The Art of Decluttering

Sisters and Cousins: A Simple Way to Know Where Everything BelongsOne of the biggest challenges in organising isn’t the sorting or the tidying — it’s that moment when you’re holding something in your hand thinking, “But where should this actually live?”If you’ve ever felt that, you’re not alone. And I want to share a little framework I use that might make things instantly clearer for you: I call it Sisters and Cousins.Sisters: Same-Same ItemsWhen I say “sisters,” I’m talking about items that are exactly the same. Think about all your teaspoons, or all your bed sheets, or all your scissors. These are sisters — the same family, the same purpose. Sisters belong together, usually in the same drawer, the same shelf, or the same container.And here’s the beautiful part: you already do this without thinking. When you bring home a new teaspoon, you don’t wander around wondering where it should live. You automatically place it with its sisters. The system already works for you — you just may not have had language for it before.Cousins: Same-Same, But DifferentCousins are items that aren’t identical, but they make sense together in real life. Scissors and sticky tape. Light bulbs and batteries. Towels and sheets. These aren’t sisters… but they definitely belong in the same neighbourhood because your brain naturally looks for them together.When you think in cousins, you make your home work for you. If you use sticky tape and scissors together all the time, keeping them side-by-side isn’t just logical — it saves you time and reduces frustration.Your Use Determines the Cousin GroupThis is the part I love most: cousins can change depending on your lifestyle. A camping chair might belong with camping gear… unless you use it weekly at kids’ sport, or for beach days, or for picnics. The best home for something is the place where you look first — not where the item “should” go.Try Asking Yourself Two QuestionsNext time you’re stuck deciding where something lives, pause for just a moment and ask:Where are its sisters?Where are its cousins?You might be surprised how quickly the answer comes. And with that clarity, your home becomes easier to maintain, easier to navigate, and ultimately… so much more freeing.Join our community Leave a Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we learn about the incredible power of body doubling! Whether you’re an ADHDer like me, or not, body doubling can supercharge your time management and follow through in getting any task done.Body doubling is about having someone alongside you for motivation and accountability when you’re doing a job. You might know the right thing to do, have the necessary skills and mastery to do it… but for some reason are unable to just get it done on your own… you’re not alone!Heaps of people tell me that they use this podcast as their body double. they pop it on while they declutter, organise, tidy, clean etc and because they’re familiar with me and my voice it acts as a body double. That makes my heart sing – I’m always happy to be your body double 💪🏼If you’re interested in booking a virtual session with me, I’d love to work with you! Check out our virtual session types here and submit an intake form if you’re keen: https://www.theartofdecluttering.com.au/decluttering-services/virtual-sessions/Join our community Leave a Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you stuck on some non disposable, non single use stocking stuffers or small gifts? Thanks to our listeners who helped me with this episode with their great ideas!Don't be caught up with Black Friday sales, cheap plastic stocking stuffers or items that will end up in landfill after one use. Think creatively, intentionally, personally and environmentally instead!!Join the 12 days of Christmas declutter challenge and discover how simple, thoughtful choices can make your Christmas joyful, intentional, and clutter-free.Listen Next...12 Days of Christmas InvitationJoin our community Leave a Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever started a decluttering project with great intentions, only to end up overwhelmed, exhausted, and surrounded by more mess than when you began?In this episode, Amy explores why we often bite off more than we can chew when decluttering — and how to avoid it. She shares practical strategies for breaking projects into manageable chunks, staying motivated, and creating lasting success without burnout.If you’ve ever felt defeated halfway through a clean-up, this episode will help you find your rhythm and rediscover the joy in decluttering.Listen Next...Broad vs NarrowJoin our community Leave a Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered how two people can look at the exact same object and see something completely different? In this episode, we’re exploring object classification — the unconscious way our brains decide what something is and what should happen to it, basically... why we see the same things so differently.Take, for example, a glass left on the kitchen bench. Is it a dirty cup that needs to go in the dishwasher, or a glass someone left there to remind them to stay hydrated? The way we classify that glass can vary wildly between people — and often causes tension in households.Unpack how internal classification systems shape our daily routines, from 'half-worn clothes' to kids’ ongoing play setups, and why these small differences can lead to big misunderstandings. Amy shares real-life examples and practical hacks — like colour-coded cups, designated zones for in-between clothes, and clearer family communication — to reduce confusion and frustration.Ultimately, understanding object classification helps us see that what looks like clutter or laziness might actually be logic — just not our kind of logic.Listen Next...Object PermanenceJoin our community Leave a Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you look around a space and feel like the clutter is EVERYWHERE reducing the volume is a great hack to reduce overwhelm so you can tackle your clutter in an intentional and ordered manner. Use like with like boxes, or intentional doom boxes to reduce the volume (amount of space the clutter takes up or is spread over). Tackling clutter once you know what you're actually dealing with is so much easier than looking at spread out clutter and trying to figure out where to start. These tips work well for kids and teenagers too! Listen Next...Doom BoxesJoin our community Leave a Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Living with ongoing medical needs often means