With the nation confined to their homes for the foreseeable future, lockdown seems like the perfect time to tackle some home improvement projects.
For many, this will involve getting around to things they never really had the patience to do before – such as decluttering.
Of course, when it comes to all things tidying, Marie Kondo springs to mind – but there are a number of other decluttering influencers who have been making a name for themselves on Instagram, each captivating followers with their genius organising hacks.
Professional organiser and author Vicky Silverthorn has more than 12,000 followers on her Instagram account.
But Vicky didn’t start out as a professional organiser – she began her career working in PR for professional sportsmen and musicians. It was through touring around the world with these clients that she realised how important it was to live in an organised space, both practically and visually.
She tells Metro.co.uk: ‘It wasn’t only the administrative side of things that had to be tight in detail but also touring clothes, travelling from jet to hotel to tour bus and home again and then starting it all over again the next day. There was no room for error.
‘When you’re away a lot, a tidy home matters so much. To be able to turn your entire suitcase round in a day but also getting that calm feeling that your home is your sanctuary and you are in control.’
After working as a PA for a decade, Vicky came to realise the importance of having this personal organisation, so decided to start her own business dedicated to just that. In 2010, she launched You Need A Vicky – her professional organising service.
Ten years on and her followers can’t get enough of her helpful tips.
Vicky says: ‘They love the tiny details that make a huge difference most of all – for example, using trays to make otherwise sprawled-out items look intentionally placed and tidy.
‘Followers also love kitchen tips – helping the area flow by making a tea and coffee station, so it’s all in one place, and storing items rarely-used up high or away from vital daily space.’
Vicky says that now is a great time to think about getting the house organised, but it’s important not to overwhelm yourself.
She adds: ‘This period without a doubt helps us realise what’s important and what isn’t so much. Not trying to do too much at a time is a good tip (many people are still busy with work and children) so starting small – a drawer or cupboard.
‘Pantries and food cupboards are a great area to work on – food that lasts longer must head to the back. There is a real danger of large amounts of food waste right now and we must be mindful about this.’
Christine Krkach is another decluttering influencer taking Instagram by storm. Her account, the name of which stands for organise, clean and declutter, boasts more than 71,000 followers.
Christine first found her passion for organising when she moved in with her husband.
She tells Metro.co.uk: ‘Our home was extremely small, so I had to learn how to be minimal and super organised so that I could make the most of our tiny space.’
Her pencil case hack has become a fan favourite.
She explains: ‘When my little one was younger she had all these little toys that came with all these tiny pieces in a set. I organised them all in a container but it would end up as a jumble of mess.
‘I was finding she would just tip it all over the floor and I was constantly stepping on them, we couldn’t find the pieces when we needed or lost them.’
Christine came up with the solution to put small toys that go together in a pencil case and then store them vertically so they can be easily accessed.
Much like Vicky, Christine advises to start small when it comes to decluttering and recommends using a timer to help break things up.
She says: ‘Set a timer for tidy tasks. For example, if you want to organise your sock drawer, set a timer for 10 minutes and you will feel more motivated and encouraged to finish the task on time as the process becomes less overwhelming.
‘I also encourage people to take a before and after photo to keep them motivated for the next project.’
Christine has three golden rules for organising: ‘Can you see it easily? Can you access it easily? And can you put it back easily?’
She also says that being ruthless pays off.
‘Think the less you have in your home and the more you categorise “like items” with each other, the easier it will be to: have an organised system, makes things more accessible, make it quicker for you to put things back and maintain it in future,’ Christine adds.
‘It also saves you money in the long haul as you can clearly see what you have.
‘As soon as you’ve finished your decluttering session take that bag and put it in the car so you don’t get tempted to go through it and pull things back out.’
Rachel Burditt, known on Instagram as The Declutter Darling, is another influencer making a name for herself through organising.
It was after becoming a homeowner for the first time that Rachel’s love of decluttering was born and following the birth of her baby, she decided to pursue it as a profession.
Rachel tells Metro.co.uk: ‘I had seen on Instagram that a number of people in the US and Australia were professional organisers and making a career out of it and decided that it’s something I could launch here.
‘It started off very small, with me advertising my services on Facebook groups and it has grown from there.
‘Over five years later and I cover most of the UK, providing an organising and decluttering service to a whole variety of clients – from footballer’s wives’ wardrobes, to busy parents, to retired couples looking to downsize.’
Rachel says her followers are fans of, what she describes as, ‘quick-win hacks’ – anything that can make life simpler and can be achieved on a budget.
Her advice to people planning on organising their homes during lockdown is to make the most of what’s already in the house.
She says: ‘Don’t go and purchase any extra storage. Everyone needs to be staying home right now, not going to the shops to pick up baskets.
‘Utilise what you have in your home to help you – shoe boxes are always a winner, iPhone boxes are great to store smaller items in. Old jars washed out can be an excellent way to store pasta and rice, or even some smaller toiletries.
‘Try to think outside the box as to what you have and what you can do with it.’
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/04/06/instagrams-decluttering-influencers-share-tips-organise-lockdown-12515677/?ITO=squid
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