What home organiser personality are you?
As we stay at home more than ever before, we have more time to invest in organising our home and creating functional and comfortable spaces.
With Marie Kondo and The Home Edit sparking a generation of interior and organisation obsessives, the trend of tidying up has become a mainstay in popular culture.
This obsession has naturally been reflected in sales, even more so during lockdown. Homewares brand Brabantia saw a surge in traffic in 2020, with more and more people focused on sprucing up their home and creating spaces that work for them. Specifically, they saw an increase in demand for products such as rotary dryers to do laundry at home, and bins to manage recycling and waste.
In response to the decluttering trend, Brabantia and professional organiser, Vicky Silverthorn, have identified five personality types when it comes to tidying the home – which one are you?
1. The Practical
Tidying up is a breeze for you – within 10 minutes the house is looking spotless without what looks like any effort.
2. The Show Home
Your home is clean and shiny at all times, and the pride in your immaculate space is clear.
3. The Try Hard
You really want to be tidy; the intention is there, but there's always too much 'stuff' that you're buying!
4. The Natural
You don’t live with much stuff, so organising your belongings is easy. Everybody always compliments how tidy your home is.
5. The Throw Away
How your house looks depends on the day. You like to shop, but equally like to have a mass clear out every few months, but it always fills back up.
If you need some tips on how to declutter your space for 2021, Vicky advises:
START WITH THE KITCHEN
Especially after Christmas, your kitchen often needs a good clear out, and the new year is the perfect time to start. 'Clear your food cupboards, give to the food bank and get the food looking like a shop shelf so you can see exactly what you have,' says Vicky.
CHIP AWAY TO MAKE SPACE FOR NEW GIFTS
With new toys and gifts, it's easy to just squeeze things into spaces but Vicky advises you sort what you have cupboard by cupboard, room by room – that way you can achieve a good clear out. 'Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to do it all in one go,' she advises.
CHARITY SHOP BOX
Place a box or bag in your hallway (or hang on door handles) so when you spot something you don't want, or try something on you no longer want, you have somewhere to put it before it heads to the charity shop. Vicky adds: 'Not having this often means we put things back and think "I’ll do it later" and it often never happens.'
THROW THE RULEBOOK OUT THE WINDOW
To help make the decluttering process more easy, Vicky explains: 'Ignore any unnecessary rules such as have I worn it in the last year (you may not have seen it in the last year!) and ask yourself the most powerful question of all (if you are decluttering to give yourself more space) "Can I live without this?". After the last year, what's important and what is not will be clearer than ever.'
THINK CONSCIOUSLY
Sustainability is a valuable reason to be more conscious of what you are buying. 'The throwaway culture we have lived in needs to come to an end and placing appreciation on long lasting good quality items needs more focus and attention,' Vicky comments. 'Think about how you shop before you go spending. More guilt free shopping is the way forward.'
DECLUTTER FIRST, STORAGE SECOND
Importantly, declutter before buying storage! 'You need to declutter before you buy storage which is too big and not actually needed,' says Vicky. 'Often once you’ve got rid of things you no longer want you’ll find your storage problem isn’t as bad as you first thought.
'Over complicated designs – they just aren’t needed when it comes to any storage. Gimmicks are often short lived, and simple shelving, drawers and hooks are the way forward. Declutter, clear, see what you actually need storage wise and then buy what you need, in that order! Don’t go out and buy storage without a plan to use it somewhere.'
Key takeaway: know what you’re buying, why and where it’s going to live.
BE PRACTICAL
Get rid of what isn’t working for you and replace it with practical equipment. 'This could be anything from a bin that is too small or a clothes dryer that annoys you every time you try and put it up. The right equipment will make life easier and reduce stress,' explains Vicky.
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