As we approach Christmas, now’s a good time to give your home a much-needed declutter. Not only will it help you get rid of the things you don’t need; by making the most of your space, it will leave you feeling refreshed and ready for the New Year. But where should you start?
We asked some of the top decluttering professionals and experts what they strive to keep out of their cupboards, to highlight some of the most common sources of clutter. Take their advice on organising your space and it can make a big difference to your home.
Expert decluttering advice for cupboards
Our organising pros share their advice on what to banish from your cupboards and how to effectively store what you do keep behind closed doors.
Occasional shoes
Where? Hallway cupboard
‘Only keep shoes in your hallway cabinet that you and your family wear every day. Anything that’s out of season or that you wear only for special occasions doesn’t need to take up precious hallway space. The same goes for coats, hats, gloves and scarves,’ says professional declutterer and founder of A Tidy Mind, Kate Ibbotson.
She recommends storing occasional stuff in your bedroom. ‘Ideally, use shelving above or below the wardrobe or, if there’s space, cubby holes or a shoe rack within the wardrobe,’ she says.
Professional organiser Vicky Silverthorn agrees. For the bottom of cupboards where you might store items such as shoes, she recommends using ‘half shelves, so nothing at the bottom is hidden. We’re thinking about visibility; if you see it, you’re more likely to use it.’
Tatty towels and old bed linen
Where? Airing cupboard
If you have a cupboard full of towels that have seen better days, alongside scratchy sheets, it’s time to say goodbye.
‘Pull out all your towels and bed linen and be honest about which items you love and really use,’ advises Gill Hasson, author of Declutter Your Life: How Outer Order Leads to Inner Calm.
‘You need a bed linen set for each bed in the house, a couple of spare sets, a bath towel for each person, plus around three extras for guests on overnight visits, and a couple of hand towels.’
Your textiles need not go to waste — most animal charities will take old towels and bedding, so check with your local shelters.
‘Best’ crockery
Where? Kitchen cupboards
‘I never keep crockery, cutlery or glassware for “best”. Use this stuff every day and get as much enjoyment out of your belongings as you can,’ says Kate. ‘Think about the maximum amount of crockery you’ll ever need. For most people, it’s six of everything – if you have a dinner party for a larger group, you can always hire items.’
For clever storage, Kate is a fan of in-cupboard racks that maximise the available space. ‘Plate racks are brilliant because they use the whole height of the cupboard and ensure easy access. Likewise, try under-shelf baskets, which hook on to cupboard shelves, creating an extra shelf underneath,’ she says.
Lots of books
Where? Bedside cabinet
‘Avoid keeping a pile of books in your bedside cabinet, as your sleeping space should be about calm and simplicity. Just keep the book you’re reading and, perhaps, one other,’ says Kate.
‘I prefer to store pyjamas in my bedside drawers. It’s a nice place for nightwear and it stops you from filling those drawers with other things,’ she adds.
Piles of paperwork
Where? Home office filing cabinet
No one needs a filing cabinet bulging with bank statements from the last decade and instruction manuals for never-used kitchen gadgets. ‘Keep important documents, such as birth certificates, passports, your driving licence and insurance documents, in a box file (ideally a fire-safe one) with dividers,’ says Gill.
‘Cut down on the amount of paperwork you need to file by opting for electronic billing and statements with your bank and utilities, and recycle any instruction manuals for electrical goods such as your oven, washing machine and dishwasher – you can easily find these on the manufacturers’ websites.’
Every single picture your kids have ever drawn
Where? The fridge door
While it’s lovely to hold on to your children’s creative endeavours through the years, few of us have the space to store every single piece.
‘Start a memory box for each child. Every couple of months, select pieces that are special enough for the memory box and write on the back the date it was done,’ says Kate. ‘Pick boxes that you’re happy to have on show on top of the wardrobe.’
3 for 2 toiletries
Where? Bathroom cupboard
‘Toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo, cleaning supplies – 3 for 2 deals may be enticing, but if you don’t have the space for them, they aren’t really bargains,’ says professional home organiser and founder of This Girl Can Organise, Nicola Lewis.
‘It’s far better to buy products as you need them, as you won’t waste time and effort trying to find a home for the stuff you’re not using. Try under-the-sink storage boxes to neatly stash your bathroom products.’
Expired medicine
Where? Bathroom cabinets
As the household advice editor, I recommend checking the expiration dates on your stored medications every few months. If a box of medicine sits at the bottom of a pile, it can go unused for a long time; long enough for the medicine to expire, which can pose a safety hazard. When I played the Minimalism Game, I found 20 boxes of expired medication in one swoop.
Such medications should be removed and disposed of properly via a pharmacy. Any packaging can be recycled as usual. When reorganising your cupboard, try to stack your medications from old to new, so older ones get used up first. Keep different types of medicines grouped together and display them so the names are the right way up and easily readable.
Exercise equipment
Where? Living room cupboards
‘More and more of us are doing fitness at home, but if you hide your yoga mat or weights away in a living room cupboard, there’s a chance you could forget about them,’ says Nicola.
‘For easy access to home exercise equipment, I recommend keeping it in nice baskets or under the sofa storage. Give your belongings proper homes so you can easily put them back in the right place.’
Greeting cards
Where? Living room cupboards
I’m guilty of this one myself; I didn’t like throwing away greetings cards once I’d finished displaying them. The result was a cabinet drawer filled to the brim with cards. Thankfully, while I was trying out Swedish Death Cleaning, it gave me a chance to sort through.
These items are sentimental, which can make this task difficult. I’d recommend saving it until last, so you’ve had a chance to develop your decluttering skills. Then only keep the cards that have the most meaning or memory, and recycle the rest. Quickly scan through as you work and try not to dwell on memories.
And finally… the annoying junk drawer
Where? The kitchen
Let’s be honest, every home has one. The drawer where batteries, spare keys, rubber bands, Post-it notes and suchlike get shoved.
‘By adding some organisation, you can make the junk drawer far more user-friendly and accessible,’ says Nicola. ‘The first step is to empty it out and assess what is genuinely useful. Store the stuff you’re keeping with drawer dividers, or you could even reuse plastic takeaway containers to create sections for all those random bits.’
Wardobe declutter kit
