We’ve all spent A LOT of time at home this year thanks to lockdown, quarantine, working from home and all the other joys Covid-19 hath wrought. If, like me, you got very tired of looking at the same stuff day after day indoors and became acutely aware that your house was in need of decluttering and reorganising then I’ve got an expert for you to meet! Hannah Ashwell-Dickinson will come to your home and help you shed the stuff you don’t need and organise what remains in a way that makes daily life easier. An organised home helps family life flow better and is good for your mental health!
Hannah visited my flat to introduce herself and give advice on how to organise a home. She provided me with product suggestions to help organise items in the house and make them more accessible. I found her to be a calm source of encouragement and handy tips! I loved how she referred to certain points of life as a season, like when I pointed to all the mish-mash of games and puzzles we have on display, to make it easy for the kids to see them and access them. She said, this is the season you are in. It doesn’t have to be magazine shoot ready, it’s your home suiting the needs of those who live in it at this time. So true.
Let’s get to know Hannah, and take in some of her excellent home organising advice now…
Please introduce yourself and your home organising services…
I’m Hannah Ashwell-Dickinson, I’m a Professional Organiser and Coach working with families across London to support them to declutter and organise their homes. I offer practical, judgement-free sessions decluttering a whole range of rooms including playrooms, kitchens, pantries, lofts etc. I have two children under 10 and live in East London.
What areas of the home do parents seem to need the most help in organising / decluttering?
On the whole parents are looking for their home to function more smoothly so we often focus on living rooms, playrooms and kitchens and entryways. I encourage parents to think about tackling their clothes too. Starting the day off with a wardrobe containing things you like and that fit you, can make a huge difference to wellbeing and starting the day positively.
KITCHEN TIPS // The room I needed the most help with (and I’ll bet other mums can relate to this!) is the kitchen. As we spend so much time in there we want to be able to access things easily and make the most of the storage – which in London can be a challenge. Hannah recommended some products to help organise a food larder utilising food storage containers that best fit the space; a turntable storage container to help rotate items around easily to avoid reaching to the back or forgetting things are in there to begin with; expandable shelf organisers to make use of all the height and width a shelf can provide; hanging storage shelves that attach to existing shelves to give a bit more storage space underneath. To help organise drawers (a massive time saver if you don’t have to dig through them every time!) she recommends using drawer dividers and then sorting kitchen items into categories between the dividers.
To help keep countertops from becoming cluttered, Hannah suggested getting a tiered rolling storage trolley, that you can tuck away to the side of the kitchen or in a nearby closet and wheel out when you need it. This could be a great place to keep bread stored in a bread bag and non-refrigerated vegetables in vegetable bags.
What are the most common reasons you see for homes becoming unorganised and cluttered?
Often its lack of time. Family life is busier than ever and it can be challenging to keep on top of the flow of stuff coming into our homes. It’s also essential to have good systems in place. Put simply, if everything has a place then it’s easier for each member of the household to tidy and keep on top of clutter. Many people find it challenging to let go off their clutter, even if they know it’s getting in their way. My job is to help you think about what you want your home and life to be like, and identify what’s stopping you from getting there.
Where do you even begin when it feels like it’s all too much to tackle? What causes mums to feel stuck in a cycle of clutter?
Women take on most the household’s ‘mental load’ (housework, cleaning, dental appointments, school admin the list goes on!) so no wonder it feels overwhelming. Communication with other family members is key – dividing up jobs and getting children involved. Children above the age of three can begin to learn how to help tidy up at the end of the day if they know where things are supposed to go.
What is your top tip to get started?
Start small! If you find decluttering overwhelming, start with a small project like the bathroom cabinet or a kitchen drawer. Take items out and categorise into keep, donate, recycle, discard. It’s helpful to plan beforehand where you are going to take your donated items so that you can get them straight out of the door and they don’t become reabsorbed into the house.
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What is your top tip for keeping it maintained?
Most clutter comes from deferring a decision. So, instead of letting junk mail pile up, get into the habit of putting it straight into the recycling bin. It’s also useful to have a bag hanging on the back of a door for items you want to take to the charity shop so you can add to it regularly. When its full, deal with it a soon as possible so clutter doesn’t build up!
How important do you think an organised home is for a mum’s mental health?
It’s important for all of us to feel that we have a calm environment that we want to come home to. Clutter is a major stressor that can cause arguments and contribute to low mood. The aim is not to have an Instagram-worthy home but to have somewhere safe, comfortable and welcoming, that functions well around our busy lives.
Thanks Hannah!
Contact Hannah:
Website / Instagram
RELATED CONTENT: Live Lighter – Five Areas of Your Life to Declutter
