Cupboards are always a tricky one. On the one hand, they’re ideal for hiding everything from cleaning products to food packets and bathroom essentials. But in my experience, hiding something behind a cupboard door doesn’t always lend itself well to home organisation - which is why I was intrigued when I spotted the new Tall SlideAway Storage Caddy (£4.99 at Lakeland).

As I write, I know there are at least two cupboards in my house that will empty themselves onto the floor as soon as I open them. And as I’ve recently moved house and plan to give it a complete organisational redo, I’ve set aside some money to buy clever clutter-busters to help me along the way. Luckily for me, this option is ridiculously affordable.

Technically, this Lakeland storage caddy comes in a set, and you can buy the smaller - but wider - Short SlideAway Storage Caddy for the same price of just £4.99 at Lakeland. But for less than £10 for the pair, I still think Lakeland has just won the clutter-busting storage war.

I recently wrote about Lakeland’s under-the-sink organiser, which I immediately added to my basket. However, these two new storage caddies can offer similar storage space to the first organiser - for less money and without taking up as much space. And in my eyes, it’s also way more versatile.

While the under-the-sink organiser was largely designed for people who want tidy under-the-sink cupboards, these caddies can be used anywhere - from under the sink to your kitchen cupboards and bathroom vanity. Personally, I’d also use the taller one for paperwork in my home office.

The slimline design makes them perfect for smaller cupboards and spaces, and they even come with wheels and a handle so you can quickly pull them out and grab what you need in seconds. This means that you don’t have to reach over and grab the item you need - which, let’s face it, always seems to be right at the back.

Despite being small in footprint, they’re also still big enough to hold cleaning bottles, jars, packets, tubes, and anything else you’d like to keep separated or categorised.

Plus, I’ve already seen how pull-out caddies like this can transform cupboards from chaotic to calm in no time. That’s because Ideal Home’s Managing Editor, Thea, uses caddies just like these in her under-the-sink cupboard and beyond.

She uses the Joseph Joseph CupboardStore 2-tier Easy Access Wheeled Storage Caddy (£25 at Amazon) and the Joseph Joseph CupboardStore 2-tier Easy Access Wheeled Storage Caddy (£35 at Amazon). All in all, those caddies set her back £60.

For two very similar caddies at Lakeland, you could spend just £10. And while they don’t quite have the same bells and whistles as Joseph Joseph, they’re ideal in their simplicity.

They’ll allow you to separate everything from food items to cleaning products, and give everything a home in a cupboard for a budget price.

Alternatives to buy

I think Lakeland might be my new favourite shop for clever storage solutions!

While we might think of January as the ultimate decluttering month, there's a serious case to be made for decluttering in September. The busyness of summer is over, the kids are going back to school, and we're all mentally preparing for the return of cosy season.

Knowing what things to declutter in September is the best way to put that back to school energy to good use and get organised. Whether you use one of the pro decluttering methods or not, working through the items on this list is the best back to school reset you can give yourself, and your home.

With that in mind, I spoke to home organisers and decluttering experts to find out what things we should be decluttering this September. A key theme occured around decluttering areas and items that are going to make the next few months feel a little lighter – so we can enjoy everything that cosy season has to offer.

1. The hallway

Getting the hallway ready for autumn is essential prep, as it's likely going to feel more cluttered in the colder months. Heavy coats, wellies, school bags, and umbrellas all take up more space, making September the perfect time to get organised.

'Remove anything that's outgrown, worn out or simply never used, and move summer shoes, bags, tennis rackets and other summer sports kit elsewhere,' advises pro declutterer Rebecca Crayford. 'You don't need an empty hallway – you just need room for the things you're actually going to be reaching for every day.'

If you're looking to upgrade your hallway storage ideas, Argos have some great clutter busters for keeping hallways tidy, such as this Stackable Shoe Rack for only £7.

2. Toys and stationery

'Children’s bedrooms can quickly become a dumping ground over the summer, particularly when routines are relaxed and children have more time to play,' says Vlatka Lake, storage expert at Space Station. 'The end of the holidays provides a natural opportunity to go through everything and work out what is still being used, what has been outgrown and what can be moved elsewhere.'

September is a good time to get organised and upgrade your toy storage solutions, if you need to. Dunelm have some great options, like this Striped Storage Trunk for £16. Maria Delia, APDO member and founder of Dare to Declutter, adds that organising stationery at this time of year is also helpful.

'Empty pencil cases, desk drawers and stationery cupboards and get rid of dried up pens, broken crayons, tiny pencils and anything that has simply reached the end of its life,' she advises. 'You might be surprised at how many perfectly good supplies you already have.'

3. Blankets, throws and cushions

As we get excited about autumn decorating ideas, the first port-of-call is usually to dig all of our blankets, throws and cushions out of the cupboard and pop them around the house. But before we do, Rebecca Crayford says that we should take stock of what we have and get rid of anything we don't need.

'Keep the blankets you actually like and use, donate good-quality ones you no longer want and let go of anything that's worn out,' she advises. 'The same goes for seasonal cushions and cushion covers. There's no point putting things back into your living space – or storing them for another year – if you know you're never going to use them.'

4. The freezer

According to the pros, the freezer is one of the best things to declutter in September because we're likely going to change the way we use it over the coming months. Give yours a makeover with the things that people with a tidy freezer always have (think freezer bags, labels, and rectangular containers).

'A quick sort now gives you more room for soups, casseroles and the batch-cooked meals you're more likely to reach for as the weather gets colder,' Rebecca says. 'Use up older food that's still good, get rid of anything that's past its best and investigate those mystery unlabelled containers you've been moving around for months.'

5. The 'junk' drawer or cupboard

Most of us have a junk drawer or cupboard in the house (and if you don't, hats off to you). In the spirit of resetting the home for autumn and using up all that back to school energy, now is the time organise the junk drawer and finally get rid of the items we don't need.

'Whether it's lids without containers, odd gloves, mystery cables, unidentified chargers, or spare buttons, we all store items that have somehow lost their partner, purpose or place,' Maria says. 'Give the items in your junk drawer one last chance to find a purpose. If you can't, it's probably time to let it go.'

I'd recommend these interlocking drawer organisers, currently half price on Amazon. They're ideal for keeping odd, miscallaneous items in one place.

Ticking off the things to declutter in September will make our homes feel much calmer after the busyness of summer – and help us enjoy hibernation season in all its glory.

As Ideal Home’s go-to for all things storage, organisation and decluttering, you’d like to think that I love decluttering my home. And I do… for a little while. But when I’m halfway through, and my house looks like a pigsty, I question why I even started in the first place (and go off in search of chocolate to make me feel better).

Yes, I’ve tried so many of the best decluttering methods out there, but I often still find myself surrounded by piles of items and making an even bigger mess when I’m trying to declutter - and it’s incredibly overwhelming. And while I appreciate that sometimes things do have to get worse to get better, does that always have to be the case?

According to the three professional organisers I spoke to, no, it doesn’t. These are their top tips for decluttering a home without making an even bigger mess in the process, and what to do if you reach that ‘oh gosh, what have I done?!’ moment.

1. Work in small sections

If you plan to organise your clothes or give your kitchen a complete overhaul, it can be tempting to pull everything out of the cupboards and drawers and start from scratch with everything laid out in front of you. And as someone who has done this many times, I can tell you that this is the worst thing you can do.

Shannon Murphy, Professional Organiser and Founder of Simpl Living Co, agrees, saying that working in small sections is one of the best ways to avoid overwhelm when decluttering a home. She says this also allows you to ‘fully complete an area before moving on to the next.’

‘I often recommend working clockwise around a room, focusing on one small area at a time. This gives you a clear starting point and a sense of progress as you work your way around the space,’ Shannon adds. ‘If you do reach that overwhelmed moment, remind yourself that you don't have to tackle the whole room today. Make the task smaller.’

By working this way, you’ll ensure that you don’t end up surrounded by all of your belongings and abandoning your task - and you’ll finally be able to get rid of the clutter that’s been building up for months (and perhaps even years).

2. Separate and remove items immediately

It can also be hard to know what to do with items when you’re decluttering, often leaving old clothes, paperwork, and toys sitting on the floor with no rhyme or reason for where they’re headed. That’s why separating these items using the four-box method is key.

‘Use four containers - keep here, move elsewhere, donate or sell, and rubbish or recycling. And make sure to finish one zone before expanding,’ advises Gemma Bray, Founder of The Organised Method. If you struggle with emotional clutter, she also says you can ‘allow yourself one small, dated “unsure” box for difficult decisions.’

But even if you have good intentions to get rid of items after a declutter, these boxes and bags can still continue to clutter up your home when you’ve finished if you don’t deal with them immediately. So, try to remove them from your house as quickly as possible to finish the task properly.

Gemma says, ‘Put donations by the door or take them directly to their destination, but do not drive them around until next year!’ Then, you can tick the task firmly off your to-do list.

3. Set a timer

Another reason decluttering becomes so messy is that we get distracted, and I recently wrote about how body doubling can help with that. However, a timer can also work wonders if you struggle to stay motivated. Plus, it helps you break down your decluttering into these smaller tasks.

Kate Dufton, Professional Organiser and Declutterer at Ace Your Space, agrees, saying, ‘I recommend clients use a timer and start with just 10 minutes. We often overestimate how long decluttering a small area will take, and once clients see how much they can achieve in 10 minutes, it often creates momentum to continue.’

She adds, ‘The timer also helps them keep their focus and avoid getting sidetracked.’ But that’s not all. By using a timer and keeping these tasks small and manageable, you can keep the room usable and see a visual difference in your decluttering efforts.

Of course, you can set the timer for as long as you want, but most experts wouldn’t suggest choosing anything over 20 minutes, as you’ll once again be at risk of making a bigger mess and feeling overwhelmed.

4. Start with non-sentimental items

Most people don’t know how to declutter sentimental items and hit a roadblock when they come across things they're emotionally attached to. And if you’re one of them - and you often abandon your decluttering efforts because of it - Kate suggests leaving these items until last.

‘I always recommend starting small with an area that has no sentimental attachment to my clients. When you try to declutter a whole room in one go, you can quickly end up with your belongings everywhere, feeling overwhelmed and with no energy left to finish the project,’ she warns.

‘Instead, start by clearing one drawer or one small surface of items containing items that don’t hold any sentimental attachment. I normally suggest choosing an area with similar items to get you into the flow. This could be a pan drawer, underwear drawer, or dressing table,’ she adds.

And when you’ve done this, you should have built up enough momentum and confidence in your decisions to handle the sentimental items. If you genuinely can’t, take a quick break, but make sure you come back to your task.

5. Take stock of your energy levels

It can be incredibly easy to give up on decluttering when you’ve made an even bigger mess, but this mess will just get bigger as the weeks go by. To avoid this, it’s important to take stock of your energy levels during the process, as you ultimately need to be in a calm, motivated headspace to see results.

Gemma explains, ‘Overwhelm often hits when the room temporarily looks worse and your energy drops. You have not failed; you are simply in the untidy middle. When it happens, stop taking out more things. Remind yourself why you started and that this is usually the worst part, then take practical action.’

She suggests focusing on four key tasks: throwing away obvious rubbish, putting items you definitely want to donate in a bag (and get rid of it as soon as you can), returning anything that has an obvious home, and then clearing one visible surface or pathway to create some physical (and mental) breathing room.

Seeing this visible difference should perk up your energy levels, but you then need to ask yourself another question: Can you continue? Or should you try again tomorrow? There’s no shame in taking a break if it’s going to render better results.

What you'll need

I'm definitely stealing these tips!

Most of us have a ‘doom room.’ This is the awkward, spare room in our homes where we store random items that don’t have a permanent resting spot elsewhere, and it quickly becomes a dumping ground for forgotten things.

And while there are so many things people with tidy homes always have, the doom room is a very niche corner of the home that often gets ignored during regular tidying and organising sessions. But although it can be easy to shut the door and pretend the mess inside doesn’t exist, that isn’t always practical when this spare room also needs to serve as a guest bedroom, home office or hobby room.

So, take this as your sign to give it some TLC! This is what you’ll need to turn your doom room into an organised, practical space that works with your needs rather than against them.

