In a world constantly asking us to accumulate more, decluttering has the potential to feel less like a chore and more like a quiet rebellion.
To explore what it really means beyond building the donation pile, I sat down with Laura Gray, a West Bridgford-based interior designer, whose work is rooted in the belief that our homes should support us rather than overwhelm.
“Decluttered spaces are easier to live in. Cleaning takes less time, tidying never feels overwhelming.”
Laura gray, Interior designer.
In our conversation, Gray, who started Laura Gray Interiors ten years ago, explains decluttered spaces “make it so much easier to interact with other people” and can improve a person’s social skills and wellbeing.
“It’s easier to interact with family or guests and therefore ideal for both entertaining and family life,” Gray says.
“You can cook while you chat to friends or keep an eye on young children.”
She believes the notion that ‘the home is where the heart is’ is helped along by the task of decluttering – it refreshes not only the physical space but also our emotional connection to it as well.
Gray, who’s had a passion for interiors since she was 10, says: “Decluttered spaces are easier to live in, the lower visual noise ensures a sense of calm and order. Cleaning takes less time, tidying never feels overwhelming.
“There’s also something incredibly soothing about walking into a room where everything has the room to breathe.”
The designer hopes to encourage people to rethink their relationship with their belongings, viewing decluttering not as a one-off task, but as a continued, mindful practice.
“Edit regularly – a well-edited home feels intentional, calm, and effortlessly welcoming.”
Laura Gray
With that in mind, Gray shared her top tips for creating a calmer, more intentional home without the process feeling overwhelming.
She focuses on being clever with storage and “utilising little nooks or an under-stairs space with bespoke storage solutions” to prevent “those areas becoming dumping grounds”.
She added: “Multifunctional furniture such as a sofa or footstool with integrated storage, allow everyday items to disappear when not in use; use closed storage for busy items and open shelving for things you actually want to see.”
Finally, Gray emphasises the importance of regular ‘editing’ and periodically reassessing what we own to avoid clutter quietly building up again.
“Edit regularly – anything you don’t use, or love can add visual noise, whereas a well-edited home feels intentional, calm, and effortlessly welcoming”, she said.
Taken together, Gray’s tips offer a realistic approach to decluttering that prioritise ease.
By making small, intentional decisions over time it becomes possible to maintain a consistently calm, organised home, she says.
