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.
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:
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,
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.
How to Make Your Master Bedroom Feel Like a Hotel Room
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
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.
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.
Related Posts
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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!
No matter how bad we might crave the benefits of a clean, clear, clutter-free…
October 14, 2021Let’s face it, no one really likes cleaning, do they? Actually, that’…
August 26, 2021
Sarah | 30th Jan 18
Ooh i want to read the Paperless Home now! I’m a minimalist but sometimes paper even gets the best of me.
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 30th Jan 18
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.
Jenny | 30th Jan 18
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!
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 30th Jan 18
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.
Sunrita | 30th Jan 18
Great post with really useful tips! I am going to start from my attic and work down!
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 30th Jan 18
Oofta! You are a brave woman. I love your enthusiasm.
Keri | 30th Jan 18
You make it sound pretty easy to declutter a room in one week. Thank you for all of the tips!
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 30th Jan 18
Hopefully everyone finds ease in it!
Ginger | 30th Jan 18
Thanks for linking over to Decluttr – I am going to check that out!
Melanie | 30th Jan 18
This is such a great guide! I am totally going to use it before I start my spring cleaning.
Amanda | 30th Jan 18
These are such great ideas, and help to take the anxiety out of decluttering! Having a day by day break down is so helpful!
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 30th Jan 18
So glad you like it, Amanda.
Ashley | 30th Jan 18
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! 🙂
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 30th Jan 18
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.
Hebah | 30th Jan 18
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
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 30th Jan 18
Same! Once I learned about Decluttr and checked them out I can’t WAIT to sell!
Wendy | Life and Business with Wendy | 30th Jan 18
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.
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 30th Jan 18
Me too! Almost kind of sad when I’m done haha.
sonal | 30th Jan 18
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!
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 30th Jan 18
Absolutely! Thank you.
Heather | 30th Jan 18
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!
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 30th Jan 18
That mindset can totally change everything! I love it.
Jen | 30th Jan 18
I’m definitely checking out the Decluttr site! So smart!
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 30th Jan 18
They lay things out so nicely too!
Chelsie | 30th Jan 18
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!
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 30th Jan 18
I don’t think you’re alone in feeling that way.
Nicole | 30th Jan 18
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
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 30th Jan 18
Personally fixing everything up just encourages keeping it clean and clear!
Dani | 30th Jan 18
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
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 30th Jan 18
Hope it goes well!!
Anissa | 30th Jan 18
Awesome tips! Nothing like going home to a clean, organized home!
Erin Haugerud | 30th Jan 18
I love to de clutter! Makes life so much easier!!
Rebecca | 30th Jan 18
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!
TheHappyFoodKitchen | 31st Jan 18
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!!!!
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 31st Jan 18
Hooray! You got this!
Rhonda | 31st Jan 18
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.
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 31st Jan 18
Check out The Paperless Home! It’s a great way to hang on to everything and still get it out of the house!
Heather | 31st Jan 18
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.
Valerie | 31st Jan 18
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!
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 31st Jan 18
For someone who has done a lot of decluttering…yeah I think one room at a time is the best.
ShootingStarsMag | 31st Jan 18
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. 🙂
Rachel | 31st Jan 18
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!
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 31st Jan 18
Every little step is one step closer!! You got this!
Erika | 31st Jan 18
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.
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 31st Jan 18
I understand that all too well! It’s so refreshing to really clear out the unnecessary!
Sarah | 31st Jan 18
Definitely going to need to look into the paperless home! It would be great to reduce the paper clutter more
Dr. K. Lee Banks | 31st Jan 18
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!
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 31st Jan 18
It makes you feel so great, doesn’t it? Good luck as you continue on!
Cori - Sweet Coralice | 31st Jan 18
I like this breakdown. A little at a time so I don’t get overwhelmed or want to throw EVERYTHING away at once! Pinned 😉
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 31st Jan 18
haha exactly!!
Indya | TheSmallAdventurer | 1st Feb 18
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
Kalyn | 1st Feb 18
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!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate | 1st Feb 18
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!
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 1st Feb 18
Yes, definitely check them out! They are great when it comes to clearing out old electronics especially!
Caitlin | 1st Feb 18
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 (:
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 1st Feb 18
Oh yes! Babies sure do have a way of making life a little bit tougher! Good luck to you!
michaela | 1st Feb 18
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!
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 1st Feb 18
Oh my goodness yes….now is a good time to do it!
Danielle @ A Sprinkle of Joy | 1st Feb 18
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…
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 1st Feb 18
Oh yes…that is tough! Hopefully you can find a nice compromise!
Bethany | 1st Feb 18
I love your excitement in number 6! 😀 Such great ideas.
Rebecca Rice | 2nd Feb 18
Glad I found this article when I did! I now know what my husband and I are doing this weekend!!!!
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 2nd Feb 18
Lucky hubby! Haha! It’s such a great feeling to get all that clutter out of your way!
Amy - Loving Our Messy | 2nd Feb 18
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!
heartsoulwhole@gmail.com | 2nd Feb 18
I’m so glad!! Happy tidying!