Kick the clutter for good with these 21 expert tips
Ready for a blank slate? This is your year to clear the clutter – both physically and emotionally. Our guide offers 21 practical tips for a successful clear out, smart strategies to keep your space clutter-free all year, and the emotional support you need to stay motivated. It’s time to refresh your home and your mindset, and create a space that feels calm, fresh and fully yours.
1. Take stock of your storage
Marie Kondo, professional organiser and author of The Marie Kondo Tidying Companion (£14.99,
Bluebird Books), says...
Take an inventory of all the storage spaces around your home. Knowing the storage available will make it easier for you to decide where to put things later. Don’t worry about what’s currently occupying the storage spaces. Just be sure to check and make note of the level of fullness: ‘completely stuffed’, ‘plenty of room here’, etc. Plus, if you go around your home taking photos of the rooms and storage spaces, you can see the current level of clutter. These ‘before’ photos are sure to get you excited about the changes tidying can bring.
Make a storage ‘floor plan’ so you know exactly what space you have to work with, suggests Marie Kondo. Photo: Natsuno Ichigo
2. Listen while you work
Ann Russell, aka The TikTok Auntie, author of How to Clean Everything (£12.99, Headline Home), says...
If you find you get easily overwhelmed, force yourself to do at least 30 minutes of tidying every day, broken down into two chunks. I find most tasks really tedious, so I listen to audiobooks while I work. I borrow mine from the library. I strongly advise you to join your local library for just that reason. Or you could use energetic music to put you in the right frame of mind.
Entertain yourself with an audiobook while you do repetitive tasks. Photo: Getty Images, Penny Bishop
3. Embrace the guilt
Tyler Moore, @TidyDad, author of Tidy Up Your Life (£18.99, Penguin), says...
If you consider your professional life to be a blazing success, but your home is cluttered and disorganised, and you’re mentally and emotionally disconnected from your family, friends and your feeling of self, life’s still going to feel like a complete mess. Trust me, I’ve been there. It’s emotionally overwhelming to empty a cabinet, drawer, closet or wardrobe, and to consider the role that you played in amassing the clutter you find there. It’s natural to feel a mix of embarrassment and regret. Allowing yourself to sit with those uncomfortable feelings is a powerful part of the ‘tidy up your life’ process.
Tyler loves sharing his tips for the systems and routines that he has devised for his small space and growing family. Photo: Anthony Grippa
4. Start small
Stacey Solomon, presenter of BBC’s Sort Your Life Out and author of Tap to Tidy (£14.99, Ebury Press), says...
If you have a whole room that you look at and it just overwhelms you, don’t worry. We’ve all got one! The best thing to do is to break it down into smaller spaces. From my experience, just doing one cupboard or one section of a room at a time makes the task easier to achieve. If I ever try to tackle an entire room and all of its contents, I almost always get overwhelmed and want to give up. Say, ‘Right, I’m going to start on this corner!’ And don’t even think about the whole room. If you can’t even get into the room? Then start at the doorway – that’s absolutely fine. Just take out what’s obstructing you from getting in there. Now follow my ‘Tap to Tidy’ method on page 89.
Stacey advises us to start small – a cupboard is ideal. Photo: Getty Images, Urszula Soltys
5. Be realistic about time
Monique Sveinsson, CEO and founder of Perfect Planner Company, says:
I always say, ‘Plan for the time you have, not the time you wish you had’. This is an absolute game changer. Allocate your tasks to small blocks of time – you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve in just 10 or 15 mins. Put a timer on, and go all out and declutter a small area such as a cupboard, or the kids’ toy basket. Tackling a huge task like tidying the whole house can feel overwhelming, but doing the odd task in pockets of time means you are less likely to lose focus, which in turn means you are using your time more effectively.
Instead of setting yourself the task of tidying the whole house, use short blocks of time to help you feel more on top of things.
6. One in, one out!
Lucy Gough (@style_by_lucy), interior stylist at Interior Styling School, says...