living with a lot of stuff — from syringes and wound care items to tube feeds and mobility aids. In this episode, I dive into practical ways to organise medical supplies so they don’t take over your home. Hear real-life examples, clever storage strategies, and thoughtful tips for managing expiry dates, ordering cycles, and bulky deliveries. Whether you’re caring for yourself or a loved one, this conversation will help you create calm, accessible systems that make everyday life easier — and free up space for living, not just storing.As this is such a personal topic to what supplies you need to keep and the layout of your home, you may also benefit from booking a virtual session so I can help you create a plan specifically for you - reach out, I'd love to help Virtual Sessions with AmyJoin our community Leave a Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does clutter make you feel? What emotions? What thoughts do you have about your clutter... or about yourself as a person with clutter? Untangling your thoughts and emotions to that you can experience freedom from the overwhelm of clutter is possible!Tracy is a certified life and organizing coach on a mission to help women simplify their homes and their lives. She is the creator of Organized Life Academy and hosts the Organized Coach Podcast and is my guest on the show today.Learn how to identify your emotions and reduce the power they have over you. Get curious about your thought life and the impact it has on the actions you take, the habits you develop and the person you're becoming. Follow Tracy HothWebsite: https://simplysquaredaway.com/Declutter Challenge: https://training.simplysquaredaway.com/declutterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracyhoth/Join our community Leave a Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Overstimulation.Can you relate to your home being overstimulating?Is clutter and disorganisation the main cause of this for you?Sometimes it's because you have too much stuff... but often it's also due to lack of organisation.Looking into a toy space where the toys are strewn all over the floor is more overstimulating than a toy space with containers/ storage and order.If you open the pantry and can't easily find ingredients because it's disorganised, you're less likely to cook dinner and more likely to have cereal or get uber eats.Overstimulation effects us mentally, emotionally and physically, learn some simple tips to combat this in todays episodeYou might also like to listen toMight As WellJoin our community Leave a Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One in 10 Australians use a storage unit - and these figures are pretty consistent for our US listeners. Storage units can fill a gap, meet a need, and save you when you're in a bind... but left unattended their cost can far outweigh the benefit.Before you put things into storage, ask yourself some questions- Does that value of this item justify spending thousands of dollars per year to store it?- How will I feel about this item in 2-3 years when I've invested so much more money to keep it?- Would I be better off donating these items and just repurchasing them in the future if I really need them?Once you have a storage unit, see if these questions help you make the next right steps- Could I consolidate my storage unit into a smaller space to save money?- If I go through and declutter what I no longer need, could I save money by downsizing my storage unit or eliminate my need for it?- What else could I do with the money I'm currently spending on storage?Thanks to Prudence Madigan from Shift Your Storage for the helpful conversation and professional insightsJoin our community Leave a Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're talking about seeing the vertical walls in our home with fresh eyes. Oftentimes the art/ pictures/ decor on our walls becomes invisible to us as we've become so used to it our brains don't even register it anymore. Take a slow walk through your home, noticing everything on your walls, doors and front of your fridge, without touching anything, just noticing. You might like to change up some of your photos/ art around the house, or you may be inspired to clear spaces and enjoy them blank for a while. Maybe you're creative and you want to create some art for yourself, or be on the look for ways to decorate your walls in a fresh way.Join our community Leave a Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Until this week I never understood the saying, "later never comes" I just thought it meant procrastinators will always procrastinate, but it means that the time right now is literally never later (perhaps obvious to most!)Later is an indefinite postponement, which has real life impacts on our homes and lives when we continually put things off to an indefinite future. Learn today some strategies for getting things done like a boss and what to do when you can't tackle something straight away, but you also don't want to kick it down the road to later.Join our community Leave a Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every kitchen I've ever been into has at least one (and usually many more) small appliance that they are no longer using that is taking up precious real estate in their kitchen cupboards. Todays challenge is simple - take out every small appliance in your kitchen, lay it out on your benchtop or table and make honest choices about whether you use it enough to keep it (and allowing the space for it) or if it's time to let it go. When you're putting back the items you're keeping, put the most used at the front and set an alarm in your phone for 6-12 months time and if you haven't used the items at the back in that time, you can declutter them too.To get you thinking, here are some ideas of what small appliances might be hiding in your kitchen cupboards:ToasterSandwich press / jaffle makerBlenderStick (immersion) blenderFood processorHand mixerStand mixer (e.g. KitchenAid)Coffee machine (pod, espresso, drip, plunger etc.)Coffee grinderKettleSlow cooker / crockpotRice cookerAir fryerDeep fryerBread makerIce cream makerWaffle makerJuicerElectric frypan / skilletMulti-cooker (e.g. Instant Pot, Thermomix, Ninja Foodi)Electric griddleDehydratorPopcorn makerMilk frotherYoghurt makerEgg cookerPie makerFood steamerJoin our community Leave a Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you have any items in your home that you *thought* would be valuable but find out aren't then this episode is for you. It can be disappointing, frustrating or even devastating