10 Tips for Decluttering Your Home: How to Start and Stay Organised

Is your home beginning to feel less like a sanctuary and more like a cluttered treasure trove? Trust us, we’ve all been there! From those ‘maybe I’ll use this one-day item to the drawer full of charging cables you no longer own, clutter can sneak up fast. But turning your home into a peaceful, clutter-free haven doesn’t have to be difficult at all. With a few decluttering tips for home, a little creativity, and a dash of motivation, you’ll be well on your way to a space that’s neat and truly feels like you. So roll up your sleeves, grab a bag or two, and let’s dive into the art of decluttering with 10 tips for decluttering your home.

Benefits of Decluttering and Organising Your Home

Imagine coming home to a space that feels light, positive, and organised. Decluttering is not just about tidying up, it’s about creating a space that boosts productivity, reduces anxiety, and helps you concentrate better. From reducing stress to saving time and money, the benefits of a well-organised home extend beyond just knowing where everything is. Before diving into tips for decluttering your home, let’s explore the benefits of decluttering and organising your home. 

1. Less to Clean

Spending your Sunday mornings sipping coffee while reading a book instead of drowning in endless cleaning tasks – sounds perfect, right? Well, when you declutter, there’s simply less to maintain. By organising your possessions and following clever organisation hacks to sort your space out, you essentially give yourself the gift of time because you don’t have to spend your time cleaning and rearranging. 

2. Boosts Mood and Motivation

A cluttered space can drain your energy. Decluttering significantly enhances your mood and sets a positive tone for your day. When your living space is organised, your brain doesn’t constantly process visual chaos, making it easier for you to tackle new projects and maintain productive habits. Plus, the sense of accomplishment from a clutter-free space can create a positive feedback loop. 

3. More Appealing

We are sure when you see friends entering your home with a wow expression, you’re sure to feel happy. A well-organised one doesn’t just feel better, it looks more inviting and visually pleasing. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or simply coming home after a long day, an organised space feels more cosy. Plus, with everything in place, your personal style and decor stand out more beautifully.

4. Enhances Creativity

Contrary to the myth of the creative genius working in chaos, a decluttered space can fuel creativity. An organised space allows your mind to wander, dream, and innovate. Whether you’re working on a project, cooking a new recipe, or simply relaxing, a clutter-free home stimulates creativity and helps you think more clearly.    

5. Reduces Stress and Anxiety

The sight of piles of stuff can feel overwhelming, adding to your stress of cleaning and organising it. A clean space promotes a sense of control and calm, making you feel more at peace. When everything is in place, you eliminate the daily stress of searching for items, leading to better sleep, improved focus, and a greater sense of overall well-being.  

10 Tips for Decluttering Your Home

When your home starts to feel more like an obstacle course than a cosy retreat, you know it’s time for a change. Clutter has a way of piling up on its own, turning our homes into storage zones rather than relaxing havens. With a few smart strategies, you can transform your home into an organised, welcoming space. Let’s explore 10 tips for decluttering your home. 

1. Start Small and Go Room by Room

The first on decluttering tips for home is to start small, with one room at a time. You can begin with a manageable space like a drawer, closet, or shelf, then move on to other ways of organising your room. Breaking the task into smaller sections makes the process easier and gives you a sense of accomplishment, motivating you to move to bigger spaces. Keep in mind to methodically clean each space, one day you can do the kitchen, and room the next, and the living area after that. 

2. Apply the 12-12-12 Challenge

The 12-12-12 challenge is one of the best tips for decluttering your house. In this challenge, all you have to do is find 12 items to throw away, 12 to donate, and 12 to keep but organise better. This method definitely makes decluttering feel less like a chore and more like a treasure hunt. Plus, it’s a quick way to sort through your belongings, keeping the process light and manageable. To make this challenge more fun, you can involve your family members, competing to see who can complete their 12-12-12 first. 

3. Use the Four-Box Method

One of the best declutters ideas for the home is the Four-Box Method, where four boxes are labelled as Keep, Donate, Trash, and Relocate. So, when you begin cleaning, every item you touch must find its way to one of these boxes (no maybes allowed!). This best way to declutter your home helps you decide clearly on what’s worth keeping and what you can let go of. The Four-Box method will help you visualise better and cut down on hesitation as you categorise the items.

4. Make a Decluttering Timetable

Creating a decluttering timetable is one of the best decluttering tips for your house. When making a timetable, set realistic goals by blocking off time each week to tackle specific areas. It may be 20 minutes each morning or two hours every Saturday, whatever suits your lifestyle and time. Creating a timetable, one of the best declutter ideas for the home, makes the task less difficult and helps maintain momentum.  

5. Use Storage Wisely

Next on tips for decluttering your home is the usage of storage. Before you go on to purchase any storage containers, declutter first. Buy storage that fits your space and lifestyle. Make sure to get clear containers for items you need to spot quickly and buy beautiful boxes to turn necessary storage into decor. You can even label the containers to keep items neatly contained and accessible. And if you’re staying on campus, you can follow the guide to university storage. Do keep in mind that the goal is not to find places to hide more stuff, but to keep only what you need and store it efficiently.

6. Apply the 80/20 Rule

One of the tips for decluttering your house is applying the 80/20 rule. This principle suggests that you use 20% of your stuff and 80% of your time. You must have noticed that there are only a few sets of clothes you wear regularly, a few pots and pans you use daily, and reach for the same coffee mug each morning. This means there’s a huge chunk of items that are not used often. So, you can identify these 80% of unused items and consider letting them go. This is the best way to declutter your home and add more value to your daily life.

7. Donate Clothes You Don’t Wear

Are you still holding onto clothes that you bought ages ago or that don’t fit anymore? It’s time to let them go! Someone else can make use of those forgotten clothes right now. So, be honest about what you use and consider donating the rest, that either does not fit or are out of style. The best way to declutter your home, donating clothes not only clears up space but also gives them a second life with someone who may need them.

8. Declutter Duplicates First

One of the best tips for decluttering your home is sorting out the duplicates (items you have multiples of like extra coffee mugs, kitchen gadgets, or study supplies). When decluttering, keep only the ones you need and let go of the others. Decluttering duplicates, one of the ways to declutter your house, not only frees up space but also helps identify which items you prefer, guiding your future purchases. 

9. Tidy Up Paper Clutter

Paper has a sneaky way of multiplying when you’re not looking. To get rid of unnecessary amounts of paper, follow one of the simple declutter ideas for the home: deal with mail immediately, scan important documents, and recycle the rest. You can even use filing systems, binders, or digital storage to keep important documents organised and accessible. Remember that most documents can be stored online. So ensure to follow a good rule of thumb: if you can find it online or haven’t needed it in the past, it can probably go.

10. Change Your Habits

Decluttering is not a one-time event, it’s a lifestyle change. Making a habit of putting things back where they belong, avoiding impulse purchases, and regularly reviewing items in your house is one of the best ways to declutter. When going shopping, ask yourself, ‘Do I really need this?’ Changing your habits has a big impact, helping you maintain a clutter-free space without the need for major overhauls.

Life is not about owning lots and lots of stuff, it’s more about making room for what truly matters. Following the tips for decluttering your home is not just about creating a picture-perfect space but it’s also about creating an environment that nurtures your well-being. The goal isn’t perfection – it’s progress. So, get on with these decluttering house tips and turn your home into a cosy haven. Happy decluttering!