When you declutter your home, you declutter your mind. Get decluttering tips, tricks and an easy-to-tackle free printable 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!
It’s time to do a little decluttering – it feels like that always happens after the holidays, doesn’t it? 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.
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.
What is Clutter?
First, let’s define clutter…
“Clutter is a collection of things lying about in an untidy mass.”
– unknown –
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.
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
- 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.
- Whatever space you are working on, create trash/recycle/donate/relocate piles in that proximity to make decluttering quick and painless.
- 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?”
- Relocate anything that is out of season to a designated area of your home.
- 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!
- Designate a spot for incoming papers. Mail, receipts, school papers, etc…you can file them away later.
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?
Tips
Here’s a quick system for decluttering 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.
Things You Can Declutter in Five Minutes
- a counter
- a shelf
- paper catch all {quickly thumb through to see what is trash, recycling or a priority – you may be amazed at quickly the paper clutter disappears}
- medicine cabinet {remove any expired medications or items that don’t belong, combine duplicates}
- an end table
- the refrigerator {discard anything that is expired, looks less than desirable or hasn’t been used recently}
- magazine basket
Frequently Asked Questions
Print the free printable decluttering checklist included in this post to get started. I always suggest starting small. Pick an area you can tackle quickly, and the progress will help you keep going!
Absolutely. A messy house has been proven to be a contributing factor to both anxiety and depression.
However, there is so much hope! Take it one step at a time, and call in a professional organizer if you can.
Decluttering Checklist
- Download your Decluttering Checklist here (preview below).
Are you in the decluttering mode? What’s your favorite decluttering tip?
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At one time you mentioned the sweeper/vacuum cleaner or wet vac you like to use. Can you share that with us again? Thank you.
glad to find you in this new stage of life!
Where did you purchase your simple elegant bedroom head board
Restoration Hardware – I love the simplicity of it and it’s slipcovered should you need to clean it. I also have 2 of these white french seam slipcovered headboards I love! Enjoy!
I love all of your ideas and suggestions! Can you please show how you organize your own closet and jewelry
Hi! It’s on the to do list – to be honest, it’s so ugly – dark, dated bathroom with mirrored doors and carpet that is probably older than all three of our children combined. We’re renovating this spring and I couldn’t be more excited to get it organized and share with you!
Hi Julie!
Thank you for all the helpful tips! I wondered where you stored your dry goods such as pastas, canned goods and breads? I hadn’t located that in your other blog posts from your pantry organization. You mentioned you have a baking pantry and one that’s for the children’s lunches, so I wondered where the other items would go. Thanks so much!
I make pasta and bread from scratch, but otherwise I’d store pasta in the cereal containers. We do on occasion have a loaf of sandwich bread on the top shelf.
Thank you so much for this. I’ll be using this. Now if I can get the husband on board. LOL
Good luck – that’s the hardest part!