when you find out that items that you've kept because you were told they were valuable turn out to have very little monetary value.It might be coins, stamps, collections, antiques, vintage items or maybe just an appliance you paid a lot for and intended to sell. Sometimes they're not valuable anymore because too much time has passed and you missed the boat, and sometimes it's just how markets work and if there is no demand then your supply isn't valuable.My challenge today is to identify if there is a category or item that fits this in your home and take the next right step. Maybe it's getting an official valuation, maybe it's just checking ebay and seeing if other people have had success in selling the item... and maybe (probably?) it is making the decision to donate it or sell it for cheap so you can let go of the mental load and reclaim the freedom of the physical space, and brain space these items of lost value have been taking up.Join our community Leave a Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has giving or receiving gifts been an area of tension for you? Do you find the kids get way too many toys for their birthday or Christmas? Do you get stressed at the time and money it takes to get the perfect gifts for friends and family?It can be a challenge to navigate keeping an organised home when it comes to gifts. Add in the desire for minimalism and frustrations can flare.Learn in this episode how to have helpful conversations that balance values and community.Join our community Leave a Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanks for the listeners who have asked what to do when life happens and you need to make exceptions to your minimalism? Living life as a minimalist is all about knowing your values and balancing that with your desire for minimalism, which sometimes means having items you need for a season or reason.Sometimes you need to have excess to cater for the season of life that you're in. More sheets, more toys, more clothes etc. When you're unsure what to keep or how much of something to keep, go back to your values and make intentional decisions that fit with your stage of life and current need.Join our community Leave a Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest Jeannine has been helping seniors downsize (or rightsize as she calls it) for over 15 years and Jeannine shares her wisdom for how to prepare for and downsize well. Whether you are the older adult downsizing, or you are a family member supporting someone through this transition there is so much in this episode for you.Discover healthy ways to talk about keepsakes and memories, hint: it's not just about things that are expensive!Don't leave the decluttering until your house is sold and you're about to downsize - start today and you will find the process can be healing as well as giving you space to remember and document a life fully lived.Practical, caring, honest, and supportive, Jeannine is a great coach to have alongside you while you step confidently into the next season of downsizing your home.Follow Jeannine BryantWebsite: www.EasyRightsizing.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/EasyRightsizing Jeannine's Book: https://easyrightsizing.com/book/Jeannine's Online Course: https://jeanninebryant.podia.com/ready-to-rightsize?coupon=THEARTOFDECLUTTERING (use this link to receive 25% off just for our listeners!)Join our community Leave a Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of our team members Bec shares with us today the adventure of building and living in a van for 6 months as she and her partner travelled Australia. Learn what it was like to live as a minimalist on the road, and how even when living in a van they found they had items they didn't need. Bec shares some of the life altering and career changing lessons she learnt while on the road that she now carries with her and shares with clients in her work as a Decluttering and Organising Expert. Maybe you'll be inspired to make the plunge to living with less and experiencing more too!Join our community Leave a Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've been thinking a lot about the correlation between clutter and loneliness. I speak to so many clients who are suffering from loneliness and often one the significant factors contributing to their loneliness is the clutter in their house.Do you avoid having people over because you're ashamed of the state of your home?Do you avoid going out because you feel bad that you should instead be tidying up?Do you say no to invites to other people's homes because you know you can't reciprocate?Do your children not have play dates because you don't want the parents seeing your home?Although you might not instantly draw the line between clutter and loneliness, once you see it you realise the power it holds over so many people's lives. Loneliness is a silent killer and if by engaging in decluttering (or making peace with the clutter) you can reduce your social isolation then I think it's definitely a conversation we should be having. Listen NextDouble NemesisJoin our community Leave a Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two areas of every home that make a huge impact on if you're feeling like a boss and on top of things, or if you feel like you're drowning are LAUNDRY and DISHES.The reason they're probably your nemesis (and mine!) is because they are never-ending, multi step, impacted by clutter and have many steps and opportunities for procrastination. TIP #1 - HAVE LESSLess clothes, less towels, less sheets, less dishes, less containers, less cutlery, less utensils, less pans. When you have less, it's easier to put things away and stay on top of these nemesis chores.TIP #2 - DO THE NEXT STEP AS SOON AS POSSIBLEOnce you have less, it's so much easier to do the next step as soon as possible. Fill the dishwasher, put away the dry washing, hang out the wet washing. You don't have to wait until you have an hour to tackle these chores, instead use 5 minute moments you have to just do the next step rather than having to wait until you have a big chunk of time to focus for a long time. 5 minute moments can make a huge impact on your ability to stay on top of these nemesis chores.Listen NextBedding20 Outfit WardrobeMore... or Less?Might As WellJoin our community Leave a Google ReviewFollow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookJoin my Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastThank you to my sound engineer, Jarred from Four4ty Studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.