Minimalist Living How to Declutter Your Home One Room at a Time
You know those times where you commit to cleaning your house? So you decide to start in your bedroom but then you have an item that belongs in the kitchen. After putting the item in the kitchen, you realize you never cleaned up that mess on the counter. You give the counter a quick wipedown and realize the garbage should probably get taken out. Before you know it you’ve spent 3 hours cleaning and your bedroom is still a mess. This is such a defeating feeling and not one that I want for you. So, let’s dive into how I have mastered decluttering one room at a time!
*This post contains affiliate links through which I may make a commission. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Choose your room. Get comfortable.
Of course, you have to choose your room. That seems pretty obvious right? If you’re going to declutter one room at a time, you need to know where you’re starting out at.
When it comes to choosing your starting off point, here are my recommendations:
- Pick the room you are READY to declutter
- You know what you want to get rid of
- This space has been driving you crazy for a long time
- Make sure you have enough time set aside to commit to this space
Break down the room into sections
Next, to make the process even simpler and more rewarding, break down the room into sections. For a bedroom, that might look something like this,
- Closet
- Dresser
- Under-bed
- Nightstands
Commit to tackling one section of the room at a time.
I’m a person who despises leaving anything unfinished. This usually means I never walk away from an unfinished project.
If you’re anything like me, you can see why breaking the room down into small sections is going to be incredibly beneficial to helping you declutter your space much more effectively.
Plus, each time you finish a section, it’s like a mini celebration.
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Keep, sell, donate toss.
Now, as you work through each room, make sure you have 4 boxes or bags ready. I know this seems like an over-the-top thing that no real human actually does.
I get it and honestly, I usually just create piles or garbage bags with these things but I promise boxes are so. much. easier!
The 4 boxes to have on hand:
- Sell
- Donate <–This one definitely requires a box or container!
- Toss
- Put Away
Sell
In this box you can put items that you feel are in good enough shape to sell. Make sure the potential money you earn from them will be worth your time selling online!
For online selling, my favorite places are Facebook Marketplace for bigger items like furniture. Mercari or Decluttr for electronics and collectibles, and thrift stores for clothing.
Donate
The reason I say having one box on hand for donations is because you can take it with you from room to room and then toss it in your trunk to donate!
Yes, I know, it might end up being more than one box, but, you get the point.
You could take this a step further if you’re one of those crazy people who really love organizing and have donation boxes for clothing, toys, books, etc.
Personally, I’m too much of a hot mess to organize quite that effectively.
Toss
Here’s where the garbage bag could come in handy! Now, here’s one harsh truth. Most people cringe at having to throw stuff away. Stuff they spent their hard-earned money on.
Pay attention to this feeling. Soak in the crappiness of completely throwing away items you once deemed valuable.
Remember this feeling the next time you shop. Not to walk around with shame or guilt but to really allow yourself to be more intentional about the things you buy from here forward.
Put away
Ok, so if you’re staying in the same room and something needs to be put away in another section of that room, you can probably just toss it near where it needs to be.
However, if you are coming across items that need to be put away in a different section of the house, do not put them away!
When we come across things that belong somewhere else is when we tend to lose focus on where we’re currently at.
That’s why you have a Put Away bin! Place all items that belong in a different area of the house in this bin and when you are done in your current space, carry this bin around and return the items to their original home.
Tackle big items first
Most of us tend to start with the small items when it comes to decluttering. Things like books, old papers and clothing.
Instead, let me challenge you to clear away any large items like furniture, big electronics, shelves, desks or chairs. Things like that.
Moving, donating or throwing away large items that are taking up your space can instantly help you feel a breath of fresh air. Doing this can free up your space so you can move around better and make better choices about what stays and what goes.
What to consider when clearing furniture
- Size of the room – If you have big items that are consuming a lot of space, consider putting them in the “Sell” bin and maybe downsizing to a more practical size.
- The function of the object – Do you have a chair (or treadmill) that sits in the corner collecting dust and dirty clothes? Be honest with yourself about how much it’s serving a purpose in your life. If it’s not, move on and “Sell” it if you’re able.
- Is there a better place? – Now maybe you have those items that you really do love, but perhaps there is a better, more functional place for it? Set it aside and keep it in mind as you continue to work through all the other rooms in your home. How to makeover your space with stuff you already have.
Related Posts
- Small Bedroom Organization
- Kitchen Declutter and Storage Solutions
- 18 Practical Ways to Downsize and Simplify in 2018
- How Downsizing Saved My Marriage, Finances, and Children
Clear what’s in eyesight
If you are in a space that has drawers or cupboards to clear through, let me encourage you not to open them just yet.
