In our busy lives, our homes can easily become filled with more than we truly need. We accumulate things, leading to overwhelm. I’ve been there – with three children of differing ages and interests, I see things accumulate daily (hello endless papers bought home from school!).

But what if we shifted our perspective on decluttering? What if we saw it as an opportunity to mindfully create space for what truly matters, surrounding ourselves with only what we truly love and need? An opportunity to redesign our own life and create a calmer home. In my opinion, decluttering is the essential foundation for effective interior design, allowing us to design and layer our spaces with intention. This simple 5-step process will guide you in editing, organising, elevating, and maintaining your space and home, that supports a more intentional and peaceful way of living. This process can be used in any area – pantry, bedroom, or office, even a drawer! Decluttering can feel like a big task, but the best way to tackle it is one small step at a time.

Beautiful custom oak storage unit and bench seating for functional storage.
© Michelle Webb Interior Design

Step 1 | Vision: Create a vision for your space

Decluttering is more than labels and storage bins! Before you even touch an item, take a quiet moment to think about how you want your home to feel. What atmosphere would you like to create? Calm and serene? Inspiring and creative? A welcoming space for connection? Picture yourself moving through your home with ease and contentment. This vision will be your guiding light throughout the decluttering process. I always say within interior design to align your vision with the life you want, and this is true too for decluttering.

Shelves and bowls are a great way to store produce in your kitchen while also adding a touch of beauty.
© Michelle Webb Interior Design

Step 2 | Edit: Start by Editing Your Belongings

Once you’ve picked your space or drawer in the house (for me, it's the junk drawer next!) to start with we need to Edit. This step is about making conscious choices about what stays and what goes. Go through your belongings, category by category (like books, kitchen items, or clothing), and mindfully decide what to keep, let go of, or donate.

Your Tip for Editing: As you handle each item, ask yourself: "Does this item truly serve a purpose in my life now?" and "Does it bring me joy or reflect who I am?".

Consider Emotional Value: Be honest about the emotional attachments you have to items. Keep what truly tells your story and supports your well-being, and gently release what no longer serves you.

Practical Action: Create three piles: Keep, Donate/Sell, and Discard. Be decisive and schedule a time to action the "Donate/Sell" and "Discard" piles promptly. I’m putting my hand up for being the one who drives around with her donate bags in the boots for a few months!! So that reminds me to get onto that!

Step 3 | Organise: Create Simple, Sustainable Systems

Once you've edited your belongings, the next step is to create simple and sustainable systems to manage what you're keeping. The goal is to make it easy to find what you need and put things away, contributing to a more peaceful environment.

Your Tip for Organising: Think about your daily habits and routines. Where do you reach for items most often, and where do you tend to put things down? Design your storage solutions around these natural tendencies to make tidying up effortless.

Utilise Storage Solutions: Use baskets (my favourite functional and stylish storage solution), bins, and dividers to create designated spaces for your items. This visual order helps maintain tidiness and reduces clutter. I love to utilise baskets for storing toys for the kids, functional and aesthetically pleasing! Plus easy for the kids to put the toys way too.

Practical Action: Focus on functionality over perfection. Choose storage solutions that are easy to access and maintain in the long run. Prioritise frequently used items by making them easily accessible. For items used less often, consider higher shelves or less convenient locations.

And please remember, being organised doesn't mean having a Pinterest-perfect pantry with pristine shelves of clear jars of spiral pasta and oats. It's about creating a system that works for you and your life. If organising just one space makes your daily routine smoother, start there! Define what "organised" means for you, not your friend down the road.

Step 4 | Elevate: Style and Elevate Your Storage Solutions

This step moves beyond pure functionality to incorporate your personal style and aesthetic. This is my favourite step in the process, the fun part! By thoughtfully choosing and arranging your storage, you can truly elevate the space and your home.

Your Tip for Elevating: Select storage solutions that complement your décor and express your personality and style. For instance, a mix of textured baskets can add warmth to a living space, while sleek containers can create a sense of calm in an office. I often find beautiful baskets at places like Spotlight, Farmers, and Freedom.

Mindful Styling: Arrange your belongings in a way that is both practical and visually pleasing. Consider how items look together on shelves or in drawers. For example, you could add in photo frames, stacked books, and candles to create visual interest. In children's rooms, bookshelves on the wall offer a functional and beautiful way to display books and special treasures.

Practical Action: Invest in a few key storage pieces that you love and that enhance the overall aesthetic of your rooms.

Bookshelves in children’s rooms are a simple way to display books and special treasures! Functional yet beautiful!

Step 5 | Maintain: Make it a Habit

The final step is about making organisation a sustainable habit. Regular maintenance is key to preventing clutter from creeping back in and preserving the sense of calm you've created. This step is one I must say I struggle with at times, and need to keep up with more regularly!

Your Tip for Maintaining: Implement a "one in, one out" system. When a new item comes into your home, make a conscious effort to let go of a similar item.

Regular Decluttering: Schedule short, regular decluttering sessions (even 10 minutes a week) to stay on top of clutter, such as on benchtops. Or dedicate a weekend once or twice a year to declutter larger items, like outgrown kids' clothes, toys, and books for donation.

Practical Action: After using something, put it back in its designated place immediately. This simple habit can make a significant difference over time and has helped me personally. If it takes less the 5 minutes to do, do it there and then!

Storage solutions can be both beautiful and functional; think of them as an opportunity to showcase your personal style while keeping your home organised and clutter-free.

Image via Pinterest

Getting Started | My simple ways you could start TODAY!

The 10-Minute Drawer: Choose one small drawer in your home (it could be a kitchen drawer, a bedside table drawer, or even a drawer in your entryway) and focus solely on editing and organising its contents for just 10 minutes. This quick win can provide a sense of accomplishment and motivate you to tackle larger areas.

The "One of Each" Edit: Pick a category where you have multiples (like mugs, pens, or throw blankets). Challenge yourself to edit down to your favourite or most used "one of each" and see how it feels.

The Visual Sweep: Take a slow walk through one room in your home. Notice what visually feels cluttered or out of place. Choose just one or two of those items to address immediately – whether it's putting them away, donating them, or discarding them.

The Surface Clear: Choose one surface in your home that tends to accumulate clutter (like a coffee table, kitchen counter, or entryway table). Commit to completely clearing it off, putting everything in its designated home or deciding if it needs to leave your home.

To give you an extra boost of motivation, I'm running a fun challenge! Try any of these quick-start decluttering methods, and share your progress with me. Post a photo of your 'before' and 'after' (or just your after!) on social media, as a post or in your stories, and tag me. I'll be cheering you on, and as a thank you, I'll send a little interior design goodie straight to your mailbox! Let's create a wave of mindful decluttering together.

“Simplicity is appreciating all we need. When we have what we truly love and admire, we have enough. ”

— Michelle Webb

Mindful decluttering is a journey, not a one off. It is about striving for achieving some small wins every now and then not perfection of getting everything organised and having everything perfect at one time. It just doesn’t work that way! But by following these five steps – Vision, Edit, Organise, Elevate, and Maintain – you can create a home that not only looks more serene but also supports a more intentional and calmer way of living. Embrace the process, be kind to yourself, and enjoy the feeling of creating space for what truly matters.

Feeling inspired to declutter but could use some personalised guidance? If you're in the Manawatu region and have a space you'd like to transform and de-clutter with an in-home consultation, I'm here to help. For those outside of the Manawatu, I also offer consultations over Zoom to guide you through this mindful process. Contact me today to explore how I can help you create a home that truly supports your well-being, wherever you are!

Happy Decluttering,

Michelle x