We all aspire to have a tidy, serene home. But in between cooking dinner, running the kids to school, and just taking a minute for yourself - finding time to tidy can feel tricky.
You might find post piling up on the coffee table - or dog toys left haphazardly on the floor - is creating a cluttered living room space. Or maybe all those stray pieces of paper with little ones’ artwork is causing chaos on your sideboards.
Well, life is often messy by nature - and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with keeping hold of sentimental items. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the serene, calm home vibes you’re dreaming of. It’s simply about implementing those little organisation hacks that help keep your home clutter-free, and your mind tidy and happy.
We spoke to psychologist Marianne Trent, who puts it best as, ‘Stepping through the front door should feel like shedding the day’s stress along with your keys and shoes.’
So, to help give you that deep breath and ‘ahh’ moment as soon as you open the door, we’ve pulled together a quiz with organisational expert Sue Spencer to help you find your tidying persona. Each persona comes with top tips you can follow to help bring order and relaxation to your home with ease, no matter what you struggle with.
Unlock the secrets to a tidy home and a tidy mind - take our multifunctional mindfulness quiz below!
People with this persona often struggle to let go of items they no longer need, which makes bedrooms and lofts a particular challenge. As a result, cupboards become filled with unused belongings, making it hard to find space for the things you use regularly.
When organising, it’s important to start with easier items to help build confidence in decision-making. Gradually, you can create a defined space for the things that are truly important and well-used — because while many items may hold sentimental value, if everything is important, then nothing really is. A tip particularly important for items of sentimental value - avoid storing valuable items in the loft, shed or garage, as they’re often not easily accessible and can expose them to the elements. Instead, consider investing in quality bedroom storage solutions.
People with this persona often keep hold of items 'just in case', which can lead to lots of excess clutter - especially in areas such as the kitchen, study and wardrobe.
To ease your fear of letting go, ask yourself when you last used specific items; whether they can be easily or cheaply borrowed or replaced; and what you would most likely use instead in various situations. This approach helps you foster a mindset of practicality and flexibility when decluttering, and will likely make letting go of items you don’t need much easier.
People with this persona struggle to find time to prioritise their home and its functionality, which means living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms can often become cluttered.
To make it easier, try breaking the decluttering tasks into defined, 20-minute chunks. This approach can help you get started, and allows you to tackle each task one at a time. That way, you can visually see your progress as you tick off each decluttering task.
For day-to-day life, you need simple, flexible organising solutions, with dedicated spots for things to be put away - to make it easy to quickly tidy up when needed.
No matter what kind of tidying persona you have, great storage in your home can help you live a more clutter-free life. Here are some helpful storage solutions to try:
Now you know how easy it can be to keep your home and mind tidy, why not explore how simple it is to bring a bit of style to your space as well? Whether you like the sleek look of a modern motif or the warmth of a cosy cottage core, you can discover top style tips on our inspiration page.