Angel Strawbridge on her one failsafe decluttering tip
If there's one person who knows how to declutter large, overwhelming spaces it's Angel Strawbridge.
Since Escape to the Chateau first aired in 2016, Angel and husband Dick have fearlessly restored all 45 rooms in their once-dilapidated French home, Château de la Motte-Husson. While most DIY tasks have been ticked off (including the folly and overgrown bamboo garden), Angel has one job left to tackle: the annual declutter.
'We always hibernate over winter and then dedicate a few months to decluttering, organising, and cleaning. It's a big house, so this always happens annually as we prepare for our events, such as weddings,' the author and founder of The Vintage Patisserie tells Country Living.
From living room cabinets to kitchen countertops, conquering clutter at home is no easy feat (for one, it can be hard knowing where to begin).
Living in a home with 45 rooms, a moat, 12 acres of grounds, and multiple outbuildings has certainly given Angel plenty of practice in decluttering — and there's one fail-safe tip she lives by.
'I always take everything out of the room where I am decluttering. Literally everything and then give it a good scrub. Sometimes it's a huge room, like our barn, and other times it's just a cupboard,' she says. This technique, used by KonMari Consultants, is thought to help people make conscious decisions about what to keep, donate, or throw.
'We decluttered the kids' playroom last Christmas and it's the only way I can do it,' adds Angel. 'We take everything out, go through everything slowly, and then tidy up. I ask the family: Are you going to miss it? Do we need to donate this toy? We have piles and piles of things, but it works.
'The stuff you use regularly automatically goes back into those cupboards and drawers. You then end up with a load of things you don't need, which makes the decluttering process much easier.'
Angel's craft room, The Tresoire, is a treasure trove filled with vintage finds situated at the very top of the chateau. It's where Angel indulges in craft projects and houses some of her most treasured possessions – and storage is key.
'Storage boxes don't have to be ugly anymore; they can be part of a room without you even knowing about it. Being organised makes me feel happier. I like to know where things are, especially in a big chateau like this,' continues Angel.
'I like things to look really nice. When I was a child, all that was available were ugly plastic boxes, but these days you can get some beautiful bamboo storage trays and boxes. Dorothy loves organising at the moment too. She keeps all her makeup in lovely brown wooden boxes.'
Dick and Angel will be going on a UK tour in autumn 2024. For more information about tickets and dates, visit thechateau.tv/pages/tour.
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