Focus on what you value, not how much you have

Worried that embracing the KonMari method means whittling down your wardrobe to just four t-shirts and three pairs of shoes? Think again. “Unlike challenges that encourage you to ‘get rid of one item a day’, the KonMari method has rules about how to approach and undertake decluttering but doesn’t ever dictate what you should and shouldn’t keep,” explains Judith Clarkson, a professional organiser and KonMari consultant. “What sparks joy for one person is completely different to what sparks joy for another person, so the key is making sure that whatever you have at home sparks joy for you. If your passion is cooking, then don’t throw away items from your kitchen just to reach an arbitrary amount of utensils or pots and pans. If you’re a nighttime reader, move your bookshelf into your bedroom. The goal is always convenience and creating systems that work for each individual.”

Embrace the eclectic – but have some kind of a plan

If you’re a fan of bold and bright interiors, you don’t need to give them up in order to have an organised home. Just make sure that your choices are well thought out. “There’s a real misconception about maximalism being about just chucking everything at the wall and seeing what sticks, but my approach is a much more curated and considered version,” says Siobhan Murphy, a self-confessed maximalist and the designer behind Interior Curve. “It’s not about displaying a mishmash of items just for the sake of it. Every piece – whether it’s a vintage lamp or a bright pink rug – tells a story or has a memory attached to it. It’s that element of beauty that is most important and sparks joy for me.”

“My job as a consultant is to help people create an ideal living environment that still supports their daily lifestyle,” agrees Hassan. “Start with looking at how you go about your day, your behaviours, which parts of your home you come into contact with most often – and then assess the parts that are hindering you the most. Does your bathroom feel like a burden? Is it cluttered or chaotic? If so, how can we turn this into a place of calm? That might be by minimising, but it could also be leaning into colours, patterns and items that spark that visual joy, too.”

The modern way to Marie Kondo: how to be organised without your home feeling grey and sterile