Ready to declutter your home? Start with these five simple steps to clear any room and regain calm in your space.
It happens to everyone: life gets busy and you push random items into a spare room, close the door, and tell yourself you’ll deal with it later. Days turn into weeks, then months, and before you know it the clutter has grown into a real problem. Left unchecked, clutter increases stress, steals time, and makes it hard to enjoy a beautiful, functional home.
I used my old office/guest room as an example for this process, but these steps apply to closets, drawers, the garage, the kitchen — any space in your home. I’ve used this method room after room, and it works every time.
My Cluttered Room: The Office/Guest Bedroom
My office was in a corner of our guest bedroom and had become a catch-all. It felt stressful to walk into the room, and I often worked from the kitchen table or the couch instead of my own desk. My top New Year’s goal was to declutter that entire room so I could work effectively and keep the space guest-ready.
After applying the process below, the room transformed into a functional, attractive workspace. Getting rid of excess items saved time, reduced stress, and made the room feel welcoming again.
Before You Start: Decluttering Tips
1. Plan Your Timeline & Goals
Don’t dive in without a plan. Decide how much time you can realistically spend and what success looks like for the space. Will you aim to clear visible surfaces, open the floor, or establish a better workflow? Identify problem areas—does one corner collect clutter? Then schedule a day or two to tackle the task, or break it into shorter sessions if needed.
- Write down specific goals for the room.
- Note recurring clutter hotspots and what type of items accumulate there.
- Set a realistic deadline for finishing the project.
2. Set Timers
Use focused bursts of work—15 to 45 minutes—followed by short breaks. Working in intervals keeps you energized and prevents overwhelm.
3. Create a Sorting System
Collect boxes, bins, or bags and label them: Relocate, Fix, Donate, Recycle, Trash. Keeping these bins ready prevents you from making the same mess again.
- Relocate: Items that belong elsewhere or need a permanent home.
- Fix: Items that can be repaired before returning to use.
- Donate: Gently used items you no longer need.
- Recycle: Materials that should be recycled.
- Trash: Broken or unusable items.
Take out the trash immediately and put donations in your car so they’re easier to drop off. Relocate items quickly once the room is finished.
4. Have Fun
Play music, a podcast, or an audiobook while you work. A little entertainment makes the process more enjoyable and helps time pass faster.
How to Declutter Any Room, Closet or Drawer
With your mindset and supplies in place, choose a space and start.
1. Empty the Entire Space
Remove everything you can. It will look worse before it looks better, but touching every item helps you make firm decisions. As you pull items out, sort them into your labels—trash, donate, relocate—so you don’t create extra work later.
2. Consider Your Needs for the Room or Space
Once empty, assess the layout and storage options. Rearrange furniture if necessary to create better flow or more usable floor space. In my office I moved the bed and found a small table for the printer and electronics, which freed up the corner and created a cleaner look.
3. Group Like Things Together
Create piles of similar items—ribbon, notebooks, office supplies—and decide where each group belongs. If something doesn’t fit, add it to a miscellaneous pile, but be honest: if it doesn’t serve you, let it go.
4. Ask Yourself Two Important Questions
Before you return items, ask: “Does this spark joy?” and “Do I use this?” If the answer isn’t a clear, enthusiastic yes, it’s usually time to let the item go. If you can’t decide, place it in a storage box with a six-month reminder—if you haven’t needed it by then, donate it.
5. Put Everything Back Thoughtfully
Decide how you want the space to function and return items in an organized, intentional way. Leave breathing room—empty space is okay and helps prevent clutter from returning.
After reorganizing, my office corner became both pretty and practical: everything I need is at hand and the space feels peaceful and productive.
How to Keep Your Home Clutter-Free
After the big declutter, set up simple habits to keep things under control so you don’t have to repeat the entire process often.
1. Throw Away Trash Immediately
If you notice trash or unwanted papers, take them to the bin right away. Make it a habit to scan a room as you leave and remove anything that doesn’t belong.
2. Tackle Piles Quickly
When a pile starts to form, deal with it immediately. Small, regular efforts prevent big, overwhelming projects.
3. Schedule Regular Decluttering Time
Set aside time monthly or weekly for quick decluttering sessions—refresh a shelf, clean a drawer, or reassess a closet. Consistent maintenance preserves your progress.
Room-by-Room Decluttering Tips
Create checklists for each room and tackle one small area at a time.
The Kitchen
Work on the kitchen in sections: the junk drawer, fridge, pantry, and countertops. Clear counters of anything that isn’t functional or beautiful to reduce visual clutter.
The Bedroom
Keep bedrooms serene by limiting items on nightstands, clearing dresser tops, and cleaning out drawers until they’re manageable.
Closet & Clothes
Curate your wardrobe annually. Try rules like “one in/one out” or set a hanger limit. For undecided items, use a temporary bin and revisit them after six months.
The Living Room
Use storage furniture to hide toys and electronics. Keep remotes and controllers in a designated spot so they don’t get lost.
The Bathroom
Declutter cabinets and the linen closet annually. Toss expired products, decant toiletries into matching bottles if desired, and keep only essentials within reach.
Take the 30-Day Decluttering Challenge
If you’d like step-by-step guidance, consider a short daily plan that focuses on one small decluttering task each day. Small, consistent actions add up to big results.
More organizational posts you might like:
- How to Organize your Junk Drawer in 15 Minutes
- How to Organize a Pantry
- 5 Smart Kitchen Organization Tips
- Organized Arts & Crafts Storage Ideas
- 20 Best Mudroom Ideas