If you’ve spent years shuffling clutter from one room to another without actually getting rid of anything — I was you. Living in 1,070 square feet taught me that the problem wasn’t my space. It was my approach.
Here are the five tips that actually worked for me.
1. Declutter by Item — Not by Room
This was my biggest game changer. Instead of tackling a whole room at once, I gathered every single item of one type together — all my candles, all my pens, all my kitchen utensils — and went through them one by one.
Suddenly I could see I had 47 pens. Duplicate candles I forgot I owned. Kitchen utensils I hadn’t touched in years.
Decluttering by item lets you see exactly how much you have, spot duplicates instantly and make faster decisions. It also means you can do it in 30-60 minute sessions without tearing your whole house apart.
2. Start With Items You Have No Emotional Attachment To
Don’t start with your mother’s dishes or your kids’ artwork. Start with:
- Nail polish
- Writing utensils
- Old craft supplies
- Expired pantry items
- Random kitchen gadgets
These are easy decisions that build your decluttering confidence. By the time you get to sentimental items you’ll have caught the decluttering bug and decision making gets so much easier.
3. Use a Master List
I didn’t tackle things by room or by mood. I made a master list of every category of items in my home and worked through them one by one. This kept me from feeling overwhelmed and gave me a clear sense of progress as I checked things off.
Your list might look like:
- Pens and pencils
- Candles
- Kitchen utensils
- Bathroom products
- Books
- Craft supplies
Work the list. Check things off. Feel amazing.
4. Give Everything a Designated Space
Once you’ve decluttered an area the key to keeping it that way is simple — everything needs a home. When everything has a designated space it actually gets put away. Every time.
This is where a few simple organizing tools make a huge difference. Check out my favorite Amazon finds that keep everything in its place → (link to your Amazon product post here)
5. Maintain With Mini Declutters
The old me would wait until things were completely out of control before dealing with them. Now I spend 15-20 minutes once a week going through a drawer, shelf or small area that’s getting cluttered again.
It never becomes overwhelming because I never let it get that far.
The goal isn’t a perfect home. It’s a home that’s easy to maintain.
The Bottom Line
You don’t have to spend a whole weekend turning your house upside down to get organized. Start small, start with easy items and build from there. The decluttering bug is real — and once you catch it you’ll wonder why you waited so long.
What’s the first item category you’re going to tackle? Tell me in the comments!