To keep our home balanced, clutter-free, and filled only with things we truly love or need, we live by a simple ‘one in, one out’ policy. Whenever something new comes through the door – whether it’s homewares, clothing or kitchenware – something else has to leave. This can be donated, sold or passed on to someone else. It’s a mindful way to consume less, appreciate what we already have, and ensure our space stays calm, rather than overflowing with things!
Lucy lives by the ‘one in, one out’ rule. Photo: Getty Images
7. Hide away the ‘practical’
Interior designer Leoma Harper (@styletheclutter; @interiorsbyleomaharper; Style The Clutter), says...
Clutter has always been the biggest challenge in my busy family home, so creating clever storage and simple systems has been key to keeping our house calm and functional. I’ve learned that it’s not about getting rid of everything, but about making space for what you truly love and use. Baskets, ottomans and built-in cupboards hide the practical bits, while curated surfaces let favourite items shine. Once you give everything a place, the whole home feels lighter, calmer and far easier to enjoy.
Show off what matters most, and keep the practical bits cleverly hidden, like Leoma.
8. Shrink it down
Low Cost Lou, resident money-saving expert at Robert Dyas, says...
It’s easy for our homes to become cluttered – especially after the festive period. But after a good clear out, it’s possible to take your home from cluttered to calm with a few nifty organisational tricks. I swear by under-bed storage boxes (clear, so you can see what’s in them at a glance), vacuum bags to help reduce the size of your belongings by up to 75%, and vertical storage to make the most of every inch of space – think tidy shelving units with cupboards for hiding things away, and shelves to display a few cherished items.
Vacuum bags and under-bed storage are non-negotiables for Lou.
9. Regular edits
Emma Kenwrick-Meehan, professional organiser at Home Nip & Tuck, @homenipandtuck, says...
I regularly clear bedside tables, kitchen counters and hallways; areas that quickly become dumping grounds. This simple reset makes a huge difference to how calm my home feels. I also label everything, so every family member knows where things belong. Finally, I keep a donation bag to hand at all times; once it’s full, it leaves the house straightaway.
Reset key areas regularly, and make sure to donate often, too! Photo: Emma Gibson Photography
10: Make it a family affair
Shira Gill, organising expert and author of LifeStyled (£25, Octopus Books), says...
The key to clutter-free living is being the gatekeeper of your home – it’s about limiting what comes in the front door versus constantly decluttering once you're in a state of overwhelm. In our home, we practise the ‘one in, one out’ rule, and do a family declutter before birthdays and holidays. I recommend you give everyone in your household ownership over their own spaces. When kids and partners are involved in the decluttering process, they’re more likely to maintain the systems.
Encourage everyone to take ownership of their space – especially the kids – to help create a clutter-free home together. Photo: Vivian Johnson / LifeStyled
11. Brilliant baskets
Sarah Barnard, interior designer at Sarah Barnard Design, says...
When it comes to home organisation, I like to keep things simple. Decorative baskets are a beautiful way to help control clutter. Hand-woven baskets are attractive when empty and can quickly hide away stray books, blankets, or odds and ends. I use a basket system in my home office that allows me to momentarily escape the multitude of samples coming in and out, maintaining focus on my projects during the week.
From toys and throws to toiletries and cables, baskets work in living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms and beyond. Medium wall hanging basket, £5, Dunelm. Photo: Steven Dewall Photography
12. Organise with intent
Richard Joseph, co-founder and CEO at Joseph Joseph, says...
In the kitchen, I’ve found that chaos often hides in drawers, so clever solutions like DrawerStore organisers help restore order and keep everything in its place. For larger essentials, such as cleaning supplies, a CupboardStore caddy keeps everything accessible, without compromising on style.
Wardrobes also deserve the same considered approach. Shoes, for example, can easily take over a space, so I rely on designs like Level or Shoe-In racks to bring a sense of structure. Conquering clutter isn’t about perfection; it’s about designing a home that supports the way you want to live. For me, that means surrounding myself with pieces that work hard, look stylish, and make every day a little more effortless.
