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.

Things to Declutter in Your Living Spaces:

• Old magazines and newspapers
• Unused DVDs, CDs, and video games
• Excess decorative items or knick-knacks
• Overstuffed bookshelves
• Unused electronic gadgets and chargers
• Remote controls for devices you no longer own or use

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.

• Expired Food Items:
  • Old spices and herbs
  • Expired canned goods and sauces
  • Stale snacks and cereals
  • Outdated condiments in the fridge
• Duplicate or Rarely Used Kitchen Tools and Gadgets:
  • Multiple sets of measuring spoons and cups
  • Excess cooking utensils (spatulas, ladles, etc.)
  • Specialty gadgets like avocado slicers or egg poachers
  • Unused small appliances like bread makers or ice cream machines
• Mismatched or Excessive Dishware:
  • Chipped or mismatched plates and bowls
  • Excess coffee mugs and glassware
  • Rarely used serving dishes and platters
  • Plastic containers with missing lids
• Pantry Clutter:
  • Half-empty packages of pasta, rice, and grains
  • Unused baking ingredients and mixes
  • Overflowing collection of tea bags or coffee pods
  • Jars and bottles with just a little left at the bottom
• Underutilized Space:
  • Cluttered kitchen drawers filled with miscellaneous items
  • Overloaded kitchen counters with appliances and utensils
  • Crowded shelves with cookbooks and recipe cards
  • Cabinets crammed with pots, pans, and bakeware
• Refrigerator and Freezer:
  • Leftovers that have been forgotten
  • Frozen foods past their best
  • Condiment bottles with only a small amount left

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.

• Clothing and Wardrobe:
  • Clothes that no longer fit or you haven’t worn in over a year
  • Worn-out shoes and old sneakers
  • Damaged or mismatched socks and undergarments
  • Excess handbags, belts, and accessories
• Bed and Linens:
  • Old or stained bed linens and pillowsExcess blankets and comfortersWorn-out or unused towels
  Personal Items and Keepsakes:
  • Jewelry you no longer wear
  • Old letters, cards, and souvenirs
  • Unused or outdated cosmetics and beauty products
  • Books and magazines you’re unlikely to read again
• Miscellaneous Clutter:
  • Random knick-knacks without sentimental value
  • Electronic gadgets and old chargers
  • Stuff you’ve shoved in your bedroom because you don’t know where else to put it. (Hint: the trash!)
  • Unnecessary paperwork and receipts
  • Items stored under the bed that you’ve forgotten about

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)

Things to Declutter in the Home Office:

• Paper Clutter:
  • Old bills, receipts, and bank statements
  • Outdated business documents and contracts
  • Unused notebooks and loose papers
  • Old greeting cards and letters
• Obsolete Electronics:
  • Outdated computers, laptops, and tablets
  • Unused chargers and cables
  • Old cell phones and cameras
  • Broken or obsolete tech accessories
• Office Supplies:
  • Excess pens, pencils, and markers
  • Unused or broken staplers, hole punches, and tape dispensers
  • Excessive or unused stationery and envelopes
  • Old or irrelevant business cards
• Books and Reference Materials:
  • Outdated reference books and textbooks
  • Magazines and newspapers you no longer need
  • Business or self-help books you’ll never read again

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.

• Toys and Games:
  • Broken or incomplete toys and games
  • Toys that are no longer age-appropriate
  • Rarely played with or forgotten toys
  • Duplicate toys or games
• Clothing and Accessories:
  • Outgrown or rarely worn clothes
  • Worn-out shoes and out-of-season footwear
  • Old costumes and dress-up clothes
  • Unused hats, gloves, and scarves
• School Supplies and Artwork:
  • Dried out markers and pens
  • Broken crayons and pencils
  • Torn or unused notebooks
  • Old school papers and artwork

More Decluttering Resources

• “Clutter Free” by Kathi Lipp – This book provides insight into how we accumulate clutter and its impact on our physical and mental well-being. It’s less of a how-to guide and more about understanding the reasons behind clutter​​.
• Cozy Minimalist Home” by Myquillyn Smith – This book is about creating a warm and inviting home with less stuff. It guides you through designing spaces that cater to your needs using a minimalist approach​.
• Minimalism for Moms shows you how to live a more minimalist lifestyle, even with kids.

StorMiracle 16 PCS Drawer Organizer Set, 5 Varied Size Bathroom and kitchen Drawer cabinet organizer Trays, Clear Storage Bins for Makeup, Jewelry, Utensils and GadgetsCoorganisers 16 PCS Adjustable Drawer Divider, 17.32Frost King CB3250 Boxed Heavy Duty Contractor Clean, 32

 

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