A Simple Approach to Decluttering Your Home

Decluttering has very little to do with storage; it’s really about the choices you make. If your closet is overflowing and your floors are buried under things without a proper home, it’s a sign that something needs to change. Buying more containers to manage what you already own isn’t always the answer. That overflow feels uncomfortable for a reason it’s trying to tell you something. Storage that hides clutter doesn’t solve the problem, it only delays it. Eventually, you have to stop organizing and start letting things go.

This post is pretty text-heavy, so I’ve spaced out the sentences to make it easier on the eyes and added a few stock photos to break it up. It’s basically a collection of notes from my phone, just organized by topic. I wrote this for me so I can refer back to it. Last year I did a full closet declutter and this year I'm embarking on a full house declutter. My home is small so the more empty space I have, the bigger it will feel. As a gift to myself for doing this, I will reward my home with an indoor faux tree plant.

Why Clutter Is So Draining

Clutter is exhausting. Emotionally. Mentally. Physically.

Most of what I’ve decluttered… I’ve already decluttered before. That alone tells you something. Clutter creeps back in when we’re not intentional.

When your space is cluttered, your mind is cluttered. You’re constantly distracted. You’re making tiny, pointless decisions all day long. Where did I put that? Why is this here? Should I keep this?

That’s decision fatigue.

There’s even research to back this up. A UCLA study found that women who describe their homes as cluttered have higher levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. Your environment affects your nervous system whether you realize it or not.

When your environment feels calm and intentional, your energy goes toward things that actually matter.

The biggest shift after tidying isn’t that it looks nice. It’s the clarity. The feeling that you can breathe again.

Most Clutter Is Emotional

Most clutter is caused by buying things we don’t actually care about, hoping they’ll change how we feel.

A new mug won’t fix your mood.
Another outfit won’t fix your confidence.
More cleaning supplies won’t make you clean.

We buy specialty mugs at Disney. We collect souvenir Starbucks mugs from abroad (I have two from Amsterdam and Thailand and regret the one I didn't buy in Portugal). We buy whatever seasonal mug we see at Target. Suddenly we have 20 mugs and we still only use the same two.

You don’t need that many mugs.

Clutter often comes from fear. Fear of scarcity. Fear that we won’t have the option later. Fear of not having “enough.” Fear of letting go of the past. Fear of the future.

Decluttering forces you to face that.

Why are you hanging on to this?
What are you afraid of?

Stop Being a Compulsive Overspender

Refine intentionally.

Spend widely if you want, but do it without feeling restricted because you’re actually choosing what matters. Refine your shopping habits and be mindful of your consumption (my post on consumption rules.)

I work from home. I don’t have enough events to justify a full wardrobe. I don’t go out every night. When I do, I gravitate toward the same outfits.

So why am I buying things I have nowhere to wear?

Just because you have space in your closet doesn’t mean you need to fill it. Otherwise your closet becomes a storage unit for things you already know you’re never going to touch again.

I literally don't have a space closet or an inch of space to add anything new.

The life you want can’t find you until you make room for it.

Tidying is the physical act of letting go. It’s a declaration. You’re ready to move forward. Ready to live lighter.

Stop Organizing and Start Eliminating

Organizing without eliminating is just shuffling.

Why are you moving something around when you weren’t using it before and probably won’t use it in the future?

Deal with it right away.

Sort mail and bills immediately. Get a paper basket. Don’t let countertops become graveyards for paperwork. Don’t hide clutter. You can’t hide it anyway. It leaks into your mental space.

And you are not obligated to find someone who wants your stuff that you don’t want. If donating feels good, donate. If throwing it away is what allows you to move on, let it go without guilt. I tried a local Facebook freecycle group and often times no one would respond to my post.

Your home is not a landfill for poor decisions you have to live with forever.

Make better decisions about what comes in.

The "Someday" Trap

The hardest category is "someday."

Craft supplies.
Scrapbooking.
Random hobby materials.

If you haven’t touched it in years and you don’t have the time, let it go.

The someday pile creates anxiety. It sits there as evidence of something you "should" be doing. It becomes another promise to yourself you’re not keeping.

Sometimes letting it go is an act of self-compassion.

Eliminate the Everyday Irritations

Clutter destroys luxury faster than anything else.

Shoes by the door.
Bags on the floor.
Random baskets in the corner.
Cables running down walls and spilling across desks.

Cord clutter is the bane of modern life. Visible wires interrupt the design of your home and make it feel chaotic. Tuck them away. Contain them.

I bought this Cable Organizer Storage Box for every devise I own that has to charge. And this Cable Holder Clips to hide all the cords behind my TV.

Your entryway matters. It’s the first thing you see when you get home. Make it calm.

Your bedroom matters even more. Don’t store things under the bed. Keep it sacred. No hidden chaos beneath where you sleep.

It’s okay to have blank space. A blank hallway is not wasted space. It’s breathing room.

Keeping a small home organized is one of the simplest ways to make it feel larger.

Simplify the Small Stuff

More cleaning supplies do not equal a cleaner home. They equal overwhelm.

Find your top three favorites. Keep it simple. Eco-friendly if that aligns with you. When you have exactly what you need, you use it.

Get rid of extra Tupperware. Stop reusing every food jar. Keep a streamlined set that you actually enjoy using.

Too many hair products create too many decisions.
Too many papers create clutter.
Too many vases sit untouched.
Too many bed sheets take up unnecessary space.
Toss the excess/old party supplies

Everything in your home should be visible and accessible. If you can’t see it, you won’t use it.

Create ease and flow by giving everything a proper place.

Final Thoughts

Decluttering isn’t really about the stuff. Most of the time, the clutter is just a physical reflection of what’s been going on in our lives. Things pile up when we don’t have the energy or mental space to deal with them, and that’s something to meet with compassion, not shame.

I also know how quickly clutter can change the feeling of a room. You can have beautiful furniture and thoughtful decor, but if the surfaces are covered in piles, that’s all you see. Editing regularly and letting go of what I don’t use keeps my home feeling calmer and more intentional.

One thing that helped me was understanding that decluttering and organizing are separate steps. First decide what actually deserves a place in your life. Then create simple systems for the things you keep. Marie Kondo recommends decluttering sentimental stuff last.

When I’m deciding what stays, I come back to a few simple questions. How do I want to feel in my home? What purpose is this item serving? When was the last time I've used it?

For me, decluttering is about creating space for the life I want to live. And it always starts with one small decision at a time.

6 Easy Ways to Declutter Your Home

My Consumption Rules for 2026: Buy Less, Buy Better

Genius Closet Organizing Ideas