Spaces By Philippa

When Philippa Kilkelly launched her interior design
business, Spaces By Philippa, she was excited to move
out of her corporate career and finally make a life-long
passion her focus.
Leaving London and returning to her home town
of Haywards Heath she quickly started to find clients
and soon she was busy with fabric swatches and paint
samples, making homes beautiful. But she soon realised
there was more than great layout and the perfect
statement chair to making homes really work.
“An integral part of interior design is storage,”
Philippa explained. “However, often when consulting
with clients, I would discover that there simply wasn’t
enough space to contain all their belongings. Digging
a little deeper uncovered that this is not just an issue
of storage. The volume of possessions we accumulate
over time have a profound impact on us. Quite often
my clients have been through a life change, emotional
challenges and upheaval. It is therefore not uncommon
to become overwhelmed, to not know where to start,
and to therefore do nothing. The disorganisation at
home prevents them from feeling clear headed and
this in turn stops them moving forward and achieving
their goals.
“It made me reflect on my own home, which feels
calm and under control. What I realised was that
designing the zones, flow and storage wasn’t enough.
You also need to factor in letting go of physical things,
organising, categorising and (most importantly) putting
in systems to make sure it stays that way.”
It was at this point that Philippa started offering
decluttering and life organisation services and was
bowled over by the number of people who reached out
needing help!
“The decluttering process revealed more than just
physical clutter. As we go through the process we always
end up talking about the challenges my clients have been
through and sometimes their whole life story! If I can
understand my clients it makes it easier for me to put
processes in place to help them keep things organised.
It always ends up being a therapeutic experience
and I believe it creates a pathway to emotional clarity. I
love getting feedback from people telling me how much
lighter they feel at the end of it.”
Registered Psychologist Dr Carolyne Keenan
says: “Decluttering isn’t just about tidying your
home, it’s about creating mental space too. When
our surroundings are calm and organised, our brains
experience less sensory overload, making it easier
to focus, rest and think clearly. Living in a clutter-free
space can lower stress, boost mood, and give a sense of
control when life feels unpredictable. Small, consistent
steps to create order in your environment can have a
powerful ripple effect on your emotional wellbeing.”
Philippa has also noticed that requests are seasonal in
their nature, with the end of summer meaning a wave of
new enquiries as the new academic year brings a desire
for a clean slate and a new sense of purpose. “Homes are
so important. They provide security, a solid foundation
from which to live our lives and a sanctuary. If that home
feels out of control, disorganised or uncomfortable then
those feelings inevitably radiate into the rest of your
life. Mental and emotional spaces are definitely mirrored
in their environment and taking control of the physical
space definitely leads to a feeling of wellbeing and
empowerment through change.”