Clear the chaos with these decluttering hacks

The Choosi Clutter 2.0 Report recently found that 1 in 2 Australian’s face household clutter at least once a month or more. If you’re in the same boat, you might be wondering where to start? And how will you know what to keep or toss? From investing in storage solutions to breaking down the ‘big declutter’ into individual spaces, here are some tips on how to clear the chaos.

The art of decluttering

There’s no one particular way you should declutter your home. Every household is different, and where you want to start will ultimately rest with you but as we’ve all experienced, the biggest first step is actually getting started! A good place to begin is by writing down everything that needs doing – it’ll no doubt release some of that initial stress, which is a common experience according to our Choosi Clutter 2.0 Report.

“Living in cluttered spaces can increase our stress and anxiety levels, and also impact our productivity,” says Edel Beattie, Owner and Director at The Happy Organiser. “With advancements in technology, more and more people are working from home and therefore becoming more aware of the clutter surrounding them and the distraction it can be.”

After you’ve done a whole house declutter, Beattie says it’s wise to create a weekly or monthly cleaning schedule.

“This helps prevent a build-up and can feel much less overwhelming. It’s also a great idea to delegate some tasks and get everyone on board with maintaining the home,” she says.

Questions you need to ask yourself before decluttering your house

It might seem like an overwhelming task – especially if you have to do the brunt of the work yourself. But Beattie says that decluttering your whole home should be treated more like a marathon rather than a sprint.

“Take small steps and go at a pace that isn’t going to exhaust you. When you do this consistently, you will see progress,” she says.

During the process, Beattie advises that you take some time to ask yourself a few important questions about your things. The answers will help you to make the right decision on what to keep and what you no longer need. Here are some of Beattie’s top questions to ask yourself before decluttering:

• “Why do I own this?”
• “Would I buy this today?”
• “Can someone else get value from this?”

Decluttering by room

Here we go! You’ve made a commitment to declutter the home this weekend, but you’re unsure of where to begin and how to declutter your house. Don’t fret – Beattie says starting slowly can help you build momentum.

“It’s important to take small steps, especially with young kids,” she says. “For example, focus on one small easy thing such as socks. Never jump into the hard stuff first.”

It might make the most sense to declutter and organise room-by-room. By segmenting the big job into a handful of much smaller tasks, you can set yourself a goal for the day and be proud of your work once you’ve finished one of the following rooms.

1. Bedroom

Start by sorting through your clothes and decluttering your wardrobe. Donate or get rid of items you haven’t worn in over a year. Then, you can keep your bedside table clutter-free by only having essentials like a lamp and a book. If possible, use under-bed storage for extra space. And put in the effort to make your bed daily for an instant tidiness boost.

2. Kitchen

Decluttering and organising your countertops will probably be step one. Pack away appliances you don’t use every day (e.g. air fryer, rice cooker or sandwich press) to free up space. Sort through your pantry and fridge, binning any expired food. You might also want to invest in organisers for your drawers to keep everything neat and accessible.

3. Living room

Too many cushions on the couches? Blankets strewn everywhere in winter? Clear out excess decor and knick-knacks to create a more open and inviting living space. Pack away unused items such as DVD cases into drawers or organisers – or donate them and switch to streaming only. Multi-functional furniture can be really helpful after a declutter, such as ottomans with built-in storage or a coffee table with shelving underneath.

4. Bathroom

First up, get rid of expired beauty items and toiletries you rarely use. Spend a few dollars on small baskets to keep your vanity clutter-free. You can also invest in wall-mounted shelving or over-the-door organisers to maximise your bathroom’s vertical space. And keep towels neatly folded or hung on hooks – not on the floor!

5. Garage or shed

When we want to get rid of clutter in our homes, the garage or shed often becomes the dumping ground for loose items, in fact our Choosi Clutter 2.0 Report found that the garage or shed is the most cluttered space in Australian homes. Beattie says these are also spaces where most people don’t go into every day, so it’s easier to have that clutter ‘out of sight, out of mind’.

“Unfortunately, the clutter still needs to be dealt with sooner or later,” she says. “Since this is usually a larger project, I would recommend these three tips:

1. Schedule multiple days to work on this – it usually takes longer than you think and dry weather also works best!
2. Get a second pair of hands to help – this will make the job easier in so many ways. It will keep you accountable, help with the heavier things and speed things up.
3. Start with the obvious rubbish and large items that need to go before you start dealing with the smaller things. This will help create space faster and give you clarity on the next steps.”

6. Outdoors

Now, the big job! Tackling outdoor clutter. Start with your front or backyard, clearing away grass clippings and leaves, as well as old toys and broken garden tools. You might want to use this time to reorganise any outdoor furniture into more appropriate locations for lounging and dining. Pack up all your gardening supplies that aren’t being used right now in the shed or garage, and consider whether a few potted plants or hanging baskets could add a splash of greenery without taking up much space.

Storage solutions to invest in

Once you’ve decluttered your home you might be a little disappointed to find that there’s still a bunch of things floating around the house. It’s completely normal to want to hold onto these items –especially if they have sentimental value – even if you don’t use them every day.

So, if you aren’t planning on donating them, why not look into smart storage solutions? It could be something cheap like a few large cardboard boxes that you can label and store in your shed, or for bigger items you might need to rent out some storage space locally. Just by taking this big first step you’ll start to notice changes in your home – and in yourself.

“I find the biggest impact is on clients’ mental health,” Beattie says. “Most people feel overwhelmed and stressed in their own homes, instead of feeling calm and having the ability to relax and enjoy their home.” Findings from the Choosi Clutter 2.0 Report supports this with 1 in 3 Aussies revealing clutter creates stress and anxiety.

But after decluttering and organising what they want to hold onto, Beattie says her clients experience a “huge difference in their energy as they make progress in their decluttering journey”.

What you can and can’t donate

The Choosi Clutter 2.0 Report revealed that many of us find decluttering difficult because of the perceived usefulness of certain items. But the reality is that if you haven’t needed – or even thought about – that ‘very important item’ for months or years, then you probably won’t be needing it again anytime soon.

“Many of my clients find it difficult to part with things they ‘might need one day’,” Beattie says. “This is very common and often takes some reflection to come to a decision. Another struggle people have is not knowing where to donate or recycle items.”

The good news is you can simply jump online and search for nearby places where you can donate. There are op shops all around the country, and you may also find businesses that will be happy to take very specific items off your hands – such as kids toys and clothing, or electronics that are still in good working order. Just make sure you verify what you can and can’t donate before dropping by.

Organise your life

Decluttering your home can feel like a huge weight off your shoulders, so why not also use this time to check whether your home and contents insurance is still meeting your needs? You can switch providers or update your existing policy anytime, so start comparing home and contents insurance with Choosi today or call 13 55 55.

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