Spring is a time for clearing out the cobwebs, literal and metaphorical, with the change of season bringing resolutions to finally master an ordered home. Inspired, we’ve assembled the top tips for decluttering and bulletproof organisational systems, plus a shopping list of storage solutions that actually work.
Spring reset
Effortless order is impossible if you’re fighting a riptide of surplus stuff, so step one is to create space by clearing the clutter. Some decluttering is easy – chucking holey socks and old newspapers a given, but professional organiser Alaina Dalzell of Tidy Life Solutions knows that there are trickier areas and common causes of organisational paralysis. “Sentimental items: a big offender is children’s artwork and unfinished projects; things from people who have passed away; and gifts from family, things that they don’t even like, but feel the need to display in case the person visits.”
Another big one is what Alaina calls “just in case items”, which covers everything from bags of screws to boxes and instruction manuals, random cables and chargers. It also includes kitchen appliances (what if you start juicing again?) and clothing that you might squeeze into one day. “By the time you fit them again, they’re no longer a style you’d wear anyway,” says Alaina.
Decluttering is a psychological exercise and Alaina has a few tips for encouraging the necessary mindset shift.
Paying rent
“Your home is valuable real estate and every item is paying ‘rent’ by taking up space. Is it earning that space?” says Alaina. Analyse whether the item serves a concrete purpose. Does it deserve the space it’s taking up?
Joy of giving
People often get hung up on the idea of “wasting” an item by getting rid of it. A better attitude, says Alaina, is to consider “the importance of letting someone else get use out of something instead of having it sit around”. Giving excess furniture to a family member’s first flat, your outgrown threads to charity, or once-read books to a street library gives them a chance to be used and loved again.
Best for every day
“Use the good things and love them,” says Alaina. “Don’t let them sit around in a cupboard unused. You don’t need 30 towels – keep only the nice ones and donate the others.”
Progress over perfection
Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t KonMari your home in a weekend. Start small with one surface, one room or one category of things. This attitude is particularly useful with another big source of clutter: unfinished projects. “Craft people call these UFOs,” says Alaina. “I often set people goals to finish certain projects, or pass them on to another crafter.” You’re not going to finish every project overnight, but celebrate each small accomplishment and keep your eye on the prize: a clearer, more organised home.
Clutter hotspots
A lived-in home is in perpetual motion. For maximum efficiency, you need to anticipate how people move within the space and set up systems to support them – and to minimise the mess left in their wake. We asked the experts to identify the worst clutter magnets and for tips on restoring order.
The bombsite entry
This is the space that welcomes you home and gives guests their first impression of how you live, so you want it to be calm, clutter-free and attractive – not an obstacle course of school bags and dog leads.
“The most important piece of furniture in your entry is your console table,” says interior designer Vic Bibby of Bibby & Co. “Designed to be tall enough to drop your keys and narrow enough so as not to take up too much valuable walking space, it would ideally have drawers for storing items you don’t want on display.” Add a decorative bowl for keys, so they never get lost.
Ideally, Vic says, you’ll have built-in cupboards for coats and bags. But failing that, hooks will get these items off the floor. “Try and hang them on the wall behind the door, so they’re not immediately on view as you enter, as they can look messy if overfilled.” Place baskets under the console for shoes, “But make sure they’re tall enough to hide the contents,” says Vic.
The jumbled pantry
A messy pantry is as detrimental to your pocket as is your peace of mind, leading to food waste and double-ups. “If the kitchen pantry is crammed with food and playing a dangerous game of Tetris, it’s likely your shelves are too far apart from each other. You can retrofit additional shelves, drawers or buy a selection of organisers to give food types their own zones,” says interior designer Laura Heynike of Pocketspace Interiors. “We recommend removing any double-ups and putting them in the garage or somewhere accessible but not in the immediate zone.”
Pinterest-worthy jars are optional. “Don’t feel you need to decant things just because Instagram says so. If it does not work for you, don’t do it,” says Alaina. If you do decant, though, Alaina suggests tall, thin containers for general baking supplies. Glass jars allow you to easily see when you’re running low. Likewise, if you use baskets, Alaina suggests clear versions, so things don’t get lost.
