Do you have one of those homes where stuff has just ‘built up’ around you? From things you thought you needed, to items that you can’t seem to part with for one reason or another? Sound familiar?… Well, you’re not alone.

Sure, it can be hard to just throw things away. And with the busy lives that most of us lead, the last thing we want to do in our free time is clear out our homes from top to bottom. But the truth is, once you are ‘living with less’, you’ll probably find more harmony in your everyday life.

1. Arm yourself with supplies

So it may seem a bit counterproductive to decide to declutter, then go and buy more things straight away. However this is about ensuring you can do it in an organised manner, instead of just moving junk from room to room, without seeing any results as you go.

Stock up on large rubbish bags, and plastic containers to help sort out what you want to do with each item. You should create ‘throw away’, ‘donate’, ‘maybe’ and ‘keep’ piles, with the emphasis more on the first two.

2. Set a thorough but steady pace

You want to make sure you go through everything, but you also don’t want to draw out the process, otherwise you might get bored of the process. So try not to dwell on everything - remember there is a ‘maybe’ box that you will revisit later to have a second-look and make a final decision.

Even if you know you are going to keep something, still put it aside in the box for those items - it is a good idea to do a top-to-toe clean at the end of your move to a more minimal life, so you can then put these things back into a refreshed environment.

3. Clothes, clothes and more clothes

Did you know that most of us actually only wear 20 per cent of the clothes we own? Which means that getting rid of what’s in your drawers is an important part of the minimalist process.

You could even go as far as creating a capsule wardrobe - a great way to ensure you get wear out of all your favourite clothes, while also taking the stress out of every morning with ‘what am I going to wear today?’  

Read more: To renovate or relocate? How to decide what to do with your property 

4. Choose your top 5, store the rest  

Once you have chosen all the things you want to keep, it is time to go through them again and pick a top 5. What do you really value in your home and what brings you the most joy?

Whether it is a painting, or a hand-me-down ornament from a grandparent, here is an opportunity to really showcase them without other clutter around that doesn’t have the same kind of importance.  

5. Live with the bare essentials

Now it’s time to live with less to get through each day. Put the rest into storage/away from easy reach (after getting rid of the rubbish, and the things you want to donate). This includes everything in your home, from kitchen utensils to shoes and decorative furnishings.

Try this for at least a couple of weeks, before you dismiss it as bothersome or simply not for you. But remember to also concentrate on the positives… do you now spend less time tidying up? Is cleaning a lot quicker because you don’t have to wipe around everything? Is it nice to return home to a house at the end of the working day with only your most special things on display?  

Have a long, hard think about this before bringing anything back out of storage.

6. Embark on a quick refresh reno 

Without everything in your home stripped down to the bare minimum, it’s a good time to tackle a few DIY tasks. Could the walls do with a nice, modern paint? Is there some broken fixtures and fittings that could do with a touch-up? Enjoy restoring the bones of your home, so you can appreciate it for years to come.

7. A new home - a new valuation?

Here’s where living with less could also have a significant monetary value (aside from saving from not buying more ‘things’). Once you have your home organised, consider getting in a valuer to have a look through your property and let you know what it is worth.

While it’s not guaranteed, there is a very good chance that a refreshed, tidy home, will increase its value.  

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Think you might be ready to sell your home? Check out our free guide to take you through the step-by-step process to get your property on the market.