A New Year Reset

Posted on Tuesday, 2nd December 2025

Decluttering is often a New Year’s resolution that many Brits try to tackle in January, but with other goals like exercising more (42%), eating healthier (34%), and completing home improvement projects (33%) taking priority, resetting our living environments can often get left behind. 

Resetting your home isn’t just important for your environment, but for your mind too. We have partnered with Ingrid Jansen and Lesley Spellman from The Declutter Hub to talk about the importance of decluttering your home can have on your wellbeing. 

With these tips and hacks, you can help bring a sense of organisation to your home in the new year.

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5 tips for a New Year reset

Tip one - Take it room by room

If you’re looking to declutter your whole home, it’s important to tackle it room by room, as this will help you to not feel too overwhelmed with the task at hand. We always suggest starting from the ground up, so begin your decluttering session with the kitchen and living area.

Tip two - Do a deep clean

Before getting stuck into the decluttering, it's important to first do a deep clean of your space. After you’ve taken down your Christmas decorations is a good place to start. Chores like moving furniture and wiping down those hard-to-reach areas may initially feel like a big task, but your home and you will feel better for it. A clean and tidy home is one of the best ways to start the new year on a positive note.

Tip three - Focus on the one-year rule

If you have a habit of holding on to items that no longer serve a purpose, ask yourself if you’ve had it for more than a year. If you haven’t used it in the past year, then this is probably a good indicator to either sell or donate it. This is a great rule to follow if you have an abundance of cluttered kitchen cabinets or full to bursting wardrobes.

Tip four - Breathe new life into your high-traffic areas

High-traffic areas such as your hallways, entry points, living areas and family spaces, can often become a dumping ground for clutter, as they naturally become areas where shoes, coats and other belongings are dropped. To help these zones feel less chaotic, clear walkways of any obstacles and switch out unusable furniture for side tables and storage boxes that can help to house everyday items.

Tip five - Have a rest regularly

It’s important to remember that decluttering isn’t something you do once, and when life gets back to some form of normality after the festive break, you’ll find that clutter starts to creep back in, which is totally normal. To help you keep on top of your space, aim to reset one area of your home each day, such as tidying the living room or cleaning the hallway. Getting into this simple routine will help to keep your home calm and organised throughout 2026.

What are the main symptoms that someone presents when their living conditions are becoming too cluttered?

Ingrid and Lesley comments: “Clutter doesn’t happen overnight. It starts to build up every day and sometimes we don’t even notice until it becomes all too apparent. Perhaps you’re on first-name terms with your delivery driver, using shopping as a comfort or distraction, only to find the purchases make you feel guilty and overwhelmed. Maybe you’re always running late because you can’t find your keys, shoes or that essential school letter. These small stresses stack up.

“Maybe some of your rooms have lost their intended purpose. Dining tables become paperwork mountains, spare rooms turn into dumping grounds, and hallways clog up with piles of ‘to-do-reminders. Over time, you may find yourself avoiding opening the curtains or letting people in, feeling embarrassed or ashamed. Instead of living in your home, you’re on a constant treadmill of managing it.

“Other telltale signs that the clutter is growing are buying multiples of something because you don’t know what you already own. This wastes your money, time and space. You might have a constant dream of someone waving a magic wand and clearing the clutter for you. You might even daydream about a bigger house, convinced that more space is the answer.

“When your home no longer feels like a sanctuary and you actively avoid being there, it becomes clear that something needs to change. But there is good news. Change starts with one small, intentional step. Progress not perfection is what it’s all about.”

What is the importance that a clutter-free home can have on someone’s mental health?

Ingrid and Lesley add: “Clutter has a significant impact on your mental and emotional health. By decluttering, you can create a calmer, less chaotic environment. Clutter creates constant background stress because every pile is a visual reminder of unfinished tasks, keeping your brain always switched on and draining your mental energy. It also makes focusing more difficult. 

“Clutter triggers guilt and overwhelm. Constantly being surrounded by it can lead to feelings of failure, frustration or shame, which will always impact your wellbeing. A home should be a sanctuary, but a messy space feels chaotic and demanding instead of being comforting, so it always feels harder to relax and unwind after a busy day. 

“Clutter also affects your relationships. You may avoid inviting guests over, potentially leading to social isolation and increased stress. You may feel in a constant battle with your partner or children over your home. In essence you can feel as if your home defines you and you are constantly battling judgment from others.

“The good news is that a clearer space supports better habits. With less chaos, your daily routines become smoother, which in turn improves essential things like sleep, self-care, and overall day-to-day wellbeing.”