Chaos theory
How to conquer the clutter!
“In all chaos there is cosmos,
In all disorder a secret order” Carl Jung
… I’m looking around me at the carnage that is our downstairs and wondering whether I can get away with using Jung to justify the enduring mess… In all fairness to us, my partner just held his first solo exhibition in 10 years so a lot of what we’re contending with is the happy combination of frames, leftover beers from the PV and the usual laundry mountain but still, I’m struggling to find the beauty in it and the dog’s got a cross country route to her food bowl. In short, we need to sort it out and so this newsletter really couldn’t come at a better time because this week, dear reader, I have the pleasure of sharing the wisdom of Rebecca Galligan with you.
Loved by her loyal clients and blessed with a calm, capable energy, Rebecca is Oxfordshire’s expert in organised, clutter free homes. And what’s more she is entirely relatable and un-judgey. Drawers of dread? Cupboard of doom? She’s got you.
Let’s get to it:
Sabrina: Thanks for talking to The ShortHall subscribers, Rebecca! What are your hero storage items- the go-tos that you recommend to most clients?
Rebecca: That’s easy… tubs, turntables & baskets. But before I talk about those, I should say that I always assess people’s existing storage first as there’s no point buying shiny new storage if it’s not needed. There might be something adequate in place already or possibly something else lying around (never underestimate an old shoebox!) that could be repurposed/reused as storage elsewhere. It’s important to declutter a space first before you start organising or buying storage as you need to understand how much stuff you have left and if any additional storage is even needed.
If you do need a few extras to help you get organised then these are my faves…
Tubs: This is obviously quite a generic term but I’m talking about basic clear plastic rectangular tubs (in varying sizes). Great for containing categories of items together and almost creating drawers within cupboards or upon shelves. You just lift out a tub to access exactly what you need - rather than having to rummage around at the back of shelves potentially knocking other things over. I use them in kitchens (for things like herbs & spices, lentils & grains, pasta & rice packets), in utility rooms (for light bulbs, batteries, first aid & medication), they’re also great in bathrooms for toiletries or cleaning products. A great all-rounder.
Turntables: Again, these are all about providing ‘easy access’… Use them in a kitchen cupboard for oils, vinegars and sauces, or create a tea & coffee station. You will ALWAYS be able to see and reach what you need WITHOUT having to move several other bottles or jars out of the way first. These also work a treat for toiletries & cosmetics on a dressing table. One client once told me these were “life-changing”!
Baskets: Who doesn’t love a wicker basket? They look great but are also little lifesavers (or time savers at least). Larger floor baskets are great for storing toys or blankets, whilst smaller baskets are useful to have around the house just to make tidying up easier – clutter that gets left around on surfaces can quickly get thrown into the basket (and can be put away ‘properly’ another time) but at least the room looks tidier and calmer instantly.
S: Is there one thing we can all do everyday to help stay on top of the chaos at home?
R: That’s a tricky question, as home organisation is about finding simple systems and structures that work for you and your home specifically. But the one thing I find makes the most difference to me at the start of each day is coming down to a clear kitchen. It doesn’t need to be perfect or spotlessly clean but investing the time each evening to do a little ‘kitchen reset’ before you go to bed is well worth it (however tired or frazzled you are, you will thank yourself in the morning)! Just clear away the dinner, load the dishwasher, pop anything to soak in the sink, and try to keep the worktops as clear from clutter and you can and give them a quick wipe down. That’s all. Imagine how much nicer it feels walking into THAT space in the morning ready for your coffee as opposed to coming down to the chaotic aftermath of yesterday’s breakfast/lunch/dinner/homework/rubbish/unopened mail etc etc. You get the picture. It can really set the tone for the day ahead starting in a calm space!
S: What issues do you most commonly troubleshoot?
R: People do just have too much stuff sometimes. This isn’t a criticism, but a trait of today’s (modern and instant) lives where it’s too easy to over-consume because we think we need it or marketing tells us we do, or it’s on offer. But remember IT’S ONLY A BARGAIN IF YOU REALLY NEED IT!
I would say the 2 main areas I see time and time again are:
Food wastage… When kitchen cupboards are chaos and full to the brim you cannot possibly find what you’re looking for (even though it’s probably in there somewhere), you can’t face doing a proper food inventory before your food shop so you just buy the same items again that get shoved in the front of cupboards and get used (leaving the same older items festering at the back). Sadly, when I sort kitchens, there is often a huge amount of food that’s gone out of date for this very reason.
If you have an organised space with categories and food types clearly located together in easily accessible containers it makes your life so much easier. It makes meal planning & writing a shopping list much quicker (as you can see exactly what you have and therefore only buy what you really need), it ultimately saves you time and money and eliminates food waste. It also makes cooking a joy – with no hard hat needed to protect you from falling items from your overflowing cupboards!
Hundreds of toys (and children’s clothes)… It’s scientifically proven kids actually play more with less! When faced with too many options they can feel overwhelmed and just gravitate towards the same one or two items on repeat. And the same is true for clothes. So many parents really struggle to declutter these areas themselves as they say they feel guilty getting rid of things, but in my experience when it comes to kids’ stuff… out of sight = out of mind. Keep key toy categories that they go back to again and again like vehicles, construction, dolls, role play, arts & crafts, games & puzzles, but remove those that they’ve grown out of, or are broken, or that they have several of/similar items etc. If you feel bad, hide them in a box in your wardrobe for a few weeks and if nobody’s noticed or asked for them you are probably good to get rid (but just don’t let them see them again or they will want them)!
S: Tips for styling a space once you've got it in good order?
R: Keep it simple.
Clear the decks, remove clutter from all surfaces
Add a plant- they clean the air and bring some gorgeous green personality to any corner
Add a little basket to keep things tidy in!
S: Finally, Bex, what benefits do you see client's accessing as a result of your work?
R: The first thing I see in a client is joy. Joy and relaxed shoulders! And THAT is why I do what I do. I wanted to help people fall in love with their homes again and enjoy spending time there, not feeling stressed and overwhelmed by their surroundings. When everything is organised and has a clear structure or place clients can always find what they are looking for and it makes it easier to put things away again correctly too. Clients feel like they have more space, more time, more happiness and calm at home.
So if you are after a bit of that spacious, joyful, shoulders down calm at home then you can find out more about working with Rebecca in person here PLUS for those of you lovely lot who are just a bit further away she now offers virtual sessions too: think fairy godmother support of the coaching , decluttering and styling kind at the tap of a button. Modern day magic! Contact her here to find out more or DM her on Instagram @rebeccashomesort
Over and out and off I go to stare at the laundry, until next time,
SX
p.s don’t forget the upcoming subscribers treat in March