Anne-Marie Kingston from White Sage Decluttering in Clonakilty, Co Cork, joins Brendan Courtney on RTÉ Radio 1 with some inspiration to tackle clutter in your home. Listen back above.
When it comes to tackling the house, professional organiser Anne-Marie Kingston says that the kitchen is the best place to start, as it's where we often spend the most time.
"The kitchen, as we know, is the hub of the house," says Anne-Marie. "It's where the cooking is done, it's where we prep the food, it's where we come together as a family. Celebrations, milestones, there could be good news, bad news, arguments - it's the hub of the home."
Having an orderly kitchen can create a "ripple effect" throughout the house: "The kitchen and the utility need to work together, then the utility and the hot press need to work together."
If you can't seem to clear your countertops, you need to dive into your cupboards and see what can be donated, recycled, or rehomed. If there are items that you haven't used in the last 12-18 months, chances are, you don't need them, but that doesn't mean they have to go to the landfill.
Working closely with her local charity shops and recycling centres, Anne-Marie says she has only once needed a skip when working with her clients.
If you're not sure where to start when it comes to your kitchen, the organiser suggests the food cupboards, freezer and fridge.
"You physically have to handle every single thing," she says, noting that a quick glance may have you missing the container of mixed herbs that have been on the back shelf since 1992.
Once you have removed everything (and disposed of the relics), you must put a good system in place to make things easier going forward.
"If you don't have organisational systems, you're back to square one the next day," she states.
Working with people aged 24 - 84, Anne-Marie says that the thing her clients most often have in common is a sense of frustration and overwhelm.
Whether they're dealing with an empty nest, a new baby, bereavement, illness, divorce, or any other number of life changes, it's clear that a messy home can result in a cluttered mind.
Through her work, Anne-Marie will spend six hours in a home, filling bags that she will then bring to the recycling centre and charity shops that day, leaving the client with a tidy home and, hopefully, some peace of mind.
Listen back to the full interview on RTÉ Radio 1 via the audio clip above.
