“SHE SUGGESTS RECALLING THE SENSE


OF CALM AND RELAXATION EXPERIENCED WHEN STAYING IN A HOTEL, ”


CREATE A STAIRWAY TO A CLUTTER-FREE HAVEN “Hallways, staircases and landings can evolve into a lively obstacle course of casually discarded shoes, coats, bag, sports equipment - and heaps of things which are on their way into your house, and heaps of things which are on the way out,” says Robertson. “Tey’re also the first areas you see when you come home, so it’s worth making an effort to keep them looking neat and welcoming, to avoid that just-walked-in-the-door heart sink of doom.” Step 1: Limit what you keep in the hall to the stuff you’ll be using this season to give yourself a fighting chance at order. Wellingtons, winter boots and heavy coats take up a lot of space, so try and find storage for them when they’re not needed. TIP: A basket or two makes a great place to keep things you are de- cluttering until you can get them out of the house (Make a note in your diary of exactly when you plan to do that!). Make room for a mini- recycling spot, so you can open post and dump anything you don’t want so it’s ready to go out.


RECLAIM THAT LIVING SPACE “Living rooms can very easily become stuffed to the gills with unloved bits of inherited furniture, ‘it’ll-do-for-now’ pieces, family memorabilia, half-done craſt projects you’re going to do one day (newsflash: You’re not),” says Robertson. “Papers and magazines sit fatly on tables, books spill off shleves, remote controls seem to have undertaken their own breeding programme somewhere in the corner. Yet this is a space where you’re supposed to slough off the physical and emotional pummelling of the day and relax” Step 1: Start by considering what you


mainly use your living room for - is it entertaining, reading or relaxing? Tis will help you prioritise your possessions. Remove what’s no longer needed for other purposes. Step 2: Edit sofa cushions, cut them to a realistic number and donate the rest to the charity shop. Go through ornaments and photos on mantelpieces and decide on those you really want to keep and move the rest on. Step 3: Choose furniture that has built in storage, such as console units with shelving, ottomans and footstools with removable tops, or vintage trunks that can double as a coffee tables.


STORE AWAY FOR A SERENE SANCTUARY “Oſten, the room in your home that should be the most nurturing and restful is the source of most anxiety,” says Robertson. “Clothes burst out of wardrobes, second-best bathrobes slump on hooks, unread magazines clutter nightstands, and chairs groan under the weight of clothes. “But your room doesn’t have to look like something from Pinterest. Order has its own beauty. A clean, aired, well-organised bedroom with clear surfaces and a freshly-made bed is one of the most soul-pleasing and nurturing places on the planet. You can create this for yourself.” Step 1: Pare back bedlinen - you only really need three sets per bed.


Store by folding a fitted sheet, top sheet, duvet cover and pillowcases, so they fold up into one pillowcase from the same set. Step 2: Start with a 10-minute cull of underwear - put everything that’s worn-out into a bag and get rid of it. Next look at clothes - but do not, whatever you do, dump everything on the bed at once. You’ll feel overwhelmed and probably give up - and have more mess, not less. Instead, set a timer to give you a set period to sort out what you like and wear from what you don’t. Step 3: Get rid of any item that doesn’t make you feel good when you put it on. Tink whether you would buy it again if you saw it in a shop, if not, recycle it. Cut down on multiples - no one needs 20 white shirts - discard any which are past their best. TIP: When you’ve been through your wardrobe and pared it down, make a note in your de-cluttering journal (this is a must-have item which will help you keep on a de-cluttering track) and make a note anything that would genuinely fill a gap and give the clothes you already own a new lease of life. It might be a new jacket or jeans - and by identifying what you really need, you’ll avoid impulse buying and wasteful duplication. Declutter: Te Get-Real Guide to Creating Calm From Chaos by Debora Robertson, Available now.


PROPERTYMAIL / 21


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