Falling leaves & pumpkins please

My loyal listeners will know that I have a system in my home.

where each departing season is packed away in boxes and stored in the garage, allowing room for the new season to enter and fill the house with delightful decor and seasonal treats.

I carry a basket around the house and absolutely everything relating to the passing season that's no longer needed gets thrown in.

So last month it was everything from summer reeds to sunscreen, floral dresses and sun hats to picnic blankets and sunflower covered tea towels.

It not only saves a lot of room, but it's healthy for my mind.

I find that a transition in my environment helps me adjust in lots of other ways too.

I can let go of the clutter of thoughts and the to-dos not done that have gathered over the season and are taking up brain space.

I look inwardly to identify any new bad habits, limiting beliefs and anxiety that might have just crept in unnoticed.

I'm not shedding a seasonal persona, it's more like an emotional, mental and physical decluttering, which feels a lot less overwhelming when done every quarter, rather than waiting until my house becomes an obstacle course and my mind feels like it's in a similar state.

There's also great joy to be had in unpacking my gorgeous autumn decor that feels so good it beats the Christmas decorations for me.

To give you a peek, this includes things like pumpkin-shaped soup bowls, autumnal mugs and glasses, leaf garlands, fairy lights, acorn-covered tote bags, papery mushrooms with copper-coloured velvet tops, slow cooker recipe books, cosy cardigans and a basket full of autumnal craft projects just waiting to be painted.

This year, in an attempt to push myself to make time for creativity, I stocked up on things to do.

I've got an earthy coloured bundle of felt and embroidery threads.

A little felt pumpkin could be stuffed with aromatics and herbs to hang in my car.

And the little animals can be left flat and strung along as a garland.

Plain wooden bookends shaped like mushrooms are waiting patiently to be painted, along with plain wooden bookmarks shaped like stacked books and falling leaves.

I picked up a few blank canvases to transform into triptychs for the kitchen and the landing.

I also stocked up on some gorgeous scrapbooking supplies.

Leaf covered washi tape, stickers and little notepads covered in apples, acorns, conkers and pumpkins.

Of course I couldn't leave my little ones out so they have a collection of clay cauldrons which is hats, bats and pumpkins to paint and of course will be given pride of place on the shelves.

I also have a capsule wardrobe which I change over for each season and a small suitcase or box of clothes labelled in the garage.

A capsule wardrobe sounds rather trendy, but it's really just a sexy word for not enough space.

And if you've heard my back catalogue, then you'll know when we were redecorating our bedroom and my husband said the bookcase had got to go, it was the wardrobe that I sacrificed.

Hello clothes rail, my books come first.

Anyway, I have found that having a smaller selection of mix and match outfits on hand per season is not only saves me so much space, but reduces decision fatigue in the morning.