How to declutter for that house-proud feeling

Store large and seasonal items

There’s always going to be those things you need but don’t use much, but they still need somewhere to live that’s not going to be in the way!

Things such as:

• Christmas decorations
• Artificial Christmas tree
• Halloween costumes
• Other seasonal items
• Clothes the kids have grown out of but have sentimental value

Use lidded cardboard boxes or large plastic storage and pop them safely in the loft or under the stairs.

Organise the kitchen

The kitchen usually has the most storage space with lots of items, so it may be best to tackle one area at a time. We've got lots of clever kitchen organisation ideas, so read on for all the inspiration you need.

• Make the most of your drawer space and opt for a smart cutlery tray to keep everything in place and easy to find.
• If you don't want your cutlery in the drawer, go for a cutlery holder or caddy instead which can be quickly put on the table ready for your meals.
• An over-door hanger is great to add extra storage behind a door. It's particularly useful for items which aren’t used that often and with four racks it has plenty of extra space.
• Sort out your cupboards and use some food organisers to keep everything safe and easy to find

Bonus tip: If your cupboard doors don't go right up to the ceiling and you pile items on top of the cupboard, use some of our sleek storage totes and boxes to tidy them neatly away.

Sorting the bedroom

We know it's easy to pop something in the spare guest bedroom with a promise that you'll put it away properly when you have time. Well, now's the time!

Add stylish shelving such as a floating shelf for all your essential health and beauty bits. You can display items like pretty perfume bottles or arrange your hairbrush, combs and make-up brushes in a small vase. A trinket dish is perfect for smaller bits and pieces like hair bobbles and clips.

Vacuum pack clothes you don't use that often and store away big coats in summer and all your summer clothes in winter. They take much less space than just folding and also keep clothes fresh.

If you need more room for items such as extra bedding or towels a stylish ottoman is perfect. They can be placed at the end of the bed and come in a variety of colours to match every room.

Tidy and sort paperwork

Everyone has that drawer that’s crammed full to bursting with paperwork. Things like manuals for all your electrical items including at least a few that have been replaced twice over! Then there’s the old insurance documents, paper bank statements, or birthday cards you keep meaning to recycle. So, take a deep breath, dive in and let’s get it sorted! Here’s how to tackle it:

• Set aside an afternoon to sort through it
• You may need more than one session
• Again, think about what you need
• Separate the important documents that you will want to keep a hold of
• Shred or blank out any personal information before disposing of unwanted documents