Step 1 – Sort your stuff

You know the old saying – do you own it or does it own you? Step one of our process for decluttering your life is all about sorting out what’s really important to you. After that, you can deal with what’s left.

A woman in a shirt with sleeves rolled up folding clothes and placing them in a big blue IKEA bag on the floor.

A messy room with sofa, white shelving unit, curtain, stacked books, an IKEA blue bag of stuff on the floor and window light.

What’s the big picture?

Don’t start with the stuff. Start with where it’ll go.

Draw up an overview of all your storage spaces and your storage boxes. What’s available, both indoors and out? Think about temperature, moisture and surfaces and make sure you factor this in when working out what should be stored there.

See all storage & organise

Your stuff, by species

You’ve got the storage, now for what needs storing. Do a home inventory so you know exactly what you’ve got – yes, it’s spreadsheet time (but in a fun way).

Start to categorise your household items. It can be effective to bunch similar things together, such as clothing and footwear, books and documents, or hobbies and seasonal activities.

A woman folding clothes behind a bed with a big blue IKEA bag on it and clothes hanging on a rail in the background.

A woman in a shirt with sleeves rolled up holding two transparent plastic storage boxes with toys and books inside.

Go deeper

Once you’ve got your categories, get specific. Lots of hobbies? Store each hobby separately. Lots of children’s clothes? Pack them by age group or size (this can end up being the first step towards passing them on).

Once you know what’s staying, finding homes for everything is easier. Seasonal stuff can be stored high up or out of the way. Things used daily get the most accessible and easy-to-use spots.

See small storage

Get organised

Now for the pay-off. Once everything is sorted, you need a place for it to live. This might mean investing in the right kind of storage boxes or furniture, depending on what you have to store.

Organise your stuff

A more organised you

Well done, you’re on the way to a decluttered life – with space for what’s really important to you. Want more?