Decluttering your home can feel like an overwhelming task, but with the right checklist, you can tackle it step by step without the stress and have fun along the way. Whether you’re looking to do a full purge or just want to tidy up a bit, this guide will walk you through it all quickly and easily.
The beauty of decluttering isn’t just about having a tidy space; it’s about creating a home that feels open, peaceful, and calming. So grab a bin, some bags, and let’s get started with the only declutter checklist you’ll ever need! Your home will feel light and so will you.
Start Small
Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to tackle the entire house in one go because it isn’t even possible. Start small, one space and step at a time. Choose an area like a single drawer or closet to start with. If decluttering is new to you it is vital that you start small.
It could be the kitchen drawer, a dresser drawer, a shoe shelf even a shelf in your cupboard. Starting small is inspiring and will keep you motivated. When you succeed at one small space you will be ready to tackle the next small space and then the next small space. Over time all those small spaces add up to big changes in the look and feel of your home.
Go out there and decide on one small space you are ready to declutter. If you don’t know where to start look for pain points in your home. What is causing the most discomfort in your day? Check out this blog post to learn more about pain points and how to find them and over come them.
Sort and Separate
You’ve decided which small space you want to declutter now you need to empty it out. Create three piles: Keep, Donate, Toss. If you’re working on a dresser drawer you will find stuff to donate, you might even find items to trash then keep what you love. As you go through your items, place them in one of these categories. Don’t spend too much time making decisions. Decluttering is about making quick decisions, it will be exhausting if it is taking you too long. You can put something aside for a minute if you can’t decide.
- Keep: Items you use regularly and love.
- Donate: Items in good condition that others could use.
- Toss: Broken, outdated, or unusable items.
If you are decluttering your clothes prepare to try items on. Take a look at yourself, if you don’t love it, feel comfortable in it and haven’t worn it in awhile it is time to let it go so someone else can enjoy the item.
Clear Flat Surfaces
Declutter countertops, coffee tables, and nightstands. These areas tend to collect clutter quickly and create unintentional chaos. These flat surfaces can be covered with stuff that we have mindlessly place on them. Down the road we don’t even notice all the stuff. The pile gets bigger and bigger and we don’t really see it.
Pick one surface. After you’ve tackled it move to the next one.
After you’ve cleaned the clutter, donated the things you don’t need like old books, shred the papers you no longer need, create a system that will help you maintain the surface. If it is your nightstand have a basket for change, chapstick and your wallet. Having a place for items keeps them from piling up.
Refrain from putting mail on the coffee table. Have a place for your mail or a system to open it when you bring it into your house. Toss the junk mail and deal with the items you need to deal with. We don’t get bills in the mail like we used to but there are times things end up in the mail that we need to manage.
- Tip: Use decorative trays to corral necessary items like remotes or keys.
Declutter by Category
Instead of focusing on rooms, declutter by item type. Decluttering can feel overwhelming. Doing it by categories may feel more doable. Pick a category and work your way through your home.
Take a look around your home, is it covered in toys that gets strewed around more than played with. Are your children’s drawers overflowing with clothing they have outgrown or has holes? Do you have a bookshelf stuffed with books you will never look at again.
If you’ve got toys all over the place, toss what’s broken, donate what your children no longer lover and create a system to store the ones you keep. It is so much easier to keep a decluttered house clean.
Managing kids clothes can feel like a never ending task because they grow so fast and need different clothing for the seasons. You will need to declutter your children’s clothing more often than your own, perhaps two or three times of year.
- Clothes: Go through closets and drawers, donating what no longer fits or doesn’t suit your style.
- Books: Keep only those you love or plan to read again.
- Toys: If the kids have outgrown it or haven’t played with it in months, it’s time to donate.
Set a Timer
Work in 15-30 minute increments to keep your energy high. Decluttering doesn’t have to take hours; even small bursts of time make a huge difference!
Make a game out of decluttering. It is amazing what you can accomplish in 15 minutes when you are focused. You can not declutter an entire closet in 15 minutes but you can declutter a shelf or drawer in 15 minutes. Pulling out the items you haven’t worn in years is a great start. Start where you are with the resources and time that you have.
Remember you may not feel like it when you decide you’re going to declutter. If you wait until you feel like it you will never get around to it but if you start even if you don’t feel like it you will make progress. Like magic the task wont feel as terrible and the sense of accomplishment will carry you to the next project.
Organize as You Go
As you declutter, neatly organize what you’re keeping. Use baskets, bins, or drawer dividers to make things easy to access and maintain.
Having an organized space is so calming and motivating. Planning ahead with the bins, dividers and baskets makes the process run smoother and is more satisfying. When you finish a small space you are inspired to move onto the next and the next and the next space. Wicker baskets look pretty and function on a high level.
Let’s talk about a drawer, purchase containers and dividers ahead of time. When you pull it all out, wipe out the drawer, put in the dividers and containers then add the items you want to keep. It doesn’t take long but is very rewarding. Organizing a drawer takes a little time but it is worth it in the end. Picture yourself opening the drawer that is pretty, organized and you can easily find what you need. These drawer organizers will help you achieve what you picture.
One-In, One-Out Rule
For every new item that comes into your home, get rid of one. This keeps clutter from building back up. Sounds easy right? You don’t need to take this step too literal. If you donate a lot of clothing don’t fall into the trap that you need to replace those items.
If you want a new dress for an event or you feel like your closet it lacking take some time and find something you love.
Donating feels so good, filling the closet back up will fill your life with stuff rather than purpose. We sometimes fall for the ‘shiny object’ syndrome, we see something that is pretty and think we want it. But truthfully we don’t need or want it and we honestly don’t love it. It then becomes a ‘thing’ in our home.
Seasonal Declutter
Make decluttering part of your seasonal routine. At the start of each season, do a quick sweep of your home to keep things from piling up. It doesn’t have to be winter, spring, summer and fall but it can be when the kids get out of school, the new year or when kids head back to school.
Keep your seasonal decor in check. You can have a beautifully decorated home without covering every surface with things.
Instead of stuffing everything back into totes to be stored until next year, look at the items and make sure you love it. It is ok to love an item one year and want something different the next. Let the item go and let someone else enjoy it. Don’t just store stuff because the bins are out.
Be intentional about what you keep in your home.
Donate or Toss Immediately
As soon as you finish, get rid of your donate and toss piles. This is key to preventing things from creeping back into your space! When you load your donations up in your car take them to the place of your choice. Driving around for days with a trunk full of stuff is procrastinating something you can do today.
Decluttering doesn’t have to be an all-day event. With this simple checklist, you can chip away at clutter a little at a time and create the clean, organized space you’ve been dreaming of. Remember, the goal is progress, not perfection. Happy decluttering!