1. Wardrobe or clothes rail

It’s important to understand your own storage needs when tidying a doom room, and if your spare bedroom always becomes an extension of your wardrobe, you need to add storage solutions that tackle this problem - instead of just piling your clothes on the bed or the floor.

And while it may sound counterintuitive to add a wardrobe to what is often one of the smallest rooms of the house, opting for a closed wardrobe can help you maintain consistently tidy clothes and offer storage space to store organised boxes, suitcases, and other items you want to remove from the floor of your doom room.

However, if you’re worried that the closed doors of a wardrobe will encourage you to simply hide mess, I’m a huge fan of clothes rails like this Argos Home Kevin Double Clothes Rail (£46 at Argos). In fact, I’ve previously written about how my clothes rail helps me stay accountable and tackle mess as soon as I spot it.

2. Sleeping space with storage

A doom room is never going to be perfect. But if you want to create a temporary guest room for friends or family members in this room, it’s important to choose your sleeping setup wisely. And in this case, it’s well worth opting for a small-space-friendly bed - with extra storage for your own use, if possible.

The best sofa beds are a great option for those who want their doom room to become a multi-purpose space where they can craft or catch up on their hobbies, and I can’t recommend the Ascot Ottoman Storage Bed (£299 at DUSK) enough. This is actually the bed I have in my own bedroom, and the roomy storage is perfect for storing extra bedding, towels, and even shoes.

If you have a slightly larger spare room and don’t want to scrimp on a proper bed for your guests, just make sure you choose a bed frame with space underneath for underbed storage boxes, so you can keep items you need readily available but don’t want on show.

3. Over-the-door organisers

One of the best ways to create order in smaller homes and spaces is to utilise vertical space, and door organisers are ideal for doom rooms. They also don’t require any drilling or permanent hanging, so can be used in rental accommodation and even be moved from room to room if you have guests and need to quickly tidy up.

The beauty of over-the-door organisers is that there are so many different types to suit the items that you may be storing in your spare bedroom. For example, you could use this SAVERHO Over The Door Shoe Organiser (£11.99 at Amazon) to store and organise all of your family’s shoes.

There are so many more options, though, with door organisers designed specifically for towels or accessories, or with larger pockets to house anything you may need. Just remember to declutter these items regularly to ensure you’re not holding on to anything you no longer need.

4. Stackable boxes

While I love nothing more than a pretty-but-practical storage baskets that serve both storage and decor, they might not be suitable for doom rooms where you need to store a lot in a small amount of space. In this case, stackable storage boxes may suit you better.

The beauty of these stackable storage boxes - like these Really Useful 3 x 62L Plastic Storage Boxes (£33 at Argos) - is that you can stack them on top of each other to minimise the amount of floor space they take up. They also come with handles, so you can easily grab the one you want and move it, or pop them in a cupboard if you have one.

These boxes are ideal for things like seasonal decor, paperwork, and everything else that doesn’t really have a proper home organised and tidy. I’d just make sure you use labels like these Large Labels for Storage Boxes (45 pack for £6.99 at Amazon), so you know exactly what’s in them.

5. A multi-purpose desk

Whether you work exclusively from home or your kids need somewhere to do their homework (that’s not their bedroom or the dining table), a desk is always a good idea. And while the spare ‘doom room' is a good place to put it, there’s no denying that they take up a lot of space.

This is where multi-purpose desks come into play, with many options to choose from. Hideaway desks like IKEA’S BILLY bookcase with a foldable table serve as a temporary desk when you need it, but offer permanent storage in the form of a traditional bookcase. This means you don’t have to live with a full-size desk cluttering up the space.

You can also buy wall-mounted desks, or a compact dressing table that can double as a desk for when you need to take your meetings. Whatever option you choose, opt for something compact, multi-purpose, or with hidden storage you can use.

Remember, a doom room is never going to be perfect... but you can always make it better!

I don’t know about you, but opening my under-the-sink cupboard requires at least three full days of mental preparation. It’s messy, it’s chaotic, and I can guarantee the exact cleaning product I need will be right at the back. That’s why I was over the moon when I spotted Lakeland's new 2-Tier Undersink Storage Caddy (£16.99 at Lakeland).

Yes, only last week I wrote about the things I need to organise after recently moving house, and my under-the-sink cupboard is one of the messiest of the lot. And while I know I need to invest in some proper storage if I want to be like the people with consistently tidy under-the-sink cupboards, I’ve yet to bite the bullet as my budget is pretty much non-existent right now.

The fact that Lakeland’s new storage solution will curb the clutter AND keep my purse happy at the same time is a massive tick in my book. And as I didn’t want to gatekeep, I thought I’d share this £17 bargain with you, too.

This new two-tier storage system is specifically designed for those awkward under-the-sink areas, and the clever setup means that the smaller top tier can easily fit around any pipes or plumbing you have under there.

But the size difference also helps you distinguish between the best cleaning products and tools. You can pop your larger bottles on the bottom tier and your smaller tools, like scrubbers, sponges, and cleaning cloths, on the top tier.

And my favourite bit? Instead of knocking everything over to get the item you need from the back of the cupboard, you can simply pull out the bottom drawer and grab your bottle of white vinegar without making a bigger mess. This should also make it easier to see what you have, so you don’t waste money on any duplicates.

Plus, I’ve already seen how transformative these pull-out drawers can be in a clutter zone like the under-the-sink cupboard. Ideal Home’s Editor-in-Chief, Heather, went on her own clutter-busting mission last year and bought very similar caddies to organise her cleaning essentials.

The exact pull-out organisers Heather used are sadly no longer available to buy, but I’d actually go as far as to say that Lakeland’s version is better anyway (sorry, Heather!).

That’s because Heather’s pull-out drawers don’t account for the inevitable wet drips that form when you pop your cleaning products and tools back in the cupboard when you’re finished with them.

In Heather’s trays, wet drips will settle in the trays and lead to mould and musty smells - and this will just get worse if you don't tackle it immediately.

Lakeland’s caddies, however, are made from wire mesh so the moisture can fall through to the cupboard below. You should then be able to spot it and clean it right away.

And for less than £20, what more could you really want? I’m going to snap up some for my kitchen cupboards too, as I think they’ll be perfect for my spices, packets and sauces.

Alternatives to shop

Well, I'm definitely ready to curb the clutter in my under-the-sink cupboard now!

I turned 40 last year, and it triggered a huge urge to declutter my home from then on, which is very unlike me as a self-confessed collector of things...

I didn't want to suddenly (and miraculously) become a minimalist. There's no way that would ever happen because I love home decor too much, and I still want my home to feel full of personality. I just started to look around at the things I'd been holding on to for years and wondered why I still had them.

Reaching 40 made me want to take stock, and it's probably because I know what I like far more than I did when I was younger. I've become much less interested in keeping things simply because I've already owned them for years. And it turns out I'm not alone in feeling like this after a milestone birthday.

'I think people often decide to declutter when they're navigating a home renovation, a move, family changes or a wider lifestyle reset and turning 40 can be a transitional period for some people,' explains Shannon Murphy of Simpl Living Co. 'It can be a good opportunity to reassess what you own and whether it still reflects the life you're living today.'

And I felt exactly like this, so I started clearing out, and once I began, it quickly spread from my wardrobe to other areas of my house. Here's what I've decluttered so far and why it's been really helpful.

5 things I decluttered when I turned 40

If you're tempted to do the same, Shannon recommends resisting the urge to pull everything out at once. 'One of the biggest mistakes I see is starting with good intentions but then losing momentum or direction,' she says. 'I always recommend creating a plan and giving yourself a reasonable timeframe. Try to fully complete one room before moving on to the next.'

It's good advice, particularly if you, like me, can get carried away once you start. 'If everything is half-finished, it can feel as though you haven't achieved anything,' Shannon adds, 'Completing a space gives you that sense of accomplishment and motivation to continue.'

1. I gave my wardrobe a reset

Decluttering my wardrobe was the obvious place to start. There were clothes I hadn't worn for years, things that didn't fit properly and pieces I'd kept because I thought I might wear them again one day.

Turning 40 made me want my wardrobe to reflect who I am and how I dress now, rather than being an archive of me at different ages. And that's something Shannon says is very common.

'With wardrobes, people often hold onto past versions of themselves,' she explains. 'As you approach 40, who you were and what you were in your 20s, or even your 30s, may be very different from who you are now.'

Her advice is to concentrate on 'who you are today and who you realistically want to be within the next year,' rather than filling your wardrobe for an imagined future version of yourself.

There were clothes I was keeping for when I might lose weight, occasions that might never happen and because I couldn't bring myself to get rid of them.

Shannon suggests looking at how your life actually works now. 'For example, if you only go into the office two days a week, you only need enough work outfits to accommodate that lifestyle realistically. You can apply the same thinking to other categories in your wardrobe: look at how you actually live rather than how you think you might live.'

Anything I didn't feel good wearing, consistently overlooked or was realistically never going to wear again was finally allowed to go, and I was finally able to maximise every available inch of space.

2. Home accessories I didn't actually like

This was probably one of the most satisfying categories. Working within interiors means I'm constantly seeing new ideas, and my own taste has inevitably changed over the years. Yet I still had accessories dotted around the house that I didn't particularly like anymore.

I had kept some because I'd spent money on them and others because they'd been gifts or had some sentimental value. But I did realise that neither was a particularly good reason to continue displaying something in my home.

'Our interior style naturally changes over the years,' says Shannon. 'Your home and the things you have on display should meet you where you are currently. If you no longer love or use something, consider donating or selling it.'

And her advice for those expensive purchases you're keeping out of guilt is reassuringly straightforward: 'I would never recommend keeping something you don't like simply because it was expensive or gifted to you – your space is precious.'

Instead of immediately replacing everything I cleared, I've actually enjoyed having a little more breathing room and being more considered about what I bring back in.

3. Make-up and toiletries I'll never use

Next came the bathroom cupboards and drawers. There was an embarrassing amount of half-used products, make-up I never reached for, and toiletries I'd tried and didn't like, taking up valuable storage space.

This wasn't emotional clutter like my wardrobe and home accessories, but incredibly satisfying, even though it felt like a huge waste. I could suddenly see what I actually owned and, more importantly, what I genuinely used.

There's also a practical reason to be ruthless here. 'All makeup has an expiry date, which is something many people don't realise,' says Shannon. 'Look for the number followed by "M" on the packaging. For example, 12M means the product should be replaced after 12 months of opening it.'

For products you've tried and simply don't like, Shannon suggests seeing whether a friend or family member could use them instead, where appropriate, rather than allowing them to sit untouched in a drawer.

4. Sifting through sentimental items

This was easily the hardest category for me, as I end up feeling guilty when I declutter sentimental things. I am super sentimental, so over the years I've kept an enormous number of things purely because they remind me of a person, place or particular point in my life. Unlike an old bottle of shampoo or duvet cover I never use, there isn't an obvious reason to get rid of them.

Turning 40 didn't suddenly make me want to throw away everything connected to my past. If anything, it made me think more carefully about which memories genuinely matter to me. I've started asking myself whether I actually treasure the item itself or whether I'm simply scared that getting rid of it means losing the memory attached to it.

Shannon recommends giving sentimental belongings a physical limit. 'Use a container to create a physical boundary for how much you can keep. Once the container is full, you have to decide what is most important to you rather than allowing sentimental belongings to become endless boxes and cupboards.'

There are ways to preserve the memory without necessarily keeping the object.

'For photographs, you can scan them and create photo books (this is a great budget choice from Amazon), and larger sentimental items can also be photographed before letting them go,' Shannon suggests. 'Often seeing a photograph of an item can bring back the same feeling and memory without needing to keep the physical object.'

I'm still keeping things that make me smile (my daughters' lovely artwork), transport me back to a particular moment or that I'd be upset to lose. But I've allowed myself to let go of some of the other things I've been carrying around for years purely because they felt too sentimental to part with. It takes time to rifle through these things and can feel overwhelming, but it feels like a fresh start to get rid of old things that I really don't feel I need to keep.

5. Books I knew I would never read again

Books were a surprisingly difficult category for me to tackle. I've always found them harder to get rid of than other things, even when I know I'm unlikely to ever pick them up again.

