The Art of Decluttering

You know that feeling of wanting to declutter but not knowing where to start — or feeling too tired to tackle everything at once? You’re invited to take a gentler, more realistic approach by focusing on categories that often overflow in most homes.Some categories will earn you a gold star — no excess there. Others might feel uncomfortably accurate. That’s okay. You don’t need to fix everything. You just need one place to begin.Go through common problem categories seen again and again in real homes: books you’ll never reread, renovation or gardening clothes that have multiplied, craft supplies from hobbies that had their season, and baking trays that seem to breed in cupboards. You’re also prompted to rethink old phones, excess blankets, paperwork, toys, reusable shopping bags, and stationery that no longer fits how you live now.You’re reminded that loving something doesn’t require keeping all of it. You can love reading without owning shelves of books. You can be creative without storing supplies for ten different crafts. You can be prepared without holding onto every “just in case.”If you’re overwhelmed, unwell, or in survival mode, you’re reassured that rest comes first. Your home has waited this long — it can wait a little longer. But if you’re ready to do something, choosing one contained category can restore momentum, clarity, and confidence.Join my Paperwork Course if you're wanting to get started sorting through and organising your paperwork in 2026You may also like to listen to these episodes:5 Home TruthsOpportunity Cost/ Cost Benefit AnalysisJoin my communityLeave a 5 Star Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio

You want to declutter, but you’re standing in the middle of your home thinking, Where on earth do I begin? You’re not alone. Even when it’s obvious a space needs attention, knowing where to start can feel surprisingly overwhelming.Instead of searching for the perfect starting point, focus on momentum. Decluttering doesn’t begin with emptying an entire room, buying containers, or consuming endless inspiration. It begins with one small, doable action.Explore three simple ways to start without overthinking. First, you learn how powerful it can be to grab just one bag and fill it — either with rubbish or donations. One bag creates a clear finish line and instant momentum. You also learn why organising won’t solve clutter if the quantity stays the same, and how reducing what you own is always the first step.Next, you’re encouraged to choose a single, low-emotion category to declutter. Not a whole room — just one contained category like towels, DVDs, clothes that no longer fit, or reusable shopping bags (yes, you probably have too many). Smaller categories mean faster wins and less decision fatigue.Finally, learn how to start with a habit instead of a project. By placing a donation bag somewhere visible and committing to one item per day, decluttering becomes part of everyday life rather than another overwhelming task.Remember that regret is rarely about letting go — it’s usually about waiting too long. Progress matters more than perfection, and freedom comes from simply starting.Join my free 5 Day Wardrobe Challenge if you're wanting to get startedYou may also like to listen to these episodes:5 Home TruthsConfirmation BiasJoin my communityLeave a 5 Star Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio

When you hear the word support, it’s easy to picture reliance — someone stepping in and doing things for you. But in decluttering, good support does the opposite. It builds independence.You’re invited to rethink what independence actually means: it’s not about doing everything alone. It’s about knowing how to decide, knowing where things belong, and knowing how to reset a space when life inevitably gets messy again. Decluttering isn’t a personality trait or something you’re born with — it’s a set of skills you can learn.Getting support doesn’t mean you can’t do it yourself. Often, it means you’re choosing to learn faster, with guidance that suits your brain, your home, and the season of life you’re in. Just like working with a Pilates instructor, the right support helps you make progress without having to figure out every step on your own.You’ll explore why trust plays such a critical role in building independence. Sometimes progress happens quickly, and other times it takes time, repetition, and reassurance. Real-life stories show how trust leads to engagement, skill-building, and growing confidence — whether you’re working with a client, a child, a partner, or yourself.You’ll also reflect on what can unintentionally undermine independence, including rushing, taking over, or creating “perfect” spaces without teaching how to maintain them.If you don’t feel independent yet, this is your reminder: nothing is wrong with you. You’re still learning. With the right support, independence is absolutely possible — and it grows one skill at a time.You may also like to listen to these episodes:Hidden EmotionsSpoon TheoryJoin my communityLeave a 5 Star Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio

In this episode you’re invited to rethink what it really means to have an organised home by exploring the difference between being neat and being tidy. While neatness is about how your home looks on the surface, tidiness is about how it works underneath.You can have a home that looks neat but still feels stressful if things don’t have a clear place to belong. When everything has a designated home, it becomes easier to reset your space without relying on quick fixes or constant effort. Tidiness creates structure, and from that structure, neatness naturally follows.This episode encourages you to let go of perfection and focus instead on systems that support everyday life. When your home is set up to work for you, maintaining it feels lighter, more manageable, and far less overwhelming.You may also like to listen to these episodes:Bigger Living, Smaller SpaceObject PermanenceJoin my communityLeave a 5 Star Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio

