Decluttering the kid's bedrooms: It’s child's play!

The school holidays are here, and it's time for sun, fun and family days out. It's also an opportunity for you and your child to declutter their bedroom and get it shipshape before the new school term.

In this blog, I offer five top tips to turn your child's bedroom from horrid heap to clutter-free haven.

1) Inspire your child by asking what they’d like to gain from decluttering. A stylish room to show off at the next sleepover? More time to build spaceships and less time searching for the right piece of Lego? Or space for a homework desk away from the hustle and bustle?

2) Avoid becoming overwhelmed by working through one category of clutter at a time. Start with the mecanno, then the books, and the dolls clothes, and so on. As a bonus, you’ll see how much of everything your child owns - and it's always more than you think!

3) Don’t let decision-making drag-on. You can make faster progress by setting “keep or go” guidelines before you start - so it stays if it’s a favourite or it is played with and used regularly, but you let it go if your child has lost interest or outgrown it or if it is especially dirty, broken or has parts missing.

4) Ask your child to help you find “homes” for the things you are keeping. If they know that that the soft toys live in the hammock, they’re more likely to make it there, instead of under the bed. And keep small items like cars corralled in tubs. Earn yourself bonus points for using big clear labels.

5) Congratulations, the bedroom looks great. But if you don’t want it to be a mess again by half-term, you need to factor in maintenance. Try a five-minute tidy-up each evening (use a timer and “race” it!) plus a longer session every quarter. Always have a “top up” session before Christmas so the old can make way for the new.