Decluttering Isn’t Just About Stuff: What We Learned from Dilly Carter at Good Housekeeping Live

If you’ve ever stood at the bottom of your stairs, glaring at a donation bag you filled three weeks ago, or wondered why your kitchen counters feel permanently cluttered, you're not alone. And you’re exactly the kind of person Dilly Carter is here for.

At Good Housekeeping Live, the inimitable Dilly — professional organiser, author, and founder of Declutter Dollies — sat down with Homes and Household Advice Editor Katie Mortram to talk about her life, her new podcast appearance, and why decluttering is never just about throwing things away.

From emotional keepsakes to the impact of clutter on mental health, here’s what we learned from one of the UK’s most passionate advocates for creating calm, happy homes.

The sentimental bits that really matter

Asked what she’d keep in her metaphorical “biscuit tin” of treasured items, Dilly didn’t hesitate. Despite her career being rooted in letting go, she shared two small, meaningful things she'd hold onto forever: a necklace gifted by her late father and a tiny pouch from her early career — the very first branded freebie she ever received.

For Dilly, jewellery isn't just decoration. “I invest in jewellery that marks big moments,” she said. “Every piece has a meaning.”

That little pouch, meanwhile, is about celebrating the journey. “I remember when it arrived, I thought, ‘I’ve made it!’” she laughed. Now, she plans to frame it in her new garden office — a reminder of how far she’s come.

Dilly’s most powerful message? Clutter doesn’t stop at cupboards.

“The more mess we have around us, the worse it makes us feel,” she explained. “Mental clutter and physical clutter go hand in hand.”

Whether it's a chaotic garage or an overflowing inbox, both take up space in our heads. And when that clutter begins to impact your relationships — not just with others, but with yourself — it’s time for a reset.

Forget the latest storage hack or stylish basket. According to Dilly, the first step is to take responsibility.

“We create the clutter,” she said bluntly. “It’s us. We’re the ones who keep spending. We don’t unsubscribe from marketing emails, we don’t cancel the orders — and it builds up.”

Her biggest advice? Stop buying. It’s the only guaranteed way to keep clutter from creeping back in.

She’s even coined the term Unsubscribe Mondays on Instagram — encouraging followers to spend just 15 minutes every week cutting down the digital noise that leads to more ‘stuff’.

Dilly’s favourite technique is what she calls a “space audit”. And no — it’s not about spreadsheets or spreadsheets.

Step outside your home. Take a moment. Appreciate that it’s yours.

Then walk back in with fresh eyes and make three lists for each room:

• What do I like?

• What don’t I like?

• What would I change?

It’s about slowing down and seeing your space properly. “We rush through our homes every day without noticing what’s working — or what isn’t,” she said. “This helps you reset.”

Whether you’ve got four random occasional chairs or your grown kids’ toy units still taking up space, it’s time to question what stays — and what’s had its day.

Decluttering doesn’t have to mean gutting the garage in a day. Dilly recommends beginning with what’s bothering you most — even if it’s just a messy drawer.

And if you’ve got kids, a job, or a busy life? Don’t wait for the perfect moment. “Decluttering is like anything else — it needs to be scheduled in,” she insisted.

Create time. Make it a priority. And if you’re the kind of person who starts but never finishes, consider bringing in help or asking a mate to keep you accountable.

Feeling overwhelmed? Try the Minimalism Challenge — a simple 30-day process that starts with removing one item on Day 1, two on Day 2, three on Day 3… and so on. By the end of the month, you’ll have cleared nearly 500 items — often without even realising it.

It’s a firm favourite in Dilly’s own routine, and a great way to build confidence if decluttering feels emotional or daunting.

For those helping a friend or loved one who struggles with clutter, especially due to mental health or neurodiversity, Dilly was firm: never force it.

“Take them with you on the journey,” she said. “Explain why, and show them how the space can help. Calm can be unfamiliar — even scary — if you’ve never had it.”

And when it comes to dealing with belongings after the loss of a loved one? Don’t rush, and don’t hold onto everything. “Memories live in moments — not objects,” she reminded us. A jumper or a vase may carry a story, but it’s the people and time shared that matter most.

Whether it’s space in your hallway, your head, or your calendar, that’s the real goal of decluttering.

“When we clear out, we create room to breathe,” said Dilly. “Think about that feeling when you walk into a hotel room — everything is calm, clean, minimal. That’s the feeling we want to bring into our homes.”

And as the Ideal Home Show regularly champions, our living spaces are reflections of our wellbeing — so taking the time to curate them isn’t indulgent, it’s essential.

So whether you're holding on to every vintage jacket you've ever loved, or just trying to clear the cutlery drawer without losing your mind, start small. Reassess what really matters. And don’t forget to take those charity bags all the way to the drop-off.

Because clutter isn’t just what’s in your home — it’s what’s on your mind. And you deserve the space to live clearly.