How To Seriously Declutter (& Make Money In The Process)

After years of having cupboards, wardrobes and drawers bursting at the seams, something in my brain shifted recently and I finally felt the need to start going through it all. From clothes I'd bought in the sales that still had their tags on them, to beauty products that I'd bought in a 3 for 2 and never even opened to accessories gathering dust, I began a massive purge.

A lot of it has to do with two books that I'm currently making my way through; Marie Kondo's Spark Joy and Anushka Rees' Curated Closet, which I will be sure to share my thoughts on when I'm finished them but until then, here is how to seriously declutter and make money in the process;

Work in categories, not rooms

One of the biggest lessons that I've learnt from Kondo's Konmari method, so far, is to work in categories instead of rooms. So instead of saying, today I'll tackle the kitchen or I'll tackle my wardrobe first, tackle one category of clutter at a time. Kondo recommends starting with clothing first and this means all the clothing in your house, in every room, then books, etc. but I'd tailor this to you and your home/room. If you have a beauty stash that could rival Boots or Sephora maybe start there. If books are your thing but they're slowly taking over every room in your house, go through every single one you own and work out if you really need it or if it 'sparks joy'.

Stop holding onto certain pieces or items 'just in case'. If you haven't worn it in the past year or the last season (Autumn/Winter or Spring/Summer), will you really wear it again? 'Do you really need six black vest tops?' was a question I found myself asking. I now have two. Progress, right?A way to make it feel a little bit more fun and to help you make a decision on those items that you're unsure about, is to get friends and family involved. I may or may not, have done a little fashion show through my house, parading about in bits that have now made their way to the charity shop or to other's wardrobes.

Get rid of anything that doesn't fit or make you feel fabulous

Now this seems like something totally obvious, doesn't it? Why would you hold onto things that are two sizes too small or too big or something that doesn't make you go 'damn, I look good' when you catch your reflection in a mirror? But the amount of these kinds of items in your wardrobe or drawers will stagger you. If it's still in good shape pass it on to friends or family or take it along to your local charity shop or donate it to a fabric recycling service, such as the one that H&M are currently running in-store.

Get rid of anything you can't repair

On a similar note, get rid of any clothes that have stains on them, noticeable pulled threads or holes in them. Why I was holding onto so many pairs of jeggings with pulled threads right across the legs or socks with holes in them, I will never know.

I've found that every app/site has its pros and cons. It's totally normal, seemingly, for people to offer £5 for a brand new Michael Kors handbag or to ask to swap something worth about 50p for something you're trying to get rid of. I have to stop myself replying 'I DON'T NEED MORE STUFF I DON'T WANT!' at least once a day but I have thus managed to restrain myself from doing so. I have made a good couple of hundred pounds on both Depop (you'll find me as @ellistuesday on there) and eBay, much to the dismay of my local Post Office.

If you'd like to see a full blog post dedicated to my top tips for selling on the likes of Depop and eBay, from what to make your description, to hashtag tips or if you'd like to help me re-home my unwanted pieces, such as those on Depop, let me know.

What could you do with decluttering? Do you have any tips on how to seriously declutter your life/home? Have you read either Marie Kondo's Spark Joy or Anushka Rees' Curated Closet? And can you tell that I've been rewatching Sex and the City again, for the millionth time, in the run up to my New York trip?