Studies have shown that living in a cluttered environment can increase stress levels, difficulty focusing, and even poor eating habits.1 But decluttering your entire home can feel like an overwhelming task.
That’s where these five decluttering rules come in. These simple guidelines will help you clear the clutter and keep it away for good.
1. Use the “One In, One Out” Rule
The “one in, one out” rule is a game-changer for maintaining a clutter-free home. When you bring a new item into your space, commit to removing one you no longer need or use.
This simple habit prevents the accumulation of unnecessary belongings and keeps your home balanced. By consistently practicing this rule, you’ll be keenly aware of what you truly value and can live without.
Over time, your home will become a reflection of your most cherished possessions rather than a dumping ground for impulse purchases and forgotten items.
2. Declutter for 15 Minutes Every Day
Decluttering doesn’t have to be an overwhelming, all-day affair. Professional organizers recommend dedicating just 15 minutes daily to tidying up your space.
Set a timer and focus on one specific area, such as your kitchen counter or bedroom nightstand. You’ll make steady progress without feeling overwhelmed by breaking down the decluttering process into manageable chunks.
The daily habit of decluttering will become second nature, ensuring your home stays clutter-free for the long haul.
3. Create Designated Homes for Everything
One of the biggest contributors to clutter is not having a designated place for each item in your home. When things don’t have a specific spot to call home, they are scattered across surfaces and stuffed into drawers.
Professional organizers recommend creating designated homes for everything you own to combat this. Take the time to assess each item and decide where it belongs. Use labels, bins, and organizers to create a system that works for you and your family.
When everything has a place, it’s much easier to maintain a tidy home and find what you need when you need it.
4. Let Go of Guilt & Sentimentality
Clutter often accumulates because we feel guilty about letting go of items that were given to us as gifts or hold sentimental value. However, professional organizers emphasize the importance of releasing these emotional attachments to create a peaceful, clutter-free home.
Remember that the memories associated with an item live within you, not the object itself. Take a photo of the item to preserve the memory, but permit yourself to let go of the physical object.
You’ll free up your life’s physical and emotional space by releasing guilt and sentimentality.
5. Utilize Vertical Space
Professional organizers maximize storage in small homes by using vertical space. Instead of letting clutter pile up on horizontal surfaces, look for opportunities to store items vertically.
This can be achieved through shelving, hooks, and hanging organizers. Take advantage of the space behind doors, on the backs of cabinets, and even on the sides of your refrigerator.
By thinking creatively and using every inch of available space, you’ll be amazed at how much you can store without sacrificing precious floor space.
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Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.