6 Tips for Decluttering & Organizing Your Home

Decluttering and organizing is an investment. It takes time, physical labor, decision making, and money (after all, you have to purchase containers and shelving). But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the leap!

Why home organization is worth it

Not convinced? Remember that it’s frustrating to constantly clean and put things away… but it can be even more frustrating to stare at a mess or rummage through drawers. A clean and organized home will help you:

Save time
Feel happier when you open or close a cupboard
Save money (stop rebuying things you already own)
Reduce visual overwhelm

According to a study about cortisol and home organization:

“Women with higher stressful home scores had increased depressed mood over the course of the day, whereas women with higher restorative home scores had decreased depressed mood over the day.”

Overall, tidying improves mental health.

5 tips for decluttering your home

Roll up your sleeves, get ready to move, and start following these guidelines for decluttering and organizing your space. You’ll feel amazing in the long run.

1. Set the mood before decluttering

It’s not completely necessary, but consider watching a few organization or cleaning videos before you begin. Try looking for “Sunday reset” or “home organization” on TikTok or Youtube, and remember that your house will look just like theirs soon enough!

Getting in the mindset to clean can make it easier to get rid of things.

2. Invest in products that help you organize

It can be difficult to organize when you aren’t properly equipped. Make it easy on yourself by running out and grabbing some bins, shelves, closet shoe organizers, trays, or whatever you think could help.

You don’t have to go to the container store - Big Lots, Dollar Tree, and other bargain spots have plenty of products to help you organize!

3. Group small items into trays or containers on surfaces

Now that you have your products on deck, take a look at your countertops and table tops. Do you have items that you actually need? You probably have some important mail, kitchen appliances, and daily vitamins.

If that’s the case, you can’t get rid of essentials. Group them together on trays or small decorative boxes to eliminate the clutter feel.

4. Get over the hump and throw things away

Do you have mental blocks stopping you from throwing something out?

“Maybe I’ll need those later. I’ll waste money if I trash and re-buy.”
“My mom gave that to me for Christmas. It will hurt her feelings if I throw that out.”
“I can’t decide if I’ll regret this when I dump it. What if I miss it?”

These are valid concerns - but they probably aren’t worth considering in the larger picture. Remember again how clutter impacts your mental health.

Is your mental health worth keeping a $15 item you might need in 2 years? Is it worth keeping something your Mom doesn’t remember buying you? Is it worth agonizing over decision making?

Now take a deep breath and prepare to throw away anything you haven’t used in a year or two. We have Amazon today, it’s so easy to order new items as needed!

5. Use functional decor

Consider ditching your tchotchkes (or at least stop buying new ones). Hallway tables that house lamps, books, and decorative wooden chains don’t always serve a purpose. Especially when they could be storing items you use everyday. Instead, you could use that space for a bench to store shoes and sit while putting them on.

Try switching to functional decor, like storage furniture, pretty containers, and colorful blankets for your couch. Here are some examples.

In the kitchen: storage glass jars, containers for spoons and rolling pins, and pretty cutting boards on display:

In the living room: decorative ottomans with storage inside, decorative throw blankets:

In the bedroom: high bed frames with storage space, baskets for storage:

And remember, rugs and wall art are your best friend! They don’t take up any space, and they require minimal maintenance.

6. Make your closets efficient

And finally, try to organize your closets in a way that serves you. That goes far beyond color coding, wardrobe building, and donating - set up your closet in a way that’s “grab and go” friendly.

What activities do you do every day? If that’s working and going to the gym, put officewear and gym clothes in the front of your closet. Formal dresses and lesser worn items can be stored elsewhere or placed in the back of your closet.

The same goes for your bathroom - things you use every day should go at eye-level. Cold and flu medications can be stored further back, or on higher shelves, since they’re only used occasionally.

Being able to thoughtlessly grab the things you need will drastically reduce the frustration of getting ready.

Prioritize home function and aesthetics

The way your home looks, feels, and functions directly correlates to mental health.

Don’t skimp on your house - schedule regular declutter sessions into your year, start shopping for more organization products, and start feeling better about your living space.

Remember, your home is there to support your busy life. Help it do its job!

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