The root of happiness? Arguably, a clean and tidy home! Decluttering and minimising isn’t just a fad. Living with less is a fundamental change in the way many of us are living our lives. The philosophy is that owning less material things and living in a clean, organised space not only creates space in our home but in our minds, too.
But with so many decluttering trends out there, it can be hard to know what’s what! To discover which home purging trend might suit you, we’ve outlined the most popular below. And why we think you will love each one.
What is it? A method made famous in the hugely popular book, The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying Up. It is based on the ancient Japanese philosophy of respect toward material things.
How it works: It encourages tidying up by category — not by room. You ask yourself, "does this item give me joy?" If it does, keep it. If it doesn’t, thank it and let it go. You do this first with your clothes, then books, papers, miscellaneous items, and lastly, sentimental pieces.
Why we love it: It is a very thorough and meaningful way to declutter your home.
What is it? This Swedish method of unloading your possessions was popularised by Margareta Magnusson, whose motto is “If you don't love it, lose it. If you don't use it, lose it."
How it works: It sounds morbid because, in a way, it is. ‘Döstädning’ (death cleaning) is the process of tidying your home before you die, based on which objects will be of cherished and of value to loved ones after your death.
Why we love it: It embodies the idea of paying it forward, doing something for the good of others. And leaves you with a clean home and peace of mind!
What is it? A method that turns clearing out your home into a game. The book, The Minimalists, was brought into the limelight by Ryan Nicodemus and Joshua Fields Millburn.
How it works: You start fresh at the beginning of a month by getting rid of one item. The next day, two items. The third, three, and so on. Until you have decluttered nearly 500 items by the end of the month! Best "played" with a friend or family member in a different household to keep morale up.
Why we love it: A very efficient way of clearing out if done properly. You also start small, allowing you to build some confidence in decluttering.
What is it? A simple method of purging your home of unnecessary clutter. Items are sorted into four categories: put away, give away, throw away, and undecided.
How it works: Go room by room, setting up the four boxes in each. Set about filling the boxes with clutter, decided what to keep, donate, and chuck. The undecided box allows you to come back to and the item you are not sure about.
Why we love it: A straightforward, methodical way of decluttering that allows you to tackle one room at a time at your own pace.
What is it? A social movement where (predominantly young) people are opting to live more simply in smaller, more efficient homes. It’s a freedom philosophy that is gathering momentum, turning the idea of "bigger is better" on its head.
How it works: There are no hard and fast rules, but a tiny home is generally 100-400 square feet and can be bought or rented. They come in every shape and size, some with their own plot of land. The idea being by living tiny, you save money and can spend energy on the things of value to you — you find more joy in living with less.
Why we love it: A fundamental shift in lifestyle that is beneficial not only for your bank balance and well-being but for the environment as well.
We home this inspires you minimise the clutter in your home. Or, at the very least, reorganise your closet or clear out the cupboards!