The overcrowded wardrobe
The experts agree: step one is to declutter. “Turn all of the hangers one way, then start trying to wear things. If you loved it, when you put it back in, turn the hanger the other way. If things don’t work, declutter them,” says Alaina. Lighten the load by storing seasonal items, such as winter ski gear, somewhere else.
Now you’ve narrowed it down to the everyday essentials you can look at storage solutions. “Evaluate where the chaos is,” says Laura. “Sometimes you’ll just need an additional shelf or two, separate shoe cabinets, or to remove one rail and replace it with a dual-stacked clothes rail. If you have high ceilings, pull-down clothes rails are one of our favourite solutions, making it easy to access clothing stored higher up while maximising every centimetre of your wardrobe.” Small changes can make a big difference: pegs on the walls or back of doors for handbags and hats, or drawer dividers to neaten your smalls.
The chaotic garage
Garages and garden sheds are often-ignored mess magnets. Holding everything from paint tins to garden tools, they need hardcore storage solutions. Start with proper heavy-duty shelving, designed to take significant weight. Group items into categories, store “like” items together in clear, stackable tubs and order them so the heaviest things are on the lowest shelves. “Hang as much as possible using heavy-duty hooks – even bikes can be hung up,” says Alaina. “Keep all chemicals up high out of reach of children, but safely so they won’t spill in an earthquake.”
If the garage is the most often-used entry to the house, include entryway solutions: shoe racks, hooks for bags and dog leads, and even a safe spot for your keys.
Storage hall of fame
Once you’ve cleared the excess clutter, the secret to an organised home lies in hardworking storage solutions. We’ve narrowed it down to 10 of our favourite life-changing (or cupboard-changing, at least) storage heroes.
Drawer dividers
Cutlery trays are just the start – there are dividers for deep drawers (no more sliding plates), corralling utensils and creating organisational pockets within the “drawer of doom”. Laura gives a special shout-out to Blum’s Orga-line system. “Anything from the range is amazing, but we love the knife organiser. No one wants loose knives in a drawer,” she says.
Decorative bowls & baskets
“I’m always looking out for them and have lots around my house for storing the TV remote, my sunglasses, my keys, my jewellery… They keep your home tidy and organised while looking fabulous,” says Vic.
Shelf risers
Particularly in pantries, shelves are often higher than they need to be, which is perfect for a tall jar, but leaves dead space above everything else. “Use the height of the shelves with shelf risers, small shelves that you can add in and place items above and below,” says Alaina. Undershelf baskets are an equally useful variation.
Modular shelving
Another solution to the odd-height conundrum is modular shelving. Move the shelves to perfectly fit containers, with no wasted real estate above them.
Velvet coat hangers
These are an organiser’s favourite for making the most of limited wardrobe space. “They’re actually very reasonably priced, they hold your clothes in place and are kind to your fabrics and, best of all, their ultra-slim profile takes up significantly less space than a bulky wooden or plastic hanger,” says Vic.
Turntables
Out of sight is out of mind, but a turntable or lazy susan makes it easier to see and access small items. Use them to corral condiments or cans in the pantry or fridge.
Vacuum storage bags
Not everything has to be accessible all the time and vacuum bags are ideal for things such as bulky seasonal clothing and linens. Bag them up, suck out all the air and you’ve got a slimline package that easily slides into the top shelf of a cupboard until it’s needed again.
File boxes
Alaina loves clear file boxes, designed to store foolscap folders vertically. “They take up hardly any room and are great for sentimental things,” she says. Use them for important documents, but also precious mementos, like the kids’ kindergarten masterpieces.
Pegboards
Walls are often a wasted storage opportunity – think vertically with a pegboard. These are ideal for storing tools and small bits and bobs in the craft room, office or garden shed. Scan IKEA or the hardware store for pegboard accessories: hooks, clips, tiny shelves, lidded containers and baskets.
Pull-out racks
Most kitchen designers rank drawers over cupboards, but you can retro-fit existing cupboards to upgrade their storage potential. “Under the sink is always a bit messy, but the Enko pull-out detergent rack is a great retrofit solution,” says Laura. Extend the concept with pull-drawers for the pantry, or slimline spice racks for skinny cupboards.
Read next:
- The best bookshelves for beautiful book storage
- The expert guide to creating bathroom storage
- A renovation expert’s advice on built-in storage