Fresh Start: What Are You Ready to Let Go of in 2026?A fresh start isn’t about pressure, resolutions, or reinventing yourself overnight. It’s about intention. As a new year begins, this episode invites you to pause and reflect on what you’re ready to release — not just from your home, but from your life.Decluttering is often framed as getting rid of things, but at its heart, it’s about recognising changing seasons. The person you were five or ten years ago may not be who you are now, and your home should reflect the life you’re actually living. When it doesn’t, clutter can quietly build — not because you’ve failed, but because your environment hasn’t caught up with your growth.This episode explores the many forms clutter can take. It might be physical items like clothes that no longer fit your body or lifestyle, hobby supplies for interests you’ve outgrown, or furniture and décor that no longer feels like you. It might also be unfinished projects, side hustles that once made sense but no longer serve you, or belongings tied to expectations you’ve since released.There’s also space to acknowledge emotional clutter. Items connected to grief, change, or past versions of yourself can be especially hard to navigate. Letting go doesn’t erase meaning or memories — it simply allows you to choose what you carry forward with intention.As you look ahead to 2026, consider asking: What kind of life am I creating, and what kind of home will support that? You don’t need to declutter everything at once. One thoughtful decision can create momentum. One cleared space can bring relief.A fresh start is built slowly, gently, and with freedom in mind. When your home reflects who you are becoming, it becomes a place that supports you — not one that holds you back.You may also like to listen to these episodes:Because. Really. AndQuitters DayJoin my communityLeave a 5 Star Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio

This week we’re diving into Week Three of our “What’s Your Problem?” series — and I can’t tell you how important this one is. If you’ve worked through your quantity issues (too much stuff) and your systems issues (no real organisation), then your next hurdle isn’t about things or storage at all. It’s about you. It’s about habits.Once the clutter is gone and the systems are in place, the problem shifts from your stuff… to your behaviour. And that’s good news, because habits are changeable with the right tools and a little intention.One of our core sayings at The Art of Decluttering is: “Don’t put it down. Put it away.”It’s simple. It’s powerful. It cuts straight through the temptation to procrastinate — because procrastination is sneaky. It convinces you that “later” is harmless, when in reality “later” is the thing making your home feel harder than it needs to.Take the jacket example. You walk in the door. You’re tired. You drop your jacket on the bed instead of hanging it up. No big deal, right? But then you walk past it three more times. Your partner dumps their jacket next to yours. Suddenly the job feels bigger and you’re annoyed at yourself. And all of this drama could have been avoided if you’d taken the 10 seconds to hang it up straight away.This is where phrases like “just do it now” or “might as well” become game-changers. They short-circuit the internal debate and remove the option to procrastinate. If you’re going to have to do it eventually, you might as well do it now.Sometimes, though, you’ll notice that a system you created isn’t working because you’re not using it. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed — it simply means you might need to refine it. If your keys always end up on the bench instead of in the bowl by the door… maybe the bench needs to be the home. The best system is the one you’ll actually use.Habits aren’t glamorous. They don’t give you the buzz that decluttering or organising does. But they are the quiet, consistent force that keeps your home functioning smoothly. And more importantly — habits bring freedom. Freedom to enjoy your space, your people, your time, and your life.You may also like to listen to these episodes:What's Your Problem?... QuantityWhat's Your Problem?... SystemsClose the LoopRejecting BusyThree Times a DayJoin my communityLeave a 5 Star Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio

This week we’re diving into one of my favourite topics: systems.If quantity is the outer layer of the onion, systems are the next layer in. Maybe you’ve decluttered and reduced your possessions, but something still isn’t working. You look around and think, I’ve kept the right things… so why does my home still feel hard?That’s a classic systems problem.A systems problem shows up when items don’t have clear homes, when tidying feels complicated, or when things you genuinely need end up in piles on every flat surface. It’s not about too much stuff anymore — it’s about giving what you do have a simple, logical place to live.The good news? Systems problems are fun to solve.This is where organising comes in — not the Pinterest-perfect, colour-coded kind (unless that brings you joy), but the functional, sustainable kind that’s easy for your whole household to follow. When a system works, tidying stops feeling like a battle and starts feeling like… well, life just flowing.I always come back to three organising foundations:1. Like with like. Keep similar items together. It saves you time, brainpower, and frustration. No more chargers in eight different rooms.2. Set limits. Containers — drawers, baskets, shelves — help you define “how much is enough.” Limits create boundaries that keep systems working over time.3. A home for everything. If you can answer “Where does this belong?” you’ve solved 80% of your systems problem.Once these are in place, your home becomes easier to use, easier to tidy, and easier to enjoy.So if you’ve decluttered and you’re still feeling stuck, you’re likely in the systems stage. And that’s a beautiful place to be — because from here, everything starts to click.Next week, we’ll talk about maintenance and how habits keep your space working long-term.You may also like to listen to these episodes:What's Your Problem?... QuantityWhat's Your Problem?... SystemsWhat's Your Problem?... HabitsOut or AwayLocation Location LocationLogical OrganisingJoin my communityLeave a 5 Star Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio

