In the spirit of new beginnings - and in an attempt to get order after home has housed the whole family for work, rest and play - now is the time to declutter.

Less "stuff" will make organising easier so everything can have a home and this in turn will make the next clean that little bit breezier.

It will also allow you to give spaces a more thorough deep clean and realise the long-term benefits of learning to cut down to the essentials.

Decluttering begins with the question 'What does my ideal space look and feel like?'.

As you hold that vision in your mind, you will have a better feeling of what you deeply cherish.

However decluttering doesn't always mean letting go, it can also mean packing away the winter warmers to give some breathing space to your summer wardrobe.

Think about items often used or needed during the season ahead, including work clothes that may have been stored away during the work from home period.

Declutter by category - this will allow you to stay focused on that one category and avoid overwhelm.

And whatever area or room you are focusing on, ask yourself these five questions, when considering whether an object stays or goes:

Letting go of the things that aren't serving us or adding value to our lives can give us back freedom of time and space and those are things money can't buy.

Once your home life is decluttered and organised, the physical clean becomes much easier.

See the positive changes that follow as you create a welcoming environment that aligns to the bright days ahead.

Edel Beattie is a professional home organiser at The Happy Organiser.