How to Declutter Your Home Like a Boss!

I’ve had a few people ask me how exactly to declutter a home when it seems so overwhelming before you even start. I’m not going to lie. Clutter seems to give me a type of anxiety that causes me to rake the entire contents of a table or countertop into a garbage bag, never to be seen again. No looking back.

I’m not condoning this as a good practice. I’m also not saying that I haven’t resorted to this tactic in overwhelming clutter situations. Can you relate? Seriously though. It’s so hard to focus until the clutter is gone. GONE. So the most important thing is to start!

“But how do I declutter my home? Don’t I need all my stuff?”

The easy answer is no. I will 100% guarantee you do not need everything floating around your house. I know you know that. So the first order of business is the big purge.

People always seem to think of spring as the best time to purge and declutter their homes of the unnecessary items that have piled up over the winter. I love a good spring cleaning! But don’t underestimate the effectiveness of a good fall purge. I view the fall season as an even better time to declutter and get organized.

Think about it. It’s fall. It’s almost time to get out those boots and hoodies you’ve had hidden away all summer. The holidays are also fast approaching and you haven’t quite begun to think of all the guests you’ll have over the next 3 months. Will the family celebrations be held at your home? Will you have parties for friends? Are you planning for out-of-town family to stay with you? Not to mention, you’ll soon be unwrapping new items you may or may not have space to store! So get started now!

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The whole idea of organizing is to give each item a home. Every item in your home should have its own place. When you need something, you should be able to find that item almost immediately. You should at least know where to find it, even if it is stored away in a less accessible place. And when you, or anyone else, is finished with said item, it goes back to its home, ready to be found the next time someone needs it. But that can’t happen until you’ve made the space available.

The less you have, the less you have to put away.

Getting rid of the things you don’t use, need, or want will make room for the things you love. Because your home should be a reflection of you. When you look around, you should see things that make you happy.

Are you filling the empty spaces in your home with stuff in an attempt to feel more adult-like? Or are you strategically placing items in your home that actually bring you joy?

Firstly, let me just say that getting rid of things can be an emotionally taxing process for a lot of people. Many people have had things for so long that they feel committed to owning them. They also often feel like they are wasting money by throwing things out. But know that you will be living your best life when you can look at your home with joy and peace.

Here are some questions to ask yourself while you declutter:

1. Have you worn it in the past 12 months? If you haven’t, it needs to go. The exception to this is an item that you may be keeping for sentimental reasons. Like your wedding dress for example.
2. Have you used it in the past 12 months? There are some things that we reserve for use on a special occasion, like Christmas or anniversaries. Obviously, those things don’t get used as often as others. Anything that hasn’t been in use within the last 12 months is just taking up space. Toss it.
3. How do you feel when you look at it? The things in your home should make you happy. If there are knick-knacks, excess furniture, or anything else that causes you to feel anxiety, let it go.
4. Do you have multiple of this item? Sometimes it’s nice to have more than one of an item. There is a cut-off point, though. If you have more of something than you need, get rid of the excess.

“Where do I start?”

For me, the place where I spend most of my time is also the place that stresses me out the most. Specifically, my kitchen. So many things happen in the kitchen throughout the day. If it’s cluttered and there’s no counter space it really starts to wear on me.

On the other hand, some people like to begin in a room that doesn’t get used as often. This has its pros, too. Once you’ve worked your magic in that room, it’s less likely to get messy as quickly as say, the kitchen. As a result, you may be more likely to feel like you’ve really accomplished something big.

Much of where you’ll want to start is simply based on your personality. Once you’ve figured it out, go through your home and declutter room by room. The goal is to complete one room at a time because it really gives you proof that you’ve not only accomplished something but saw it through to its completion.

Let me warn you now.

You should have a certain amount of skepticism in articles that claim you can declutter your home in one day or one weekend. They aren’t necessarily wrong. That being said, all homes are different. The size of your home, the number of people who live there, and the amount of stuff you own are all factors that will play into how long it takes.

Still, try not to spend too much time thinking about every single thing you’re sorting through. The longer you think about it, the more likely you are to keep it. There is no cookie-cutter process or timeline. Your experience will be unique to you.

To get you started, here’s a list of things you’re going to want to get rid of:

Closet

• Broken electronics
• Old jewelry
• Socks without matches
• Clothing that you haven’t worn for over 12 months
• Shoes you never wear
• Purses you never carry
• Games that are missing pieces
• Things that don’t fit
• Hangers (ones that are broken, old, or that one rogue blue hanger in a sea of white)
• Random cords that go with something you used to own
• Old hats

Kitchen

• Weird, random dishes that don’t match anything else
• Broken/cracked dishes
• Old coffee mugs
• Small appliances that haven’t been used in over a year
• Storage containers without lids
• Lids without containers
• Extra cooking utensils
• Old spices
• Expired food
• Scratches pans
• Cookbooks you never use

Bathroom

• Old makeup
• Expired meds
• Old, half-empty bottles of:
  • Shampoo/conditioner
  • Lotion (you know you have a ton of Bath & Body Works that you never use!)
  • Hair Products
  • sunscreen
• Old toothbrushes
• Hair accessories you don’t use
• Unused perfume/cologne

Living areas

• Books you never read
• Magazines
• CDs/DVDs
• Old, lumpy or ripped throw pillows that you can’t repair
• Knick-knacks that aren’t meaningful to you OR that don’t showcase your personality
• Unusable candles
• Toys the kids don’t play with
• Broken or outgrown furniture

Linen Closets

• Old bedding
• Old pillows
• Ripped or stained towels/washcloths
• Tablecloths and napkins that you never put out

Papers

• Old and/or junk mail
• Old receipts
• Miscellaneous paperwork
• Expired coupons
• Old cards/ invitations
• Used notebooks
• Old manuals

Garage

• Broken tools/ equipment
• Boxes
• Broken plastic containers
• Unwanted holiday items
• Old paint cans

There are many more great tips in my post on spring cleaning here. But for now, you should feel more prepared than ever to tackle the task of decluttering your home. So have that cup of coffee, crank up the jams, and get started. Let me know how it goes for you in the comments!

Have a blessed week friends!

For God is not a God of disorder but a God of peace.

1 Corinthians 14:33