This is a very straightforward post – I’m giving you the basic steps to follow in the decluttering process (+ a free checklist you can use to help you learn the ropes).

As with anything new, decluttering can feel overwhelming at first. But having a clearly defined process to follow makes it feel SO MUCH MORE DOABLE.

By the end of the post you’ll know exactly what steps to take (and in what order) to make decluttering your home easier (I even have a HUGE free gift for you if you stick around until the end!).

Maybe you’ve tried to declutter in the past and been less than successful.

Maybe you start with a big burst of energy only to fizzle out in frustration.

Or you decluttered a few years ago only find yourself back at square one again.

You’re thinking maybe you’ve been doing things wrong and you’re second-guessing whether this is even something you can do.

Sound all-to familiar?

It can make you feel hopeless!

But there is HOPE! I’m here to share my basic system that will help you clear out the mess, stay motivated, and upgrade your organizing mindset without exhausting yourself and burning out in the process. 

I’ll cover my personal take on the decluttering process, how it works, and how you can get started.

Keep reading for more details.

What Is The Decluttering Process?

Before we start, let’s get clear on what we’re talking about. The process of decluttering aims to:

1. Honestly assess the current condition of a space.
2. Set goals for what how we want to improve the space.
3. Eliminate excess (aka declutter).
4. Intentionally reset things to an ideal arrangement.

I’m big on building routines because once they are repeated often enough, they make complex tasks that used to take a lot of thought and energy become automatic. Simply put- repeated routines become HABITS!

Would you like tidiness to become a default behavior that you maintain with ease and regularity? Read on!

Why Is It Important To Follow the Decluttering Process Steps In order?

Statistics vary on the number of days it takes to form a new habit, but one thing that is pretty indisputable is that repetition matters. 

In Atomic Habits, one of my favorite books about the creation and maintenance of habits, author James Clear says this:

He’s totally right; people don’t have the mental energy to “map out every feature” of the new habit. We’re over here just trying to get by!

By implementing a system with familiar and repeatable steps, you’ll be able to build the organizing habit more easily. 

This way, you will get things done with less time and effort. 

Also, learning to follow the a system improves the odds that you’ll be able to maintain order in the long term. 

If organizing is a habit, things are much less likely to get out of hand; when you do circle back for a refresh the maintenance process will be much, much easier.

My 5-Step Decluttering Process

I created this unique framework for organizing and decluttering your home based on the process that I personally follow on client projects as a professional organizer and interior stylist.

The amazing thing is that it works for both processes since they are so closely related! If you can master it in one area, you will also automatically get better at the other (win-win!).

Below I break down the basics of each step to help you get started.

Step 1: Narrow Your Focus

This seems simple, but it can be deceptively hard.

For example, “I’m going to declutter my bedroom” might seem like a reasonable goal. But think about how many smaller areas a bedroom incorporates! Nightstands, dressers, bathroom drawers and cabinets, linen closet, and a master closet…way too much to tackle at once!

Choosing the appropriate project scope is critical to your success.

The key to Step One is to pick something small, specific, and manageable according to your current energy levels and the amount of time you have available.

Anyone who has ever found themselves sitting in a torn-apart master closet at 2 pm when it’s almost time to pick the kids up from school knows exactly why this matters.

The following chart shows some different types of projects you could focus on and the varying levels of difficulty of each:

When you have a couple of hours– choose from the first column.

These are small projects with definite starting and stopping points. They are relatively small, contained spaces with minimal opportunity to get off track.

It’s easy to clear off a messy countertop or plow through the contents of a medicine cabinet pretty quickly.

If you have a single day, “second column” projects are just right.

A little bigger, a little more time-consuming… but still totally doable in 4-6 hours. Be forewarned; these projects are more likely to require a pause in the process in order to acquire the appropriate organizing supplies (more on that later). You might need to clean and purge for 2 hours, run to the store, and then come back and put everything back together. That’s why I say to plan for a whole day!

Save projects from the final column for the weekend or a day off.

For most homeowners it is going to take a couple of dedicated days to fully follow the decluttering process in the most challenging areas. Garages, pantries, and home offices typically house a large volume of items that need to be sorted, cleaned, edited and reorganized. This means a lot of decision making (i.e. a lot of mental energy).

Specific problem areas to beware of:

• Unused Specialty Items (Craft Supplies, Tools, Sporting Goods, Kitchen Gadgets)
• Paper Clutter (Old Bills, Legal Documents)
• Books
• Photographs and Sentimental Keepsakes
• Holiday Decor
• Hand-me Downs/Heirlooms
• Clothing

Spaces that contain these items usually take longer to process/decide what to keep so give yourself extra time and patience when approaching the spaces that house them.

Step 2: Reflect On Your Desired Outcome

Make this step a part of your natural thinking process and you will be amazed at how much better your results become.

When it comes to the decluttering process, simply ask yourself,

“How do I want this space to function?”

And think of ways to make it happen.

It’s kind of like plugging your destination into the GPS before taking off on a road trip. It’s helpful to know where you’re going!

For example, my home has a problem area: the countertop in my laundry room. It is the first surface you pass when you walk in from the garage and it is also the surface I use to fold our family’s laundry.

It’s constantly covered in odds and ends that my family has brought in from the car- plus laundry that’s waiting to be put away, junk from people’s pockets, and big balls of dryer lint. It drives me nuts!

If I were going to attack this area I would reflect on how I’d like this counter to function in a perfect world.

Well… I’d like it to stay clear and clean! So what do I need to do in order for that to happen?

I’d brainstorm some ideas:

• Could I clear out a drawer or place a basket on the counter to hide the odds and ends?
• Maybe I should empty out the area under the sink to have a better place to stash stuff.
• It would be easy to put a trash can in a more convenient place to deal with the lint and encourage my family to throw stuff away as they come inside.
• Would it work to fold my laundry somewhere else to prevent it from piling up here?

