The room, already full of things, in your family house conveniently slipped your mind whilst you were merrily collecting fancy-dress garments at uni and, unless you are blessed with a room the size of a tennis court, you are faced with the crushing reality that you need to fit two rooms worth of stuff back into one. This gargantuan task is far from appealing but, if your room looks like this you need to get on it asap (even if it's just to get your Mum off your back!) You may be happy living with floor-to-ceiling piles of nondescript jumble, but the fact is having a room like an obstacle course is just not acceptable, or so my parents tell me anyway. The thought makes you want to run and hide in a dark hole for a very long time but here's the good news; it can be done, and it can be done quickly without (too much) blood, sweat and tears..
1. Get organised
When you're faced with the personal possession equivalent of Everest, finding somewhere to start seems impossible. So, you need to establish exactly what needs to be done and in what order. Treat it as a military operation; section off the room into zones and make a list of everything that needs to be sorted in each zone. Making a week plan or at least a list at the beginning of each day means you'll be constantly productive and will hopefully stop you getting overwhelmed. Plus, giving each task a satisfying tick when it's done and seeing how much your room improves each day will keep you motivated to finish.
2. Be strict
You may discover that you have been a bit of a hoarder over the years and have filled any available space with anything you can. At this point you'll probably curse your past self for keeping every single ticket stub, every soft toy you ever owned, your bank statements from your first visa electron card and all your pencil cases from reception through to year 13. Whilst these things probably were important to you at the time, you need to decide if they still are now. In reality you don't need the receipts for Christmas presents from three years ago or your science project from year 8 (even if you did get an award for your extremely realistic foil volcano) Keep the things that are important or have sentimental value (or anything that must be kept 'for the grandchildren'), but be ruthless.
3. Call for back-up
This does not have to be a solo mission; you will undoubtedly need assistance. There's bound to be some heavy lifting, dismantling and general heaving involved so make sure you have enough people to prevent injury! If you find you are being particularly dithery and simply can't decide which identical pair of trainers to keep (because you had to buy another pair when you left yours at home) then get someone else to make it for you- someone who doesn't have an emotional attachment to both pairs! If you know you are rubbish at filing ask someone organised (say, a neat-freak mother) for help with some sort of system to get all your books and notes in order. With a team effort you'll be done in no time!
4. Consider your options
If you realise you are giving away some quality things consider putting them on eBay or Amazon. You might have some decent second-hand books that you can sell or some fancy clothes you've barely worn but just won't fit in your closet. Alternatively, remember that charity shops are always grateful for donations (and then you get to be a nice person too!) Look out for charity bags through the door or take them into your local store and donate in person. On the topic of being good, remember to recycle anything that can be - you'll probably fill bags and bags with paper and card (especially if you're going through uni notes!) and it can all be saved from the tip. Remember clothes, shoes, electricals and most other things can be recycled too.
5. Make necessary purchases
If you need more storage space, browse Argos's catalogues for the latest in handy furniture inventions. An 'ottoman storage bed' will be your new best friend and general favourite thing ever. Its base is hollow, ready for you to fill to the brim with things that have no home; shove the mattress back down and hey presto. Maybe get some more shelves or hanging baskets/containers to free up some floor space and make room for anything else you simply must keep.
6. Think positively
To stay sane during this tumultuous time, accept that it'll take a while and miracles don't happen overnight. Focus on what went well that day rather than how much more you have to do and treat it like a 9-5 job to make sure it doesn't take over your whole life. Finally, make it fun; put the music on, reward yourself after each task and maybe invest in some nice tea bags.
