Giving your unwanted things a new home
One of the questions I get asked quite often when I’m working with a client is:
“What should I do with all this stuff once I’ve decided I don’t want it anymore?”
And it’s a really good question.
For me, decluttering isn’t about filling black bags and taking everything to the tip.
Whenever possible, I like to think about where things could go next.
Could somebody else use them?
Could they be donated to a local charity?
Could they be recycled?
Could they be passed on to someone who needs them?
I love the idea that something you no longer need can have a useful second life somewhere else.
Over the years, I’ve built up a little network of places in and around Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead where I can take suitable donations from my clients.
Here are some of my favourites.
This one is particularly close to my heart.
I regularly volunteer for Pens for Kids, which is based in Berkhamsted, and I often take suitable donations from my clients there.
Pens for Kids collects working pens and pencils and sends them to children around the world who need them to help with their education. They accept pens and pencils, including colouring pens and pencils, as long as they’re in working order.
It’s such a simple idea, but I love it.
During a decluttering session, we might come across a drawer full of pens that haven’t been used for years. Rather than throwing them away, it’s lovely to know that they could end up being used by a child who really needs them.
And because Pens for Kids is right here in Berkhamsted, it feels particularly special to be able to support a local organisation doing something with such a far-reaching impact.
One Impossible Thing – Hemel Hempstead
If you’ve got sports shoes or trainers that are still in good condition but are no longer being used, One Impossible Thing is another wonderful local option.
They’re a Hemel Hempstead-based charity that collects pre-loved sports shoes and redistributes them for free to people who need them. This includes children who might otherwise struggle to take part in sport, as well as people experiencing homelessness.
They have collection points in Hemel Hempstead, St Albans and Harpenden, including Hemel Hempstead Sports Centre and Jarman Park Athletics Track.
I particularly like this one because it fits so beautifully with the idea of extending the life of something rather than sending it to landfill.
So when we’re sorting through a wardrobe and find a pair of sports shoes that no longer fit, they don’t necessarily need to go in the bin.
They could help someone else get active.
DENS does such important work in Hemel Hempstead and across Dacorum, supporting people facing homelessness, poverty and social exclusion.
They provide accommodation, food, practical support and help people take the next steps towards a more secure future.
When I’m helping a client declutter, I always consider whether there are things that could be useful to a local charity such as DENS.
It’s important to check what DENS is currently able to accept before donating, as their requirements can change. At the moment, for example, they have specific guidance about food, household goods and other donations, and they no longer accept furniture donations.
So I always encourage clients to check the charity’s current donation list first rather than simply turning up with a car full of belongings.
That little bit of planning helps make sure that our good intentions really do help.
The Lions Bookshop – books and magazines
Books are another thing I come across all the time when I’m decluttering.
And I completely understand why they’re difficult to let go of.
A bookshelf can be full of memories, favourite authors and books that you’ve always intended to read again.
But sometimes we have far more books than we have space for.
When clients are ready to let some go, The Lions Bookshop is one of the local places I like to consider for books and magazines.
It’s a lovely way of giving something you’ve finished with the chance to be enjoyed by someone else.
And if you’re anything like me, there’s something rather satisfying about knowing that a book you’ve loved might have another reader waiting for it.
Returned to Glory – Berkhamsted
Returned to Glory is another favourite of mine.
It’s the re-loved furniture and homeware showroom in Berkhamsted supporting The Hospice of St Francis.
This is particularly useful when I’m helping clients with larger decluttering projects, downsizing or preparing to move house.
Furniture and homeware that no longer suits one household might be exactly what somebody else is looking for.
Rather than seeing an unwanted piece of furniture as “rubbish”, I love the idea of asking:
Could someone else give this a new home?
Returned to Glory is all about giving furniture and homeware another chance, with proceeds helping support the Hospice of St Francis.
It’s a lovely example of how decluttering can benefit more than just the person whose home we’re working in.
And then there are the things that aren’t quite right for a charity shop but could be useful to animals.
Animal Support Angels is another organisation I consider when I’m helping clients sort through suitable items.
Sometimes a decluttering session uncovers things that could be useful for animal rescue and support, and it’s lovely when something that has been sitting unused in a cupboard can have a completely different purpose.
Again, I’ll always check what is currently needed and accepted before passing anything on.
Decluttering doesn’t have to mean throwing things away
This is something I feel quite strongly about.
When you’re surrounded by clutter, it can be tempting to think:
“I just need to get rid of everything.”
But I don’t think decluttering needs to be about that.
It’s about making thoughtful decisions about what still belongs in your life.
And once you’ve decided something can go, where it goes next matters too.
Sometimes that’s a charity.
Sometimes it’s a friend or family member.
Sometimes it’s something that can be sold.
Sometimes it’s recycling.
And sometimes, unfortunately, it really does need to go in the bin.
My job is to support you in making the decision that feels right for you as part of my decluttering service. I’ll help you work through your belongings without judgement, at your pace, and we’ll think together about the most appropriate way to move things on.
A more sustainable way to declutter
I feel very fortunate that my work allows me to connect decluttering with something I care about – giving things another chance wherever possible.
It’s also one of the reasons I enjoy volunteering with Pens for Kids.
I’m based in Hemel Hempstead and work with clients across Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and the surrounding Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire areas, so I’ve gradually built up a good understanding of some of the wonderful local organisations doing good things in our community.
For me, that’s what sustainable decluttering is really about.
Not simply getting rid of things, but thinking about where they could go next.
Because the thing you no longer need might be exactly what somebody else is looking for.
Need some help with your own clutter?
If you’ve been putting off tackling that spare room, garage, wardrobe or loft because you don’t know where everything will go, you don’t have to figure it all out yourself.
I can help you work through it, make decisions without judgement and find sensible ways to move unwanted items on.
And yes – I’ll happily help you work out whether that drawer full of old pens really does need to go in the bin!
If you’re in Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead or the surrounding area, I’d love to have a chat.
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Professional Decluttering & Home Organising
Berkhamsted | Hemel Hempstead | Hertfordshire & surrounding areas
Helping you clear the clutter, create calm and love your home again – sustainably.