If you’ve tried the KonMari method and you’re having no luck, here’s another easy tip to help you downsize your belongings: before you start clearing out, take a ‘before’ picture of the room or areas that you wish to work on.

According to author Rachel Hoffman, author of Unf*ck Your Habitat: You’re better than your mess, this simple trick provides motivation by showing how far you’ve come, and it can also be helpful in highlighting the areas that most need attention – especially the ones that you might not spot at a quick glance.

But perhaps the best thing about this trick is the potential for satisfying ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures – proving that all that effort really was worth it.

In turn, those ‘after’ pictures can also come in handy if the area starts getting messy again, reminding you how nice it looked when it was clutter-free, and providing another sneaky dose of motivation to continue keeping an eye on any incoming clutter.

So grab your camera, go forth and tidy. The minimalist home of your dreams is only a few snaps away.

Image: Slywia Pietruszka

Declutter your home with this one clever trick