We all know that one person, whose house is ALWAYS spick and span, and so well organised that you can open literally any drawer, at any time, and nothing dusty or embarrassing will pop out. Ever. Jenna Densten is that person! As an interior designer, design educator and former contestant on The Block, Jenna knows more than most when it comes to ensuring her home is always camera ready.
Whilst we’ve long admired Jenna’s design eye, she also has an incredible skill for home organisation. The inner city home Jenna shares with her husband Josh, two kids Fred and Story, and two dogs Pepper and Bay is a sparkling case study in next level neat-and-tidiness.
It hasn’t always been that way, though. Jenna admits in her younger years she was far less disciplined, but after having kids and moving house a few times, she started to really see the benefits of streamlining her family’s belongings, and putting a few routines in place to maintain order. After seeking the services of a professional organiser to help her get started, Jenna picked up quite a few tricks – and today she’s spilling the beans (into a perfectly labelled airtight container, of course…!)
In this video, created in partnership with David Jones and Dyson, Jenna shares her top tips for keeping any home clean, tidy and clutter free – watch and learn!
1. Pantry Perfection
I think we can all agree that Jenna’s kitchen pantry takes home organisation to new heights – not a cardboard cereal box in sight!
Jenna’s top advice for pantry perfection is to group all your pantry essentials, and purchase air tight containers for absolutely everything! Next, label them. No matter what type of storage you choose, Jenna advises to keep all your labels consistent in style. You can invest in your own label maker, or order labels online.
After that, it’s all about forming good habits – and this can be the hard part. ‘When you buy a new pack of cereal, don’t just shove it in the cupboard – put it straight into its container’ Jenna says. It will soon become your new normal, and you’ll actually enjoy it. Because when your pantry looks THIS good, the satisfaction levels are high!
2. Keeping Kids Clutter at Bay
When it comes to keeping kids clutter under control, it’s all about storage, and categorisation.
Jenna recommends having designated toy storage in every room where your kids play. Then, categorise each basket or tub to a particular activity or toy. For example, group dolls together, blocks together, dress ups together. Only bring out a couple of activities at a time, and always pack up before the next activity!
3. Keeping it Clean
Jenna’s number one tip is to keep your cleaning equipment within easy reach – and spot-clean frequently, rather than letting it all pile up at the end of the week!
The new Dyson V15 Detect Total Clean cordless vacuum makes it super easy to do a quick and thorough clean – it has a new laser on the slim fluffy cleaner head that makes invisible dust and pet hair visible on hard floors¹ (see a demo in the video!) – and an LCD screen that shows you exactly what you’ve captured². So satisfying!
4. Audit Your Space
If you’re limited on space, or you’ve moved into a new home recently, it’s a great idea to do an audit to be really clear how you’re actually using the space. Jenna recommends asking yourself; Am I using this space as intended? Can this space be better utilised? And – what is my house lacking?
Think about how you live in your home, and focus on any areas that just feel like hard work. Consider how you can make those spaces more functional. It might be adding additional storage for shoes at your front door, baskets under your vanity to store those extra towels, or simply decluttering and organising a tupperware drawer to make it more manageable.
5. Keep or Cull?
It should come as no surprise that Jenna is a cull-er, not a keeper! She recommends purging regularly keep clutter under control. Jenna suggests looking for swap groups or charities that are close to home, to make it super easy to cull your old things, pass them on – and feel good about it!
Whether you’re culling clothes, kitchenware or kids toys, the main thing is just keeping track of what you actually use, and what is simply taking up precious space – and when it’s time to move on… be brutal!
The new Dyson V15 Detect Total Clean cordless vacuum is Dyson’s most powerful, intelligent cordless vacuum cleaner. It’s available now, at David Jones.
