In our experience here at McCarthy’s, there’s something about the summer months which makes you want to have a good clear out. Maybe it’s the sun streaming in through the windows, picking up on any speck of dust. Maybe it’s wanting to bring a touch of the outdoors indoors. Perhaps the typical Spring home moving period has you experiencing itchy feet. But whatever it is, it can have you thinking about where all the bits and pieces you accumulated over winter can find a new home.
At McCarthy’s Storage World, we like to think we’re a bit of an expert when it comes to decluttering. So here are our top tips for ditching the excess in your home ready for summer, whether you’re planning a move and need to get it ready for potential buyers, or you just need some space:
- Tackle one room at a time – it will be easier than switching between them, and you’ll maintain focus for longer. Taking on several rooms at once can feel overwhelming and create more mess.
- Have three bags or boxes to hand – one will go in the bin, one is to go to a charity shop or to be sold, and one is to rehome elsewhere in the house or even to external self-storage.
- Pack away your winter wardrobe – not just from drawers and rails, but look at cloakrooms and shoe racks – can the winter boots and big coats be put away for a few months? It’s an easy way to create extra space.
- Self store – If you haven’t got space at home to store out of season items, why not consider some self storage? You’ll still be able to get access whenever you need it, but it frees up valuable space at home for living in. Prices at McCarthy’s Storage World start at just £6 a week, so it doesn’t need to break the bank. Why not consider keeping things like festive decorations there – if space is an issue, they can take up a lot of room when they’re out of sight for 11 months of the year!
- Stop hibernating – over winter you can want to hibernate on the sofa with cosy cushions and warm throws. Maybe it’s time to put those away for the season, ready to embrace the warmer weather (assuming we get some…)
- Freshen up – think about adding a splash of summer colour, or freshening up paintwork. There’s nothing like bright sunny days to show up dirty marks on your walls and cleverly chosen colour schemes can make any room look bigger.
- Pack it up – if you’re putting stuff away in storage – be it the loft or a self storage unit – make sure you’re doing it right. There’s no point coming back to damaged items in a few months time!
McCarthy’s online shop can supply all the essentials you might need, such as boxes, tape and bubble wrap. And make sure you label everything carefully!
- Storage solutions – don’t spend lots of money on new internal or external storage solutions until after you’ve had a good tidy out – then you will be in a better position to know exactly what you need.
- A trial separation – when decluttering, consider using off-site self storage as a time-limited separation from your items. If you don’t miss it or need to get it back, are you likely to ever need it again?
- Money, money, money – why not make some cash to help with the summer holiday – think about car boot sales or ebay for any items you no longer want or need but someone else might love.
