Make Room to Breathe

Make Room to Breathe Helping busy families create a sense of calm and enjoy their homes. Horsham, West Sussex

19/06/2026

Ah… the toys!

It’s a category that continues to grow, and can easily get out of hand.

If your storage system isn’t working for you, and things aren’t being put back when they belong, it can quickly become a big muddle.

So, where to begin?

I’d always say, clear some space, a floor usually works well. Grab a bin bag and a recycling bag. A box or bag for things that belong elsewhere in the home can also be handy.

Then, just start wherever feels right to you and tackle one pile / box / drawer / area at a time. Work your way methodically round the room and put like with like.

Start with the broad strokes: large toys in one corner, books in a pile, stationary in one section, small toys together.

Once you’ve gone through this you can assess how much you have in each category and review what you actually want to keep.

Whilst you have everything out, it’s a good opportunity to give the drawers or cupboards a quick wipe.

Then it’s time to reset your space, taking into consideration how frequently things are used, and how easily (or not) you would like certain items to be accessed.

Let me know if you’d like a hand tackling your toy storage.

I’ve still got a few slots available ahead of the summer holidays.

I’d love to help you.

“A shed is the perfect place to store things that are not quite useful enough to be in your house, but almost useful eno...
03/06/2026

“A shed is the perfect place to store things that are not quite useful enough to be in your house, but almost useful enough not to be in your bin!” 😂

Ok so obviously I do not agree with that statement.

A shed is however, the perfect place to store your gardening equipment, and outdoor toys, a paddling pool even. The caveat is, that they must be stored in an appropriate way, so that nothing deteriorates due to fluctuating temperatures and ingress of moisture.

For some things, a simple hook on the wall works great, for others a plastic box is better. Some things are fine out there over the spring and summer, but when it starts to get damp again, they might need to come back inside. Same if you have a caravan or beach hut.

“Some of the things in your shed may even turn into heirlooms for your children.” 😂

Ok, seriously though, this is no laughing matter.

When a family member or loved one passes, their nearest and dearest are left to deal with all of the decisions they have been putting off. It’s hard enough without having to sort through endless piles of things that nobody needed anyway.

If you’ve got a shed, (or a loft, or a garage) have a think about what is actually in there.

These are the spaces where ‘out of sight’ can really be ‘out of mind’, and unless you are conscious of what you have, you will never use it.

Don’t keep things you don’t need. Pass them on for others to enjoy, and make your day-to-day life run smoother, by being able to find what you want more easily.

21/05/2026

Ah Lego…

It’s so much fun hunting through a massive box to find that one piece that you need to make the thing! Isn’t it?

I absolutely love making a brand new Lego set. Getting all the pieces out, following the instructions and making sure you are getting it all right… obviously that’s right up my street.

I think we’d all agree that we like that bit.

It’s what happens next that is the tricky part. Of course we want to admire our work, and show the rest of the family what we’ve achieved. But, then what?

In my experience, it seems that we then fall into one of two categories.

• Keep on displaying and admiring forever.
• Eventually it gets knocked and broken and ends up mixed in with all the other Lego we have.

The difficulty is that if you keep building and displaying, you will end up running out of display space, and the pieces will become dusty over time unless displayed behind glass.

Or

If everything is mixed in together, that’s fine for using your imagination to free build, but should you decide you want to rebuild a specific set it is a mammoth task to sort through and find all the correct parts.

The original packaging isn’t much help either, as unlike a jigsaw box which is designed to be reused and rebuilt, Lego boxes are more of a one time use. They don’t reseal properly, and they are all different sizes, so it’s difficult to stack and store them.

What category does your family fall into, and how do you navigate the longer term use of Lego? I’m here for all weird and wonderful solutions. Tell me what works for you!

Let’s talk about candles.We buy them, we get given them, we keep them… Why? Yes, they look nice on the shelf or mantelpi...
15/05/2026

Let’s talk about candles.

We buy them, we get given them, we keep them…

Why?

Yes, they look nice on the shelf or mantelpiece, sideboard or windowsill - but they are not ornaments.

They are meant to be used, and enjoyed. They are meant to be lit. Their scent released.

They aren’t not meant to gather dust.

We tell ourselves we are keeping them for a ‘special occasion’ but tell me this; what occasion is special enough?

What are you saving them for?

Who is deemed worthy of lighting the candle, and why can’t it be for YOU!

If you have candles that you don’t light, let me know why?!

This time last week…It was glorious weather and we needed a treat. I remembered that I had waffle cones in the cupboard,...
06/05/2026

This time last week…

It was glorious weather and we needed a treat. I remembered that I had waffle cones in the cupboard, so we nipped to the shop to buy some ice-cream. The choice was a little underwhelming so we opted for good old fashioned vanilla.

