Is the mess in your house getting you down? Could you do with a bit of help and motivation to get on top of it? We’ve got just the thing: 10 simple ways to declutter your home to get you started on the path to a calmer, more organised space.
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I’ll admit it: I’m not the worst in the world for untidiness, but I am a bit of a hoarder (“you never know when that might come in handy”). My husband, being a bit of a neat freak, is constantly at me to sort out my home office, the linen cupboard, or the kids’ playroom. Here’s what actually worked for us.
10 Simple Ways to Declutter Your Home
#1. Read “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying”
You’ve probably heard of Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying, or seen her folding method on social media or in her Netflix series. A copy of this book landed under our tree one Christmas, and it genuinely kick-started my decluttering process.
If you’re just starting out, I’d recommend reading it first. Marie does a great job of explaining why people hold onto things, and how to start letting them go gently.
My mum has always been a fan of William Morris, the 19th-century English designer known for his floral prints. He once said:
> “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”
Marie Kondo’s philosophy is much the same: keep only what you need because it’s useful, or what genuinely “sparks joy” — and let the rest go. It’s a good lens to view everything through:
1. Do I need this? Is it useful? Or
2. Is it beautiful? Does it spark joy?
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#2. One Room, One Area
You can’t declutter your whole house in one go — that’s exhausting and unrealistic. Work through it systematically, one area at a time. Once you see the transformation in even one small space, it gives you the motivation to keep going.
Start by making a list of the areas that bother you most. My starting list looked like this:
1. Our linen cupboard, where the towels fell out every time we opened the door.
2. The clothes drawers in the kids’ rooms (and my own), stuffed so full they barely closed.
3. The toy tubs in the playroom, overflowing.
4. My home office.
Begin with one area — even just one drawer — and go through the sorting process (useful vs. spark joy). Once that’s done, move to the next section of the room. Don’t try to do too much at once; a small area finished is far better than a big job abandoned halfway.
You may also enjoy 5 Simple Ways to Teach Your Child How to Get Organised
#3. Indecision Is OK
If you’re unsure about an item as you go through the useful vs. spark joy question, don’t panic. Set it aside in an “I’m not sure” pile and come back to it at the end. Ask yourself:
- Why am I being indecisive about this?
- What’s holding me back from letting it go?
- Is this about holding onto a memory?
- Will keeping it really enhance my life?
- Would someone else get more use or joy from it?
Then be honest with yourself when you go back through that pile. Being a little less sentimental here will serve you well.
#4. Be Mindful With Electronics and Batteries
When I started decluttering, it turned out I had boxes and drawers full of old chargers, electronics that no longer worked, and loose batteries everywhere. No idea why I’d kept them (that “might come in handy” mentality again) — it was time for them to go.
Remove batteries from any electronics before disposing of them, and recycle both batteries and chargers responsibly rather than sending them to landfill.
#5. Clear the Surfaces
Every home has bits and pieces floating around — sellotape, Blu Tack, pencils, chargers, vitamin bottles — the stuff that ends up scattered across tables and counters. Clearing those surfaces makes a real difference to how calm your home feels.
New storage helps here. A few bright, cheerful baskets or boxes not only spark a bit of joy but keep all those small items in one handy spot — and can even look like a nice bit of interior styling.
#6. Have a Place for Everything
This sounds obvious, but a lot of clutter builds up simply because things don’t have a home to go back to. This isn’t about the ordinary mess of daily life — it’s about the stuff that never has anywhere to land.
Giving everything a proper place genuinely helps keep clutter down, and you can get your kids involved too:
- Use labelled shoe boxes (a nice bonus: it helps with reading skills).
- Try over-the-door shoe organisers for small toys, art supplies, and Lego pieces.
- Invest in a few colourful boxes where kids can keep their own things.
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#7. Get the Whole Family Involved
There’s little point starting a decluttering process if you’re the only one on board. Make it a game for younger kids and encourage older kids and teens to pull their weight too.
My teenager mocked Marie Kondo’s idea of thanking an item for its service before letting it go — but she still got on board with the folding tricks, and now her clothes drawers are actually tidy enough that she can see what she owns.
#8. Think About the Good You Can Do
Most charities run clothing banks or drop-off points, reselling donated items to raise funds. Some schools run clothing collection fundraisers too, where bags of donated clothes support school activities. Children’s hospitals and other organisations that work with kids are often glad to receive toys and games in good condition.
Decluttering isn’t just about you — it can genuinely help someone else too.
#9. Hold a Yard or Car Boot Sale
Make a little money from things you no longer want by holding a yard sale or heading to a car boot sale. I know someone who, along with her sister, brought boxes of outgrown baby and toddler clothes to a baby sale event and came away with a decent bit of cash for their sorting efforts.
Or try a classifieds site and sell items online. We once sold a lovely wooden play kitchen to another family with younger kids, delighted to get a quality item at a good price — and we put that money towards something our now-older kids actually wanted.
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#10. Try a “One Thing In, One Thing Out” Rule
This one can be tricky to stick to, but it works: for every new item you bring home — clothing, a toy, a game, anything — give away, sell, or recycle one old item.
Try it on your next shopping trip. There’s probably a t-shirt in your drawer you haven’t worn in over a year. If that’s the case, chances are you won’t wear it again. Donate the old one, fold the new one Marie Kondo-style, and enjoy your neater drawer.
Good luck with the decluttering — and if you’ve any great tips of your own, we’d love to hear them in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I start decluttering if I feel overwhelmed?
Pick the smallest area that annoys you most — a single drawer or shelf — rather than a whole room. Finishing one small space gives you the motivation to keep going, and it’s far less exhausting than tackling everything at once.
How do I get kids involved in decluttering without a fight?
Make it playful rather than a chore — a timer challenge, a “keep, donate, bin” sorting game, or letting them choose their own storage boxes. Giving each toy or item a proper “home” also makes it easier for kids to keep things tidy afterwards.
What should I do with items I’m not sure about?
Set them aside in a separate “not sure” pile rather than deciding on the spot. Come back to that pile at the end and ask yourself honestly whether the item is genuinely useful, loved, or just being kept out of habit.
Is it OK to sell or donate things instead of throwing them out?
Yes — a yard sale, car boot sale, or online classifieds listing can put a little cash back in your pocket for still-good items, while charity shops, school fundraising collections, and children’s hospitals are often glad of donations in good condition.
Related Articles
If this has you in a decluttering mood, you might also like:
- 10 Practical Storage Hacks To Help Declutter The House
- 5 Simple Ways to Teach Your Child How to Get Organised
- Don’t Miss These 10 Hacks For Parents to Organise Toys
- Tips for Buying and Selling Online
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