I’ve always been a minimalist at heart. Clutter, ornaments, and random “stuff” around the home have never appealed to me. The pieces we do have serve a clear purpose or genuinely elevate our living space.
Our home doesn’t feel empty – it’s warm, cosy, and homely; but it’s free from the unnecessary bits that take up space and make everything feel chaotic. I’m a firm believer that clutter costs more than just the physical space it occupies. It also costs time and energy. Every single thing you own has to be maintained, kept in working order, and cleaned. When you think about the hours you can spend just keeping a few “extra” items looking nice, it’s honestly bonkers.
Our house is modest. It’s not huge, but it’s absolutely enough for us. (Though I would love to give the girls their own rooms someday.) We don’t have hordes of “things” which has helped keep our main living spaces inviting and relaxing to be in.
We do have one small room that occasionally becomes a bit of a dumping ground for clothes, but for the most part, the space stays clear. We also have a converted garage, which we call The Den. In there, we’ve used IKEA’s Kallax units to store seasonal items, books, and toys in a way that keeps everything organised.
Right now, we’re slowly selling things the girls have outgrown – toys on eBay, clothes on Vinted. I’ve got more listed on eBay at the moment, but I’m planning to add more to Vinted soon. We’re also donating a lot of items to our local charity shops as well.
For me, keeping our “inventory” low means less stress, fewer things to clean, and no lingering sense of responsibility for objects we don’t need anymore. Anything that’s no longer useful to us can go to a new home where it will be appreciated.
The trick is this: when you declutter, don’t replace what you’ve just gotten rid of unless you truly need it. Every decluttering session should leave you with one less item to manage – not a swap of one thing for another. That’s how you keep life simple and your home peaceful.
Even though we keep our home fairly simple, it’s far from picture-perfect. With full-time jobs, kids, and a life that’s always on the go, chaos still finds a way in and things can quickly spiral out of control.
A Simple Guide to Start Decluttering
If you want to embrace a simpler home, here’s my beginner-friendly approach:
- Start small
Pick one drawer, one cupboard, or one surface. Decluttering your whole house at once is overwhelming, but a single space is doable. - Sort into four piles
- Keep: Items you love or use regularly
- Sell: Things in good condition that you no longer need
- Donate: Useful items that someone else could benefit from
- Bin/Recycle: Broken, outdated, or unusable things
- Be ruthless
If you haven’t used it in a year, chances are you don’t need it. Let it go. - Have an exit plan
Don’t let the “sell” and “donate” piles become new clutter. List items online within 48 hours or drop them off at a charity shop that week. - Adopt the one-in, one-out rule
For every new item you bring into your home, something else has to leave. - Repeat regularly
Decluttering isn’t a one-time event, it’s a habit. Do a quick check-in every few months.