You don’t have to have an answer or a solid plan at this stage- you just need to be asking the questions. If it helps, you can write down the answers and solutions that come to you on a worksheet or a simple sticky note.

Now hold onto those thoughts… you’ll need them in the next step.

Step 3: Look For inspiration

I go much more in depth into this phase in other posts but for the purpose of this article I’m going to simplify:

1. Go to Pinterest and type the following into the search bar: ” (Name of the space you’re working on) + organizing ideas + (goal keywords).” In my example mentioned above I might type “mudroom counter organizing ideas for clear counters.” Or maybe “laundry room organizing ideas to reduce clutter”
2. Set a timer for 15 minutes (NO MORE THAN 20) and scroll through the results looking for any ideas that match your original brainstorm OR new ideas you hadn’t thought of. If the results don’t feel like they are helpful, you might have to play around with the key words in your search a bit.
3. Pick 1-3 inspo images. Pin or print them out and keep them in mind as you get into the space. You’ll be coming back to them again in Step 5 but it helps to keep this vision in mind to keep you motivated to purge as well.

Note: These first 3 steps of the process may seem unnecessary. They are the steps in my decluttering system that people are likely to skip because they are so “mental” and aren’t actually making a dent on improving the physical mess.

But as the saying goes, sometimes you have to “go slow to go fast.”

This small amount of reflection and contemplation time will help give you the direction, focus and vision you need to help complete your project more successfully in the long run. Be intentional with your precious time!

Step 4: Clean Out The Space

Congrats. You finally made it to the place where most people start!

Roll up your sleeves and turn on a podcast. Here’s what you need to do.

1. CLEAR – Remove everything from the focus space. Since you’ve chosen a specific focus area, this shouldn’t be too overwhelming.
   • Move the contents of the bin, drawer, cabinet, etc. to a work surface such as a clear table, countertop or floor area.
   • Sort as you go, grouping like items in piles. For example, when I clean out my junk drawer I would have piles for pens, papers, lip glosses, hardware, tools, etc.
   • Have a trash bag nearby to throw out anything you immediately recognize as trash. Only things you think you need to keep should make it to the sorting table.
   • Usually there will be things that need to be donated or relocated. Set aside a separate area for those things; you will deal with them at the end.
2. CLEAN– Once the drawer/cabinet/shelf/room is emptied, do a deep clean.
   • Wipe down surfaces.
   • Sweep, vacuum and mop if necessary.
   • Spot or clean textiles.
   • Clean windows, mirrors and glass.
3. PURGE– Return to the items you pulled from focus area.
   • What needs to be donated, thrown out, relocated or recycled? Think expired items, almost empties, broken or worn out belongings. Remove those items from the area.
   • Take a second look and spend a few minutes in reflection:
     • Is there anything I have way too much of? (Pare down further.)
     • Is there anything I haven’t used in 5 years? (It can probably go.)
     • Is there anything I am tired of? (Relocate to storage or donate.)

Step 5: Style And Decorate

The hard work is done and now it’s time for the fun part! This is the step that takes your project from pretty good to WOW!

Tips for Styling At The End Of The Decluttering Process

To achieve a perfectly styled space, you have to assess how the area fits into the overall flow of your home – and accessorize accordingly. 

Here are a few tips to help you make styling and decorating your space stress-free:

1. Look for ways to incorporate elements from other spaces of your home to create a cohesive feel.
   • Repeat materials from neighboring spaces (similar rugs, wood tones, fabrics, etc.)
   • Introduce elements of your whole home color palette via textiles, art, or objects
   • Add homey accents in unexpected places (like a lamp on a bathroom counter or a painting in your master closet.
2. Use restraint– too much decor will undo all of your decluttering! Add just a handful of decorative touches and keep surfaces feeling clear and clean.
3. Opt for aesthetic storage solutions that boost style AND add organization. Think pretty baskets, bins, bowls, and boxes.

Here are a Few Stylish Storage Favorites

Need a more specific example?

This Post Breaks Down The Styling Process In A Common Trouble Area:

Styling A Designer Pantry

It will give you a good idea of what styling can look like in a space that we typically view as more functional than fancy.

My best advice is to make every single space in your home fun, functional and a representation of you!

Finally, Enjoy THE End Result

Nowadays, people hop from one task to the next, checking things off the list in quick succession.

If you want to find more joy, satisfaction, and gratitude for the home you are creating, you can’t overlook this crucial step. 

Make sure to take a minute or two at the end of a project to take in all that you have accomplished!

Sometimes I snap a quick photo (just for me) of a completed task. Other times, I’ll grab a coffee and sit down for a quiet moment of appreciation in my newly completed space.

It doesn’t have to take long, but it’s good to practice this powerful pause before moving on with your busy day.

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If you’d like to learn more about how to implement this system in your home, along with space specific styling secrets for the most challenging spaces in your home- you will love my home decorating course- Styling Storied Spaces!

Want to Start Today?

I hope this guide on the decluttering process has been helpful.  If you take anything away from this guide, remember that small steps make a big difference. 

The best way to achieve lasting results when it comes to home organization is to start with one small, manageable action. That way you set yourself up for building better habits (and avoid burnout!).

So, what do you say? Are you ready to give it a go?

Access is open to my free Home Reset Challenge, which includes a mind blowing FREE Trello System loaded with all the details you need to transform your home in 12 weeks.

I hope you’ve found this post helpful. Know that intentionally focusing on improving your habits and investing time toward caring for your space isn’t easy- you are doing hard work! You can do this – and I’m here for you every step of the way.

xoxo,