Whether you’re planning a move or looking to streamline your space, figuring out how to declutter your home can feel intimidating. From piles of clothes in the closet to toys scattered around the living room, where should you start? As a home editor, I’m well versed in all things home and design, but decided to tap professional organizers to get into the nitty-gritty. Below, organizing expert Rachel Rosenthal and Laura Kinsella, founder of Urban OrgaNYze, share their advice for decluttering and helpful tips for every room — from kitchen storage to closet organization.
First things first, give yourself patience and grace. Organizing your home can feel be a personal and vulnerable process, but the final result is worth the hard work! “Recognizing the areas that burden you is a crucial step toward crafting a plan for decluttering and achieving organization,” says Rosenthal, who adds that addressing physical clutter can help alleviate a sensation of heaviness or anxiety in your home environment.
Tips for Decluttering:
✔️ Anticipate the negative. “When you feel like you are the only one out there dealing with this type of clutter, it’s common to be embarrassed,” says Rosenthal. Remember that decluttering is a progress; your room or house will always look worse before it gets better.
✔️ Rely on a buddy. It’s easier to accomplish your goal if you have someone to hold you accountable. Whether it be a spouse, partner, family member, friend or professional organizer, have a support system with you.
✔️ Start small: To avoid overwhelm and decision fatigue, start with a small, achievable task that takes no more than 20 minutes — like organizing a small junk drawer or a utensil drawer. “Decluttering is contagious, so as you build momentum, it will make it easier to tackle larger projects throughout your home,” says Kinsella.
✔️ Schedule time for it. Like you would for a dentist or doctor, schedule your organizing time! If you don’t make an appointment with yourself, you are bound to put something else in its place.
✔️ Take it one room at a time. Choose one room to focus on at a time and touch every item in that room to determine how it should be categorized. If it’s not something you love or use on a regular basis, let it go.
✔️ Reward your hard work. “Whether it’s indulging in a bottle of wine, treating yourself to a new piece of clothing after purging a substantial portion of your wardrobe, or taking a refreshing walk outdoors, incentives can provide the motivation you need to make progress,” says Rosenthal.
How to Declutter Room by Room:
The Kitchen
The “heart of the home” is where we spend most of our time, from entertaining guests to cooking and enjoying our favorite meals. Not only does kitchen clutter look unsightly, but it makes it challenging to find what you need as you cook, clean or host. If you’re not sure what may be lurking in the back of kitchen cabinets, drawers or the pantry, here’s how to start:
✔️ Take everything out of cabinets and drawers. “Empty cabinets completely when decluttering food items and kitchenware, like pots and pans,” says Rosenthal. As you sort through your belongings, check expiration dates and identify duplicates or items seldom used in meal preparation. Before returning everything back in cabinets, it’s a great idea to invest in a spice rack or organizer!
✔️ Clean out the fridge. Start by taking everything out, then wipe down all shelves and racks. Throw away any old foods, ingredients and condiments that have been open longer than three months (some have a shorter or longer shelf life).
✔️ Be mindful of what you don’t use. Take stock of what you have, asking yourself if you’ve used it lately or whether it fits your current lifestyle. Purge any mismatched lids, stained or broken containers and chipped dishes.
✔️ Place everything in categories. Whether in piles on the counter or baskets on the floor, group like items — think baking supplies, boxed foods, glassware, etc. Find every category a designated home, considering accessibility and how often you use the item. Give everything a quick wipe down before placing items back in the fridge, pantry or kitchen cabinets.
The Bathroom
An organized bathroom makes your hair routine and nightly skincare regime a breeze. Not to mention, your cluttered bathroom is likely full of expired skincare and medications. Follow this advice to put everything in its place:
✔️ Clear out drawers and storage space under the sink. Just as you did in the kitchen, touch every item to determine what stays and what goes. Go through the medicine cabinet as well, disposing of any expired medications.
✔️ Check for expired cosmetics and skincare products. Some products have expirations as early as three months from opening, especially eye products that can harbor bacteria over time. You can also toss bulky packaging to make more space as you restock.
