Latest news with #IngridJansen
The Guardian
16-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
‘Pack the least emotional rooms first': six tips for a stress-free house move
Moving house is notoriously stressful, and amid the chaos of packing up your life it's easy for small details to be forgotten. If you can dot the Is and cross the Ts of this exciting new chapter, it can make waving goodbye to your old home and settling into the new one a whole lot easier. So we called on experts from across the industry to give us their professional secrets. While they all agreed on the importance of packing a bag of essentials to keep with you on the big day (think a kettle, underwear and loo roll), they each had their own unique takes on how to make the process a little bit easier. Here are six golden rules to go by … 'We're always looking for ways to make moving house easier, but our top rule is to make decluttering a priority,' say Ingrid Jansen and Lesley Spellman, founders of the Declutter Hub and authors of Reset Your Home: Unpack Your Emotions and Your Clutter, Step by Step. 'A new home means a fresh start, and if you declutter well in advance it means you'll have less to pack, less to pay on moving costs and less to worry about en route,' says Jansen. 'Work systematically around the house, starting in the least emotional rooms, like the kitchen and bathroom. As well as being easier to declutter, you'll be able to find any excess food and toiletries that can be used up.' 'Once you've moved, seeing your stuff in a new home often makes you see it through a different lens,' adds Spellman. 'So don't be afraid to continue decluttering as you unpack.' As might be expected of the founder of financial education provider Hoops Finance, Funmi Olufunwa is a big fan of spreadsheets. 'If there's more than one of you moving, I recommend using a joint email address to keep everyone in the loop, and making a spreadsheet of all of the things you need to do throughout the moving process, such as redirecting your post,' she says. 'If you allocate each task, you can see who's responsible for what at a glance.' As you go along, add all those little jobs that can be easily forgotten in the chaos of the move. 'This includes taking meter readings in your old and new homes and arranging for a food shop to be delivered to you on move-in day,' says Olufunwa. 'Just make sure you remember to change the delivery address – I've nearly been caught out on that one myself!' 'Many homeowners underestimate the hidden bottlenecks of moving day,' says Joseph Lane, founder and mortgage expert at Mortgage Lane. To avoid moving-day headaches, Lane suggests using a QR code-based labelling system such as Sortly to help track your boxes' contents – 'it prevents hours of rummaging' – and updating your address two weeks before moving, rather than afterwards. 'Prioritise banks, utilities and key subscriptions to avoid disruptions,' he suggests. Lane's number-one tip is to choose your completion day wisely. 'Most people aim for a Friday, but this often backfires because conveyancers are overloaded,' he says. 'Instead, opt for a Tuesday or Wednesday completion, when banks and solicitors have more flexibility.' 'Moving is stressful, so our brains focus on the big stuff, but forget something tiny like locating the stopcock – and it can turn into chaos,' says Terry Fisher, property expert and chief marketing officer at We Buy Any Home. Fisher recommends packing a 'front door bag' filled with essentials to secure your new front door. 'That means a smart doorbell, batteries or charger, new locks, if needed, and even a temporary wedge or doorstop. Peace of mind starts at the threshold.' And if all else falls by the wayside? 'Label the sockets in your new home with colour-coded stickers,' says Fisher. 'When you're surrounded by wires and half-charged gadgets, knowing exactly where your router, kettle, or charger can go makes all the difference.' 'My main advice is to work out how you'll be moving house – whether that's with a removal firm or a DIY van hire – long before your completion date,' says Matthew Ballard, group managing director at family-run firm Ballards Removals. It's also worth remembering that removal teams are often unable to confirm bookings until you get a call from your solicitor to exchange contracts. 'Removal companies tend not to book ahead of this point in the process,' says Ballard. 'That isn't to say you shouldn't make initial contact with your removal provider. Whether it's as simple as showing them around your house or arranging parking space for removal vehicles, good preparation will ensure you can get settled in as quickly as possible.' 'Moving house can stir up a lot of feelings: sadness, anxiety, nostalgia, relief – sometimes all at once,' says psychotherapist and anxiety expert Kamalyn Kaur. 'It can take months to feel settled, so feeling 'off' doesn't mean something's wrong: it just means you're adapting.' Creating a goodbye ritual, says Kaur, is one way of helping to ease the transition. 'Small acts such as writing a letter to your old space or having a goodbye dinner can help mark the move. Once in your new home, prioritise creating small spaces of comfort – your bed, a cosy reading nook, your coffee setup – to help you feel at home.' And if Kaur could give just one piece of advice? 'Whether it's your morning coffee or a regular workout, sticking to familiar routines creates a sense of stability and comfort and sends a message to your nervous system: not everything is changing.' No box of moving-day essentials is complete without a Ring video doorbell to secure your front door. The Ring Battery Video Doorbell Pro is loaded with cutting-edge security features that offer total peace of mind, including enhanced HD Video, Colour Night Vision and 3D Motion Detection. To find out more about Ring Video Doorbells and Security Cameras, visit
