It’s time. You’ve decided to declutter. Your house (and, by extension, your life) needs to be simpler. Well done. The decision alone is an achievement. Now you have to follow it up with action. And that’s exactly what our Top Tip Sheet is for.

The first thing is to have a plan. It will help you stay focused and keep you on track.

Before you start decluttering, decide these things and write them down: what you want to achieve; when you will do it (the time frame); where you want to start (which rooms are your first priority); how you will go about it (a list of the steps you’ll take); and who will be involved (will you work better alone or with others?)

A process to get clutter-free

• Set a timer. If it seems like a huge job and you have trouble staying focused, set a timer for 30 minutes. Then take a break and look at what you’ve accomplished. Not only does it prevent you getting exhausted and giving up, it’s also a great way to stay motivated. Then set your timer again, and carry on

• Start small. Begin with a set of drawers or one shelf. Then move on to another. Like timed efforts, this is another ‘chunking’ method to encourage and highlight your progress

• Declutter one room at a time. It will look worse before it gets better, so focus all your efforts on that space and don’t start on another room until it’s done. Trying to spread tasks around the whole house in one go is overwhelming and messy. Besides, you need a ‘non-busy’ room to retreat to when you take a break

• Be organised. Use the 3-D method. Label three boxes (or bags) as ‘Definitely keep’, ‘Donate or sell’ and ‘Dump them’. As you go through items, sort them into the appropriate box

• Be honest. You should be able to justify ‘Definitely keep’ items. Ask yourself whether you genuinely need or use them? (Be particularly ruthless about duplicate items. How many toasters do you really need?) If the answer is yes, keep them

• If the answer is no, the next questions are: Are they particularly valuable? Sell them. Useful to others? Donate them. Neither? Dump them

• There might be a fourth ‘D’ ­– ‘Don’t really know’. Don’t box these items. Leave them in the room to annoy you and don’t leave the room until you’ve made a decision.

Hint: these things are almost always clutter. For example, if you have clothes you haven't worn in the last year, you probably know what to do

• The hard questions: Do these items bring you joy? Do they have sentimental attachment? Will a photo of them have the same effect? Only you can answer that

• Once you've finished in each room, immediately put the ‘Donate or sell’ and ‘Dump them’ boxes outside

• Replace and reorganise the items you will keep. Our Solutions to stay clutter-free will help you with that.

Important reminder: Don't buy more storage. Resist the urge to buy storage containers until you've decluttered. If you’ve done a brilliant job of decluttering, you might not need any more.

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Solutions to stay clutter-free

Create a system

• Establish a routine for keeping your home organized. Allocate a set amount of time to tidy up every day; make it the same time each day, so it becomes a habit. Designate a specific day for clean each room – maybe Wednesday for wet areas, Friday for the family room...
• The system should also involve delegating to other family members. Crucial!

Sort and label

• When storing, group similar items together
• To help you find things quickly and easily, use labels to help you identify the contents of containers and shelves. It’s a perfect method for the pantry and will avoid the duplicate buying and the ‘Is that chilli or paprika?’ dilemma
• You’ll be forgiven one ‘random junk drawer’ in the kitchen; everybody has one. For the rest, drawer dividers will keep you organised
• Separate off-season clothing from what you’re wearing this season and store it high on closet shelves to give your hanging space the uncluttered, ‘easy to access’ feel you’re looking for.

Use storage containers

• Organize items into containers with lids. If they aren’t on view, clear containers are great for seeing what's inside. They are worth the investment
• Colourful, stackable bins to store toys will help kids to develop good habits and make your job easier
• Repeat reminder: don’t buy any storage until your decluttering process is finished. Nothing from the ‘Don’t really know’ pile should still be in your house.

Keep surfaces clear of clutter

• To create a more peaceful and relaxing environment, make sure what’s on kitchen benches, tables and other surfaces is there for a good reason: either because it’s used regularly and needs to be accessible or because it’s a décor statement
• Grouping is a stylish way to display a few treasured items; more than three starts to look cluttered
• Use decorative trays to highlight and define a small collection; they suggest ‘deliberately chosen’ items, rather than accidental clutter.

Transform unused space

• Walls of shelving free up floor space and are great for storage but the rules of no clutter still apply
• Decorative boxes on shelves are perfect for holding miscellaneous (but necessary) items. Because they’re visible, make sure they match and complement your décor
• If you hang items on wall hooks, choose less prominent spots and take the ‘less is definitely best’ approach.

How digital can you go?

• Documents, letters, photos, kids’ drawings and any paper-related memorabilia only gather dust and add to the clutter. Scan and save them digitally. Make it a new habit
• You’ll even feel better about selling or throwing away sentimental (but essentially unwanted) items if you preserve their memory in an image.

Be determined

• Maintain your new clutter-free life fiercely
• Re-evaluate regularly to see where you can make even more changes
• Most importantly, don’t slip back into old habits and see your efforts wasted.

Reward Yourself

Think ahead to how you’ll feel when you’ve finished. You’ve done an amazing job. Decluttering has taken a huge weight off your mind (and off those groaning shelves). You definitely deserve a reward.

What about a new bookcase or shelf unit? Now the clutter’s gone, your old ones might be looking really tired. Check our stunning range.

For the most stylish coffee table imaginable, an exquisite bone ivory trinket box is a treasure that will hold your other treasures. And one of our beautiful selection of trays will transform any tabletop into a sleek display of precious decorative items.

And, for a real treat, give your newly decluttered room a focus and a talking point. Zohi Interiors has a collection of cabinets and sideboards to complement any décor.

One thing is sure. When the job’s done, you’ll be so glad you took the time. Start now. Follow the tips.

Ready... Set... Declutter!