Christine’s Clear Out Guide - Categorise, Clear & Celebrate
Hello lovely people! It’s Christine here, your favorite home and lifestyle coach, with a fresh dose of motivation to help you tackle those cluttered corners and chaotic cupboards. It’s time for a clear-out—but we’re not just throwing things away and calling it a day. Oh no, we’re going to do this the Christine way: Categorise, Clear, and Celebrate!
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Clear out? Ugh, that sounds like making a huge mess.” Well, grab your favorite cup of tea, put on your favourite music, and let’s do this thing together, step-by-step. I promise, by the end of this blog, you’ll be doing the happy dance in your clean and organised home. Let’s break it down!
Step 1: Categorise
Before you dive in and start throwing out everything you don’t like (or don’t remember ever owning), let’s get organised. The first rule of clearing out is categorising. I don’t suggest that you just willy-nilly start tossing things.
Start taking everything out of the area/room you are working through and make piles of items like for like. You’ll soon see the duplicates emerge! Don’t worry about trying to create categories ahead of time, the categories will create themselves once you get in the swing of grouping things together. Now you have your piles, level 2 of categorising commences! Here are some categories to get you started:
Keep: If it sparks joy, if you use it often, or if it’s something you truly love, then it stays! This is your treasure chest. Embrace the positive vibes!
Donate: This is your chance to be a hero to someone else. That jumper that’s two sizes too small, or those books you’ve read (and now use as a doorstop)? Someone else will appreciate them. Be a good human and pass them on!
Throw Away: The things that no longer have a purpose in life. Broken gadgets, empty makeup tubes, and old receipts from 2016 that you definitely don’t need. Out they go!
Pro tip: Set a timer for each category—let’s say 15 minutes—and speed-sort like you’re on a game show. Ready, set, go!
Step 2: Clear
Alright, now that you've sorted everything into lovely neat categories, it’s time for the clear out to commence. The next step is to physically clear the space. This is where you get to say goodbye to clutter and hello to calm!
Take a deep breath, and start putting things in their new homes. Don’t overthink it. If something’s staying, find a spot for it that makes sense. Organise your wardrobe by colour, your desk by function, and your kitchen by “I need this every day” and “I only use this once a year.” Clear space = clear mind!
Bonus tip: Keep a “mistake pile” for things you’re on the fence about. If in doubt, pop it in the pile and revisit it at the end. Still unsure? Put it back where you found it and revisit it in a week. You’ll know if it’s still causing you stress or if it’s ready to go!
Step 3: Celebrate
Here comes the fun part! Now that you've pared down and made some tough decisions, it’s time to shift gears and think about where to give the special items their well-deserved home. I like to call this step "Celebrate" because it’s not just about getting rid of things—it's about giving the items that truly matter to you the pride of place in your home.
You know that vase your mum gave you for your birthday? Or the funky painting you bought during that spontaneous weekend trip? These pieces deserve more than just being shoved in a drawer or gathering dust in a corner. It’s time to celebrate them by showcasing them in a way that makes you smile every time you see them.
Create a dedicated space for your most meaningful things—whether that’s a shelf where you display family heirlooms, a cozy nook for your favorite reads, or even a chic little corner for that quirky lamp you love. When things are displayed thoughtfully, they stop being "clutter" and start becoming part of the vibe and story of your space.
Think of it like curating your very own art gallery! Treat each piece as a mini-celebration of the things that bring joy, warmth, and character to your home. You deserve it, and so do they.
A beautiful home isn’t just about having fewer things; it’s about making sure the things you do keep have a purpose and a place where they truly shine.
There you have it, guys! Categorise, Clear, and Celebrate. It’s a process that will leave you feeling empowered and proud of your clean and decluttered space. You’re not just clearing out your physical environment—you’re making room for new energy, new habits, and, dare I say it… an easier life!
So grab that binbag, put on your best playlist, and get to work! And don’t forget to share your success stories with me—I love seeing how you all make your spaces sparkle!
Until next time, keep calm and clear out! ✨
Christine at Home Xo