Fresh from presenting at IKEA UK’s Ideas Festival, Amanda Manson, from Orderly Office and Home, has kindly agreed to do a guest blog for Patch on how to organise your home this Easter. I’m hoping it’ll inspire you to get de-cluttering, and don’t forget to send any clothes with precious memories my way for a creative make-over!  So over to Amanda:

With the Easter break upon us and a forecast that leaves a lot to be desired, what better way to spend extended time away from work than by getting your living space sorted?!

Rachel asked me to share some tips to help you get started with your home organising; whether that’s dealing with your overflowing kitchen cupboards, or wardrobes stuffed with clothes that no longer fit.
So here you go:
1. Focus on your goal.

Are you looking to achieve a completely clear room, or are you happy just knowing that you’ll be able to put your hands on something quickly when you need it? Keeping that goal in the front of your mind will keep you focused on the task in hand and be your motivator to see it through to the end.

2. Where to start?

Kitchen…bedroom…playroom…wardrobes…whole house? Tackle the spot that will either give you the biggest impact after your efforts, or the one that has been nagging away at you for the longest time! As they say ‘Success breeds success’.

3. Choose your time.

Don’t make a start a couple of hours before friends are due over, as it’s likely you’ll be right in the middle of making a mess when they ring your doorbell!  Set aside time when you know you will have any help you need, when you can get stuck in, and when you know can take out any unwanted items from your house at the end of your sorting session – otherwise they’ll slowly creep back in!

4. Gather your essentials.

That’s charity bags, bin bags, boxes, labels and pens.  Decide which items should go and put them in the right container there and then.  Just creating piles of ‘this goes here’ and ‘that goes there’ won’t work and things will get mixed up.
5. Decisions, decisions.

When deciding whether you should keep an item, ask yourself “do I need it, do I use it, do I love it?” and if your answer is “no”, then it’s time to let go. Now this is where it can be hard, so remind yourself of your goal.
I’m sure that by tackling even just one drawer or a cupboard, you’ll feel much more positive about your living space!  For inspiration on how to store the items you decide to keep, then have a look at my recent blog about my collaboration with IKEA, or drop over to my website  to see how I could help you get started.

Guest blog written by Amanda Manson, Orderly Office and Home.