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
I'm a professional decluttering expert... here's how excess junk may be RUINING your relationship
A decluttering expert has revealed how a buildup of stuff in your home may be ruining your relationship... and what you can do to fix it. Between dresser drawers that can barely shut, overflowing closets, and boxes filled with who-knows-what, people have become accustomed to living with mess in their abodes. But according to Lesley Spellman - co-founder of The Declutter Hub and co-author of the new book Reset Your Home: Unpack Your Emotions and Your Clutter, Step by Step alongside Ingrid Jansen - that chaos may be doing more harm than you think. In fact, Lesley told that clutter in your physical space can slowly creep into your relationship, creating tension and frustration, and igniting what seems like a constant battleground. She cited research that shows one in six adults has considered breaking up with someone because of how messy they are. The study across 2,000 adults in a relationship revealed that 47 percent argue on a weekly basis about clutter in their home - with 23 percent admitting their partner's approach to tidiness has put a strain on their relationship. 'For many couples and families, disagreements about cleanliness and disorganization are a constant source of friction,' Lesley explained. 'One partner is likely to feel overwhelmed and it often spills into resentment if they constantly feel like they are the only one who ever thinks about tidying up. 'What starts with minor arguments about shoes in the hallway or dishes in the sink can snowball into shouting matches and even tears.' Lesley - who, along with Ingrid, has helped thousands regain control of their homes - explained that a messy environment increases stress, makes it harder to relax, and even affects sleep quality. Over time, that stress can bubble over and can pervade interactions, making couples more irritable, less patient, and more likely to argue. According to the expert, one of the most common 'sources of tension' between a couple when it comes to clutter is a 'differing' stance on tidiness and 'volume of stuff.' 'What feels like a reasonable amount of belongings to one person may feel like complete chaos to another,' she noted. 'These different levels of tolerance often reflect longstanding clutter personality traits or past experiences, making them especially tricky to work through and resolve.' So what can you do to fix it if you feel clutter may be casting a dark shadow over your romance? Well, Lesley dished, 'The key to this and indeed to most conflicts is communication and compromise. 'Talk it through, discuss the elephant in the room, be open and honest. Acknowledge each other's preferences but discuss how all involved need to be mindful of the others' levels of tolerance. 'Understanding that your partner isn't trying to be unnecessarily difficult - they simply have a different threshold for mess - can be the first step towards a solution that works for both parties.' Lesley explained that eliminating clutter may feel daunting, but it can actually be a transformative experience that ultimately strengthens your relationship if you do it together. She pointed out that when couples work together to sort through belongings, they're forced to make joint decisions, negotiate priorities, and express opinions. 'For example, deciding whether to keep or donate a sentimental item opens up interesting conversations about happy times,' she continued. 'These discussions can bring couples closer by revealing the stories behind the stuff - and creating a closer bond.' Lesley noted that a home that feels 'peaceful and organized' usually leads to a 'calmer mind,' making it 'easier to relax, connect, and enjoy leisure time with your partner.' 'You're not constantly distracted by visual noise or reminded of tasks that still need to be done,' she added. Lesley (seen with Ingrid) said eliminating clutter may feel daunting, but it can actually be a transformative experience that ultimately strengthens your relationship if you do it together 'Instead, your home is a lovely place to be that you both want to be in and can feel proud of.' 'Decluttering isn't just about stuff, instead it's about your emotional connection to your stuff and discussing and understanding your partner's rationale for keeping what you perceive as clutter paves the way for positive conversations and outcomes.' In the end, she reminded readers that decluttering can 'make room for happiness, peace and calm,' creating a space where your relationship can thrive. 'Decluttering can feel daunting, but using it as something that can help build and strengthen your relationship can really shift your perspective,' she concluded. 'Set shared goals, assign different tasks based on your individual strengths, energy levels and celebrate the milestones together. 'Whether it's clearing out the garage or finally organizing the kitchen, every small victory is a step toward a more harmonious home - and a stronger relationship. You did it together!'
