Hobbies often create a surprising amount of clutter. How much stuff has yours left around your home?

A natural way to answer

Quite a lot, to be honest. My photography gear has gradually taken over a whole shelf, and the boxes are spilling out into the cupboard. Every so often I tell myself I'll have a clear-out, but I always find a reason to keep things.

Key phrases to use

• take over — to gradually fill or dominate a space, pushing other things out“The kids' toys have taken over the living room.”
• spill out — to overflow from one space into another because there's too much“Clothes were spilling out of the wardrobe.”
• have a clear-out — to tidy up by getting rid of things you no longer need“I really need to have a clear-out of the garage.”