How to declutter, by a West London interior designer

Decluttering does not only provide aesthetic beauty to the house, but it also gives you peace of mind. Moreover, it acts as therapy for most people. You hardly come across someone who does not have junk lying around. There are so many things you use daily, e.g. school supplies, clothes, toys, your laptop, mail, books, snacks etc. that it seems impossible to be in order all the time. Clutter has long been associated with stress. Clearing it out is one of the cheapest changes you can make to a room.

So, let’s see some easy ways to kick start the decluttering process.

5 Tips to Do It Right

1. Make a Plan

The way to start is with a road map. A plan. Decluttering will become very easy once you have an action plan. Take a piece of paper and write down how you will go about it. Keep in mind the following two points:

· What item is not adding value?

· Which room to start with?

If there is a lot to do, set a completion date. Work out how long each room will take. A bedroom may take a day, where a garage can take a week.

2. Start slowly

Slow and steady wins this one. If you rush the job, it makes more mess than it clears. Not only do you tire out quickly, things don’t get done either. The trick is to start slowly and build up momentum. Start with 5 minutes a day and keep adding time.

3. Sort It Out

Decluttering is no use if you simply move things from one room to another and tidy them there. Sort them properly instead. Three boxes is the easiest way.

· To keep: Items which are important and need to be kept after organising them.

· Discard: These would be the items which are of no use to you. Moreover, see which clothes or things you haven’t used in the past 6 months. Even if you like it, realise that you don’t need it.

· Store: Things which are not needed immediately. Store them somewhere.

4. Get Help

Two heads are better than one here. Ask a family member or a friend for their opinion. Ask them what seems unnecessary in your house and needs to be removed. Once they make a list, defend the items you want to keep. If you are unable to do so, get rid of them.

5. Donate

Give the surplus away rather than binning it. It is easier to let go of something when you know it is going somewhere useful, and that makes the next room quicker.

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