How to declutter and keep your home tidy

We've all experienced the stress of living in a home that feels completely out of control, and it's alarming how quickly order can fall apart. A busy week at work is often all it takes for the surfaces to become a dumping ground. If you're living with children, tidy rooms can seem like an impossible dream at times.

We've put together an easy-to-follow guide covering how to declutter and, more importantly, how to keep your home tidy after all that effort. With the best will in the world, if you don't change your approach to home management, the mess will return with a vengeance. Explore our expert tips for decluttering your home successfully and the storage solutions that will keep spaces tidy.

Approaching the task

Trying to tackle the entire home at once will make decluttering feel completely overwhelming and may mean you give up halfway through, or avoid starting at all. Opting for a methodical approach, like going through rooms one by one, will make the process seem more manageable and should help you to finish faster. With the room-by-room method, the satisfaction of completing one area is great motivation for taking on the next!

You can choose whether to start with the messiest room or in the tidiest spaces and work your way up. If you want to quickly establish a sense of order, choose the room that's occupied the most, like the living room, so that you have a calm oasis to return to during the process.

Deciding what to keep

To declutter your home effectively, you must be ruthless when it comes to deciding what to keep. Many of us have old, useless or even broken items taking up valuable space in the home, some of which we only feel unable to throw away because of sentimental value. It's important to recognise the actual worth of these objects and remember that memories will remain regardless. This will help you distinguish precious possessions from what has become just more clutter.

Asking yourself key questions when sorting through your things will keep the process quick and efficient. The Marie Kondo classic is 'does it bring me joy?'. Other questions that will help separate the wheat from the chaff include 'have I used this in the last year?' and 'do I have any need for it?'. Create clear piles to ensure there's no confusion as you're going through: one for things to keep, one for donations, and one for items to be recycled or thrown away.

Implementing storage solutions

Once you've finished decluttering, you should implement storage solutions as soon as possible. Knowing exactly what you want to keep in each room will help you choose effective pieces for housing your belongings, suited to the amount and nature of the objects. For example, children's soft toys are best stored in something large and accessible, while clothes and linens can be folded flat into drawers.

The Hammonds' fitted living furniture range can be tailored to exactly match your spaces and requirements, so finding what you need and maintaining clear surfaces is a breeze. Investing in customisable wardrobes and shelving means your storage is exactly the right dimensions to meet your needs. We also have options for awkward spaces like alcoves, so you can make the most of every inch of available space in a way that blends seamlessly with your rooms, ensuring they still feel open and airy. With the right combination of storage solutions, maintaining a tidy home can be effortless. We promise!

Establishing good habits

There's nothing more disheartening after decluttering than mess piling up again within weeks. Establish sustainable maintenance habits to stay on top of things so you're always minutes away from a blissfully clutter-free home.

A popular option is carving out time for a quick tidy every day, in the morning or at night to suit your preferences. A five-minute sweep of the rooms is usually all you need to ensure spaces are clear. You can also get any kids involved, setting up systems and rewarding good habits like putting their toothbrush in the holder after use and putting away toys after playtime. Going shopping? Take stock of what you've already got and follow the one-in, one-out rule if you opt for an upgrade.

Organise a bespoke design visit

Ready to declutter your home and implement storage solutions that mean your efforts will last? Why not book a free design visit with our experts? You can discuss your ideas and get their recommendations for each room, and together create a calming, clutter-free oasis that you will love coming home to.