So 1st February has arrived at last! Was it just me or did January feel like it was about 212 days long this year? Spring is officially here and I can see the stretch in the evenings little by little. If you’re like me the arrival of Spring and the promise of warmer and brighter days to come always gives me a boost of energy.

I always try to channel this energy into doing something productive around the house. Often this means giving the whole house a deep clean and declutter. I’m never in the mood for organising stuff in winter especially after the festive period and facing into January. I prefer to hibernate for a while!

So now that Spring has arrived it’s time to get my butt into gear and get organised. Here’s some of my simple tips to decluttering that I hope you find useful;

1. Concentrate on 1 room at a time to avoid getting overwhelmed. Bring a basket or container with you into the room to put in anything that doesn’t belong there. This will help to prevent you from leaving the room to put items in their correct place and getting distracted by something else! We have all been in the situation of starting to clean or reorganise a room, putting everything in a big pile and then wishing we never started! If you take it in small steps you will get the job completed without losing your sanity.
2. When it comes to reorganising your wardrobe, divide your clothes into a keep pile and a charity pile. You’ve got to be brutally honest with yourself here. If you haven’t worn it in 6 months and definitely if it doesn’t fit anymore, then it’s time to get rid. Folding clothes neatly and using drawer dividers will ensure everything you keep stays organised and tidy.
3. Do the same with your shoes. Any shoes that give you blisters or are uncomfortable need to go. Same goes for the high heels that you can’t actually walk in without hanging onto someone’s arm. No matter how pretty they look, if you can’t wear them, they are just taking up valuable space in your wardrobe!
4. Baskets are your friend when it comes to keeping your home orgainised. They are available in so many styles, sizes, shapes and colours these days, that they can look great in any room. If you have a console table in your hallway then baskets are a great idea to put underneath. You can store shoes, umbrellas, hats, scarves etc. that are regularly needed. This will help keep your hall clutter-free. Baskets also look great in bathrooms to store cosmetics and body products that clog up shelves. Use them in kids bedrooms or playrooms to contain arts ‘n craft supplies/toy figurines etc.
5. While you are giving your home the once over, have a look at what furniture and items you have that you don’t love anymore. Could they be repainted or repurposed in some way to give them a new lease of life? There’s no point getting rid of something just because it’s old, if it still works well. It’s amazing what a lick of paint or even some new knobs/handles can do to transform items of furniture. Accessories like photo frames can also easily be painted for a new look!
6. If you’re the parent of small children go through your kid’s toys and get rid of any broken ones/toys with missing parts. Storage units from IKEA or Jysk are perfect for keeping toys at a level that kids can reach easily. This means that you might get to enjoy your coffee while it’s hot without having to constantly go and fetch whatever they want to play with! Clear plastic containers with lids are great for storing lego, arts ‘n craft bits etc. They also let you see quickly what you have stored where. These are available in any discount store.
7. When thinking about Spring cleaning don’t forget your garage. There’s lots of potential here for extra storage by fixing brackets/hooks to the walls to hang up scooters/bikes. This will free up floor space and make it appear more organised.

So there you have it….my guide to decluttering your home for Spring. I hope you find some inspiration here and enjoy the satisfaction of getting organised.