Most of us don’t think we’re hoarders. And yet? “The average person has far more clutter than they think,” says professional organiser Rachel Burditt, better known to her 100,000 followers as The Declutter Darling. “The funny thing with clutter is that after a while, you stop seeing it because you’re so used to it being there. But it still affects you. It makes it harder to find things, cleaning takes longer and your home can end up feeling stressful without you really knowing why.”
“It’s not usually because you’re untidy, it’s just how we live now,” she continues. “It has never been easier to buy things. You can order something in a couple of minutes and have it at your door the very same day. One or two purchases here and there don’t seem like much, but over time they really add up.”
Then there’s the temptation to keep things “just in case”. “We tell ourselves we will use that kitchen gadget one day, wear that dress again, need that random cable or finally get round to that hobby,” she says. “But if we’re honest, that day often never comes.”
The good news is you don’t need to embrace minimalism or empty half your house into a skip.“Decluttering isn’t about getting rid of everything or having a picture-perfect home,” she says. “It’s about making your home work for you, instead of against you.”