We tend to want to dive into the hidden areas and clear out clutter from drawers or cupboards first. What this usually does is create more clutter in the space we’re in.
So, before you tackle hidden away items, make sure you’ve cleared the space that you can already see.
If you’re in the kitchen, clear off your counter tops first before diving into the cupboards.
Head into the unknown
After freeing up more space to work with by getting rid of any large items or visible clutter, feel free to dive into any items hidden in drawers or doors.
Now, when it comes to all of this clutter, my biggest recommendation is to do this KonMari style and get everything out on the table! (So to speak.)
When you empty out everything into your semi-clean space, you can really get the overwhelming sense of just how much clutter you have accumulated.
Cleaning through drawers this way is highly effective because it encourages you to get rid of more stuff that you otherwise might have convinced yourself you needed.
Empty your boxes
It’s time to put your “Toss” in the trash (or recycling,) bring in your “Donate” box, get everything “Put Away” in the correct place, and store your “Sell” items in a separate area so you can tackle them later.
Organize your space
Now that you have freed up a ton of space and gotten rid of anything unnecessary, you get to start organizing your space!
Like I said, I am not a fan of organizing…which is why I always, always promote decluttering first! The less stuff you have to work with, the easier it will be to get your space organized!
Finishing touches
Once you’ve cleared away the things you don’t want, you can start getting intentional about your minimalist space. You have decluttered, made-over and all-around gotten your space ready to be lived in again.
This might be the time that you find there is more in your “Keep” box than you actually want to keep. That’s ok. Those other boxes are still right there waiting for you!
Time to chill
Now is the best day of them all…the day you get to sit back and breathe in all of your hard work. Even when I was a kid I loved this time. There is something so soul calming about a clean room. This one clean room has the power to totally amp you up to continue on your decluttering journey and inspire you to keep on going!
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Ooh i want to read the Paperless Home now! I’m a minimalist but sometimes paper even gets the best of me.
It is so well laid out and helpful. Paper is one I don’t do good with either! I’m quick to shove it somewhere to get it out of site but then can’t find anything when I need it! So I definitely need The Paperless Home.
Love the idea of taking it one day at time. You can see progress, but don’t get too overwhelmed. I love Half Priced Books. I knew that they would purchase some books, but didn’t know they would take all off your hands. I will have to make a trip there!
Yup! I have never had a problem cleaning house with Half Priced Books! Plus you get to share books with other book lovers! It’s such a win/win.
Great post with really useful tips! I am going to start from my attic and work down!
Oofta! You are a brave woman. I love your enthusiasm.
You make it sound pretty easy to declutter a room in one week. Thank you for all of the tips!
Hopefully everyone finds ease in it!
Thanks for linking over to Decluttr – I am going to check that out!
This is such a great guide! I am totally going to use it before I start my spring cleaning.
These are such great ideas, and help to take the anxiety out of decluttering! Having a day by day break down is so helpful!
So glad you like it, Amanda.
This is an amazing way to do it!! I have been decluttering and looking for new ways to keep motivated to do it… Loving this breakdown in one week! 🙂
Absolutely! It can be overwhelming and I think it’s so easy to try to do too much at once and then burnout. That’s no fun.
These are some really great tips!! I need to get around to selling my stuff online – I have so much lying around that I don’t use!
https://www.hebahpervaiz.co.uk
Same! Once I learned about Decluttr and checked them out I can’t WAIT to sell!
I love this post. I’m a big fan of decluttering. I love focusing on one room at a time. I get such a sense of satisfaction and joy once it’s done.
Me too! Almost kind of sad when I’m done haha.
It’s one of my fav topic. Decluttering and organising. Ur post is absolutely right, a room one week at a time. I also do the same, one day i’ll organise wardrobe n other day i’ll organise my vanity. Easy to do and time saver. Thanks!
Absolutely! Thank you.
I read a great book about tidying that has made me so much better about not accumulating clutter. I’ve adopted the standard of “if you don’t love it or use it, it’s clutter”! Great post!
That mindset can totally change everything! I love it.
I’m definitely checking out the Decluttr site! So smart!
They lay things out so nicely too!
I need to do this! I love that you broke it down to do it a room at a time – I often feel like I need to do my whole house in one sitting and it just is TOO much to do that!
I don’t think you’re alone in feeling that way.