If you’ve ever looked around your home and felt that something just isn’t working, you’re not alone. So many people tell me they’re frustrated with their space, but they can’t quite put their finger on why. And when you don’t know what the real problem is, it’s almost impossible to find a solution that actually sticks.That’s exactly why I’ve created a simple, three-part framework I call What’s Your Problem? It’s designed to help you diagnose what’s going on beneath the surface so you can finally move forward with confidence, clarity, and a whole lot more breathing space.Over years of working with clients, I’ve noticed that clutter almost always comes back to one of these:1. A Quantity Problem – there’s simply too much stuff.2. A Systems Problem – things don’t have clear homes or logical flow.3. A Habits Problem – the daily rhythms that keep things running just aren’t in place yet.Most of the time, the first layer we need to peel back is quantity. And I want to encourage you gently here: if you’re not sure what your problem is, start by assuming it’s this one. It usually is.A quantity problem doesn’t mean you’ve “failed” or that your home is too small or too messy. It simply means you have more items than your space, your routines, or your season of life can comfortably hold.Maybe your kids’ toys spill across the floor every day and the room never feels tidy, no matter how much you organise. Maybe your wardrobe feels overwhelming or your kitchen benches never seem clear. Those are classic signs of too much inventory — not a lack of containers, not “lazy kids,” and not poor habits.And the Solution? Decluttering — Gently and IntentionallyWhen you reduce quantity, everything else becomes easier. You don’t need to declutter your entire house in one go. Just start with the space that’s bothering you most and ask:What’s rubbish? What can I donate? What can leave my home and lighten my load?You don’t have to get it perfect. You don’t even have to finish it. Every little bit of reduction creates more calm, more space, and more breathing room for your life to happen.But for now, start here: If your home feels overwhelming, it’s very likely a quantity problem. And the good news? Quantity problems are absolutely solvable.Next week, we’ll move into systems — the part where everything starts to click into place.You may also like to listen to these episodes:What's Your Problem?... SystemsWhat's Your Problem?... HabitsEnoughLetting GoFOTO: Fear of Throwing OutJoin our community Leave a Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook group

Sisters and Cousins: A Simple Way to Know Where Everything BelongsOne of the biggest challenges in organising isn’t the sorting or the tidying — it’s that moment when you’re holding something in your hand thinking, “But where should this actually live?”If you’ve ever felt that, you’re not alone. And I want to share a little framework I use that might make things instantly clearer for you: I call it Sisters and Cousins.Sisters: Same-Same ItemsWhen I say “sisters,” I’m talking about items that are exactly the same. Think about all your teaspoons, or all your bed sheets, or all your scissors. These are sisters — the same family, the same purpose. Sisters belong together, usually in the same drawer, the same shelf, or the same container.And here’s the beautiful part: you already do this without thinking. When you bring home a new teaspoon, you don’t wander around wondering where it should live. You automatically place it with its sisters. The system already works for you — you just may not have had language for it before.Cousins: Same-Same, But DifferentCousins are items that aren’t identical, but they make sense together in real life. Scissors and sticky tape. Light bulbs and batteries. Towels and sheets. These aren’t sisters… but they definitely belong in the same neighbourhood because your brain naturally looks for them together.When you think in cousins, you make your home work for you. If you use sticky tape and scissors together all the time, keeping them side-by-side isn’t just logical — it saves you time and reduces frustration.Your Use Determines the Cousin GroupThis is the part I love most: cousins can change depending on your lifestyle. A camping chair might belong with camping gear… unless you use it weekly at kids’ sport, or for beach days, or for picnics. The best home for something is the place where you look first — not where the item “should” go.Try Asking Yourself Two QuestionsNext time you’re stuck deciding where something lives, pause for just a moment and ask:Where are its sisters?Where are its cousins?You might be surprised how quickly the answer comes. And with that clarity, your home becomes easier to maintain, easier to navigate, and ultimately… so much more freeing.Join our community Leave a Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio.