Can’t face the prospect of getting rid of your clutter? Don’t fear – our 10-point guide will provide all the help you need!
- Stick to the William Morris rule. If an object isn’t beautiful or useful, dont live with it?
- Books. If you didn’t enjoy a book, or have no intention of reading it again in the next 20 years, give it to the charity shop for someone else to enjoy.
- Plan your space. Imagine where each item is going to go in your new home. If there is no room for the sideboard, then pass it on to someone else in the family, or sell it.
- Papers and photographs. Frame the photographs and family mementos you really treasure and put them up on the wall so you can see them. Stick other particular items into scrapbooks or photo albums which take up less space.
- Damaged goods. Mend or throw away anything that is broken or chipped. It is better to move into your new house with everything working and clean.
- Heirlooms. If you are saving items for your children, hand them over now. You might be surprised how little they want and how different their own taste is from yours. If great-uncle Albert’s commode isn’t to your taste, or their IKEA world, why hang onto it? Sell it on ebay and give them the money.
- Keep only what you intend to use or treasure. If you only play the family piano once a year, then consider selling it but if you play it every day then keep it.
- Kitchen equipment and cookbooks. Cut your losses, chuck that enormous plastic ice-cream maker with its 10 attachments that you only used once along with the fondu set. And do you need all those cookbooks?
- Rid your clutter from your home. When you have decided what should go, take it straight to the menders, dustbin, charity shop, child’s house or auction room. Don’t let it sit around reproaching you.
- Get some help. If the process is too emotionally fraught with close family, ask a friend or hire a professional, (Google ‘Clutter Clearing’ on the Internet).