Choose storage that makes the most of every cupboard and drawer. Shoe-In, £20, Joseph Joseph. Photo: Jon Jones
13. Detox before decor
Style Sisters (@stylesisters), decluttering experts with celebrity clients including Vogue Williams and Rochelle and Marvin Humes, say...
The biggest mistake people make is diving straight into storage before decluttering. We always say: detox before decor. Take a proper pause to evaluate what truly serves you and what’s just taking up space. Once you let go of what no longer fits your lifestyle, you’ll find clarity and calm. Then introduce clever storage – something like the OHS foldable storage ottoman, which looks stylish while hiding daily clutter. This year, make it a goal to curate, not collect – treat your home like your wardrobe, and only keep what you love and use.
Ottomans combine form and function, hiding away clutter while looking chic and stylish. Boucle foldable lozenge storage ottoman in White, £28, OHS.
14. Label everything
Siân Pelleschi, Association of Professional Declutterers & Organisers (APDO) president and decluttering expert at Sorted!, says...
In our neurodiverse household, clutter is inevitable – but manageable. We’ve tailored systems for everyone: my eldest uses baskets to stash toys; I organise cupboards so everything is visible yet easily hidden; and my husband thrives on routine. Labels are a game changer as they make it clear where things belong. Simple rules, like returning toys to their base after use, keep clutter from building up. The key? Give everything a home, prioritise function over aesthetics, and do regular resets.
Agree on some simple family rules to keep clutter at bay, advises tidying pro Siân.
15. Be truthful
Pippa Jameson, sensory design expert, interior stylist, and author of The Sensory Home
(£25, Ryland Peters & Small), says...
Clutter can be one of the biggest triggers for stress and anxiety, so it’s worth tackling it for your own wellbeing. To start, be truthful with yourself. Look at each item and ask: ‘Why am I holding on to this?’ Is the emotional attachment valid? For example, you might have a keepsake that you’ve kept because of the memories, yet it’s been in a drawer for two years. It’s not on display, and you haven’t thought about it once. The same applies to clothes – if you haven’t worn them in the last six months, do you really need to keep them? Go through this process piece by piece, and you’ll likely clear around 80% of the clutter.
Be honest about your motives for holding onto clothes, suggests Pippa, and remember, it feels good to let things go! Photo: Jemma Watts for The Sensory Home
16. Take a mindful approach
Anjie Cho & Laura Morris, authors of Mindful Living (£14.99, Cico Books), say...
Schedule time to let go of something in your home. It might be an ailing houseplant, a lamp in disrepair, or even those high-school jeans. 1. Sit in silent meditation somewhere inside your home. 2. Ask yourself for guidance in choosing one item to give away. Choose something of value and meaning to you. 3. Ask yourself to whom you can give this object. Notice any feelings that arise. If the item is too difficult for you to offer, start again at step 1. If it feels right to pass the object on, offer gratitude to the item and then give it away. Let it go, and don’t look back.
Find a place and moment of calm to reflect on letting go.
17. Create a mantra
Mary Lambert, international Feng Shui and decluttering consultant, and author of The Joy of Living with Less (£12.99, Cico Books), says...
Many people have a vast collection of clothes of all types and colours, so how is it that, according to statistics, most of us wear just 20% of all the clothes we own? I don’t mind letting go of belongings, because decluttering is a regular part of my work, but it’s so easy to clear out and then let stuff accumulate again.
I have to keep saying to myself the mantra I say over and over to clients: ‘Do I need it or want it?’ Once I start, I find letting go is quite easy, but I still hesitate over the odd evening dress hanging at the back of the closet!
Curate a pared-back wardrobe by asking yourself one simple question, advises Feng Shui and decluttering consultant Mary.
18. Choose smart storage
Maria Spagnuolo, senior marketing manager at OXO, says...
Decluttering clears the way, while space-saving solutions help prevent that clutter from building back up. OXO’s products are game changers in this respect. Whether it’s our stackable containers, space-saving kitchen tools, or award-winning reusable silicone bags, each item is made to help you simplify your daily routines and make the most of the space you have. It’s not just about tidying up, it’s about creating calm and efficiency in everyday life, so that clutter doesn’t return and claim your space.