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I'm a professional decluttering expert, here's how you can eliminate mess from your home for good
A professional declutter has shared vital tips to eliminating the mess from your home - for good. Between dresser drawers than can barely shut, overflowing closets, and boxes filled with who-knows-what, people have become accustomed to living with mess in their homes. But according to Lesley Spellman and Ingrid Jansen - founders of The Declutter Hub and co-authors of the new book Reset Your Home: Unpack Your Emotions and Your Clutter, Step by Step - that chaos may be doing more harm than you think. Thankfully, Lesley spoke exclusively with about the simple steps that you can take to rid the disarray from your abode once and for all. Take some time to understand why you held on to something for so long Lesley - who, along with Ingrid, has helped thousands regain control of their homes - explained to that the first step to decluttering is to try to 'understand why you kept something' for so long. 'Decluttering is about emotions first, stuff second,' she dished. 'Until you understand the reason you're holding onto something, you'll keep repeating the cycle. 'This is not about chucking stuff into a binbag willy-nilly. The key to decluttering is understanding what made you buy something, why it's still sitting there unused six months later and how to avoid making the same mistake again. Then, and only then, can the bin bag come out.' Face the fact that if you haven't used an item you bought years ago by now, you probably never will Lesley explained that often times, clutter builds up when people buy or get gifted something and fail to use it. Then, because they feel guilty about wasting money on it, they refuse to get rid of it. Think about it - have you ever looked at a cooking gadget that you never opened and told yourself, 'I should keep that because one day I might need it?' But according to Leslie, if you haven't used it by now, you probably never will. 'We hold on to things because of the guilt we feel about spending a lot of money on a gadget we have never used,' she said. 'That juicing recipe book we've never opened but aspire to, that dinner service we inherited that just doesn't work but we feel overly sentimental about. 'Guilt, aspiration and sentimentality are the emotions that make us hold on to things that become clutter and stop us from easily being able to find and access the things we need on a day to day basis.' Be prepared to confront your past impulse purchases Lesley pointed out that many people also build up clutter around their homes because they buy things without thinking, and don't want to face their 'impulse' purchases later on. 'Retail therapy is a very real thing as we succumb to that feeling of wanting a treat after a hectic week,' she said. 'Make-up, toiletries, perfume - they are the perfect pick-me-up but when you get home and the dopamine hit has worn off, we often find we have another three or five or 10 of the very same thing also bought in haste. 'Spending time gathering like with like and confronting yourself with past purchases can be enlightening and means that the results of your decluttering will be more impactful long-term.' She pointed out that beauty products are 'designed' to be used up quickly, so if it's been years and it's still mostly full, you should ask yourself, 'Will it ever be used?' Try to get rid of emotional connections you have with clothes that don't fit anymore Lesley added that many people tend to keep clothes long after they either no longer fit or aren't in style anymore because of an 'emotional connection' they may have with the clothing items. Of course it's hard to let go of a shirt that was once your favorite, or a pair of jeans that have a sweet memory tied to them. But the expert explained that your closet should be filled with 'opportunity' rather than feelings from the past. 'Your emotional connection to your clothes is deep seated and it can take some soul searching to let them go,' she said. 'We owe it to ourselves to open our wardrobes in the morning and see opportunity rather than wading through things that don't fit to find things that do. 'Having clothes in your wardrobe that don't fit is common. More often than not they hang around for many years before realism kicks in and you can admit that the likelihood of wearing them again is slim. 'Let's not perpetuate that guilty negative feeling by keeping things that don't fit and see decluttering as a way to reconnect with items that are serving us well for our current lifestyle.' Be aware of clutter blindness - especially with sentimental items like photographs or momentos Lesley pointed out that often, people develop 'clutter blindness' in their homes, which means they don't even see things that really shouldn't be there anymore. This is especially common with sentimental items like old photographs or momentos, which once meant a lot to you. 'Because you are in these rooms every day, you may have become clutter blind,' she warned. 'You are seeing these things so often that you no longer identify them as clutter' 'Because you are in these rooms every day, you may have become clutter blind,' she warned. 'You are seeing these things so often that you no longer identify them as potential clutter. 'What can really help you is to take a photo or video of your room. That allows you to look at things with a fresh pair of eyes and really home in on the things that no longer enhance your space.' Break the process down into chunks so it doesn't feel as overwhelming Lesley recommended breaking the process up by room so it doesn't feel as overwhelming. 'Every item you find requires a decision to be made so don't underestimate how tiring that can be,' she said. 'The best way to tackle your decluttering is by breaking it down into small manageable chunks. 'Don't aim to do your whole house in one weekend, otherwise there's every chance you'll get fed up and abandon the project completely before you're done.' She added that you can also separate at the process into three different steps: decluttering, organizing and cleaning. 'All three of those things are completely different,' she dished. In the end, Lesley noted that 'decluttering and organizing your home takes time and energy,' and is never an easy feat. But she hopes that following her tips can make the process go smoother. And she reminded readers that it will be so worth it once it's done. 'There's nothing quite so satisfying as seeing your unwanted items get a second life via goodwill,' she concluded. 'And always remember less stuff means less to clean. Best of luck!'