Over the years, though, we'd accumulated books we'd read once and wouldn't reread, books I'd bought with every intention of reading but never had, parenting books I no longer needed to consult and other books that had dated badly (My Booky Wook, by Russell Brand, anyone? Eesh) or that I'd simply grown out of. They were taking up space alongside books we genuinely love.

I didn't want to clear the shelves completely. I love the warmth and personality books bring to a home, and there are plenty I'll always keep. I concentrated on the ones I genuinely loved, would lend to people and realistically imagine picking up again.

The rest have gone somewhere they'd actually be appreciated and used. I donated books where I could, passed others on to friends and family and used Freecycle to give to people who want them. And I have now sorted them into categories and displayed them how I like, which makes it feel more like an at-home library than a messy collection.

I definitely don't want a sparse home, and I'm certainly not finished buying beautiful things, but after decluttering these things, I know my taste better. And I know what my family uses too.

I'm just much less willing to give precious space in my home to things that belong in the past. It feels quite liberating to accept that getting rid of something doesn't mean buying it was a mistake or that something wasn't once important to me.

I still have plenty of clutter because I have a busy family home after all, but I am being more selective about what earns its place in it.

My new rule for my forties is that I don't want to spend another decade storing things I don't use, need or actually love.

First impressions count. But if you’re greeted with piles of shoes, rogue keys, random parcels, and an umbrella that’s always wet every time you open your front door, you’re not alone. Thankfully, some clever clutter-busters can help with that - even if your hallway is tiny.

I know what you’re thinking, though. You’ve already tried to organise your hallway, and it’s barely made a dent in the chaos. But the difference between your quick tidy-up and what people with tidy hallways always do is that they have a helping hand in the form of smart storage solutions that work with an entryway, rather than against it.

That’s where Argos can help. From pretty-but-practical shoe storage to dedicated areas for your bags and coats, these are my top picks from Argos’s latest hallway storage buys - and how you can use them in your space.

Will you be snapping up any of these clever hallway storage buys?

September always seems like the start of a new chapter. Most of us are back from holiday, heading back to school and work, and rooting around the back of the wardrobe for long-lost jumpers as the weather starts to change. So why not start this new chapter off right?

While you may already have plans to declutter before the kids go back to school or give the bedrooms a deep clean before everyone’s too tired to think straight, this time of year is still incredibly busy. Because of this, I asked the professionals which areas of your home you should prioritise for a quick, efficient post-holiday reset.

Ideally, you should tackle all five of these areas before September, but you’ll still notice a difference if you only have time to tick a few off the list. And I guarantee that future you will thank you for it!

1. Unpack quickly (and properly!)

I always recommend that people declutter their homes before going on holiday to reduce the mess waiting for them when they fly home, but that doesn’t account for the holiday clutter they bring back. So, the first step to a neat and tidy home come September is unpacking both quickly and efficiently.

Jo Helsby, Professional Organiser and Owner of Perfect Order, explains, ‘The period after a holiday often creates a second wave of clutter. Suitcases are left half-unpacked, clean and dirty clothes become mixed together and new purchases have no proper home. As a professional organiser, I would unpack completely rather than taking out only the things you need first.’

This isn’t a fun job, but one that you’ll be glad you did when everything is tidied away. It might be worth using boxes like these Strata Curve 4 x 10L Plastic Storage Boxes with Lid (was £12, now £9 at Argos) to store any holiday-specific items you know you won’t use until your next holiday so they don’t clutter up your everyday living space. Pop your suitcases back in the loft, too.

2. Clean and organise your hallway

September can be a very stressful month, with work and school pressure piling up. But when you complete your September reset (ideally just before September), you can ensure that your home is a calm, chaos-free zone that helps you relax and unwind after a long day. This starts as soon as you open the door.

Keeping on top of cleaning your hallway shouldn’t be difficult, but the hard flooring in these entryways can take a beating with muddy, dirty shoes, which is where the best vacuum mops can help. Proper shoe storage is also essential for reducing shoe clutter and keeping the floors as tidy and organised as possible.

Kate Dufton, Professional Organiser and Declutterer at Ace Your Space, also has a top tip for parents. She says, ‘One of the most effective ways to turn your entrance way into a calm and organised space is to create a row of hooks that are low enough for your children to reach. Add a low bench or storage unit with baskets underneath, giving them somewhere to sit and put their shoes on, and a dedicated place to put their bag.’

3. Take stock of school items

If you have kids, you’ll know that the back-to-school rush is very real. Getting ahead of the game can help to calm the chaos and keep your home organised, and that’s why Jo advises parents to ‘gather all uniforms, shoes, bags and activity kits into one place’ before the school routine begins.

‘Check what still fits and make a clear list of what is missing before buying anything,’ she adds. ‘This prevents duplicate purchases and avoids discovering the night before school that something has been outgrown or left at the other parent’s house.’ Labels like these 60 Washable Stick-on Clothing Name Labels (£13.95 at Amazon) can also help you keep track of everything.

If you have some spare time, it’s well worth organising the wardrobes in your children’s rooms, too. Try to keep school uniforms separate from everyday, non-school clothes, and you could do this using a dedicated wardrobe organiser like this Fabric Hanging Organiser (£6 at Dunelm).

4. Reset the kitchen

You should be cleaning your kitchen regularly anyway, but a clean, tidy cooking and prep space is even more important in the run-up to September. There are a few tasks you should tick off the list here, from cleaning water bottles and lunch boxes to organising your kitchen cupboards.

Ellie Brown, Interior Designer at the interiors brand Oak&More, says that doing this now can save a lot of time during busy school mornings. She says, ‘Give the kitchen a pre-term refresh by clearing out expired food from the fridge, organising breakfast essentials, like oats and cereals so that it’s easy to just grab and go, and create an easy-to-access area for lunchboxes, water bottles and snacks.’

Just make sure you declutter your fridge and cupboards before you start resetting them, so you’re throwing out (or donating) anything you definitely won’t be eating come September. With more space to work with, it’ll be easier to keep it organised in the long run.

5. Set up a ‘command centre’

Ideal Home’s Senior Digital Editor, Jenny, recently set up a family command centre in her home, and she can’t rave about it enough - especially now the new school year is on the horizon. And if you want to give your home a back-to-school reset, it’s well worth adding one.

Kate agrees, saying, ‘Mornings with children can be stressful. One of my favourite systems to set up in a client’s home is a command centre to reduce morning friction. A command centre is a dedicated space that contains everything you need to run the house, from important paperwork to school schedules.’

She adds, ‘I always recommend including drawers or shelves so you can create a ‘morning drawer or shelf’ for easy access to everything you need to head out in the morning. I use drawer organisers or containers to create a dedicated space for each person. This means everyone knows where their belongings are and, importantly, can start taking responsibility for them.’

Will you be giving your home a September reset?

It’s the time of year when brands start dropping their autumn/ winter collections, but honestly, it’s not the pumpkins, cosy knits or warm colours that have caught my eye; it’s their clever clutterbusters that have just dropped that have grabbed my attention - they’re perfect for keeping a tidy kitchen.

If you’ve ever wondered what people who have tidy kitchens do compared to you, I can promise you a lot of it comes down to clever storage solutions. Whether you’re looking to organise kitchen cupboards or clear kitchen worktops, you need storage that blends effortlessly into your space.

This is where Dunelm comes in. From pretty storage you’ll actually want on show to practical solutions that deal with everyday mess, here are my top picks from Dunelm’s latest kitchen storage buys.

Have any of these clever storage solutions caught your eye?

I’ve recently moved home, and while the house itself is bigger, my clothes storage space is much smaller - and it’s very noticeable. But while I could simply ignore my overflowing wardrobe, I wouldn’t be a very good organising expert if I didn’t tackle the problem head-on. That’s why I couldn’t buy these 60 Pcs Hanger Connector Hooks (£6.99 at Amazon) quick enough.

Yes, I’ve gone from having a dedicated dressing room to organising a wardrobe that’s barely big enough for the two of us. And although we have big plans to improve our clothes storage setup eventually, we just don’t have the money right now. So when my Editor suggested I try these £7 hanger clips to make the most of the vertical space in my small wardrobe, I knew I had to add them to my basket.

These Amazon hooks work with your existing hangers so you can double-up (or even triple-up) on your hanging items without needing a wider wardrobe. And they’re the cheap-but-cheerful addition my cluttered, messy wardrobe has been crying out for.

I’m always on the hunt for the things people with tidy wardrobes should always have, and utilising vertical space is something all of these clutter-busting products have in common.

And these S-shaped Hanger Connector Hooks can be slipped onto a hanger’s top metal hook (often called the head) to hang another garment or two… or three. Then it will only take up vertical space rather than horizontal space on the wardrobe rail, meaning you can squeeze even more on there.

These can then help create order in your wardrobe, allowing you to hang T-shirts from T-shirts, jumpers from jumpers, and even trousers from trousers. This way, you know where everything is, and you won’t have to rifle through your entire wardrobe to find the specific T-shirt you’re after.

If you like to be as organised as possible, you could even use these hooks to create outfits for the week ahead. You could hook your trousers and jacket over a shirt that’s hooked on the rail, so you only have to grab one hanger when it’s time to get dressed.

Ideal Home’s Senior Digital Editor, Jenny, bought these connector hooks for her wardrobe a few months ago, and she can’t rave about them enough. However, she has offered me some valuable advice that goes against the listing images on Amazon - and it’s particularly important if you have a small wardrobe where you need to maximise every available inch of space.

‘The Amazon pictures show the connectors on wooden hangers, but they work so much better when you use slimline hangers with them,’ she told me. ‘Slimline hangers just make it even more effective, as the wooden hangers add so much more bulk.’

Jenny adds, ‘I’ve been able to fit so many more clothes in my wardrobe without it bursting at the seams thanks to this space-saving combo, and I think they’re worth every penny.’

Thankfully, slimline hangers don’t cost a fortune either. They can also be bought on Amazon, and you can buy a pack of 30 Amazon Basics Slim Velvet Non-Slip Hangers for just £12.79.

But if you don’t want to buy any new hangers, they are compatible with most standard hangers, no matter whether you have wooden, wire, plastic or velvet hangers.

Alternatives to shop

Thank goodness for clever little products like this!

Trinny Woodall is known for her fashion and beauty empire, so it won’t surprise you to learn that her home wardrobe is what dreams are made of. But while her incredible clothes and accessories are obviously the star of the show, the organisation of her wardrobe is a (very) close second.

Unsurprisingly, Trinny has more space in her wardrobe than the average person. But despite having the space and the means to buy expensive, built-in storage to organise her wardrobe, she’s enlisted the help of everyone’s favourite Swedish brand to meticulously organise her accessories and everyday clutter on a budget. And who doesn’t love IKEA?

The end result really is spectacular, without being out of reach for the everyday organiser. So if you’re looking to take your tidiness up a notch, Trinny can definitely offer some affordable inspiration.

Trinny Woodall regularly lets us glimpse inside her wardrobe on her Instagram page. But in a recent post, she took us on an up-close-and-personal tour of the DIY storage island she built for her accessories and everyday items. And it’s safe to say that the compliments quickly flooded in.

Fans gushed over the ‘inspirational’ island unit and storage boxes she uses to organise everything from old phones to makeup brushes and glasses. Especially since it provides a permanent home for items that often clutter bedrooms and make a sleeping space look messy.

Trinny didn’t gatekeep, either. She confirmed that she built the large wardrobe island using two sets of IKEA units - which look like these KALLAX Shelving Units from IKEA (£50 each). She then topped hers with a bespoke mirror, but you could create a similar effect for a much cheaper price using these Hode Self Adhesive Mirror Tiles (£9.59 at Amazon).

However, it’s the storage boxes themselves that received the most attention, as Muji storage boxes are known for being affordable, stackable and seriously versatile. And while they come in so many sizes, it looks like Trinny has used the 3 Drawer Desktop Storage Unit (£34.95 at Muji) for her setup.

She’s not the only one who loves Muji boxes, either. Ideal Home’s Digital Editor, Rebecca, also swears by these handy storage buys to organise her home - especially as they’re so long-lasting.

She says, ‘I invested in the big drawers and the mini acrylic drawers when I was 23 in my first London flat. Almost 10 years (and 4 flats) later, they're still in use and look great (aside from a little tape I put on them for the last move).’

