How to Declutter Your Home Room by Room: A Friendly Guide to Simplifying Your Space

Is your home feeling cramped and messy? Decluttering can help you create a more calm and peaceful living space. By tackling your home room by room, you can make the process less overwhelming and see quick results.

When you have a lot of clutter, it can make cleaning seem overwhelming. Plus there is more surface area for dust to stick to. Less dust and less clutter ultimately means less pests too.

Start small with one area at a time. Pick a room that bothers you the most or one you use often. Picking a room you use a lot, lets you see the progress and stay motivated. As you go through each room, sort items into keep, donate, and toss piles.

Remember, decluttering is about creating a home you love. Only keep things that bring you joy or serve a purpose. Let go of items you don’t use or like. This process can be freeing and help you enjoy your space more.

Key Takeaways

  • Start with one room to make decluttering manageable
  • Put on some music
  • Sort items into keep, donate, and toss piles
  • Focus on creating a space you love by keeping what brings joy
  • Have a treat ready for when you are done (cookie, chocolate, or something else)

Getting Started With Decluttering

declutter tips

Decluttering your home can feel like a big task. But with the right approach, you can make it manageable and even fun. Let’s look at how to get started, make a plan, and tackle each room step by step.

Understanding the Basics of Decluttering

Decluttering means getting rid of things you don’t need or use. Start by sorting your items into three piles: keep, donate, and throw away. Be honest with yourself about what you really need. If you haven’t used something in a year, let it go.

Ask yourself these questions:

  • Do I use this often?
  • Does it make me happy?
  • Would I rebuy it today?

If you answer “no” to these questions, it’s time to say goodbye to that item.

Remember, creating a space that feels good to you is the goal. Don’t keep things out of guilt or “just in case.” Once you have more space then less clutter means less dust, and less cleaning in the future.

Developing Your Decluttering Plan

Make a plan to declutter your whole house. Break it down into small, doable tasks. Starting small will help you stay on track and not get overwhelmed.

Start with this simple checklist: We created a list of things to declutter now!

  1. Choose one room to start
  2. Set a timer for 15 minutes
  3. Focus on one area at a time
  4. Take breaks when you need them
  5. Give yourself a treatafterwards, like a piece of chocolate, or special  snack

Try to declutter for a short time each day. Even 15 minutes can make a big difference over time.

Make a schedule that works for you. You could do one drawer per day or even one room per weekend. In order to make progress you’ll need to be consistent and stick to your plan.

Executing Your Room-by-Room Decluttering

Now, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get to work. Start with the easiest room first. Starting easy will give you a quick win and motivate you to keep going.

In each room, follow these steps:

  1. Empty out drawers and closets
  2. Sort items into your keep, donate, and trash piles
  3. Clean the empty space
  4. Put back only the items you’re keeping

Don’t forget about hidden clutter spots like junk drawers or under-bed storage. These areas can quickly become catch-alls for random items.

As you go, think about how you can organize the things you’re keeping. Use boxes, bins, or baskets to group similar items together. Grouping things in bins will help you stay organized in the future.

Tackling Specific Areas

Let’s go through your home and get rid of clutter in each room. This will make your space feel bigger and more relaxing.

Decluttering the Kitchen

Start with your kitchen cabinets. Take everything out and sort it. Get rid of any broken items or things you don’t use. Check your pantry items and throw away old food.

Make space on your counters by putting away appliances you rarely use. Keep only the things you need every day within easy reach.

Sort through your fridge and freezer, too. Toss out anything that’s gone bad. Clean the shelves while they’re empty.

Use containers to group similar items together. Containers make it easier to find what you need and keep things tidy.

Revitalizing the Living Room

make boxes for decluttering

Focus on clearing flat surfaces in your living room. Put away items that don’t belong there. Find homes for things like remote controls and magazines.

Go through your bookshelves. Keep only the books you love or plan to read soon. Donate the rest to your local library or school.

Tackle paper clutter next. Sort through mail, bills, and other papers. Shred what you don’t need. Set up a simple filing system for important documents.

Look at your decor. Keep only the pieces that make you happy. Less is often more when it comes to decorating.

Decluttering the BookShelf

declutter a bookshelf

If your bookshelf is overflowing, it’s time to rethink what stays and what goes. If you haven’t picked up a book in eight years, it might be a sign to let it go. Consider donating it to a free library, where someone else can discover it and enjoy it.

Holding onto books you’ve long forgotten just adds to the clutter—and can even attract pests like dust mites, book lice, and silverfish. (learn more on how to get rid of silverfish) So, make space for new reads, clear out the old, and free up room for what truly matters on your shelf.

Transforming the Bedroom

start with small areas to delcutter

Start with your closet. Try on clothes and get rid of anything that doesn’t fit or you don’t like anymore. Use the “one in, one out” rule for new clothes.

Go through your dresser drawers. Fold clothes neatly so you can see everything at a glance. Get rid of socks without matches.

Clear off your nightstand. Keep only essentials like a lamp, book, and glass of water. Put away anything else.

Look under your bed. Get rid of any junk hiding there. Use storage boxes for things you want to keep, like extra blankets.

Organizing the Bathroom

Check your medicine cabinet. Throw out any old or expired medications safely. Do the same with makeup and skincare products.

Go through your towels. Get rid of any that are worn out or stained. Keep only what you need and use it regularly.

Sort through your toiletries. Keep only the products you use daily on the counter—store extras in a cabinet or drawer.

Look at your shower or tub area. Get rid of empty bottles. Use a shower caddy to keep things tidy and easy to reach.