I’m so overwhelmed by the decluttering process that my house NEEDS! Doing one room at a time until it is not only decluttered but also cleaned and fixed up is brilliant. I also really like your paperwork suggestions – I’ve started piling things on top of my filing cabinet because I don’t want to look inside! Gotta get it under control
Personally fixing everything up just encourages keeping it clean and clear!
Thanks for sharing this! It’s actually just what I needed to read. There’s only two of us living in a three-bedroom house and we’ve accumulated so much RUBBISH. I love the idea of the four boxes, keeping everything nice and defined.
I think we might attempt this next week
Dani x
Hope it goes well!!
Awesome tips! Nothing like going home to a clean, organized home!
I love to de clutter! Makes life so much easier!!
Clutter causes me stress. Learning to de-junk and live clutter free feels wonderful. You have some great tips and ideas. I like that you do it one week at a time as to not overwhelm. Nice post!
Right, this is printed and pinned on the board in the office which has been stacked with stuff since we moved in three years ago! I am determined this is the year we can actually get in there to work rather than on the kitchen table!!!!
Hooray! You got this!
Great post and awesome tips! I seriously need to declutter our office. We do horribly at purging old mail or just paperwork that’s sitting around.
Check out The Paperless Home! It’s a great way to hang on to everything and still get it out of the house!
What a great post with so many amazing tips! I can’t wait to get started organizing. This step-by-step makes it seem so simple.
I love this! Taking a room one week at a time is a wonderful idea. It seems to make it less daunting. I will definitely be putting these tips to use! Thank you!
For someone who has done a lot of decluttering…yeah I think one room at a time is the best.
Great step by step guide! Over the weekend I just went through a bunch of things in my room and DVDs to figure out what to keep, toss, or donate/sell. I now have quite a bit to bring to Half Priced Books too. 🙂
I just started to declutter my workspace and love your ideas as I am nowhere near finished yet! Love the feeling of being a little bit cleaned up though!
Every little step is one step closer!! You got this!
All of these tips are very important. My family moved last year, and I just didn’t realize how much we had accumulated until it was time to move. We live in an apartment now so we can’t hold onto things like we used to. If we aren’t using it then it is time to get rid of it.
I understand that all too well! It’s so refreshing to really clear out the unnecessary!
Definitely going to need to look into the paperless home! It would be great to reduce the paper clutter more
Thanks so much, this is a great post! Clutter has controlled my life for FAR too long, as evidenced every time I look at photos taken around our home. There’s always a background of clutter and it’s depressing! I started doing some serious de-cluttering back during the first week of November, when we had a statewide power outage for nearly a week! Couldn’t do much else, so I made a large dent in clutter in various locations. Now I just need to continue and do so in a more organized manner, as you have outlined. Thanks!
It makes you feel so great, doesn’t it? Good luck as you continue on!
I like this breakdown. A little at a time so I don’t get overwhelmed or want to throw EVERYTHING away at once! Pinned 😉
haha exactly!!
I’m currently going through a de-clutter and reorganisation for the New Year, and I think I’m doing pretty well, but one thing I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do is go paperless! Technology is so unpredictable these days, I just couldn’t risk losing an important document! But they DO take up a lot of room, so it may be something I should look into ?
Indya || The Small Adventurer
Such a great guide! I remember when I first started decluttering – this would have been so helpful! I’ll have to check out your other minimalism posts!
This is a great step-by-step guide. I think about doing this and get so overwhelmed, but your “one day at a time” approach makes it easier! I’m going to check out Decluttr, too!
Yes, definitely check them out! They are great when it comes to clearing out old electronics especially!
Great list! I need to declutter so badly, but finding the time with a 3-month old is so challenging. Thanks for the great steps, though. I’ll get started on this Saturday (:
Oh yes! Babies sure do have a way of making life a little bit tougher! Good luck to you!
I love this so much! Thank you for making it seem easy and do-able; definitely want to tackle my house before our lil’ baby comes!
Oh my goodness yes….now is a good time to do it!
I love this so much!! I really need to go through all of my kids toys to do this. It’s so hard when you don’t know if you are done having kids yet or not…
Oh yes…that is tough! Hopefully you can find a nice compromise!
I love your excitement in number 6! 😀 Such great ideas.
Glad I found this article when I did! I now know what my husband and I are doing this weekend!!!!
Lucky hubby! Haha! It’s such a great feeling to get all that clutter out of your way!
YES! This is exactly what I need. The clutter around our house is stressing me out but I’m feeling too overwhelmed to know where to start! Perfect post!
I’m so glad!! Happy tidying!