‘I've used the large drawers to add storage to awkward bedroom nooks, and in my last wardrobe I used them to double the storage inside the built-in wardrobe.'

'However, it is the mini ones that I love the most; they come in a range of sizes and stack neatly together. I have them stacked on my dressing table, holding polishes, makeup, sunglasses and chargers. I've even turned one on its side to make a hairband holder.'

And that, in itself, is what makes Trinny’s setup so inspiring. After all, most people don’t have an entire room to dedicate to giant wardrobes and a huge accessory island.

But if you have a bit of free vertical wall space, nothing is stopping you from turning a smaller single unit on its side to create a very similar storage setup.

Just make sure you remember your labels, as Trinny swears by her trusty DYMO LetraTag Handheld Label Maker (£33.50 at Amazon) to keep track of everything.

How to get the look for less

Trinny’s IKEA hack is already very affordable, but I’ve spotted similar products to make it even cheaper if you’re on a tighter budget (or want to customise it to your own wardrobe space).

Excuse me while I go and completely reorganise my wardrobe space...

We all want a tidy home, but this is easier said than done. Everyday mess, busy schedules and our unique characteristics can make it incredibly difficult to keep on top of clutter. And the more this builds up, the harder it becomes to solve.

In fact, there are so many decluttering methods out there because decluttering isn’t a one-size-fits-all task. While some people have the time and the patience to dedicate an entire day to their decluttering checklist, others get easily distracted and struggle to stay on task. And this is where ‘body doubling’ can help.

This psychological hack has risen to popularity within the ADHD and neurodivergent communities, as it can help you maintain the motivation and drive to tidy your home quickly. However, anyone can try this decluttering trick in their own homes, and I asked professional organisers how to use it for maximum impact.

What is body doubling?

As Jo Helsby, Professional Organiser and Founder of Perfect Order, explains, ‘Body doubling is when another person stays with you while you complete a task.’

This is a step away from traditional decluttering methods, which are typically meant to be completed solo. By adding another person into the mix, they can combat a person’s decluttering frustrations, prevent distractions and make the process more enjoyable.

Shannon Murphy, Professional Organiser and Founder of Simpl Living Co, says that body doubling can also help with decision fatigue when decluttering.

She explains, ‘Decluttering alone can often feel daunting, which means people struggle to start or lose momentum. Body doubling can be especially helpful for people with ADHD or anyone who feels overwhelmed by the amount they need to do.’

After all, decluttering isn’t one big task that can be ticked off a to-do list in one fell swoop. Decluttering a single room can result in hundreds of tiny decisions that play on the mind and the emotions, and those who find it difficult to concentrate can often give up without making any headway. Especially if they feel alone and know they need to get rid of emotional clutter.

With another body to help, the decluttering process can ‘feel much more achievable,’ says Ellie Fife, Founder of Holistic Life Organising. ‘Having someone alongside you can help you stay on track, reduce distractions and prevent you from abandoning the task halfway through. It turns a task that can feel overwhelming into one that feels much more manageable, focused and supported.’

However, body doubling needs to be done correctly if you want to see - and feel - its impact on your home and your life.

How to use body doubling to declutter

1. Choose your helper wisely

Body doubling shouldn’t be confused with a morning natter with your best friend. To get the most out of this psychological hack, you need to choose your helper properly - and they also need to know what they’re getting into.

As Jo explains, ‘A body double can be a friend, family member or professional organiser like me, but they need to understand that their role is to support rather than take over. They should not pressure you to throw things away or make comments about what you own.’

She adds, ‘A useful body double might ask where an item belongs, whether you use it or what is making the decision difficult.’ So, if you struggle with motivation and distractions, you should avoid choosing a helper with similar characteristics or traits.

2. If there’s nobody to help, watch a video

If you struggle with social interaction, body doubling may not seem like the decluttering method for you. However, you don’t necessarily need someone in your home to help you tidy up your space.

Sometimes, watching someone completing similar tasks is enough to motivate you and encourage you to continue. Shannon says, ‘Watching decluttering videos on YouTube can create a similar effect by giving you the feeling of working alongside someone else while you complete your own task.’

This may not be as effective as having a physical person to help you, as it’s very easy to stop a video when there’s nobody there to hold you accountable. Nevertheless, it’s an alternative to consider if that isn’t an option you want to explore.

3. Agree on a starting point, and check in periodically

Decluttering an entire house - or even an entire room - can feel incredibly overwhelming. It can feel even more daunting if you’ve not tidied in a long time and clutter has built up. That’s why you may find it helpful to agree on a starting point when body doubling.

This can work in the same way as micro-decluttering, where you focus on a smaller task rather than the big picture. And Jo has found that many of her clients find this incredibly productive and that it reduces overwhelm when they’re struggling.

‘Agree on one small task at the start, such as sorting a single drawer, then check in when it is finished. The task needs to be specific. “Declutter the bedroom” is too broad and can leave you overwhelmed before you begin,’ she explains. Then, it should be easier to move from one smaller task to the next.

4. Set a timer, if that’s helpful

Everyone is different, but if you struggle with motivation and distractions, it’s typically best to declutter in short bursts. So, using a timer and decluttering for a fixed block of time can help when you want to see visible results - like a ten-minute declutter, for example.

Not only does this require only a short window of concentration, but it also helps prevent overwhelm and burnout when decluttering decisions begin to weigh on you. You can then take a breather and check in with yourself.

Can you handle another ten minutes? Or should you try again tomorrow? Body doubling may be a hack to boost productivity, but you also need to ensure that it’s working for you at the same time. So, give it a try and see for yourself.

Will you be trying this decluttering hack?

As Ideal Home’s Editor for all things storage and organisation, I normally like to practice what I preach and maintain a tidy, clutter-free home. But I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m letting the team down right now… and I have a recent house move to blame for that.

I’ve already written about how I decluttered before moving house to help combat extensive moving costs and streamline my belongings, but there were still a lot of boxes to contend with on moving day. And in my haste to unpack these boxes as quickly as possible, I didn’t put much thought into where these items needed to live. I just knew that I wanted the boxes gone ASAP!

Just over a week on, and I’m quickly realising that shoving items into any free space is not conducive to a tidy home. So, I’m embarking on a mission to turn my messy reality into an organisation-obsessive’s dream. This is what I’m snapping up to get the job done and bring my vision to life.

1. Drawer organisers

In my old house, I barely had any kitchen drawers. And while my pots and pans were neatly tucked away in a cupboard like people with tidy kitchen cupboards, this cupboard was on the other side of the kitchen, and it just wasn’t very practical for mealtimes.

Now that I have a drawer underneath the cooking area, my pots, pans and trays live there. However, they’re an absolute mess, and it’s extremely difficult for my husband to get what he needs to cook up a storm without having to take everything out and put it back in again.

So, to up the organisation ante in my kitchen, I’m using Ideal Home’s Digital Editor, Rebecca, as my source of inspiration. She uses IKEA’s OSBIT Plate Holder to organise her frying pans and pan lids, and it works a treat - but I’ve also heard great things about this Joseph Joseph DrawerStore Cookware Organiser (£20 at Amazon).

2. Airing cupboard essentials

Does anyone else struggle to store spare towels and bedding? In my old house, they had a dedicated storage space under my ottoman bed where they were out of sight and out of mind. Now, I’m storing them in the airing cupboard, but the height of the shelves makes it difficult for my 5'2" body to reach them.

However, our Sleep Editor, Amy, swears by using bedding storage bags for her bedding, so I’m going to invest in some too. They should keep bedding and towels tidy and contained, and these Lifewit 35L Clothes Storage Bags (£10.99 at Amazon) even have handles so I can quickly grab them and pull them down with ease.

Our Editor-in-Chief, Heather, also uses something similar for her larger bedding items - but then uses specific bedding files for smaller sheets and duvet sets to keep them folded and neat. The end result is an organisation dream, so you can bet your bottom dollar that I’ll be stealing this idea too.

3. Garden storage

I hit the jackpot with my new garden. This tiered beauty looks like it belongs at a Tuscan villa instead of a suburban house in Kent, and I absolutely love how unique it is. However, the only storage available for gardening tools and my husband’s DIY gear is right at the top of the garden and in a tiny metal shed that barely fits our lawnmower.

Considering our last house had a huge 10 ft x 6.5 ft shed, this is a massive downgrade - and one we’re already struggling with. Because of this, we’re rethinking our garden storage and adding alternative options to each tier for all of our garden cushions, plant pots, BBQ accessories, and anything else we might need.

One of the top contenders on my list is a garden wardrobe, which Ideal Home's Content Director, Lucy Searle, added to her garden earlier this year. It’s practical without being in the way, and tall enough to fit all of the larger garden tools we need to tame the many bushes and trees. For smaller items, I’m eyeing up a storage bench that will also double up as extra seating for the big garden party I have planned before the end of summer.

4. Under-the-sink organisers

Part of my job involves testing the best cleaning products on the market, so my under-the-sink cupboard is full to bursting right now. And while it’s only been just over a week since we moved in, I genuinely can’t take it anymore. So, I’m making some changes to make the products more accessible.

I’m taking inspiration from our Editor in Chief, Heather, who undertook her own under-the-sink cupboard evolution a few years ago - and she’s told me that they’ve undoubtedly helped her to maintain its tidiness during that time.

I particularly love her use of the lazy Susan, which she has paired with some pull-out drawers like this Housolution Pull Out Under Sink Storage Organiser (£21.99 at Amazon). However, there are so many other solutions out there, so I don’t think I’ll have any trouble taming this beast.

5. Shoe storage

My very grey, very boring new hallway has been taken over by shoes since moving in. And while we have this handy Kitsure Shoe Rack (£18.99 at Amazon) in the cupboard under the stairs for all of our shoes, this isn’t located in the hallway. So, when we get home, we’ve gotten into the bad habit of dumping them by the door.

Because of this, I’m in desperate need of a shoe storage idea for smaller spaces, as our narrow hallway just doesn’t have the space for my dream hallway storage setup. And I’ve considered a wall-mounted solution like this Karee Shoe Storage Shelf (£16 at Argos) for those everyday shoes that we use all the time.

However, our Print Assistant, Maddie, has also solved shoe clutter in her narrow hallway by using a dedicated IKEA unit, so I’m also going to add that to the ‘to consider’ pile. Whatever I choose, I definitely need to opt for something more compact to suit the cosier space.

Watch this space! I’m hoping these handy buys will turn my messy house into a tidy home in no time, but I’ll keep you updated on how I get on.

A messy house is a messy mind. And as someone who struggles to sleep at the best of times, I need my bedroom to be calm and clutter-free if I want any chance of catching some Z’s. However, that’s easier said than done when you have a cosier bedroom.

As they’re multi-purpose rooms, it’s often hard to follow in the footsteps of people with tidy bedrooms. They need to be equipped with everything you need to sleep, get dressed, store clothes and belongings, and even relax and unwind after a long day. And when you have a small bedroom, it can feel like it's bursting at the seams.

Of course, you can’t physically make a bedroom bigger without adding some costly renovations into the mix, which is why the only logical solution is to reduce the amount of things in your bedroom. So, I asked pro organisers what a small bedroom really doesn’t need, and what you can declutter now for a more peaceful environment.

1. Excess clothing

If you’re on a mission to organise a wardrobe in your small bedroom, it’s well worth taking the time to go through what you have and banish any clothing that you no longer wear - or that no longer fits. After all, we’re all guilty of holding onto excess clothing due to emotional ties or the hope that they’ll fit eventually.

As Shannon Murphy, Professional Organiser and Founder of Simpl Living Co, explains, ‘We wear 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time, which means there are usually many items taking up valuable space that are rarely worn.’ This then makes it impossible to keep clothes tidy in drawers and wardrobes.

That’s why Ellie Fife, Founder of Holistic Life Organising, suggests keeping ‘only the clothes that fit your current lifestyle’ as this creates more space in your bedroom and calms the chaos often created by an overflowing wardrobe. She also states that it can be ‘mentally freeing’ to let go of these items, so it’s a win-win.

2. Mystery cables and chargers

While most of us would love to keep bedrooms a technology-free zone, the reality is that we often have a lot of electronic items in our sleeping space. However, their cables and chargers add both visual and physical clutter to a small bedroom - especially when they’re for old electronics.

