Before all the Christmas celebrations officially commence, now is the perfect moment to set aside some time for some serious decluttering.

Getting the house clean, organised and festive can feel like an overwhelming task, but the snowflake rule offers a simple way to make it more manageable.

We got in touch with professional organiser, Lesley Spellman, who hosts The Declutter Hub podcast with Ingrid Jansen, who explained exactly what this tidying trend entails and how it can bring a sense of much-needed calm amidst all the Christmas chaos.

What exactly is the snowflake rule?

Just as no two snowflakes are the same, this decluttering trend encourages you to eliminate any duplicates in your home to create a more streamlined space.

“The idea is that you go through your stuff in a really simple way and make choices based on duplicates that you have in your home,” explains Spellman. “You look at where you’ve got duplicates, and then determine which one is the most useful or the most sentimental to you.

Lesley Spellman says the method is ideal for people who want to do a clear out before Christmas.  Picture: Ingrid Jansen/PA Lesley Spellman says the method is ideal for people who want to do a clear out before Christmas.  Picture: Ingrid Jansen/PA 

“This rule takes decluttering right back down to a simple ‘choose this one or that’ kind of idea and encourages you to not have anything additional to what you need in your home.”

It helps simplify the often daunting prospect of decluttering.

“A very simple method like this is perfect for people who have just found themselves in a position where they’ve got a little bit too much stuff and want to do a clear out ready for Christmas,” says Spellman. “The whole premise of the snowflake method is that it’s quick and speedy and you can get through lots of different rooms before Christmas.”

Why is the lead up to Christmas the perfect time to use this method?

It’s a great way to prepare your house before the inevitable influx of stuff that tends to accumulate during all the festivities.

“It obviously depends on your individual circumstances, but if you’ve got children then there is usually an exponentially crazy influx of stuff coming into the house around Christmas,” says Spellman. “There’s only so much space in your house, so clearing the decks a little bit allows space for these things to come in.”

  • Provides an opportunity to take extra things to a charity shop

The snowflake method may also lead to a pile of items that are in a good enough condition to take to the charity shop.

“It’s an absolutely brilliant time of year to take things like partywear, brand-new items and Christmas decorations to a charity shop,” says Spellman. “It’s a good thing to do this side of Christmas because a lot of these things will be less useful to charity shops afterwards.”

“There’s just this feeling of calm that comes with having less,” highlights Spellman. “Having control of your home and that feeling that you get from decluttering and organising your home just makes you feel a little bit calmer.”

  • Provides the opportunity to teach your kids a lesson

“If you’ve got children, I think it’s really important to teach them that you can’t just ask for loads more stuff from Santa or mum and dad without letting go of some of the stuff that you’ve already got,” says Spellman. “I think teaching those lessons early on is a really good thing.”

  • Can help you uncover things

“By following the snowflake method you will probably uncover a lot of stuff that you completely forgot about which might stop you from buying new things, so will therefore help you save money,” says Spellman. “Through this process you might also uncover things like Christmas cards, gift bags and wrapping paper that you can use up rather than buying new.”

  • Gives you a kickstart on new year organising

“So many people wait until January, which is obviously a big time for decluttering, but it’s brilliant to start now and get ahead of the game,” says Spellman. “Investing a little bit of time in decluttering now will help you feel so much calmer and more accomplished.”

Here are some helpful tips on how to get started…

  • Think about what the goal is

“It’s really important to understand what the big picture goal is,” says Spellman. “Ask yourself, why do you want to do it? Is it for the children or have you got guests coming over?

Decluttering now provides an opportunity to take things to the charity shop before Christmas. Picture: Alamy/PA Decluttering now provides an opportunity to take things to the charity shop before Christmas. Picture: Alamy/PA

“Think about what’s important to you and what’s going to help turn the dial on a little bit more.”

  • Focus on one room at a time

“Decluttering the communal rooms is probably going to be the priority,” says Spellman. “The kitchen is a great place to start as it’s the hub of the home and it’s important to have that as a space that you are proud of and feel comfortable in.”

  • Break it down into manageable chunks

“If you start a massive declutter which takes you from 8am on Saturday morning to 7pm at night, then you are going to be completely worn out and won’t want to do any more the following day,” says Spellman. “But if you instead break it down and start with the kitchen and break it down cupboard by cupboard that will help you manage your own energy levels.”