Excessive clutter is a widely-acknowledged cause of stress and can create chaos in your life if left unmanaged. “Clear space, clear mind” is an old adage which rings true to the majority of us. Being organised encourages mental clarity, drives efficiency and creates a more relaxed environment.

Tackling the clutter can seem a daunting task and it can be all too easy to give up at the first hurdle. But small changes can lead to big improvements and by following our top tips you can achieve a huge amount.  

1. Start with a Task List 

Create a task list of everything you want to achieve in order of priority. This will keep you focused on the tasks at hand and help spur you on towards your goals. And ticking items off a list as you complete them is always a rewarding experience!

Make a list of all the rooms that need decluttering and itemise each area that needs tackling, such as wardrobes, shelving units etc. By breaking down big jobs into a set of smaller tasks, you can achieve some quick wins – which is a great motivator!

2. Be Prepared

Before you start work, make sure you are prepared. You’ll need large bin bags, storage boxes, sticky labels and marker pens. Go out and buy what you need ahead of time.

3. Hire a Skip Bin

Remember, decluttering isn’t a case of shifting clutter from one room to another. You’ll need to adopt an element of ruthlessness and get rid of items you no longer need.

For larger jobs, you may need to hire a skip bin. Not only will this save you multiple trips to the local waste disposal site, but as you’ll only have the skip for a few days, it’ll motivate you to get the job done within a much shorter timeframe.

4. Create Piles

Work through each room systematically and create piles for what you want to keep, what can go to charity or be sold and what is destined for the tip.

As soon as your piles are complete, put the items you no longer want into bin bags and move them out of the room to create space. Then focus on tidying the room and organising your belongings. You’ll be amazed at how much easier it is to tidy up when you have a little more space!

5. Create Structure

Think practically about how to organise everything, from your kitchen cupboards, to your paperwork, to your wardrobe.

Keep saucepans, frying pans and baking tins together and split food into categories. For example, separate sweet treats from savoury items; stack identical tins on top of one another; and group similar foods together, such as pasta and rice and cereals, nuts and seeds.

Put books, DVDs and other items you want to keep away in cupboards and drawers. Sort your paperwork into categorised files and place miscellaneous items into labelled storage boxes. Drawer dividers are also great for creating structure – especially for smaller items such as paperclips, hair accessories and makeup.

For a well-organised wardrobe, arrange clothing according to type. For example, hang all shirts together, all skirts together and all pants together. Alternatively, you can colour-code your wardrobe.

If space is limited, put out-of-season clothing into vacuum-sealed storage bags and hide them under the bed or in the attic.

6. Use Stacking Solutions to Save – and Create! – Space

Stacking solutions not only save space, but they also create additional storage.

By introducing stacking solutions for everything from plates and mugs, to tinned food and condiments, you can instantly double the amount of storage space in a kitchen cupboard.

Exposed shelves offer another practical storage solution and can be arranged to create an attractive visual display. Make sure your ornamental pieces stand out and books are neatly lined up.

If you are tight on space in the bathroom, products such as the 3-tier shower caddy from Bunnings are  the perfect tool for storing shower gel, shampoo, razors and loofas – keeping your shower neat and tidy.

7. Check the Use-By Dates

Check the use-by dates on all perishables, as well as tinned foods, condiments and medication. Throw away everything which has reached its expiry date.

Also review the contents of your freezer and discard anything which has been in there for over three months.

8. Go Digital 

Where possible, go digital. Switch to paperless post and opt to receive utility bills and bank statements electronically.

Create reminders and task lists on your phone or computer, rather than on paper pads or post-it notes. And save documents as soft copies rather than keeping the original paper version.

9. Create Clutter-Free Zones

Create clutter-free zones, such as the dining table and breakfast bar. Ensure that these surfaces are always kept clear and enforce this amongst your family or housemates.

10. Play Some Good Tunes

Various studies have shown that music is energizing and can help to motivate us. Put on your favourite tunes and get working!

If you’re based in or around Perth and would like to hire a cheap skip, use our easy online booking form, or contact our friendly team today.