Ellie says, ‘Most people have a basket or drawer full of mystery chargers and old leads. If you haven’t used a cable or charger in over a year, and you no longer know what it belongs to, it’s worth questioning whether you really need to keep it at all.’ If you don’t, recycle them at your local supermarket to ensure they don’t just go to landfill.

If you do, decide if you need them in the bedroom or whether they would be better suited downstairs - or even in a dedicated charging drawer. If you do definitely need (or simply want) to keep these cables and chargers in your bedroom, take steps to minimise the wire clutter using dedicated charging boxes and tidies.

3. Expired or unwanted makeup and toiletries

When space is limited, everything has to earn its place and improve your life. That’s why small bedrooms really don’t need expired or unwanted makeup and toiletries cluttering drawers and surfaces when they shouldn’t be there in the first place.

Kate Dufton, Professional Organiser and Declutterer at Ace Your Space, says, ‘One of the biggest sources of bedroom clutter I see in my clients’ homes is makeup and toiletries. Often expensive, it can feel difficult to let go of products that weren’t quite for your skin, or you didn’t like the results. So we hold onto them ‘just in case’, but they simply become clutter.’

So, take this as your sign to organise your makeup and declutter any toiletries that have passed their prime - especially if you can’t remember the last time you used them. You can donate your lightly used products, and you can even recycle any empties using the Boots Recycling Scheme to earn points that can be used to save money in the long run.

4. Unnecessary furniture and decor

It’s no secret that certain furniture and decor can make your bedroom look dated, but these items can also make a small bedroom look - and feel - even smaller. Because of this, you should regularly assess the extras in your small bedroom to see if they’re still necessary additions.

If your bedroom is on the cosier side, it may be time to edit. Jo Helsby, Professional Organiser and Founder of Perfect Order, echoes this, saying, ‘An oversized bedside table is often one of the first things I would remove. Many people only need space for a lamp, phone and glass of water, yet the table takes up a large section of the room and quickly becomes another place to pile things.’

She adds, ‘I would also question keeping a chair in a small bedroom unless it is used regularly for sitting. In most homes, it becomes a holding area for clothes that are not quite clean or dirty.’ And the same goes for decorative cushions, too - especially if they just end up on the floor and clutter up valuable floor space. Ultimately, you want to prioritise the practical items.

5. Paperwork and work items

While you often have no choice but to maintain a multi-purpose bedroom, you should aim to limit its purposes if you have a small space. Otherwise, it can feel overwhelming, instead of offering a calm, sleep-ready sanctuary. That’s why Kate wants you to remove any paperwork or work items from a small bedroom, too.

She explains, ‘Seeing paperwork or tasks when you wake up or go to bed can make it harder to switch off, and it then feels more like an extension of your workspace than somewhere to relax. If you need a workspace, look for an alternative space to set up a small or fold-down desk.’

And even if you don’t have a dedicated home office, you can still take inspiration from people with tidy offices to ensure this alternative space remains clear and clutter-free, so it doesn’t impact other areas of your life or home. You could even use a stylish filing cabinet like this URFORESTIC Seagrass File Storage Box Organiser (£38.73 at Amazon) in any room of the house, as it’s extremely inconspicuous.

I’m incredibly guilty of buying holiday-specific items that I only use once or twice a year. Admittedly, there are very limited occasions for me to use a flamingo floatie on a regular Thursday. But it got me wondering whether there was a way to use some of my other holiday essentials when I get home, instead.

After all, I always make time to declutter before going on holiday, but nobody really talks about the post-holiday chaos where you have a suitcase full of travel toiletries, beach towels, souvenirs and packing cubes that need a home in your house. And normally, I shove them to the back of a cupboard, hide them in the spare room, and pretend they don’t exist until I next go on holiday.

But after speaking to professional organisers, I’ve discovered that one of these holiday essentials - packing cubes - can be used throughout the home to aid organisation and banish clutter. This is how they suggest using them, and how I’ll be making the most of them when I fly home.

1. Store out-of-season clothing

Holiday packing cubes like this 8-Piece Travel Packing Cubes Set (£15.99 at Amazon) are ideal for organising your outfits and even storing dirty clothes while you’re on holiday. But if their primary function is storing clothes, why aren’t we using them at home, too?

Shannon Murphy, Professional Organiser and Founder of Simpl Living Co, says we should all be making the most of packing cubes - especially if we want to store seasonal clothing and free up space in our everyday drawers and wardrobes. She says, ‘They can be placed in less accessible areas of your wardrobe or another storage space that you don’t need to access regularly.’

She also says they’re perfect for separating children’s clothes by size, so you can keep their current size in the wardrobe or drawers while still keeping the sizes they’ll eventually grow into readily accessible and ready to swap over when they have a growth spurt.

Just be careful when storing clothes made of cashmere, wool or silk, as these fabrics can attract moths during long-term storage. However, I’ve heard nothing but good things about these ecoKiwi Cedar Rings (28 Pack for £9.99 at Amazon), which you can slot into the packing cubes for moth protection.

2. DIY drawer and wardrobe organisers

I recently completely re-organised my drawers using dedicated clothes organisers from Amazon, but it turns out I could have saved my money and used the packing cubes I had left over from my last holiday instead. In fact, Ellie Fife, Founder of Holistic Life Organising, says they can turn an ‘organised dumping ground’ into a tidy and clutter-free space.

‘Packing cubes are ideal for creating contained categories in drawers, cupboards and shelves,’ explains Ellie. ‘In a wardrobe, they can be used to keep accessories together, or store items like swimwear, scarves and gloves.’

The same can be said for drawers in any room of the house, as these packing cubes can help organise clothes, tidy up a junk drawer in the kitchen, or even organise cosmetics in a bathroom vanity. The bonus is that packing cubes are typically much cheaper than plastic or wicker containers, too, and you can even zip up the lids to hide visual clutter.

This also allows you to stack them, and if you opt for compression packing cubes like these ANTLER - Compression Packing Cubes, Set of 4 (£50 at Amazon), you can fit even more in your drawers and wardrobes - without them physically taking up even more space.

3. Make grab-and-go bags

Kids and hobbies require a lot of things. But when you’re running late for your children’s swimming lessons and struggling to find their costume or goggles, you often leave a mess in your wake. The more this happens, the more chaotic your house becomes.

This is where a grab-and-go bag can help, and Ellie says that ‘creating grab-and-go bags for swimming lessons, sports clubs or weekends away’ can help to combat clutter as you always know where these items live. Popping them in your hallway or utility room means that when you’re ready to leave, you can simply grab the bag… and go!

But these grab-and-go bags don’t just have to be for when you leave the house. If you’re into your crafts, you can fill a packing cube with all your crafting materials to keep them safe and easy to grab when you need them. You could even add this Lifewit Plastic 36 Bead Grids Craft Storage Box (£16.99 at Amazon) for smaller, fiddly items.

This way, your crafting items will always have a dedicated home, and they won’t end up strewn around your home. Alternatively, you could use packing cubes for storing your kids’ artwork when you just don’t have any space left on the fridge. Then, they’re safe without taking over your entire house.

4. Store spare bedding

Most of us have spare bedding, but everyone knows how hard it is to organise bedding when it’s impossible to fold a fitted sheet and duvet sets look messy no matter how you attempt to store them. But according to pro organisers, storing spare bedding is just another way to reuse holiday packing cubes when you’re not actually on holiday.

Ellie explains, ‘They can be used for spare bedding, guest towels or blankets, helping to keep linen cupboards more organised - bonus if you label them by what’s inside and/or bed sizing.’ In fact, using labels alongside your packing cubes just seemed to come up time and time again.

Shannon agrees that labels are a no-brainer, saying, ‘Adding labels to your packing cubes is a simple but effective way of knowing what you are storing. This allows you to quickly identify the contents without having to open multiple bags and helps maintain an organised system.’

This should keep your home tidier, too, and the good news is that labels are extremely cheap. You can even pick up this 250 Pack of Double Dragon Address Labels from Amazon for just £3.94.

Who needs expensive storage when you have holiday packing cubes at your disposal?

The end of the school year always comes with mixed emotions for the kids and me, mostly because our routines are messed up, but I digress. The one thing that I wasn't prepared for was the sheer amount of artwork and schoolwork both of my daughters brought home. It was pretty much an entire year's worth of creativity landed in my hallway in one afternoon.

As much as I genuinely would love to keep every single piece because I'm a big softie, tend to hold on to things that hold sentimental value and find it super hard to get rid of emotional clutter, I knew with the sheer volume, this wasn't going to be realistic. I also wasn't about to cover my fridge with it all, only to face the impossible task of deciding what deserved to stay and what needed to go.

Instead, I wanted a way to celebrate what they'd made without immediately forcing myself to sort through an enormous pile (and hide it from them in the process!). The solution has meant I can display their artwork beautifully now and decide what to keep later. These are the things I've invested in to showcase them, and it turns out they're the perfect delay tactic!

1. A front opening art frame has taken the pressure off

The best thing I've bought is a front-opening children's art frame, £8.49 from Amazon. From the outside, it looks like a normal picture frame, but it opens up to store several pieces behind one display.

It means I can pop quite a number of pictures into the frame without having to edit the collection down too much straight away. The latest masterpiece sits proudly at the front, while all the others are kept safely behind until I'm ready to go through them. When I remember (seldom), I have changed up the picture.

Professional organiser Shannon Murphy, founder of Simpl Living Co. says parents shouldn't feel guilty about being selective. 'An art gallery doesn't display every piece of art an artist has ever created; it curates a collection of the best pieces with the best stories,' she says. 'The same principle applies to children's artwork.'

2. I've given their favourite pieces a proper home

Rather than keeping all their artwork downstairs, I've framed a handful of extra special pieces in their bedrooms.

I also have a pinboard (£16.99 at Amazon) in one of my daughters' rooms, which has become the perfect place to display certificates, photos and little creations she's proud of. It's easy to swap things in and out as new masterpieces come home, and it gives her a dedicated space to celebrate everything she's achieved throughout the year.

Seeing their artwork displayed like pieces of real art makes them so proud, and it also means those standout creations become part of their bedrooms rather than disappearing into a storage box.

Shannon also recommends getting children involved in choosing what stays if they're old enough. Asking them which pieces they're most proud of often reveals lovely stories or memories behind the artwork, which can even be written on the back before it's stored away.

3. A magnetic display makes it easy to rotate new masterpieces

Instead of adding more to my fridge, I've also added a magnetic arch wall sticker, from £21.99 at Amazon, in their playroom, which acts like a little gallery space.

Whenever they bring home something new, we simply swap it over with another picture with no tape or Blu-Tack needed, and they love choosing what to feature each week.

If you do like displaying artwork on the fridge, Shannon suggests introducing a simple one-in, one-out rule, where every new masterpiece replaces another. It's an easy way to keep displays looking intentional while helping children learn to make thoughtful choices about what they treasure most.

4. I'll sort through everything when I get time

Eventually, when things are quieter, I'll go through the collection I've stored away in a box and keep the pieces that really capture each stage of their childhood, storing them safely to look back on in years to come.

Shannon suggests photographing favourite creations and turning them into an annual book if space is tight, or storing originals in a large artist's portfolio case, like this from Amazon for £22.99, or a display book like this one (£14.44 from Amazon) to keep them flat, protected and organised.

Having somewhere to display and temporarily store all of their artwork has taken away the pressure completely. I get to enjoy everything they've created, and my daughters can proudly see their work on display.

Then I can choose what to keep when I'm ready (and they forget about them), rather than making snap decisions I'll probably regret, just to keep the clutter to a minimum.

If you’re in the market for handy and affordable kitchen storage solutions, get yourself to your local Lidl middle aisle as the supermarket is about to drop fridge and cupboard organisers from just £1.99 - this is what I’m snapping up for my tiny kitchen.

As I write, I’m looking at my tiny kitchen, and I’m determined to put some small kitchen storage ideas to good use. When you lack space, organisation and a few clever storage solutions are paramount for a tidy kitchen - and I’ve definitely seen my space descend into chaos when I lack these features.

Lidl’s new fridge and cupboard organisers drop on Sunday (2 August), and I’m not missing out on the opportunity to smarten up my cabinets and organise my fridge more efficiently.

