I always laugh a little when people assume I have this super organized, everything-in-its-place kind of home because… girl, no.
I find myself constantly decluttering with major overhauls at least two or three times a year!
My office often becomes the “on its way out” room because as the kids grow out of their clothes and toys and as household items get worn, we try and maintain some order around the rest of the house.
By having a designated spot for things that no longer have a place here, we can then determine whether they’ll be sold or donated.
And trust me – a little bit of decluttering will add up to a huge difference later on!
Even tiny pockets of progress feel like a deep breath of relief. That’s why I put together this simple guide to help clear things out without feeling like you have to overhaul your whole house in one afternoon.
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How to Get Started with Decluttering
Before you start, grab four things:
- a trash bag
- a donation bag or box (old Amazon boxes work fine)
- a clear plastic bin to store things that you’ll sell later on (I love these ones)
- and something – literally anything (again, I use clear plastic bins for this because they’re easy to see through in case something ends up in there by accident) – you can toss random “put this away somewhere else” items into
I’ve tried decluttering without that last bin and it always ends in me wandering around the house wasting time instead of getting things done as quickly as possible. So save yourself those steps because life happens – the kids might want a snack, you get an important phone call, etc. while you’re tidying and then the whole process gets derailed because you’re not motivated to go back.
You can do this in short bursts too – if I don’t have the entire day, I’ll set a 10-minute timer while the kids are doing school work or something else that actually keeps them in one spot for a bit.
And honestly? Let your kids help if they’re around. Little jobs make them feel important, and sometimes they surprise you – they’re especially good at decluttering their toys and clothes they know they’re never going to wear!
Whole-Home Quick Start
This is just a mini warm-up. Nothing fancy.
- Collect and empty obvious trash around the house
- Clear the floors
- Pick one “hot spot” (the spot where clutter magically multiplies)
- Take a picture – it helps you see what needs attention and it’ll feel great to compare before and after photos later on!
Entryway: The Drop Zone
The entryway can feel like a magnet for stuff. Shoes, mail (especially those flyers you never asked for), jackets, backpacks, and other bags you left at the front door because you don’t feel like dealing with them right now.
Here’s what I do when the entryway becomes too much:
- Put away the shoes everyone’s stopped wearing for the season (this we have a wall cabinet like this that I use for seasonal footwear)
- Hang up coats
- Sort the mail and ditch anything you don’t need
- Give keys and bags a designated hook (I really like this one for keys and this one for our coats)
- Declutter and wipe the entryway table if you have one
- Add a basket (these are actually super cute) for all the “Mom, I found this rock!” treasures
A shoe rack (this one is extendable so you customize it to the size of your space!) or even command hooks can change your life here.
Living Room: The Family Hangout Zone
The living room is where we read aloud, spill popcorn and other snacks, build Lego kingdoms, and occasionally try to relax – so keeping it somewhat clear is a gift.
It’s the first place we gather when everyone wakes up and the last spot we spend our time in before the day is over.
A few quick wins are:
- Have the kids to tidy their toys
- Clear off the coffee table
- Fluff and rearrange couch pillows (weirdly satisfying)
- Fold blankets
- Tidy shelves
- Check for rogue cords, chargers, and half-finished snacks
- Use ONE basket for miscellaneous kid stuff (I like these smaller bins for schoolwork as well as art, pipe cleaners, and other random things that I think are now being used as toys)
A “clutter basket” makes a difference with kids’ stuff – everything goes in there and the kids empty it before bed (most nights).
Frugal decorating ideas:
- Must-Have Amazing Decor Ideas for a Tidy Home (Under $100!)
- How to Design a Cute Pink Gym Space (on a Tight Budget)
- Cute and Affordable Pink Christmas Decorations You’ll Love
Kitchen: The Heart of the House
We homeschool. We eat. We snack. We drink coffee. Repeat.
So if the kitchen is chaotic, the whole day feels harder.
Counters
- Put away anything that doesn’t actually belong
- Group items together on a cute tray – it looks great and works well to prevent clutter buildup
- Wipe down surfaces
Cabinets + Drawers
- Remove expired pantry items
- Match containers to lids (remove damaged items and those without a match from your rotation)
- Donate extras and things you never use
- Use drawer organizers if you can (these help SO much and will show you if you have an excess of stuff pretty quickly!)
Fridge + Freezer
- Get rid of old leftovers
- Wipe shelves
- Make snack bins for the kids
- Group similar items together
Bathrooms: Small Rooms with a Big Impact
Bathrooms get messy fast but they’re also quick win once you reset them!
- Toss old makeup and skin care products
- Combine half-empty bottles
- Clear counters
- Organize under the sink (I just got two of these for under our sinks and can’t believe what a difference it made)
- Wipe mirrors (this makes your space look sparkly while you’re in there decluttering anyway – I use this foam cleaner and find it works better than the liquid stuff)
- Add mini bins for toiletries that you’ll keep in your drawers (we also keep a cute basket on the toilet for extra toilet paper – it gets less dusty this way and actually looks nice)
- Add a shelf for towels (I found it’s made a big difference in keeping my linen closet cleaner since no one goes in there to grab towels and knocks things over any longer – it also forces you to downsize your towel collection so you’re left with the ones you actually use)
If you’ve never used drawer organizers in the bathroom, prepare for your life to change – we have these in our drawers.
More ideas for your home:
- How to Renovate an IKEA Kitchen on a Budget
- Before and After Our Main Bathroom Renovation
- How to Speed Clean a Messy House (When You Don’t Know Where to Start)
Bedrooms: Create a Calm Space Again
Your bedroom shouldn’t look like the lost and found. (Ask me how I know.)
