinning and makes us want to run for the hills. Don’t start there! Choose which space you would like to change first. Where do you spend most of your time? Which room would have the biggest impact on your daily life and well-being? Don’t choose a loft that you might only go in twice a year, opt for an area you see and use multiple times a day.

   
   

4. Break it down. Stop seeing the room as a whole and start seeing it as lots of tiny projects. Choose the smallest, easiest project in the room (the sock drawer, the cutlery, a shelf, for example). Start there. At this point, you need quick, easy wins that build momentum and give you the motivation to continue.

   

   Tackle your room one drawer / mini project at a time.

5. Set aside time to do your first mini project and see it through to completion. Then reward yourself! Make sure you take a break at this point, even if you feel like moving on to the next thing. You need to recharge!

   
   

6. Choose your next mini project and repeat step 5. Make sure you set aside enough time to complete each mini project without interruption. If you don’t have enough time or energy, schedule it for another day when you do!

   
   

7. Work your way around your room, completing mini projects and taking breaks. Before you know it, all the mini projects will be done and your room will look like your vision!

Top tip: To keep the momentum going, take photos of each room and each mini project before and after you’ve decluttered and organised. This way, you can keep a record of your progress and look back at them when you need some motivation to keep going. Celebrate those wins!

If you’ve followed these steps to make a start with decluttering, well done. The hardest thing is often knowing where to begin, and once the momentum is built your vision will start to come to life. If any of this still feels overwhelming, reach out to someone. A friend, a family member or a professional. Sometimes having someone with us to start us off is all the confidence boost we need. And if these steps feel too slow for what you need (maybe you have a deadline like a house move or guests coming to stay, or you have put up with the chaos for long enough), then find the support you need by booking a session with a professional organiser who will guide you and keep the overwhelm at bay. We're here to help. Don’t worry, there will still be breaks when you need them. And rewards. We all love a biscuit!