I’m a decluttering expert – your house is cluttered for one reason

If you are wondering why your house is always cluttered, there’s a simple method you can use to sort through your things properly.

Having a family, working full-time or both can mean your house quickly accumulates lots of items and with there simply not being enough hours in the day, it can be hard to get around it all.

Expert Katie Mortram said the method of decluttering you use is what really makes the difference for keeping your possessions organised.

She said: “Decluttering is a rewarding, but often daunting task, as it’s likely to cause a bit of a mess in the process. But, by removing items we no longer need and organising what’s left, decluttering can give us a fresh outlook on our homes and leave us feeling calmer and happier.”

One of the easiest and most productive decluttering methods is the ‘four-box’ method. This is when you get four boxes, one for each of the following: keep, throw away, donate, sell.

If you’re decluttering a small space or you’re just starting out with sorting out your things, this is an easy way to begin.

The method is simple and you can add other boxes if you feel there are more options you need such as ‘rehome’ or ‘undecided’ – as long as you have the intention of deciding where an item will live, instead of leaving it in the box.

Once you’ve got your boxes, go through each room, cupboard-by-cupboard, or start in area and work your way around. You’ll be able to see how much progress you are making by seeing how full the boxes get.

After you’ve taken all of the possessions out of one cupboard or area, give the space a deep clean before putting the things back.

If this method isn’t for you, there’s lots of other ways you can sort through your rooms. Marie Kondo’s cult book, ‘The life-changing magic of tidying up’, is seen as one of the most influential books in decluttering.

In terms of decluttering, the ‘KonMarie’ method invites you to get rid of anything which doesn’t ‘spark joy’. This famous method is so successful that it even featured in a Netflix documentary.

You should sort through your possessions in the following order: clothes, books, paper, komono (miscellaneous items) and sentimental items.

This more sentimental method of decluttering will leave you with a newfound feeling of gratitude for the items you decide to keep.