How to Declutter Your Home

When you declutter your home, you declutter your mind. Get decluttering tips, tricks and an easy-to-tackle checklist to learn how to declutter, efficiently.

There’s just something about the new year that leaves us craving a fresh start. This is true in both the physical and metaphorical sense when it comes to our well-being.

Learn how to declutter your home, one step at a time!

Originally shared December 30, 2019, this post was updated with fresh content December 27, 2021.

With the kids back in school, it’s time to do a little decluttering. With a few extra hours in the day filled with peace and quiet and lack of interference as items make their way to the trash, recycle and donate piles, there’s no time better than the present.

My motto is sometimes simplicity is simply the best. I love the way our clutter free home feels. I find myself becoming overwhelmed when clutter takes over. It’s one of the many reasons I’ve embraced a minimalist lifestyle.

Let’s face it, the holidays turn everything upside down which is why it feels so great to take the month of January to get organized. If you haven’t yet, I hope you join my challenge to get organized in 30 days!

What is Clutter?

First, let’s define clutter…

“Clutter is a collection of things lying about in an untidy mass.”

For many people, clutter adds anxiety and stress to their lives. Something as simple as a clean island, clean desk, or an organized closet can create a sense of calm.

The first step to organization is decluttering. Eliminating excess is the easiest task, and quite possibly the most rewarding. Getting rid of clutter is so freeing.

When you declutter your home, you declutter your mind.

Pictured throughout this post is our newly renovated Laundry Room and our Mud Room. You can also read more about our Kitchen Organization here!

Decluttering: How to Get Started

I personally believe clutter is anything in excess or without a home. It happens to all of us, doesn’t it?

I, too, fall victim to clutter… I promise! However, I do my best to quickly declutter regularly. At this point, it’s almost without thinking about it from creating a habit with the below tips to declutter.

Yes, I may look like a madwoman every now and then sifting through a pile of papers and throwing them in various directions, but there’s method to my madness.

To get started, print the free Decluttering Checklist at the bottom of this post, and take it one step at a time! Room by room, you’ll make incredible progress with these tips and tricks.

How to Declutter

1. Take it one step or area at a time. If you tend to feel overwhelmed, start small and work your way up! Some areas give you maximum impact for little effort, which will make you feel accomplished and hopefully, snowball into more decluttering! Scroll down for a list of things you can declutter in minutes.
2. Whatever space you are working on, create trash/recycle/donate/relocate piles in that proximity to make decluttering quick and painless.
3. Ask yourself, “do I need this?” (Note, this is also a great question while shopping). If the answer is no, place it in a trash/recycle/donate pile. If it hasn’t been used in the last 30 days or up to a year for seasonal items, the answer is almost always “no.” Is it an expired item? Again, the answer is simply “no.” If you find it difficult to part with items, ask yourself “is it worth the space it consumes?”
4. Relocate anything that is out of season to a designated area of your home.
5. Immediately place trash and recycling in the appropriate bins and donations in your vehicle. It gives you a sense of accomplishment while eliminating the risk that items will re-enter the home. This is particularly important if you’re going through toys!
6. Designate a spot for incoming papers. Mail, receipts, school papers, etc…you can file them away later.

More Decluttering Tips

Here’s a quick tip that has become one of my favorites! Eliminate anything in your closet you can part with, that is the wrong size or out of style.

Then, use my favorite tip (that I read in Oprah Magazine ages ago). Hang your clothes with the hangers in reverse.

When you wear an item, return it to the closet with the hanger facing the correct direction. After a month or two, you’ll see which pieces you should eliminate from lack of wear.

Frequently Asked Questions

When You’re Decluttering, Ask Yourself:

• Have I used it in the past year?
• Will I really use it?
• Do I need it?
• How many do I have?
• Why do I own it?
• Do I feel obligated to keep it?
• Would I buy it now/keep if I moved?
• If it’s broken, why has it taken so long to fix? Either fix or eliminate.
• Does it make me happy?

Download your Decluttering Checklist here (preview below).

Are you in the decluttering mode? What’s your favorite decluttering tip?

More Home Tips You’ll Enjoy

• How to get cigarette smell out of house
• Refrigerator Organization
• How to make a small room look bigger
• How to paint tile
• Storage Containers and Supplies
• How to Organize Your Pantry Cabinet
• Under Sink Storage Ideas