How to Declutter Your House (What To Get Rid of Now for a Calmer Space)

Inside: simple steps to decluttering your house one room at a time. I’ll give you lists of specific things to toss right away, plus the motivation to get it done.

So much stuff… everywhere. You aren’t sure how it got there, but you know most of it needs to go. Let’s. work together, room by room. I’ll tell you what to toss. Don’t feel bad because someone gave it to you or you spent money on it. All that is in the past.

It’s about only keeping what you use and love. Do you love those old board games with half the pieces missing? That itchy sweater you overpaid for? Didn’t think so. Throw it out!

First: Make a Plan

Starting to declutter without a plan is like grocery shopping without a list. You end up wandering around, eating snacks and forgetting something important.

1. Take a quick tour of your home and write down all your rooms from easiest to hardest.
2. Tackle one room at a time. Don’t move on until you’re done with one room. I like to start with the hardest, but it’s up to you.
3. Plan to do one room a week, minimum. Give yourself a due date! If you give yourself endless time, you’ll take endless time.
4. Get any needed supplies. Maybe you need boxes and markers. Maybe you’re ruthless like me. In that case, all you need are trash bags. Keep it simple 😉.

The Living Room

The living room is where life happens. But when it’s cluttered, it feels less like a haven and more like a storage unit. Breathing life back into this space means making it inviting and functional again.

First things first, let’s find those clutter hotspots. Every living room has them – the coffee table, a magnet for random items. The corner is piled with old magazines. Or the shelf is crammed with knick-knacks you no longer like.

Remember, organizing your home and decluttering it are related but different. We aren’t just making stuff neater. We are throwing it away.

Tip: take a photo of your living room. Pictures have a way of showing us what we often overlook.

A Calm and Decluttered Kitchen

We’ve all been there. We’ve been seduced by a fancy kitchen gadget we thought would change our lives. Only to use it once and then banish it to the back of a cupboard.

If you haven’t used it in the past year, chances are you don’t need it. Stick to the essentials. And remember, every gadget you get rid of is one less thing to clean and store. It’s time to get ruthless with your kitchen clutter.

Things to Declutter in Your Kitchen:

First, if it’s not related to food prep or eating, does it need to be in the kitchen? Maybe it does. But remember, you should store things where you use them, not dump them on the kitchen counter because it’s convenient.

Be ruthless! Why do you have fifteen mugs? How many people would be drinking coffee in your house at one time?

Bedrooms: Make it Calm and Cozy

Your bedroom should be your sanctuary. But for many of us, it’s more like a laundry pile meets a storage unit.

In the bedroom, it’s mostly about clothing and sentimental items. They are both tricky.

Decluttering your wardrobe may seem daunting. But it’s liberating once you start. Start by pulling everything out. Yes, everything. It’s time to make some tough choices.

Be honest about what fits and what doesn’t. Keep only what you love and use.

Personal items and keepsakes are where things get tricky. Keeping things with genuine sentimental value is okay, but be selective. Create a special space or box for keepsakes that truly matter. Be willing to part with things that no longer serve you.

Your Home Office

This room tends to be all about papers and weird tech stuff. If you think about it, all you really need to do to get your work is probably a laptop. Almost everything else can go.

If you’re using this as a storage area and don’t actually work in there, get rid of the desk!

Get shelves for what must be stored there and turn that room into something else. (No, not a graveyard for old tablets and cords).

Kids’ Rooms: Fun and Functional Spaces

It’s a balancing act between maintaining the joy of childhood and not tripping over toys every time you walk in.

Toys are the heart and soul of any kid’s room. But there’s a fine line between having enough toys for imaginative play and having so many that they’re hardly ever used.

Old projects and artwork? Choose a few favorites to keep and display, and photograph the rest for memories. I like to have a folder for each year per child of “keepers.” Everything else has to go.

So, go ahead and take that first step. Start big, start small, start however you want. Just start.