Hair brushed?  Shoes on?  Teeth sparkly?  Excellent let’s get going.

We are going for a walk, a walk around your house.  We can start wherever you like but I am an organised type and like Maria I prefer to start at the very beginning: the front door.  So go outside (see I told you you would need shoes).

Open the door and have a good look around.  What do you see?  Compare this with what you would like to see.  What do you need to do to make it look how you would like?  No, we are not talking paint or new furniture or the absence of the enormous teenager blocking the hallway.  Get out your noteboook (you did bring a notebook?  No?  Go back and get one and a pen or pencil please too).  Jot down the problem areas.  Shoes and coats are the most likely ones here, but you might have a hallstand that has become the dump zone, perhaps there are some old and dusty dried flowers on the windowsill that once you thought might brighten the place up but now look like Miss Haversham’s bridal bouquet.  You get the gist.

Move around the house and do the same in all the rooms, including bathroom, kitchen, understairs cupboards etc.  Leave out any garages, outbuildings, attics or cellars.  You don’t have to be specific, “videos” or “dressing table” will do.  Now go and make a cup of tea or whatever rocks your boat and sit down with your notebook.

Which room upset you most?  Which one would make you feel really good if you got it ship shape?  For me it wasn’t a room but cupboards.  I am a naturally neat and organised person so my cupboards were neat and organised and FULL to bursting and I hated it.  So I started with linen and clothes.  It was wonderful.  I spent ages just staring at the linen cupboard and the Women’s Refuge seemed quite pleased with the sheets and towels and duvets that I no longer needed.  It gave me the oomph I needed to keep going.

That’s what you are looking for – you OOMPH.  The room or cupboard that will make your heart sing when you have decluttered it.  Because once you have got that feeling,  you will want it again and will be fired up to move on to the next one.  Believe  me, it is quite an addictive process.  Also it feels absolutely wonderful crossing off everything in your notebook 🙂

So what are you waiting for?  Off you go.