How to Declutter Your Home and Keep It That Way, in 8 Easy Steps

Decluttering your home might feel like a challenging task. However, with a bit of planning and determination, you can transform your living space into a peaceful and organized haven. Whether you’re looking to reduce stress, improve your productivity, or simply enjoy a cleaner, neat home, these steps will help you start your decluttering journey.

1. Start By Assessing Your Home

You’ve been feeling overwhelmed by possessions for a while now. One essential first step for solving the problem is pinpointing the most problematic areas in your home. Take a couple of hours to inspect every room, closet, and other storage areas in your home. This will help you assess which ones are actually interfering the most with your daily schedule and thus creating more problems for you. Make a detailed list of all these areas that require attention.

2. Find a Decluttering Philosophy That Suits Your Personality

There are many approaches to decluttering. Some might prefer to dedicate an entire weekend to the task and thus finish the entire home in one big session. Others might find it easier to do it in small increments, such as decluttering the bathroom in one afternoon, the bedroom drawers on a different day, and so on.

Consider which approach is the right one for your case, depending on how much time you have and how you usually deal with these types of projects. If you‘re overwhelmed by big projects and tend to postpone them indefinitely, starting with small areas of your home that take little time to declutter is a good idea. However, if you love seeing progress done fast, put aside an entire weekend for this purpose and declutter your entire home from top to bottom.

3. Set Your Priorities Straight

Now that you have identified where clutter “lives” in your home and decided on a decluttering approach that works for you, it’s time to determine in which order you’ll tackle your rooms and your storage areas. You could start with the areas that bother you the most – maybe you have a drawer full of junk in your kitchen that exasperates you, or your entryway closet is bursting at the seams with jackets, bags, and shoes. Getting these annoying areas done first will give you a sense of accomplishment and you’ll have more wind in your sails to finish the entire home in no time.

4. Be Specific About Your Goals

For a successful decluttering session, it’s essential to have concrete goals for each room and each area of your home. Planning to declutter your clothes, for example, is pretty vague —you might end up spending a lot of time taking all the clothes out of the closet, looking at each item, and putting 90% of them back. Instead, set a specific goal, such as “I want to get rid of all the clothes I haven’t worn in the past 12 months”. Being precise and intentional about what you want to accomplish ensures that you don’t work in vain and that you’ll end up with a decluttered, neat, and tidy home.

5. Involve Family Members in The Process

Depending on the age of your kids, it might be an excellent idea for them to participate in such a project. When children help declutter their own space, they learn about responsibility and taking care of their belongings. It gives them a sense of ownership and accountability, which are important life skills. By participating, kids also practice decision-making skills, learning to evaluate the value and necessity of their possessions. Decluttering offers a chance to teach children about giving back as well. Encourage them to donate items they no longer want or use to those in need.

Of course, your partner or other adults living in the household should also contribute to the decluttering effort. Assigning different spaces to those who use them the most is a good practice. If, for example, one of you does most of the cooking, that person should also be in charge of decluttering and reorganizing the kitchen and the pantry.

6. Be Smart About Your Sentimental Items

One of the most challenging parts of decluttering your home relates to sentimental items. All of us have serious difficulties in letting go of things we have a sentimental attachment to, be it old T-shirts, kids’ school projects or artwork from when they were little, collections of magazines and postcards, and so on. However, not only are these items taking space in your home, but they’re collecting dust, and you might not be enjoying them. Whether they’re in boxes, in your garage, or cluttering your home closets, you probably never take them out.

So, instead, find ways to reduce the clutter while also making the most of your sentimental items. For example, you could take photos of your kids’ old school projects and artwork, create a digital album, and share it with your entire family. Of, if you have old T-shirts with your favorite band or sports team, you can frame and display the best ones on the walls —or, why not, reuse them for decorative pillowcases?

7. Get Supplies to Reorganize Your Belongings

Decluttering goes hand in hand with a thorough reorganization of your belongings, which ensures your home will remain efficient in the long run. Getting the right organizing supplies goes a long way in attaining this goal.

Essential supplies include various storage bins and baskets, which are perfect for grouping similar items and keeping them out of sight. Shelving units and closet organizers can maximize vertical space, providing additional room for belongings without cluttering surfaces. Drawer dividers and labels are invaluable for maintaining order within smaller compartments, making it easy to locate items quickly.

Under-bed storage containers and over-the-door organizers utilize often-overlooked areas, helping to keep every part of your home functional and neat. Lastly, vacuum seal bags are ideal for storing seasonal clothing or linens, reducing bulk and freeing up valuable closet space. With these supplies, you can create a streamlined, organized home that stays clutter-free.

8. Rent Self Storage

Renting self-storage after decluttering your home can be a beneficial solution for managing space and keeping your home organized. Self-storage units provide a secure and convenient place to store items you don’t need daily but still want to keep, such as seasonal decorations, sports equipment, or belongings that hold value but are seldom used.

This strategy frees up valuable space in your home, making it more comfortable, functional, and easier to maintain. Additionally, self-storage is an excellent option during life transitions, such as moving, renovating, or downsizing, as it offers a temporary yet reliable storage solution for your possessions. For businesses run from home, self-storage can also serve as an auxiliary space to store inventory, supplies, or equipment, reducing clutter and improving home office productivity.

Many self-storage facilities offer flexible rental terms, climate-controlled units, and enhanced security features, ensuring that your items are protected and accessible whenever you need them. By utilizing self-storage, you can maintain a clutter-free living environment while keeping important items within reach.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)