For context, I have a small fridge and freezer built into my worktop, and about two kitchen cupboards for food storage. One of these cabinets has become a mini seasoning pantry, where I keep all my spices. Using my trusty shelf inserts (like this £16 Argos Home insert), these items all stay relatively tidy.

I can’t say the same about my dry goods, which seem to be in a permanent state of disarray. But this is where Lidl’s Kitchen Cupboard Organiser With Three Compartments (£1.99) will come in handy when organising kitchen cupboards. With three equally spaced compartments, it’s ideal for storing bags of rice, pasta and orzo (all of which are currently shoved in my cupboard with no thought behind it).

It’s also suitable for use in the fridge, and a great way to keep food groups together and in one place. If you like multiple cheeses, you can keep them together, or if you haven’t already invested in a produce saver, it can keep fresh produce in one place - reducing your chance of forgetting about veg in the back of the fridge.

Lidl also has a Kitchen Cupboard Organiser With Handles, which is a large container measuring L25.4 x W15.2 x H12.7cm. The brand will also be selling a more space-saving Kitchen Cupboard Organiser With Lower Front, which can store everything from fresh fruit to canned goods.

All organisers can handle a range of temperatures from -20 to 40°C and are made from transparent plastic to make it easy to identify their contents. The products will only be available in store. If you don’t have a Lidl local to you, I’ve rounded up a few more affordable options you can shop online.

A tidy and organised kitchen really does make all the difference on how it operates, and whether you actually enjoy spending time in yours. These Lidl organisers may seem like a small detail, but they will make a big difference to the run of your kitchen.

I may be Ideal Home’s Editor for all things cleaning and organisation, but I still feel like I’m constantly fighting a losing battle with my house. In fact, clutter continues to build up on a daily basis despite my best efforts, and I know I’m not alone in this.

And while I’ve been taking steps to learn from the things people with a tidy home always have, sometimes I find it easier to understand what I’m doing wrong rather than what everyone says is right. That’s why I decided to ask professional organisers what those who always seem to have a streamlined, clutter-free home actively avoid.

It turns out that a tidy and organised home requires you to steer clear of decluttering mistakes that can have disastrous consequences. And while this list of mistakes is quite lengthy, the pro organisers all agreed that they see these three clutter catalysts more than most - and I’ve even been making them myself.

1. Leave things to ‘deal with later’

When you have a busy life, leaving rubbish on your kitchen worktops or empty contact lens cases on your bathroom vanity isn’t at the top of the priority list. But I know from personal experience that leaving one day’s worth of clutter can quickly add up to a whole week - and that ‘deal with it later’ mentality results in a very messy home.

That’s why Shannon Murphy, Professional Organiser and Founder of Simpl Living Co, says you should try and deal with home items as soon as possible. ‘People with tidy homes never put something down when they could put it away. Instead of leaving something on the side to deal with later, they put it back where it belongs straight away,' she explains.

Of course, some people might not be able to do this immediately. If that’s the case, you could take advantage of a clutter bucket to temporarily remove it from a surface. But Shannon advises that you ’return everything to its proper place each evening’ and never leave it for more than 24 hours.

2. Overfill storage

I’m a sucker for pretty-but-practical storage baskets, and use them a lot throughout my home. And while they’re ideal for tackling clutter, Shannon says that they can also cause even more problems if you overfill them. She explains, ‘Good organisation isn't about squeezing more into your cupboards.’

Tidying guru Marie Kondo also said the same when I interviewed her recently, as she warns that too many people buy storage without actually dealing with clutter and getting rid of items that no longer serve them. Instead, you need to use proper decluttering methods to streamline your home and prevent overfilling your cupboards, wardrobes, baskets and boxes.

Thankfully, there are so many ways to get rid of items after decluttering, but Shannon says, ‘If you're planning to sell something, give yourself a realistic deadline. If it hasn't sold within that timeframe, donate or give it away rather than letting it become permanent clutter.’

3. Buy items without knowing where they'll go

Working for a homes magazine means I’m constantly surrounded by pretty home decor and handy appliances that I often don’t have the space for. And Kate Dufton, Professional Organiser and Declutterer at Ace Your Space, says that buying them is just another reason why my house is never tidy.

She explains, ‘When everything has a designated home, tidying becomes much quicker and easier. You'll save time because everything is easy to find, and you're far less likely to lose things. It can also help prevent overbuying.’ And when I buy these items on a whim without knowing where they will live, I’m simply adding more fuel to the fire.

Thankfully, that doesn’t mean that I can’t buy anything else ever again. Employing the one-in-one-out decluttering method can help when you want to buy new items but want to maintain a clutter-free home, and Kate suggests keeping these must-have items ‘accessible in their designated space’ so I can use them without them encroaching on my space.

Have you been making these mistakes?

Thanks to the constant barrage of dirty plates, washing-up sponges and soap bottles, it often feels impossible to maintain a tidy, clean kitchen sink area. And as I can’t look at this area without my stress levels rising significantly, I often ignore it and pretend the clutter doesn’t exist… which just makes things even worse.

Admittedly, I’ve taken steps to be like the people with tidy under-the-sink cupboards over the past few months, and this has made a huge difference to my once-messy kitchen. But while I’ve tackled the space underneath my sink, the area above and around it still needs work.

So, in an effort to keep my sink area as tidy and as clean as possible, I’ve asked my most organised friends, family and colleagues what they use to restore order and keep everything from soap scum to limescale at bay. This is what they said.

1. Clever storage

Smart storage is key to a consistently tidy home, and the good news is that kitchen sink storage comes in so many different shapes and forms. For example, a sink organiser like this Joseph Joseph Stainless-Steel Sink Organiser (£29.99 at Amazon) has space for your washing-up liquid, scrubbing brush, and your sponges.

Keeping these smaller items together by the sink is ideal for keeping this (admittedly very ugly) clutter from spreading out across your entire kitchen. However, if space is really limited, you can also utilise the sink itself by opting for something like this NiHome Extendable Over Sink Kitchen Organiser (£11.99 at Amazon), which sits on top of the sink for extra storage.

Then, you have storage in the under-the-sink cupboard, which is your best friend if you want to remove as many items from the sink area itself. By rehoming this visible clutter, you’ll make the space look (and feel) bigger. Not to mention that it’ll be so much easier to clean and tidy.

2. An expandable sink drainer

If you don’t have a dishwasher, your sink area probably takes a beating while washing up - especially as small draining boards just aren’t big enough to deal with the number of plates, bowls, and mugs we use daily. That’s why people with tidy sink areas make the most of expandable sink drainers.

This is something everyone needs to maintain tidy kitchen worktops, as these expandable dish drainers can work with your washing-up needs rather than against them. And if you only have a couple of glasses and pieces of cutlery to wash up, you can keep it small. If you have lots to wash up, you can make it bigger.

This will stop your soggy, wet kitchenware from migrating across the rest of your worktops, which can make things look messy and cause water pooling. If you opt for one like this Argos Home Expandable Dish Rack (£28 at Argos), it also has a drip tray and spout to ensure all excess water makes its way back into the sink.

3. A sink cover

I’ve been on the hunt for handy clutter-busters for a small galley kitchen, and sink covers have come up time and time again. These products do exactly what they say on the tin: they cover your sink, hiding what’s underneath.

This can help you if you’re in a pinch and trying to tidy before guests arrive, but don’t want to waste water on washing up a few bits. You can use something like this Tomorotec Roll Up Sink Cover (£12.99 at Amazon) to cover any to-be-washed items, and it even doubles up as a drying rack when you need it, too.

In fact, the beauty of sink covers is that they can be dual-purpose - and you could even just buy a chopping board to hide sink clutter while also creating more worktop space for more practical kitchen tasks. Just be warned that you’ll still need to do the washing-up eventually.

4. Pretty bottle alternatives

You should never underestimate the power of decanting when you’re trying to keep a space tidy and clean. That’s because the packaging of the many products you use in and around a kitchen sink area - including washing-up liquid and hand soap - is probably making your space look messy.

Visually, they’re often very different sizes, colours, and shapes, which can instantly add clutter to your space. But decanting them into pretty, matching bottles can instantly rein in this clutter and add visual intrigue to your sink area. Especially if you opt for sleek, stylish bottles like this MaisoNovo Hand and Dish Soap Dispenser Kitchen Set (£30 at Amazon).

If you choose refillable cleaning products like this Miniml Washing Up Liquid Refill 5L (£15.99 at Miniml), you can also buy in bulk without having to buy countless bottles which will go straight in the bin. So, it’s an eco-friendly win, too.

5. A regular cleaning routine

It’s all well and good keeping a kitchen sink area tidy, but you also need to keep it clean if you want it to be something you’re proud of. And it may sound silly, but putting your sink ‘to bed’ as part of your closing shift cleaning routine is always a good idea.

This involves washing up any straggling cutlery or mugs, wiping the sink and draining board down to remove any standing water, and scooping out any food stuck in the drain. I’d also suggest using these EcoZone Drain Cleaning Sticks (£9.99 at Amazon) once a month to clean a kitchen sink drain.

If you need to remove any limescale or banish soap scum, it’s also well worth cleaning with white vinegar to allow this naturally acidic cleaner to break down the grime. Just be warned that you can’t use white vinegar on natural stone sinks as this could cause damage.

So, I guess having a tidy (and clean) kitchen sink area isn't that hard after all...

While most people focus on tidying and organising the rooms they use (and see) on a daily basis, the reality is that the areas you use less typically need more attention. And the one area we all forget to declutter? The garage.

Of course, most people don’t want to spend their summer decluttering the garage. But with the kids off school, some free time on your hands and the warmer weather keeping things dry, professional organisers say that now is the perfect time to do it. Especially as your garage has probably become a dumping ground.

As Kate Dufton, Professional Organiser and Declutter at Ace Your Space, explains, ‘Garages become the home's unofficial storage unit, much like the loft. Before you know it, the space feels overwhelming and becomes somewhere you avoid altogether.’ So, follow these easy steps to reclaim your garage once and for all.

1. Start with a vision

Today, garages have so many uses, from storing summer essentials like tents and bikes to even a spare freezer. But as Shannon Murphy, Professional Organiser and Founder of Simpl Living Co, warns, ‘Garages are often one of the most cluttered areas of the home because they become a dumping ground for broken items, things people plan to sell and possessions they're undecided about.’

But since a garage has so many uses, it’s important to make a plan before you start decluttering it this summer. The best way to do this is to figure out what you want to use the garage for. Is it simply a place to store the car? If so, you’ll need to get rid of anything unrelated to your vehicle. Or does it need to offer more?

Kate advises, ‘Think about exactly what needs to live in the garage - tools, gardening equipment, decorating supplies, camping gear or sports equipment. Having a clear vision will help you make better decisions about what stays and keep you motivated throughout the project.’

2. Choose your method

There are countless decluttering methods out there, as decluttering is a very personal activity that needs to be tailored to how you work best. And if you prefer to tick things off your list in a single sitting, Shannon says that emptying everything and starting from scratch is your best bet - especially in the summer when you have more time on your hands.

‘Choose a dry day and remove everything from the garage. Seeing the space empty and grouping similar items together makes it much easier to decide what to keep,’ she says. However, if you struggle with decision fatigue and clutter overwhelm, this method might not work for you.

In this instance, Hester Van Hien, a Home Decluttering and Organising Consultant from Tidylicious, suggests breaking the task into chunks instead. She advises, ‘This makes it easier to see the wood for the trees, and it can be a good warm-up for the actual decluttering. Start in one corner, and pull things out and organise everything by type or category.’

3. Utilise proper storage

The garage is one of the many places we’re all forgetting to declutter, but there’s often a reason for that - and that’s because we often don’t have the proper storage in place to keep things neat and tidy. That’s why, when decluttering your garage this summer, it’s well worth investing in effective storage to help you maintain this order in the long run.

Kate says, ‘Racking is essential in a garage to maximise the vertical space and keep your belongings off the floor. Use plastic containers on the shelves to store items, keeping them accessible and protected. If you have lots of tools or gardening equipment, consider investing in some wall-mounted storage so you can see everything at a glance and access it quickly.’

She adds, ‘Bikes also work well on wall-mounted hooks, freeing up floor space. And if you have a lot of sports equipment, use hooks and storage boxes to keep it organised.’ Thankfully, these storage solutions don’t have to cost a fortune - but they will make a big impact.

