The 15 causes of clutter that take up space in your home revealed by professional organiser – how many do YOU have?
WHETHER it’s a souvenir from abroad or a cut-price decorative cushion we snapped up on the cheap, most of us have plenty of random items sitting around our home.
While some of these hold a sentimental value, most of them just take up unnecessary space – despite us insisting we’ll use them one day.
In most cases, these items are forgotten about until you attempt a big spring clear-out – but even then it proves difficult to chuck them away or donate the lot at the local charity store.
From old relics of holidays collecting dust in your cupboard to a certain type of clothing you haven’t touched in years, a decluttering expert has shone a light on 15 items that what we should really part ways with.
The whizz, known as @thedeclutterdarlinguk on TikTok, took to her social media page to share an insight into a lengthy list of common things that people feel they should be keeping in their home – when in reality, it just makes a mess.
First off, she noted in the video, was buying single-use kitchen gadgets.
While that avocado slicer may seem like a great idea at first, you can prepare your hearty avocado toast with a knife just as well – and the knife can be used for so many other things.
Second on the list was heaps of decorative cushions ”that you never let anyone touch”.
Another item to perhaps best get rid of if you’re trying to declutter your home this season is a huge set of fancy dishes which you most likely never use.
Coming at fourth place is expired candles – while they still may be decorative, the expert said these just ”don’t smell great”.
In the informative video, the declutter pro also advised to best get rid of those souvenir mugs you’ve collected from different trips around Europe and the world, as well as ”dozens and dozens of mystery chargers and cables”.
She explained: ”You just don’t know what they belong to anymore.”
The expert continued: ”Number seven, that excessive seasonal decor, especially if you don’t even decorate for Halloween or Easter.
”You don’t need it.”
Coming at eight place is multiple sets of bedding – sure, you may find heaps of gorgeous bedsheets in Primark but do you really need that many?
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- Out with the old, before in with the new
“It may sound a little ruthless but a one in, one out rule in your home and wardrobe can be effective to avoid over accumulating items in your home,” they said.
“It can also make you more mindful about the purchases you are making.”
- Categorise and contain
“In any space, however big or small – from a utility room to your make-up box – organising items by category is the perfect way to keeping super organised,” they said.
“This allows you to know exactly where everything is and what you’ve got.
“Plus, it will make it super easy for the rest of the household to put away and keep tidy.”
- Storage, storage and more storage!
“Storage is key, especially if space is an issue in the home or if the room is used for items like storing toys for children,” they said.
“Consider decorative storage baskets, side boards with plenty of storage or even a media wall or bookshelves with doors.”
”You don’t live at a hotel,” she said.
”Number nine, formal wear that you have not worn or touched in years.”
Other items worth getting rid of include duplicate cooking utensils, bulk-bought cleaning products and toiletries, as well as exercise equipment which you haven’t used in forever.
In the video, she also listed paper manuals for everything – as you can simply ”Google them” – half-empty paint tins from DIY projects you completed years ago, as well as ”those random ‘just in case’ storage baskets”.
”You do not need empty storage in your life.”