Planning to Declutter Your Home? Here’s How to Get Started
Ever had that moment where you open a cupboard and something falls out? Or maybe you’ve spent twenty minutes hunting for your keys, only to find them buried under a pile of post you meant to sort three weeks ago?
Clutter has this sneaky way of building up. One day, your place feels manageable, and the next, you’re wondering if you accidentally signed up to run a charity shop from your living room.
But decluttering doesn’t have to be a massive project. With a few tricks, you can actually enjoy the process. Here’s how to get started.
Tackle One Space at a Time
Here’s where people usually go wrong: they try to declutter the entire house in one go, get exhausted halfway through, and give up. Don’t do that to yourself.
Instead, break it down into manageable chunks. Start with something small, like your bedside table or the drawer where you keep your tea towels. Once that’s done, you’ll feel motivated, and that momentum will carry you to the next spot.
Set a timer for 20 minutes if you need to. You’d be surprised how much you can sort in that time. And if you’re on a roll, keep going. If not, at least you’ve made progress without sacrificing your entire Saturday.
The trick is consistency. Doing a little bit regularly beats one massive decluttering marathon that leaves you never wanting to look at a bin bag again.
Decide What’s Worth Keeping
Before you start binning things left and right, take a proper look at what you’ve got. This isn’t about grabbing a black bag and going full minimalist in a panic. It’s about being honest with yourself.
Pull everything out and spread it across the floor or bed. You’ll probably find receipts from 2019, three phone chargers that don’t fit anything you own, and at least one mystery key.
Group similar items together. This will make it easier to spot duplicates, like the four pairs of scissors you didn’t realise you had.
Once you can see what you’re dealing with, you’ll have a much clearer idea of what needs to stay and what can go.
And if you haven’t used something in a year, you probably don’t need it. Unless it’s a Christmas jumper or your passport, it’s fair game for the donation pile.
Deal with Sentimental Items Carefully
This is where decluttering gets tricky. It’s easy to chuck out an old sponge, but your nan’s teacup collection? That’s a different story.
Sentimental items deserve a bit more thought. You don’t have to bin everything, but you also don’t need to keep every single birthday card you’ve ever received.
Ask yourself if the item genuinely brings you joy or if you’re just keeping it out of habit. If it’s the latter, it might be time to let it go. Take a photo of it if you want to remember it, then pass it on.
For things you absolutely can’t part with, create a memory box. Keep it somewhere safe, and limit yourself to one box. This way, you’ll honour the memories without letting them take over your entire home.
Find a Place for Everything You’re Keeping
Once you’ve decided what stays, you’ll need to find a place to store it. Otherwise, you’ll end up back where you started in a month.
Invest in some decent storage solutions. Under-bed boxes work brilliantly for seasonal clothes or extra bedding. Shelves are your best bet in smaller homes, especially if you make use of vertical space.
Drawer dividers can also transform a messy kitchen drawer into something almost satisfying to look at. And baskets are perfect for corralling things like remote controls, charging cables, or magazines.
Label everything if you want to take it up a notch. It’ll help everyone in the house understand your system, which means they’ll actually put them back where they belong.
The golden rule is that if it doesn’t have a home, it’ll become clutter again. So, be strict about assigning spots for your belongings.
Call in the Professionals If Needed
Sometimes, decluttering feels impossible, no matter how hard you try. Maybe you’re short on time, or the task just feels too big to handle alone. That’s completely fine.
In the UK, plenty of apartment cleaning services offer decluttering alongside their regular work. They can provide an extra set of hands, a fresh perspective, and practical advice tailored to your space.
These professionals can assess your home and suggest storage solutions that fit your lifestyle. Sometimes, all you need is someone to help you see your space differently and give you that push to get started.
There’s no shame in asking for help. In fact, it’s often the smartest move you can make.
Keep the Clutter from Coming Back
Congratulations—you’ve decluttered your home. Now, let’s make sure it stays that way. The secret is building small habits that will prevent the mess from creeping back in.
Adopt a ‘one in, one out’ rule. Every time you bring something new into your home, something old has to go. Bought a new shirt? Donate an old one. This will keep your belongings in check.
Spend five minutes each evening putting things back where they belong. It sounds simple, but it works. With a quick tidy-up session before bed, you’ll wake up to a calm space instead of yesterday’s chaos.
And every few months, do a quick sweep of your home. Check for items that have snuck in and started building up again. Trust us, catching clutter early is much easier than dealing with it later.
Conclusion
Decluttering isn’t about becoming a minimalist who owns three items. It’s about creating a space that works for you, where you can actually find your items and breathe a bit easier.
So, start small, be consistent, and don’t beat yourself up if it takes longer than you thought. Now, grab a bin bag, queue up a decent playlist, and tackle that junk drawer you’ve been avoiding.