4. Label everything

Labelling can make or break a newly decluttered garage, as it adds an extra layer of organisation that will help you keep things neat and tidy in the long run. And Kate even goes as far as to say, ‘This bit is crucial.’

Shannon agrees, saying, ‘Rather than opening every box looking for one item, label each container or keep a contents list, so you know exactly what's inside.’ This goes for the rest of your household, too, so you won’t have any family members rummaging through the boxes and messing with your system.

This should also prevent the accidental purchase of any duplicates, too, as you’ll know exactly what you already have, so you don’t buy any more or waste your money. Just make sure you go through these boxes every to ensure you definitely still want and need the items inside them.

So, will you be decluttering your garage this summer?

I don’t know about you, but my fridge gets very full over the summer months, packed with picky bits, BBQ essentials, and fresh fruit and veg for those hot-weather meals. But while I’ve generally been a ‘shove it where there’s space’ kind of fridge organiser, experts say I’ve been doing it all wrong - especially in the midst of a heatwave.

Of course, many of the most common fridge organising rules revolve around cross-contamination and bacteria. But as AO's refrigeration expert, Jade Golding-Gault, explains, ‘As temperatures rise, your fridge must work harder to maintain a consistent temperature and keep food cool. Many people don’t realise that fridge temperatures are not consistent throughout and can differ per shelf.’

Because of this, you may need to reassess your summer fridge organisation and start moving things around to maximise freshness and minimise food waste. This is easy enough to do, though.

1. Make the most of the salad drawer

One of the biggest food organisation myths is that it doesn’t matter where you store items in a refrigerator, but that simply isn’t true. Most fridges are designed with designated areas for certain foods, especially fresh fruits and vegetables.

Jade says these need to go in the salad drawer during the summer months. She explains, ‘It may seem obvious, but the salad drawer is a crucial area of your fridge. These compartments are designed to maintain the right humidity levels, helping produce stay crisp and reducing food waste.’

If you don’t have enough space in your salad drawers for everything, there are ways to fake it so you can store food to make it last longer. These StayFresh Produce Keepers (£12.99 at Lakeland) are designed to do just that and can be placed on any shelf if you really don’t have any space. Just be warned that the temperature won’t be as stable.

2. Move your milk (if you can)

Whether you prefer cow’s milk, oat milk, soy milk or even pea milk in your morning cuppa, there’s a high chance that you pop your milk in the door of your fridge - and for good reason, too. It seems like the most logical place to put it, given the bottle's shape and size and the space available in the fridge.

But experts say that storing your milk in the fridge door can cause it to spoil more quickly in the summer. Chris Grundy, Senior Product Manager for Cooling at Haier, says, ‘Despite the built-in bottle shelf, the fridge door is actually the warmest part of the appliance because it's opened so frequently. For maximum freshness, milk should be stored on a middle shelf instead.’

However, I appreciate that this isn’t always possible, as many milk bottles and cartons are just too large to fit on a shelf. I’d also advise against storing it on its side, as this is a recipe for disastrous leaks. So, if you really can’t store it on a shelf, make sure you limit how long you keep a fridge door open.

3. Try not to overfill it

The key to a fridge full of fresh food is airflow and organising it so it’s never packed too tightly. And this is even more important during the summer, when temperature fluctuations already threaten your food's freshness.

Chris warns, ‘Overfilling the fridge is a common mistake. Cold air needs room to circulate, so leaving a little space between items helps maintain an even temperature throughout the appliance.’ And this is where fridge organisers like this selection of Dunelm fridge organisers can help you do that, as you can move and stack them in a way that allows for this airflow.

Ideally, you should aim to keep your fridge around 75% full, leaving 25% for cold air to circulate and maintain cooler temperatures. Doing this can also save you money in the long run, but if you’re really struggling for space, you could also try freezing more items in bags like these Amazon 1 Litre Freezer Bags (£1.74 at Amazon).

4. Unpack food as soon as you can

Temperature changes in a fridge become even more dangerous when the food inside is already starting to thaw. That’s why one of the biggest summer fridge organisation tips you shouldn’t ignore is to load up your fridge immediately after a food shop.

This should prevent your food from getting too warm - especially during a heatwave - and I swear by my Trolley Bags for Shopping Trolley (£24.95 at Amazon) for getting food out of the supermarket, into the car, and then into my fridge quickly and efficiently.

You should also take care when storing any cooked food, too. And Chris advises, ‘If you've cooked food, allow it to cool before refrigerating it, as placing hot dishes straight into the fridge raises the internal temperature.’ This can then have a knock-on effect on the other food in the fridge.

5. Adjust the temperature, if needed

While it’s not technically an organisation tip, knowing what temperature a fridge should be set at is even more important during the warmer months of the year, as this - combined with poor organisation - can wreak havoc on your food. Plus, some fridges can struggle in the heat without you realising.

James Cooper, Senior Product Manager for Refrigeration at Hotpoint, says, ‘Your fridge should be between 3 and 5°C, but during a heatwave, older models can fluctuate by 5-7°C throughout the day. If your fridge is too warm, food will start to go off, smell bad, or could even develop mould.’

He adds, ‘To ensure food stays fresh, your appliance needs to be able to maintain consistent temperatures – especially when the weather turns warmer.’ So, it’s worth understanding what the numbers on your fridge dial actually mean and maybe even investing in a standalone thermometer like this Salter Fridge Freezer Thermometer (£9 at Amazon).

So, take some time this week to re-organise your fridge for summer! Your food (and your wallet) will thank you for it.

Although it’s often the smallest area in our homes, we expect our hallway to hold everything from shoes and coats to bags and dog leads. And that’s before I mention the important letters and parcels we receive - or the ones we want to send out. That’s why I was incredibly intrigued when I spotted this clever Seagrass Letter Holder Basket (£8 at Dunelm).

Yes, while I do everything I can to be like the people with consistently tidy hallways, I find that paperwork and parcels create clutter that I can’t seem to shift - especially when they’re important letters that require my attention before they can be thrown away or popped in the post box.

The Seagrass Letter Holder Basket offers an alternative, though. By hanging this on your hallway wall, you can prevent letters from cluttering your console table (or even your floor) while still keeping them within easy reach so you don’t lose them. And it’s the clutter-busting addition my hallway has been crying out for!

Many of the hallway storage solutions out there aren’t equipped to deal with the onslaught of paperwork and parcels we receive on a daily basis. Instead, they focus on larger hallway items like shoes, bags and coats.

Even the best pretty-but-practical storage baskets are typically too large to safely store loose paperwork in small hallways without them crumpling, ripping, or getting lost at the bottom. Plus, they’re typically shoved in a corner to be forgotten about, taking up much-needed floor space.

But Dunelm’s Seagrass Letter Holder Basket allows you to keep these important documents front-and-centre, while adding some natural warmth and intrigue to your hallway walls. All you have to do is hang it from your walls using a hook like these KINGLAKE 115 Pcs Screw in Hooks (£7.99 at Amazon).

If you’re a renter or just don’t want to make any permanent holes in your wall, you could also avoid drilling by using these Command Wire Toggle Hooks (£16 at Amazon). Either way, the sturdy rope handle will keep the basket slightly open, so you can easily grab what you need without having to take it down every time.

It also takes advantage of vertical space, which is a must when you want to create order in small homes with limited storage, as it keeps everything off the ground and makes a small space - like a hallway - look even bigger and tidier.

However, I think the beauty of this letter holder is that it doesn’t just have to store letters. In fact, I’m going to snap a second one up to hold all of my ugly dog walking accessories that I don’t want on show. This way, my dog’s leads and treat pouch will be readily available by the front door, without cluttering up the space.

The textured seagrass weave is also incredibly versatile, suiting any hallway style, whether you’ve opted for a natural boho look, a cottage-style vibe, or a more modern look. And for £8, can you really go wrong?! I don’t think so.

Shop letter organisers and baskets

A tidy, clutter-free hallway doesn't have to be expensive!

Everyone has one IKEA product they just can’t get enough of – from the viral BILLY bookcase to the simple but effective KALLAX units. But my standout has always been the RÅSKOG storage trolley. And its latest design upgrade has given me yet another reason to love it.

IKEA’s RÅSKOG storage trolley is a fan favourite, and for good reason. The slim design features three tiers of deep storage, perfect for smaller spaces or homes with limited surface area. And the easy-to-manoeuvre castor wheels help it slot seamlessly into any room.

I have a dark grey RÅSKOG trolley as storage in my small bathroom, housing everything from toothpaste and toilet paper to skincare products and makeup wipes. And, when I was at university, the trolley (complete with a NORRÅVA bamboo lid) was a game changer in my tiny accommodation.

I had a white trolley tucked neatly into a corner in my dorm room, where I stored a plethora of student essentials, from textbooks to make up. When the top shelf wasn’t in use, the bamboo lid transformed my trusty trolley into an extra surface.

As much as I’ve always loved the RÅSKOG, I often found myself longing for a colour that suited my style a little bit more than just black or white. And now, I’m spoilt for choice, as the RÅSKOG has launched in 4 new colourways.

IKEA’s products are often a go-to when it comes to transforming tiny homes, and it’s no secret that the brand makes storage fun. The new and improved RÅSKOG is proof of this, with 4 new colours – beige, light turquoise, pink, and red-brown – that are guaranteed to put a summer-ready spin on your storage solutions.

The pastel pink colour was the first to catch my eye. It feels fresh and fun, without stealing too much attention from the rest of your scheme. Pink kitchens are having a moment right now, and I think this subtle trolley would be a perfect kitchen companion – whether you use it to house those cupboard essentials you always find yourself reaching for, or stock it full of drinks and nibbles when hosting.

Or, for those who prefer a deeper shade, the red-brown trolley is a timeless piece that will elevate your storage from cluttered to chic. The terracotta style dropped earlier this month, making it IKEA’s latest RÅSKOG launch, and it’s one to consider when upgrading your small living room storage ideas if you’re searching for something both classic and practical.

The beige trolley is a great choice if you want your storage to be an extension of your scheme. It will subtly blend into your scheme, without the stark nature of the other monochrome colours. But, I have my eye on the light turquoise design for a fun pop of colour.

Alongside these new colour upgrades, IKEA have also introduced a slightly larger version of the trolley which is designed to suit every space. With prices starting at £19, you won’t want to miss out.

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Missed out on the cult IKEA trolley? Don't worry, try these instead.

When you’re already mourning the lack of holiday sunshine, an all-inclusive buffet and someone else cleaning for you, the last thing you want is to return home to a messy, disorganised house. That’s why it’s well worth taking some time to declutter and tidy certain areas of your home before you go on holiday to ensure a seamless, stress-free return.

There are many things to declutter in July, whether you’re going on holiday or not, but there’s no denying that it’s even more important if you’re heading off on an adventure during the summer holidays. And if you set aside just half an hour in between packing, you can pre-emptively keep overwhelm to a minimum when you get home.

But if you’re worried about fitting in a decluttering session in between your packing sessions, I’ve asked professional organisers to share the items you definitely should declutter before you go on holiday. They’re only small tasks, but they’ll have a big impact.

1. Your hallway

Your hallway is the first thing you’ll see when you get home after a holiday, and that first impression sets the tone for the rest of your day - and even the rest of your week. To combat this, take some time to organise your hallway before you jet off on your summer holidays.

Shannon Murphy, Professional Organiser and Founder of Simpl Living Co, echoes this, saying, ‘There's nothing nicer than coming home from holiday to an uncluttered hallway where you have space to bring in suitcases without immediately feeling overwhelmed.’ So, take some time to tidy up any loose shoes, store keys somewhere safe, or finally return that parcel.

It may be that you need to take inspiration from the things that people with tidy hallways always have, in which case I’d recommend investing in affordable shoe storage like this Karee 3 Shelf Shoe Storage Rack (£19 at Argos) and proper storage to house those ugly-but-practical items that don’t have a permanent home.

2. Your fridge

I’ve been on a mission to give my fridge some TLC recently, and I’ve lost count of the number of Fridge Storage Boxes (£2 at Dunelm) that I’ve bought to finally restore order. But even if your fridge is just as organised, you still have to declutter your fridge before you go on holiday.

