New Year is a great time to set about de-cluttering and bringing fresh energy to your home. Keeping clutter to a minimum really improves your mental wellbeing – as the saying goes, “tidy home, tidy mind”. But de-cluttering can feel overwhelming, so follow my quick tips.

Getting started
Take one step at a time, don’t try and eat the elephant. The hallway is often a dumping ground for shoes, coats, bags and sports equipment. To create a welcoming, calm and tidy space, clear out un-seasonal items – no flip-flops lying around in the winter!

Utilise the space under the stairs, install coat pegs with shelves above and invest in shoe racks. My step-daughter has built a hall storage unit with named baskets for everyone in the household. It really works.

De-clutter the kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of the home, but it’s also a common area for clutter. A clear worktop will save you time and stress, so clear the surfaces and store away anything you don’t use regularly.

Reorganise drawers and cupboards using the mantra: do I love it, do I use it, do I need it? Get rid of anything that doesn’t fit the criteria; the bread maker you used twice, the spiralizer you got bored with, the mugs you hate. I use glass Kilner jars for storing dried goods – they look retro-stylish, and it’s quick and easy to find recipe ingredients.

Whittle down your wardrobe
Your bedroom should be a comfortable space where you can relax, but all too often it’s another clutter-zone. Is the floor covered in piles of clothes, and is it hard to find anything to wear in the morning? Time to clear out your wardrobe! Use your mantra to get started.

Most people have far more clothes than they need, but if you haven’t worn something for a year, chances are you never will. Store away un-seasonal clothes and buy wooden/velvet hangers for everything else. The Hanger Store has a great selection. My daughter used a professional wardrobe editor and she’s never looked back.

Be sustainable, donate to charity, up-cycle and re-gift
What do you do with your unwanted items when you’ve finished your edit? Volunteering in a local charity shop, I’ve seen the benefits of giving things to charity.

An old unloved wooden bench lingering in the back of your garage could be someone else’s new dining table. That battered chest of drawers belonging to your grandmother, re-painted in a bright colour, could be up-cycled to your teenage daughter’s bedroom.

Smart storage
Now you only have your much-loved possessions around you and the things you really need, treat yourself to some stylish and practical new storage. Maybe new library shelves for your pared-down collection of books, funky storage baskets for the children’s toys, or pretty vintage tins for the kitchen. You can now relax in your newly created calm space that is welcoming and clutter-free.