Top tips to declutter your home

From more room in the hallway for coats and shoes, to more storage for clothes in your bedroom, most people would like a little more space in their homes. You might think that the only way to get the space you need is to move house, or invest in major home improvements, but these costly options aren’t your only choice. You might be surprised by the difference a thorough declutter can make, and the space it can create in your home.

Trying to declutter your whole house in one weekend can be overwhelming, so start small. Set aside whatever time you can spare, and clear out one area at a time. A great place to start is your cupboard under the stairs, garage or even filing cabinet, areas that are often overflowing, and not so frequently cleared out.

Many items you clear out don’t need to be thrown away, so a helpful way to clear out is to separate items you no longer want into 4 categories:

• Recycle
  You can recycle many items in your weekly recycling collections, and most local councils can point you in the direction of specialist recycling points for specific items, such as electricals.
• Reuse
  Could you reuse the item? Perhaps that lovely dress with a hole beyond repair would make a lovely cushion cover rather than being thrown away?
• Sell
  Websites like eBay and Gumtree can be a great way of selling your unwanted items that are still in great condition
• Donate
  Charity shops are a great way to pass on your unwanted items, but you could also use websites like Freecycle, or ask family and friends if they would like the items too.

Decluttering your home doesn’t mean getting rid of all your most treasured, sentimental possessions. You might even find a better way to display some of them, perhaps framing forgotten children’s paintings or putting your favourite photographs in an album.

Knowing which sentimental items to keep can be difficult, so if you aren’t sure about letting go of something, store it for six months in the loft or the shed. Make a note on your calendar and if you haven’t used it, or missed it, in six months then it can go.

Paper is a big space stealer, we are all probably guilty of holding on to lots of bank statements, credit card bills and utility bills, but why not think about going digital? Many banks, utility companies and phone providers give you the option of electronic statements. By going paperless not only will you free up valuable space it’s also a greener option.

When organising your home you might find that you have space to buy new furniture. When choosing items think about whether they can double up as storage or have more than one use, such as sofa beds, or footstools with hidden storage for magazines or children’s toys.

Having completed your declutter, now is the ideal time to check whether your home insurance is up-to-date and providing adequate cover for your home and its contents – especially now you know exactly what you’ve got.