The Pre-Christmas Declutter
If the thought of Christmas is already making you feel full of dread, take a step back and spend some time clearing your home of the surplus stuff you already have; trust me you’ll feel better for it!
At this point of the year I start to feel a little like a broken record as anyone who has ever asked me for design advise will tell you, the first thing I always tell you to do is …… declutter!
A cluttered home is an overwhelmed home. The more stuff you have, the more energy you have in your home and the more time you will need to spend looking after all the items you have. Whether its cleaning them, cleaning around them, moving them so you can get passed them or simply constantly seeing them; this will drain your energy.
So before even more stuff comes into your home, follow these steps to gain some physical and mental clarity in time for December kicks in!
Hallway
Where possible keep your hallway clear and the number if items on display to a minimum.
First impressions count and a cluttered hallway with no clear space to hang your coat and put your shoes away sets your home up for becoming untidy. Make sure shoes are out of sight.
You want your home to be easy to enter so guests (and you) don’t enter feeling instantly annoyed. Ensure your door opens easily, that it doesn’t stick or get stuck on items that haven’t been tidied away. Does it smell nice? (Put away your smelly shoes!) Be mindful of where you place mirrors avoiding placing them directly opposite the door as this will bounce out the energy people bring in.
Kitchen
Kitchens often becoming dumping grounds but they are the heart of the home and where magic happens at Christmas so try to follow the “one touch” rule. This is an easy to follow rule that states you should try to touch everything once when cleaning e.g. if you have a cup in your hand, put it straight in the dishwasher rather than by the side of the sink meaning it has to be touched again when loading.
A regular clear and clean out of your fridge is recommended when running an organised home but essential before Christmas. Check everyshelf for expired products and dispose of those you know you won’t use. Give each shelf a thorough clean as you go. You’ll thank yourself when packing away that Christmas food!
Kids Rooms
Children as a general rule love stuff but also forget about toys if they can’t easily see or find them. Rotating the toys they play with is an excellent way to make sure they get played with.
Personally I always involve my kids in a declutter so when they outgrow items they are happy to sell or donate them.
TOP TIPS
1) Before you embark on a declutter, make sure you have also set aside some time to remove the items you are letting go of from your home. A box of clutter is still clutter! Drive it straight to the charity shop or rubbish tip or set aside some time to photograph and list it.
2) Make sure everyone that lives in your home is involved. We all have a reponsibility to manage the items we own from purchase to disposal and even young children can understand this cycle.
3) Nobody expects your home to look like a showroom.
Do you enjoy decluttering? Does it fill you with dread? Is every room filled with stuff or do you live the minimalist dream? I love hearing about your experiences so hit reply to share!