Discover the Benefits of Decluttering and Calming Interior Design

Hi, I’m Liz Aitken, and I’m thrilled to be working with HOLD Storage as their decluttering expert. As a proud member of the APDO (Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers), I'm here to share how decluttering can transform your life and help you find peace amidst the hustle and bustle of London living.

Living in London can be hectic. With homes getting smaller, rents going up, and a looming housing crisis, it’s no wonder our spaces are feeling more cramped than ever. We accumulate more stuff, yet find it increasingly difficult to let go. Lofts are full, cupboards are bursting, and our minds are cluttered.

“Lack of space can create conflict: making space takes the heat out of the situation.”

We often hold on to items thinking we might need them later, leading to spaces packed with things we rarely use. This can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety. It’s time to break free from the clutter!

Spend a weekend clearing the clutter and putting items into storage. Here's a simple method:

• Start small: Don’t try to declutter your entire home as you will be overwhelmed and give up. Start small with a drawer or a cupboard and go from there.
• Things will get better: When you start decluttering and organising things can often look much worse before they get better. It will improve!
• Commit time: Commit some time to the process and put it in your diary that way you are more likely to make a start.
• Timed challenges: Set your timer and give yourself 10 minutes to declutter a shelf or drawer. You’ll be amazed at how much you can achieve.
• Don’t buy storage ‘solutions’: Don’t buy storage boxes until you’ve finished decluttering as you will undoubtedly need fewer than you think.
• Categorise: Sort like with like e.g. sort all your coats in one session, and all your shoes in another.
• Three pile system: When sorting, make three piles: 1) throw away, 2) recycle or give away and 3) keep. This will speed the process.
  

“Using self-storage to make space in your home can lead to a range of positive outcomes. I've had dozens of clients message a few months after simply to say how much better they feel in the everyday.”

• Better focus: Clutter makes it hard to find what you need and is distracting.
• Higher self-esteem: Creating space can improve feelings of competency and self-worth.
• Better relationships: Lack of space can create conflict: making space takes the heat out of the situation.
• Spending time with friends: You are more likely to invite friends over if your home is spacious and clutter-free.
• Reducing the risk of allergies: Cluttered spaces are hard to clean and sometimes dust can cause allergies.
• Healthier eating habits: You are more likely to prepare healthy meals in an uncluttered kitchen.
• Better sleep: Research shows that most people sleep better if their bedroom is an uncluttered sanctuary, not a dumping ground for household items.

An autumn clean is a natural opportunity to make our homes more manageable for longer nights and colder conditions - and it can lower the risk of illness. Dust mites, bacteria and mould all thrive when the windows are closed, and the central heating is on. Getting the home in shape could keep your health in shape.

When preparing for winter, clean your home as thoroughly as you would for a spring clean – remember, when your windows are tightly closed, and your central heating is on you will providing bugs and mites with ideal living conditions!

Make sure the seals round windows and doors are sound but don’t seal your home so tightly that there is no flow at all. The trick is to stop draughts but to ensure there is sufficient fresh air to avoid mould and damp being a problem.

Clear as much as you can from the floor; a clear floor instantly makes your home feel more spacious. It is also easier to keep clean so there will be fewer areas where mites and moths can hide and breed.

• Cull regularly: Routinely check magazine and post racks for out-of-date items.
• Look under the sink: Throw out old cleaning products. Keep the cleaning products you use in a bucket, so they are easy to grab when you need them.
• Sell-by dates: Check sell-by dates and dispose of out-of-date food and medicines.
• Surfaces: Decluttering surfaces, especially coffee and side tables, is a quick win.
• Unwanted gift: Don’t feel obliged to keep unwanted gifts – pass them on or donate to charity.
• Visual clutter: Too many fridge magnets can look very untidy!
• Visual clutter – and a trip hazard: put a basket by the front door for shoes
• Categories: Keep related items together so everything is organised by category
• Shopping: Buy less, share 241 deals with a friend
• Bathrooms: Make instant impact by reducing the clutter around the hand basin.
• Trailing wires: Use cable tidies.
• Categorise: Store like with like and use drawer dividers to maximise space.

DOWNLOAD ARE FREE DECLUTTERING CHECKLIST

Decluttering is more than just cleaning up; it’s about creating a space that brings you joy and peace. At HOLD Storage, we’re here to help you make space for what matters most. As Liz Aitken beautifully puts it, “In a city as vibrant as London, finding calm amidst the chaos starts at home.”

Ready to start your decluttering journey? Contact HOLD Storage today and let us help you find your zen.