Your Bedroom
- Clear nightstands
- Sort clothes into keep, sell, donate, give away, and toss piles
- Organize jewelry into the same piles as above (a jewelry organizer helped me sort what I actually use)
- Organize books and magazines the same way
- Make your bed while you’re there (it sets the tone for everything!)
Kids’ Rooms
- Declutter toys – you’ll be amazed at how many little things are missing pieces, broken, or just don’t get played with anymore
- Organize stuffed animals or add a shelf like this above the headboard to display your kids’ favorites – donate or give away the ones kids no longer want
- Go through clothes and remove pieces that are too small or damaged
- Set up simple systems that your children can maintain
Kids rooms are quick to get cluttered – especially after birthdays and Christmas!
Homeschool Corner or Office Space
Oh yes. This one.
This area can get crowded because it holds curriculum, paperwork, art work, supplies, and all the half-done projects.
- Sort curriculum (only keep what you’ll actually use)
- Give each child a bin (this is a good size for school work)
- Go through papers (put away essays and projects that have been completed in a long term designated records area – I have a shelf in my office for record keeping)
- Tidy your desk and teacher corner (I have a cube organizer against the wall and use the top of it as a work space for curriculum we’re currently going through as well as my agenda, and work)
- Add a wall calendar (this one is amazing for moms and families)
- Add a command center (I use a white board to plan our school days, work through math problems, explain grammar, etc. and place our calendar with classroom posters on both sides of it – isn’t it amazing how much more productive your days can be when you actually plan them, haha)
Here are some homeschool organization items I can’t live without:
- Book bins
- Cube organizer
- Small bookshelf
- White board (don’t forget dry erase pens with erasers)
- Calendar
- Spinning turntable organizers (I keep cups for markers, pencil crayons, crayons, and pens on ours – then the kids just choose the tool they want to write with and it makes it fun for them too)
Laundry Room: The Too Often Forgotten Space
Even five minutes here helps.
- Toss empty bottles
- Organize cleaners
- Create bins for rags, dryer sheets, stain removers
- Wipe machines
- Toss lint in the trash if you have a designated lint container
- Add hooks or a slim rolling cart to hold detergents and cleaning products if you need extra space (I have this laundry organizer and add shelving with a poll for clothing to the wall – we store some seasonal items here as well as hang drying sensitive clothes)
- Have an honest look at stained and damaged clothes before you wash them and then decide whether to hang onto them or not
Garage and Storage Areas
You don’t need to take this on all at once – it took us a few days to get our garage in order but I’m so glad we finally did. Consider organizing your garage or seasonal storage area into the following zones:
- Sports gear – sell, donate, or gift old equipment
- Holiday decor – again, sell, donate or gift decorations you no longer want. Use clear plastic bins to keep this stuff organized and store it in plastic shelving units – this has made this so much more manageable for us!
- Tools – you might find that you have a lot of the same tools. Consider selling them at a garage sale (people are always searching for tools at these things) or listing them on Facebook Marketplace. For the things you’ll keep, I can’t recommend them enough – use these plastic bins for this and organize according to purpose – lights and electricity, drilling and hanging, cutting and altering, garden and outdoors, etc.
- Toys – think beach toys, hoola hoops, and balls. Either find a home or send them away
- Gardening equipment – toss old pots, gloves, and other worn out items
If it’s broken or worn out, you have too many of them, or taking up too much space – it’s time to move on.
Get Your Free Printable Decluttering Checklist
If you want all of this in a clean, easy printable you can check off, I made one for you. I use mine every few months when things start creeping back in (and they always do around Christmas time and birthdays, haha).
You can check out this post to download yours.
A Few Everyday Habits to Help Keep Things Tidy
These really do make a difference:
- A quick 10-minute tidy in the evening
- The “one basket” method for daily clutter
- Clean out the fridge before grocery shopping
- Keep a donation bag in the closet – and try to do donations at least once a month
- A bin for items you’ll sell on marketplace (I keep paper bags to organize things too since a lot of what we sell online is second hand kids toys)
- Do a shelf or drawer once a week
Tiny habits really do add up and they’re easier to form when you do them daily instead of one giant overhaul over a single weekend.
What to Do with Clutter
Once you’ve gathered the things that no longer serve you and your family, it’s time to determine what you’ll do with it all.
Here are a few simple ways to move clutter out of your home for good and maybe even make a little money or bring some joy to others in the process:
- Donate it: Thrift stores, shelters, and local charities accept gently-used clothing, books, toys, and household items.
- Sell to second-hand shops: Places like consignment stores or children’s resale boutiques will pay you cash or store credit for items in good condition. Kids’ clothes, baby gear, and brand-name pieces usually do well.
- List it on Facebook Marketplace: If you don’t mind a few messages and porch pickups, Marketplace is amazing for selling furniture, decor, and kids’ items. I regularly use it for things my girls outgrow.
- Give it away: Sometimes you just want it gone now. Offering an item for free will make it disappear fast. Perfect for bulky things or items with minor wear. Have family members with small kids? Trust me, we appreciate hand me down clothes as much as we enjoy gifting them to others too!
- Join a Buy Nothing group: These community groups are wonderful! You can give items to families who truly need them and it keeps usable things out of the landfill. I’ve given food, plants, kids’ clothes, homeschool materials – all within the same day.
- Upcycling: There are a ton of cool projects you can do with old clothes and fabrics! Check out Pinterest for some ideas.
You’re Doing Better Than You Think
Seriously. Even if your house feels like a tornado went through it, baby steps are still moving in the right direction. You don’t need perfection right away but a little bit of breathing room adds up to a lot of breathing room later on!
Even if you don’t have a lot of time, start with something small today – and remind yourself this is a home filled with joy and life. The mess means you’re living, learning, loving, and raising little people who think you’re pretty great!
Happy decluttering, friend!
– Nikki