I’m a folding expert – here are my savvy tips to maximise ANY space around the house no matter how small

SOPHIE LIARD began sharing videos of herself folding clothes on TikTok two years ago and it started a whole new career for her.

After the first effort – which was a simple clip of her reorganising a drawer of messy clothes – clocked up 137,000 views, she realised she might be on to something.

At the time Sophie, 36, who lives in Guildford, Surrey, with her husband and their two sons, was working in retail.

But when the online hits continued to skyrocket, @TheFoldingLady was born.

After a year, she gave up the day job and began working on her first book, The Folding Lady, in which she shares tricks to make the most out of space.

She says: “I am all about being real – no rules, no judgment.

“I’m here to try to make your life a little less messy through folding and organising with some handy home hacks.

“Once you recognise your home as a haven to make the everyday less chaotic, an easier life – a less stressed life and one that is unique to you – will start to come into view.”

In an extract from her book, Natasha Harding reveals some of Sophie’s savviest folding tips and her top suggestions to maximise space.

• The Folding Lady by Sophie Liard (Yellow Kite, £14.99) is out on Thursday.

PANTS

1. Lay item flat.
2. Fold the waistband under.
3. Fold into thirds, left on top.
4. Keep folding up.
5. Turn over.
6. Fold the “pocket” that has been created back on itself.

SHIRTS

1. Lay the item flat.
2. Turn it over.
3. Place a piece of A4 paper underneath the collar.
4. Fold the sleeves in towards the middle.
5. Fold the bottom of the top up towards the collar so that it is in half.

JEANS

1. Lay the item flat.
2. Fold the jeans in half.
3. Fold a third from the bottom of the jeans, up.
4. Fold a third from the top, down.

SOCKS

1. Place one sock on top, heels face up.
2. Keep folding up.
3. Turn over.
4. Fold sock opening back over bundle.

HOODIES

1. Lay the hoodie face down on a flat surface.
2. Fold the hood back and smooth it flat.
3. Fold in the arms to create a neat rectangle.
4. Fold top half over bottom half.

TIGHTS

1. Lay the item flat.
2. Turn top of waistband inside-out.
3. Fold the tights in half.
4. Keep folding or rolling up.
5. Fold back on itself.
6. Unfold waistband to secure fold.

BOXER SHORTS

1. Lay item flat.
2. Turn over.
3. Fold into thirds, left on top.
4. Fold from the bottom to the middle.
5. Fold from the top to the middle.
6. Fold up, tuck into the waistband.

VESTS

1. Lay the item flat.
2. Fold the top third down towards the middle.
3. Fold the bottom third up.
4. Turn the item 90 degrees.
5. Keep folding until it is folded into a rectangle.

RULE OF THREE

THIRDS folding is my go-to for rectangular shapes – for example, with items such as towels and sheets.

I use my classic “thirds and thirds again” fold to store my towels and then, for larger rectangles, I use it to end the fold.

The best thing about using thirds is that it will keep your edges tidy, unlike folding in half.

SPACE-SAVING SECRETS

STORAGE BOXES ON SHELVES: Use open storage boxes such as the Ikea Skubb range and fold the same way as if you were using drawers.

 If your boxes are not the exact size of your shelf and have space around them, don’t look at it as dead space. Review the set-up and ask: “Have I made the clothes accessible and the space user-friendly?”

FOLD CLOTHES IN PILES: For this, you are limited to the type of outfits you can use. I do not recommend folding huge piles of dresses or coats.

Jumpers, jeans, T-shirts and hoodies are fine. The flatter the fold, the higher the pile, so try to do as few folds as possible.

DON’T OVERLAP: Overlapping folded items will make your clothes look uneven and cause piles to topple over. Size ordering is great but keep in mind that accessibility should be your priority — and make sure your most frequently worn items are on top of the pile to keep it tidy.

SHELF DIVIDERS: With long shelves, dividers can really help to keep your stacked-up items in check.

They are also useful for other types of storage. I use them in my work cupboard, where I keep different types of storage boxes. They have allowed me to categorise what I have in stock and create some order.

HANG A CAPSULE WARDROBE: Make a capsule wardrobe of the clothes you wear most often so all your regulars are in one place. Hang, rather than fold, these. This includes coats and jumpers you wear at that current time of year.

Also hang delicate clothes in a breathable bag, or cut a small hole in an old pillow case and cover the item with that.

Clothes that are not regularly worn can be folded.

AVOID CREASE CREATION: Fold clothes lightly and do not treat each fold as if you are creasing a piece of paper.

And do not pack drawers or shelves too tightly because clothes will be squashed together and those deep creases will need ironing out.

This also applies to hanging them up in the wardrobe. If you pack it all in, they are more likely to crease.