Kate Dufton, Professional Organiser and Declutter at Ace Your Space, explains, ‘Fridges are often forgotten about in the pre-holiday rush, but it’s worth spending just 15 mins to remove any expired food and give the fridge a quick clean. Any food that will go out of date before you return can always be passed on to family or friends to prevent food waste. It’ll save you from any unpleasant smells with plenty of room for the big shop on your return.’

Decluttering and organising your fridge shouldn’t take long, but there's no point in binning food if you’re not going to empty your bins before going on holiday, too. I’d suggest leaving this task until the last minute, so you don’t accidentally leave any food in there.

3. Your worktops and surfaces

As Kate says, ‘Nobody wants to come home from holiday only to be greeted by clutter,’ and this clutter often congregates on surfaces like your kitchen worktops, bedside tables, window sills and more. This is even more common in the run-up to your holiday as you rifle through your drawers and cupboards to find holiday essentials.

But if you can spare ten minutes, it’s well worth clearing the clutter from these areas, getting rid of anything you no longer need and putting everything else back in its rightful home. And if you want to maintain these tidy worktops for as long as possible, utilising all of the space in your cupboards with these Kitchen Cupboard Organisers (£7 at Amazon) can work wonders.

Kate explains, ‘Clearing kitchen worktops and other everyday surfaces before you leave means you'll walk back into a home that feels calm and welcoming, helping you hold onto that holiday feeling for a little longer.’ And who doesn’t want that?

4. Your laundry area

Those piles of post-holiday laundry are equal parts terrifying and satisfying, but you probably don't want to add even more to your plate if you don't have to. That’s why your laundry area is another one of the areas to declutter before you go on holiday.

Hester Van Hien, a Home Decluttering and Organising Consultant from Tidylicious, says, ‘Try to have your laundry basket as empty as possible before going on holiday – and ideally your clean laundry put away in your wardrobe – so that you will only need to deal with your holiday laundry when you return home.’

I swear by this Joseph Joseph Tota 90-litre Laundry Separation Basket (£115 at Amazon) to keep my laundry in check. But if you want to keep that holiday feeling going, Hester also says it’s well worth changing your bed linen before you go on holiday so you can come home to fresh, crisp bedding when you get home.

5. Your paperwork

Whether you need to send a birthday card, pay bills, or book that doctor’s appointment, you should also tick this off your to-do list before you go on holiday. That’s because this paperwork can quickly add up, and leaving it until you get back can add both physical and emotional clutter to your life.

Shannon echoes this, saying, ‘Deal with paperwork before you leave, especially if you're going away for an extended period; deal with any bills or paperwork beforehand so you're not returning to unnecessary stress, emails or demanding letters.’

It might also be worth setting up a family command centre to keep track of this paperwork or any important documents - especially if you have kids or you simply struggle to keep on top of your schedule. Using a calendar like this Magnetic Fridge Whiteboard Calendar (£12.95) can also help with that.

By decluttering these things before going on holiday, all you need to worry about is enjoying yourself! Just remember to give your home a post-holiday reset when you get back.

During the summer months, our outdoor spaces become essential extensions of our homes. But no matter whether you have a cosy balcony, a large lawn or a smaller patio, it’s important to keep it tidy and organised. This way, you can enjoy every inch of your outdoor space without being overwhelmed by clutter.

And while it’s well worth taking tips from people with tidy outdoor spaces, sometimes being told exactly what to do isn’t the best way to maintain your garden. Instead, understanding what you shouldn’t do can help you correct bad habits and adjust your to-do list so you’re working with your outdoor space rather than against it.

So, to help you maintain a tidy and clutter-free garden, I’ve asked professional organisers what you should avoid for the most organised outdoor space you could ask for. This is what they said.

1. Use your shed as a dumping ground

As someone with a huge shed in my garden, I know just how easy it is to stash everything you don’t want on show in there. But as Shannon Murphy, Professional Organiser and Founder of Simpl Living Co explains, ‘You should never use the shed as a long-term storage unit for indecision.’ Instead, you need to take the time to declutter and organise your shed regularly.

This involves taking stock of what you have, what you no longer need, and what you can get rid of to restore order and keep on top of clutter. And as sheds often need to house smaller, loose items, Hester Van Hien, a Home Decluttering and Organising Consultant from Tidylicious, suggests, ‘Write a list – either using pen and paper or by making a note on your phone – of the items stored in your shed on it.’

The less you have in there, the more manageable it becomes, and the easier it is to effortlessly put things away in the future. But if your shed is simply too big for your needs, it could be worth downsizing from a shed to a garden wardrobe to dissuade you from using it as a dumping ground in the future. This can also open up more usable garden space for you to enjoy.

2. Keep plastic pots ‘just in case’

If you’re a green-fingered gardener who regularly buys plants from the garden centre, there’s a high chance that your outdoor space is full of plastic plant pots that you’re keeping because you don’t know if you’ll need them again. But the reality is that you don’t need them - not all of them, anyway.

Shannon explains, ‘If you never grow seedlings, these pots simply become clutter. Keep a small number if you genuinely use them, but recycle the rest.’ Thankfully, it’s very easy to recycle plastic plant pots and give them a new home instead of just sending them off to landfill.

By keeping your plastic plant pots to a minimum - say, one of each size - you can stop them from cluttering up your outdoor space. But if you really want to keep hold of more, you might want to consider buying a potting bench so that you can clearly distinguish your gardening area from your entertaining or relaxing area.

3. Let garden waste build up

The easiest way to clutter up your outdoor space is to fill it with rubbish - quite literally. And if you have leftover plant clippings, rubble from your latest DIY project or even old garden toys lying around, take this as your sign to get rid of it as soon as possible.

This is especially important, as a tidy garden is also a mind game. And if you already have a pile of garden waste in the corner of your garden, you’re more likely to continue piling it up and make your garden look even worse. That’s why Shannon says, ‘Regularly clearing waste keeps gardens looking aesthetically pleasing and easier to maintain.’

Keeping floor space clear is also one of the best ways to make a small garden look bigger, so it’s well worth understanding the new garden waste recycling rules to understand what can and can’t be put in your household garden waste bin. However, you should also compost at home and take a trip to the tip if needed.

4. Have multiples of the same item

An outdoor area often has to serve various purposes at the same time. Because of this, they also require many essential items, such as garden furniture cushions and garden tools. But having multiples of the same item is one of the bad habits professional organisers want you to avoid.

It’s easy to accumulate new items over the years, with many of us stocking up on garden decor simply because we like it and fancy new tools just because they offer something your old tools don’t. However, the reality is that you probably don’t need many of these things - and they’re cluttering up your outdoor space as a result.

These duplicate items are things a small garden doesn’t need, and large gardens can struggle under the weight of these extras too. That’s why Shannon suggests, ‘Keep the one you naturally reach for and let the duplicates go.’ And this applies to everything in your outdoor space.

5. Buy items without knowing where they'll go

Outdoor spaces are always evolving, but professional organisers want you to avoid buying items without knowing where they will go. Kate Dufton, Professional Organiser and Declutter at Ace Your Space, warns, ‘We can all be guilty of popping to the garden centre at the first sign of sun and getting carried away.’

She adds, ‘This often results in lots of new flowers, shrubs and other garden items, but with no plan of where they will go, which can be a costly mistake.’ This can also make a garden look messy, overfull, and unorganised. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t buy anything new at all.

You just need to be tactical about what you buy, and the one-in-one-out rule could help here, as with each new purchase, you have to get rid of something else to avoid a buildup of clutter. Hester agrees, saying, ‘I think it’s better to donate unwanted gifts to charity for someone else to love than for those items to gather dust in your home or dirt in your garden.’

So, give your garden some organisation love this summer!

As Ideal Home’s resident decluttering obsessive, I regularly take inspiration from professional organisers and experts to tidy and organise my own home. Recently, however, I’ve found myself in somewhat of a decluttering slump and enlisted Marie Kondo's help to understand where I was going wrong.

From her iconic KonMari folding method to her foolproof kitchen organising trick, the Japanese organising consultant, author and Netflix star has certainly made her mark in the decluttering and organising world. And Marie Kondo’s KonMari method of organising has had millions asking if their belongings ‘spark joy.’

But when I sat down with Marie Kondo recently, I wanted to focus on what I shouldn't be doing when tidying my home. Her response? I was making the same mistake she sees so many others make: focusing too much on storage and not enough on the items I’m storing.

Speaking exclusively to Ideal Home, Marie Kondo explained, ‘I feel that one of the most common mistakes people make when trying to tidy their homes is thinking about storage before deciding what to keep. Of course, storage is an important step in the tidying process, but storage alone cannot solve the problem.’

And while I’m a sucker for handy storage solutions, such as the best storage baskets, what she says makes sense when you think about it. After all, simply storing (or even hiding) things away doesn’t allow us the chance to edit and declutter our belongings - which is particularly essential in smaller homes with limited space and storage.

This means we’re constantly adding more to our homes, leading to clutter blindness and a constant battle to stay on top of the mess. Thankfully, Marie says that there’s a quick and easy solution to this.

‘Before thinking about storage, it is essential to first decide what to keep,’ she advises. ‘Choose only the items that spark joy for you, and let go of the rest. By doing so, the true volume of what you need naturally becomes clear.’

The organising guru says this should also help to prevent unnecessary purchases that strain our wallets and our homes, and that having a clearer understanding of what we have left should allow us to choose storage that works with our homes rather than against them.

However, my chat with Marie didn’t end there. She also shared some other tips for maintaining a tidy and organised home.

Marie Kondo’s tips for an organised home

1. Reassess how you feel when you come home

A recurring theme in Marie Kondo’s teachings is that your home should evoke feelings of serenity and calm. If it doesn’t, it’s a sign that something isn’t quite right. This is why you should always reassess how you feel when you come home at the end of the day - especially if you feel emotionally heavy.

Marie explains, ‘For example, you come home, but for some reason, you don’t feel a sense of relief. You find yourself spending more time looking for things. You open your closet and, even though it is full of clothes, nothing feels quite right, and you feel like you have nothing you truly want to wear.’

Of course, it can be difficult to declutter when you’re overwhelmed, but taking steps to get rid of items that no longer serve you or your home can make a huge difference.

2. Plan a ‘tidying festival’

There are so many decluttering methods out there, but Marie is a huge proponent of a ‘tidying festival.’ She calls this a ‘dedicated period of time to review all of your belongings, choose what you want to keep, and decide where everything belongs.’

The idea here is to keep only the items that spark joy and always make sure you give the items you’re keeping a designated, permanent home so they can be returned after each use. This should prevent clutter from building up on surfaces that you’d typically like to remain clear.

However, Marie does appreciate that this can be difficult. So, she advises, ‘Imagine your ideal lifestyle before you begin. Ask yourself: “What kind of space do I want to live in, and how do I want to feel there?” Once you understand your purpose and your goal, the way you experience the process changes completely.’

3. Tidy by category

Tidying a home can feel like a never-ending task, and many people choose to do it room by room. However, Marie Kondo’s KonMari method recommends tidying your home by category instead.

She explains, ‘The ideal order is clothes, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and sentimental items. That said, I understand that not everyone has the time to tidy an entire category at once. For those people, I recommend starting with a “small category.”’

For Marie, it’s all about small changes that add up to make a big difference, as something as simple as organising your sock drawer can take away the stress you often feel in the morning when you’re getting ready. It may also encourage you to continue these small steps until you’ve tidied your entire home.

4. Store items upright if you can

Whether you want to organise your clothes drawers or finally tackle your junk drawer, Marie suggests storing your items upright whenever possible. This will allow you to clearly see what you’re looking at and take stock of what you have so you don’t accidentally buy more.

She also adds, ‘For example, with clothing, if you don’t have enough space to hang everything in your closet, try folding your clothes and storing them upright in drawers. Not only does this allow you to make full use of the height of the drawer, but it also lets you see exactly what you have and where everything is.’

If you need help keeping these upright items tidy, Marie also recommends using dividers or small boxes to organise them into smaller categories. For example, socks with socks, pens with pens, etc.

Editor-approved organising tools

I’m definitely going to use Marie Kondo’s tips moving forward, and these are the products I recommend as an Ideal Home Editor to help those doing the same.