Decluttering: Cambridge expert Elizabeth Catchpole’s top home organising tips

Founder of professional decluttering and organising service EC Home Organiser, Elizabeth Catchpole has been helping people across Cambridgeshire and Suffolk put both their rooms and lives in order since 2022. Here, she shares her top tips for making sense of your space this New Year

If your home felt cluttered before the holidays and now, with all the wonderful new gifts, you’re feeling overwhelmed by the chaos, you’re not alone. You might find yourself thinking, “My house doesn’t make sense anymore” or “I just have too much stuff!” These simple tips can help you regain control and bring sense back to your space.

1. Preparation Set aside dedicated time for decluttering — treat it like an important appointment. Add it to your diary, just as you would a coffee date or a dentist visit. Write down your goals for the process so you have a clear vision of what you want to achieve.

2. Mindset Scheduling time helps prepare your mindset for action. Knowing when and how long you’ll be working allows your brain to gear up for the task. With a set plan, you’ll feel more focused and motivated to make progress.

3. Start with Storage Spaces While the kitchen cupboards or other busy areas may be your main pain points, tackle your storage spaces first — such as lofts, garages, sheds, utility rooms, and under-stair cupboards. These are often catch-alls for unused and unwanted items. Clearing them out creates room for overflow items from your everyday spaces, making it easier to declutter the areas you use most.

4. Sort into Categories As you go through your belongings, sort them into categories like stationery, cards and wrapping paper, light bulbs, batteries, etc. Grouping similar items together will make it easier to see what you have, what you need, and what can go.

5. Find the Right Home for Items When deciding where an item should live, consider the following: What is it? How often is it used? Is it seasonal? Where do you typically use it? Who uses it? What is its size? Answering these questions will help you determine the most logical and convenient spot for each item. A well-thought-out ‘home’ for everything reduces future clutter.

6. Maintain the Order Once your home feels organized and manageable, keep it that way with regular maintenance. If a drawer or cupboard becomes messy, take a few minutes to sort it out immediately. Remove unwanted items and organize the ones you need. Making this a routine will prevent clutter from piling up and ensure your home remains a stress-free sanctuary.

By following these steps, you can restore order to your home, reduce overwhelm, and enjoy a sense of calm and control in your space. I personally always recommend listening to some good music and having a dance while you do so. Everything is easier with good music!

Read more at echomeorganiser.co.uk/blog/ Details of Elizabeth’s services can also be found on the site.