Decluttering your home is often about good time management. Once you have it under control, it’s easy to maintain. Read on to follow our easy-as-pie decluttering tips.

Trying to keep living spaces organised can prove difficult at the best of times, but there are a few simple ways to declutter your living areas fast – and keep them that way.

Professional personal organisers (yes, it’s a thing!) like author Lissanne Oliver know and understand the pitfalls of modern living. If you’re wondering how to declutter your home, Oliver offers straightforward decluttering tips for homes and lives, helping to stop the task becoming overwhelming.

Make time

The best way to get started on any decluttering and organising project? Make some time. “You’ve just got to make time to do it,” says Oliver. “You may want to get other household members involved as well,” she adds.

Where to start

Start somewhere small so that the task doesn’t become overwhelming. “It’s often easier to focus on one task, be it getting your paperwork sorted, tidying up a bookshelf or sorting out your sock drawer,” says Oliver.

As you work on getting the clutter down, you can also put in place simple ways to stop it building up again.

Strategies to keep the clutter at bay

“Try keeping a cardboard box by your front door, and when you find something that you don’t use, that’s not loved or needed, put it in the box,” suggests Oliver. “When the box is full, drop it at your local Salvos or op shop and then put a new box at the front door.”

Another great tip? Tidy as you go. “We’re all bad when it comes to flat surfaces, but things can build up on them so easily,” she says. “So don’t put things down, put them away!”

(Some storage might help with this – check out these kitchen storage tips!)

“Basically, if it has no function, is not of sentimental value or valuable in some way, then you should probably chuck it.” Great advice.

Bringing in help

If you’re task is just too daunting, don’t fret – there is help out there. Contact your local personal organiser to help you declutter fast and get on your way to a clutter-free life.