The little one was a bit disappointed, as she wanted ‘pink ice-cream’ and that’s when I remembered I had been saving a little tub of freeze dried raspberries that I had got from the lovely Michelle

I’m not quite sure what I had been saving them for, it felt like I needed a special occasion to enjoy them… but today was the day!

I blitzed them up in the food processor to make a raspberry crumb, and we merrily dipped our cones until they were covered!

I can’t tell you how much fun we had and how delicious it was, and I’d just left them sitting in the cupboard for quite a while. I wish we’d done it sooner!

So, my advice to you, is when it comes to kitchen cupboards, if you have something special, don’t wait to enjoy it. Don’t save things ‘for best’ or when you have guests round, or some other occasion that feels like you can give yourself permission to enjoy a treat.

Don’t clog up your cupboards with things you are going to have ‘someday’ - enjoy them whilst they are fresh!

This is the start of something…Yesterday I met with the lovely Rob and Hannah at to discuss how best we can work togeth...
23/04/2026

This is the start of something…

Yesterday I met with the lovely Rob and Hannah at to discuss how best we can work together, to help our local community.

As you know, I love to support charities by donating the items my decluttering clients no longer need. A huge part of what I do is figuring out who needs what, and redistributing to prevent waste and ensure that items get to those who need them most.

I am a big believer in collaboration, and exchanging knowledge. Helping to connect people and build a community of like minded individuals who all want to do good things.

When we all work together, share ideas and contacts, it’s amazing what we can achieve!

Community supporting community makes me so happy.

13/04/2026

I’m in print!

I still can’t quite wrap my head around it, but if you’ve managed to get your hands on a copy of this month’s All About Horsham Magazine, you’ll have seen my article on how to approach your spring cleaning and support our local community.

It really is a dream come true to be featured in this beautiful local print magazine. Thank you Ben at AAH, and thank you Danielle for the lovely branding photography.

Let me know if you’ve read it, and would like some help getting your home decluttered and organised, to support your current lifestyle.

Get in touch today.

A ‘could do’ list…I am loving the idea of a could do list. Things that might be nice to do, but aren’t particularly urge...
10/04/2026

A ‘could do’ list…

I am loving the idea of a could do list. Things that might be nice to do, but aren’t particularly urgent.

It feels so much lighter, hopeful and enticing than a ‘to-do’

I often find that I have so much on my list that it feels overwhelming and it can be difficult to know where to begin.

Separating out the non-negotiables and time sensitive tasks helps keep you on track and focused on what is important.

Then, if you find you have a spare moment, or need some inspiration take a look at the could do’s… where it feels like more of a menu of options.

Will you give it a try?

So much more than I imagined.Yesterday I had the privilege of being invited along to to see their facilities and better...
26/03/2026

So much more than I imagined.

Yesterday I had the privilege of being invited along to to see their facilities and better understand what they do.

I regularly donate items, on behalf my clients, to be sold in their charity shops, but this visit helped me better understand how I can also support the house directly.

Before I arrived, I was preparing myself for an emotional visit. What I discovered was that Chestnut Tree House is a place that celebrates living, rather than focusing on dying.

There are so many different spaces that support people’s interests and allow for fun. This is just a part of their beautiful grounds, all designed for accessibility and designed with the help of the children.

It really feels like they have figured out how to maximise enjoyment and support all of the family. There aren’t enough words to explain how magical this place is, but I will keep trying.

Obviously it’s the place you hope to never need, but if you did, it really is a special place. I was continually in awe of how the place felt. There is nothing somber about it. It is full of love.

If there is any way you are able to support this incredible charity, please do. Their facilities are incredible, but they would love to be able to support more families. I’m proud to be able to help them to continue the incredible work that they do.

I have an emotional day ahead…Today I have the privilege of being invited to visit Chestnut Tree House children’s hospic...
26/03/2026

I have an emotional day ahead…

Today I have the privilege of being invited to visit Chestnut Tree House children’s hospice, near Arundel.

I first met Nicky, their community fundraiser, almost a year ago and since then have been making regular donations on my clients behalf, to support the incredible work they do.

It is because of this partnership, that I have been invited along, to see their facilities and better understand how I can help them moving forwards.

You may have seen their charity shops, the nearest of which is in Billingshurst, or come across some of their many fundraising activities, but incase you aren’t aware...

Chestnut Tree House provide care for children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions aged from birth to 25.

Their efforts ensure patients and their families are supported with specialist end-of-life and palliative care, helping them to make memories and die with comfort, dignity and choice.

I am sure today will be incredibly moving, and I consider it an honour to be invited in - to understand more about what they do to help people, and how I can be a part of it.

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