OXO Good Grips reusable silicone bags, from £12; Twist & Stack containers, from £19 for 2, John Lewis & Partners.
19. Change little habits
Kathryn Lord, professional family organiser, online coach, and author of More To Organising,
(moretoorganising.com), says...
Keeping clutter at bay is about those habits you do, day to day, such as always putting your keys in the same place, or recycling envelopes as soon as you open a letter. I like to do a ‘sweep’ before I leave a room – just spending five minutes to ‘sweep’ my eyes across the room and moving the items I’ve been using, such as a pen or glass, and putting them back in their respective places. I love the phrase ‘Away, not down’, as it only takes a couple more seconds to put something where it belongs.
Practise good habits, such as always putting your keys away in the same place. Keys hanging hook, £8, Dunelm.
20. Go digital
Sarah Wrixon, CEO of the fyio (for your information only) app, says...
When it comes to paperwork, for the moment, don’t worry about the shoebox under the bed, or the drawer, or even the room of doom! Just deal with what matters today, whether it’s a festival ticket or sofa receipt. Download the fyio app now (it’s free!) – snap and upload, or simply migrate an email attachment or doc from a local drive and, if you need to, set renewal and reminder dates. Now repeat. Simply deal with what comes in immediately. Once you’re dealing with it daily, you’ll be surprised at how quickly old paperwork becomes obsolete, and when it comes to clearing the drawer of doom, there won’t be much left in there.
For a clutter-free desk – and a clearer mind – go paperless by storing your files in a digital app. Matheo hideaway cabinet desk, £849.99, La Redoute.
21. Get tidy, stay tidy
Charlotte Tilby, head of marketing at Woodstock Trading Co, says...
Just as we see organised fridges, pantries, and laundry rooms across social media, why shouldn't the bathroom receive the same attention to detail? Clutter can quickly take over, but the right storage solutions will bring a new lease of life to a compact bathroom. Consider fitted furniture, such as the Calypso Tesima range, which features two internal drawers concealed behind a single drawer front, therefore minimising visual clutter. If you have a vanity, add thoughtfully designed internal drawer organisers to keep your daily essentials tidy and within easy reach. Adjustable shelving and modular units are also great, as they allow you to tailor your storage to fit your specific needs.
Look for hidden storage in your fitted furniture. Tesima vanity unit in Matt Black, £1,030, Calypso Bathrooms.
Stacey Solomon’s 7-step Tap to Tidy method:
- Face up to the chaos: landed with a pile of mess, the first thing to do is acknowledge that it’s a pile of mess. That means you start thinking, ‘Right, this needs changing, I need to do this,
let’s just go for it!’ - Get it all out!: take out everything. Even if you think, ‘Oh, that doesn’t look too bad…’ just get every single thing that you can out of that space and spread it across the floor.
- Do a mental scan: take it in and start to ask yourself questions about what you’ve got. ‘OK, what do I really want? What am I not that sure about?’ And keep asking. ‘Where does this go? Does it belong in the recycling? Does it belong to somebody else? Or does it definitely belong in the bin?!’
- Sort it out: then, once you’ve thought about what you’ve got, put it all into piles. I’ll usually do: Bin It; Recycle; Definitely Keeping; Maybes (the stuff I still can’t work out if I want to keep or not); and Give it Away.
- Clean the empty space: since you’ve got everything out, you can actually clean the cupboard, drawer or space that you’ve tackled, ready for all your Definitely Keeping items.
- Find your stuff a home: now you know what should be there, find a good home for your Definitely Keeping pile. That doesn’t mean just sticking it all back in any old way. I like things to be as visible as possible (so I can still see what I’ve got) and accessible (so I can actually get to the stuff I use).
- Deal with the Maybes: take a look at how much space you have left in front of you – because that’s now going to help you deal with that Maybe pile. I’ll only put back in what now feels essential. The rest of that Maybe stack can then go into the other piles of stuff I’m getting rid of: Bin, Recycle or Give It Away. Bag them up, and you’re done!
Photos: Getty Images
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