✔️ Group items into categories, such as skincare, haircare and medications. As you put items back, keep daily essentials at eye level and put rarely used items on higher shelves or closer to the back of shelves. We also suggest organization systems, like decorative trays, apothecary jars and over-the-toilet organizers for added storage.
✔️ Don’t forget about the shower. Check for empty bottles, hair products you no longer love or use and any items that have expired.
The Bedroom + Closets
A great night’s sleep might depend on your primary bedroom being clutter-free! From cleaning out dressers and night stands to organizing the closet, take it step by step:
✔️ Clear out the night stand: Whether in drawers or on top, the nightstand can accumulate random clutter out of convenience, like miscellaneous chargers, books you’ve already read and old letters or paperwork. Remove anything that doesn’t belong, giving it a permanent home elsewhere or tossing it.
✔️ Categorize dresser drawers: Sort through clothing and accessories in dresser drawers, pulling everything out. Purge any items you don’t use or love, categorize and put everything away, refolding clothing so it’s uniform or bringing in drawer organizers for accessories.
✔️ Purge clothing: Pulling items out of your closet allows you to assess them in a new way. “If you haven’t grabbed for something, be honest with yourself and consider why — is it less than flattering, doesn’t reflect your personal style or uncomfortable?” asks Kinsella. “Relocate aspirational clothing and prioritize your everyday wardrobe.” Moving forward, practice a one-in-one-out rule.
✔️ Streamline hangers and storage containers. Swap in matching hangers (personally, I prefer velvet hangers. If you tend to think items that are out of sight are out of mind, opt for clear vessels for shoes or accessories, especially for items stored up high. Always position your favorites and in season items at eye level or arms reach.
RELATED: DIY Walk-In Closet Ideas to Maximize Your Space
The Living Room
The living room can accumulate clutter quickly, from children’s toys and books to chargers, remote controls and other miscellaneous wires. Once you tackle the main zones, try decluttering the living room for a few minutes every day — putting daily items back in place.
✔️ Give everyday items a home. Rather than leaving your current read on the sofa or children’s toys all over the floor, designate a spot for everything. Bring in ottomans with hidden storage, entertainment centers with plenty of cabinets, etc.
✔️ Tuck visible clutter into bins. Think dog toys, blankets, books or even spare chargers tucked inside decorative bins, whether on shelves or sitting on the floor. What was once clutter turns into decor.
✔️ Go through books, board games and toys. If you’ve got puzzles or games with missing pieces, or you just never actually use them, toss or donate them. Also sort through children’s toys, random wires and your bookshelf, looking out for old books you’ll never read again or decor you don’t love.
Kids’ Spaces
Not only do children grow fast, but their tastes evolve quickly. Declutter their bedrooms, closets and playroom regularly — whether you donate items they’ve outgrown, or box it up for storage.
✔️ Donate toys children have outgrown. “Regularly assess what your kids are actively playing with, plus be on the lookout for items that are broken or have missing pieces,” says Kinsella, who adds if you’re overwhelmed by the quantity, chances are your kids are, too!
✔️ “Use bins labeled “too small” or “too big” for clothing and shoes” keeps everything organized and makes it easier when they suddenly shoot up a size,” says Kinsella. Try keeping a donation bag handy to make decluttering a natural part of your routine.
✔️ Sort through art supplies, tossing dried out markers, broken crayons, ripped coloring books or any incomplete sets.
Laundry Rooms
Laundry rooms can quickly turn into the catch-all space for more than just laundry, becoming cluttered with items from around the house. But an organized space will make the dreaded chore much easier!
✔️ Relocate anything that doesn’t aid with the laundry process.
✔️ Corral cleaning supplies in bins and baskets. Toss rags that are no longer plush and any supplies you don’t use. “Once you’ve identified what’s in your regular rotation, group similar items together, such as detergents or stain removers, and use bins or baskets to keep these supplies organized and easily accessible,” says Kinsella. “Don’t hesitate to make the most of your vertical space by adding simple shelving.”
✔️ Invest in more than one laundry basket. Make laundry day a breeze by having separate bins for whites, darks and hand wash items. You can also create a “to do” bin that Kinsella suggests using for items that need to be dry cleaned, mended or stain treated, so you can circle back when you’ve got time.
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
