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Picture walking into a space where everything is in its place and the room instantly feels calming. Decluttering isn’t just about cleaning up – it’s about making your space work for you. These 15 expert tips from professional organizers will help you tackle clutter when usual methods don’t quite cut it, creating a more organized and peaceful home.
Get Rid of or Donate Clothing You Haven’t Worn in the Past Year
Holding onto clothes that haven’t been worn in over a year only adds clutter and makes it harder to find the items you actually use. These pieces take up valuable space and often sit untouched, making your closet feel overcrowded. Clearing them out by donating or selling them creates more room and makes getting dressed simpler.
Reach New Heights: Utilizing Vertical Storage
Relying only on traditional shelves and cabinets can leave valuable wall space unused. Stacking storage upward with floating shelves, tall bookcases, or wall-mounted organizers keeps items accessible without cluttering floors and surfaces. Taking advantage of vertical space helps maintain order while making the most of every inch.
Hidden Storage: Under-Furniture Solutions
Wasted space beneath furniture often becomes a forgotten area, filled with dust rather than useful storage. Beds, sofas, and coffee tables with built-in compartments or rolling bins provide extra room for seasonal items, blankets, or shoes. Making use of under-furniture storage keeps essentials nearby while reducing visual clutter.
First Impressions: Organizing Entryways
A messy entryway filled with shoes, bags, and random items creates a sense of chaos the moment you walk through the door. Without a clear system, essentials get lost, and clutter quickly piles up. Adding baskets, wall hooks, and a designated drop zone keeps everything in place and makes coming and going more efficient.
Hang It Up: Using Hooks for More Space
Relying only on drawers and shelves for storage can lead to overcrowding and disorganization. Wall hooks, pegboards, and over-the-door racks provide an easy way to store frequently used items like bags, coats, and kitchen tools. Using vertical space in this way clears up surfaces while keeping essentials within reach.
Less is More: Embracing Minimalism
Holding onto too many items can make a space feel overwhelming and difficult to maintain. Keeping only what is functional and meaningful allows rooms to feel more open and stress-free. By focusing on quality over quantity, it becomes easier to stay organized and create a clutter-free environment.
Donation Station: Making Giving Easy
Without a designated spot for donation items, they often sit in random places or get forgotten altogether. Creating a donation bin in a closet or entryway makes it simple to set aside unwanted items without second-guessing. Regularly clearing it out ensures that useful items find a new home instead of collecting dust.
Surface Sweep: Keeping Counters Clear
Cluttered surfaces make a space feel chaotic and make daily tasks more difficult. When counters become catch-alls for mail, gadgets, and miscellaneous items, organization quickly unravels. Keeping only daily essentials on display and storing everything else in designated spaces helps maintain a tidy, functional area.
Go Digital: Freeing Space by Scanning Documents
Stacks of old paperwork take up space and make it difficult to find important documents when needed. Scanning receipts, contracts, and records into digital storage reduces physical clutter while keeping information accessible. Organizing files on a secure cloud or hard drive ensures easy retrieval without piles of paper taking over drawers.
Start Small: Conquering Cluttered Drawers
Overstuffed drawers make it difficult to find what you need, turning simple tasks into frustrating searches. Randomly tossed items create disorder, leading to wasted space and unnecessary duplicates. Tackling one drawer at a time with dividers and intentional organization creates lasting order without feeling overwhelming.
Curate Your Collection: Limiting Display Spaces
Too many decorative items on shelves and countertops can make a space feel cluttered rather than thoughtfully styled. When everything is on display, it becomes harder to appreciate individual pieces. Rotating decor and keeping only a few intentional items visible allows each piece to stand out while maintaining a clean look.
Quick Fix: The Daily 10-Minute Tidy
Clutter builds up quickly when small messes are ignored, making tidying feel like an overwhelming task. Dedicating just 10 minutes a day to putting things back in place prevents piles from growing and keeps rooms looking fresh. A quick reset each day ensures that organization remains manageable without requiring hours of effort later.
Clear the Floor: Keeping Spaces Open and Functional
Cluttered floors make a room feel messy and crowded, even if other surfaces are tidy. Shoes, bags, and random household items left out create obstacles that disrupt the flow of a space. Keeping floors clear instantly improves the look of a room while making cleaning and movement easier.
One In, One Out Rule: Preventing Clutter Before It Starts
Bringing new items into the home without removing old ones quickly leads to overcrowded spaces. Without a limit, closets, shelves, and drawers become packed with things that are rarely used or forgotten. Following the one in, one out rule keeps belongings manageable by ensuring that for every new item added, an old one is donated or discarded.
The Sorting System: Keep, Donate, Discard
Decluttering feels overwhelming when everything is piled together without a clear plan. Sorting items into three categories—keep, donate, and discard—creates structure and prevents decision fatigue. Having designated boxes for each option makes the process smoother and ensures items are quickly relocated instead of lingering in limbo.
