Whether your motivation is the beginning of a new season or you just feel like a fresh start, understanding how to declutter your home will help you to solidify a feeling of change. I started doing this a couple of times a year a few years ago (around the time that Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying was released!) and I was really surprised about how much calmer my home was when things were more organized.
All that clutter causes a lot of visual stress and I had not realized that constantly seeing things that needed dealing with but not actioning it was really anxiety inducing!
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Below are my tops tips for how to declutter your home based on my recent attempts, hopefully they are useful! Making a start can be daunting. I found breaking it down into smaller, more manageable chunks helped me to stay focused and tackle the clutter. Even if you manage just a small space you will really feel the benefit straight away.
1. Concentrate on one zone at a time
If a whole room seems too much, then start with a small space, such as the cupboard under the stairs or even a drawer in your bedroom (or your shoe cupboard!), then work towards bigger spaces. That way you can make space for storage that will be useful as you make progress.
2. Time is precious
If you are ready to tackle a whole room, I found it helpful to map out a detailed plan with timings. Including specific times for every task you aim to complete will help you to stick to your plan and get it all done. I found standing in the room with a notepad was the easiest way to see what I needed to do and work out the estimated timescales.
Remember to be realistic and leave yourself plenty of time for each task so that you can stay on track. That way you will feel positive about what you have achieved which will give you the momentum to move on to the next room or space and do not forget the coffee breaks!
3. Say good bye to “old friends”
Like a lot of people, I struggle with getting rid of items that I no longer use or need. We often want to hold onto things “just in case” or because they have sentimental value, which can lead to us accumulating a whole lot of unnecessary clutter.
We can end up feeling weighed down by it all, so eventually managing to let go, by making a start, can be very liberating and is truly an act of self care. Apparently, some people even find the feeling of weight lifting from their shoulders when they make some headway almost addictive.
Decluttering expert Marie Kondo has some great tips for saying good bye to things that either do not “spark joy” or are not used regularly to avoid feeling weighed down by them. I recommend Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up if you are not already familiar with the KonMari method. It is an excellent illustrated, room-by-room guide to decluttering and organizing your home.
4. Pile it on
I found it useful to sort items into five piles as set out below. Seeing the items in piles like this will help to visually reinforce that each thing in it has been assigned in a specific way. For example, the items to be resold or donated are now destined for new owners who will hopefully be able to use and enjoy them.
Five piles made up like this:
- A pile for things that need to be put away
- One pile for things that are no longer needed but could be sold on eBay or given away
- A pile of things that could be stored (somewhere you will not forget them!) and then fixed or renovated when you have time
- Another for items that are essentially rubbish because they cannot be repaired
- And, a final pile for anything that you cannot bear to part with.
5. Get it gone!
Avoid putting off dealing with the items in the first three piles above. I found it more efficient to start working through them as soon as possible, dropping off at charity shops and listing for resale. This way you keep the momentum and avoid them finding their way back to where they started.
6. Use new storage
To keep my freshly tidied space in good order going forwards, I try to tidy regularly and have treated myself to new storage. Hidden storage will keep things organized behind the scenes – such as these three tier organizers for the kitchen and this make-up and jewellery turntable. To maximize every spare space in your home, you can also use visible storage such as stackable drawers, pretty baskets and boxes.
My advice is to wait until you have finished decluttering – whether that is an area or a room – before buying new storage containers or organizers. If you first get rid of what you do not want, need, etc, then you will avoid organizing excess stuff and spending on new storage that you do not need. For some great clothes storage ideas, see my piece about decluttering your wardrobe.
Final thoughts
Decluttering your home can be a powerful and transformative process that extends far beyond simply tidying up your living space. For me, it is a journey towards a more organized, stress-free, and intentional way of life. When you understand how to declutter your home, the benefits are vast: it frees up physical space, reduces mental clutter, enhances productivity, promotes a sense of calm and makes for the things that truly matter to you.
By following these six easy steps, you can start to reclaim your home from the chaos of clutter. Embrace the mindset of “less is more,” and allow your living space to reflect your true self, your values, and your aspirations.
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this piece about how to declutter your home. Feel free to pin and share this article, and come back soon to discover the latest posts!