16 Quick Tips to Begin Decluttering With Less Effort

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You walk into your living room, and it hits you. The clutter. It’s everywhere. You know it’s time to tackle it, but where do you even start?

Decluttering feels like an epic quest you’re not ready for. But here’s the truth: it doesn’t have to be a nightmare. With a few quick hacks, you can start clearing out the mess and reclaiming your space right now.

Cut through the chaos and get straight to it with these 16 fast decluttering hacks that will have your home looking amazing in no time. No more excuses. Just action.

1. Create a Decluttering Plan

All good things start with a plan. This helps you stay organized and motivated. It also provides a clear roadmap, making the overall process of decluttering and organizing less overwhelming.

Outline specific goals, set deadlines, and break tasks into manageable, realistic steps. This approach will keep you focused and accountable and ensure you make steady progress toward a clutter-free home.

2. Start Small

When it comes to decluttering, starting small can make a huge difference. Tackling just one drawer, a single shelf, or a corner of a room helps you build momentum without feeling overwhelmed.

This approach is easy to start because it breaks down the task into manageable pieces anyone can do. And small victories boost your confidence and motivation, paving the way for more significant decluttering efforts. Sometimes you just have to get started.

3. Set a Timer

You don’t have to do it all in one day, week, or month for that matter. You just have to get started. So, set a timer for as little as fifteen minutes to start making progress.

Tidying for just a little time each day sets clear boundaries, preventing the project from feeling endless. The countdown also adds a sense of urgency, helping you stay on track and making it easier to see immediate progress.

4. Use the Four-Box-Method

The Four-Box Method is a game-changer for efficient decluttering. By sorting items into “Keep,” “Donate,” “Trash,” and “Relocate” boxes, you create a clear plan of action for every item you encounter. Start by establishing a donation station where you can put things you encounter that you no longer want or need but someone else could benefit from.

The four-box-method is easy to start because it provides a structured way to make decisions quickly. It ensures you address every item. This simple task reduces the chance of simply shifting clutter around to help you achieve a more organized and tidy space.

5. Put a Basket in Every Room

Put a basket in every room to collect and sort items that don’t belong or need to be sorted later. It helps with evening tidying sessions when you don’t have time to put everything away. Set a date and timer to get everything put away later in the week.

This habit requires minimal setup and immediately helps contain clutter. It creates a convenient spot for quick cleanups, making it easier to keep your home tidy and organized on a daily basis.

6. Let Go of One Thing Every Day

Start with just one thing every day. By removing just one item daily, you gradually reduce clutter without feeling overwhelmed.

This approach requires minimal effort and time, making it a sustainable habit. The cumulative effect of consistently letting go helps you develop a mindset of mindfulness and intentionality, leading to a more organized and clutter-free living space.

7. Tackle the Junk Drawer

Tackling the junk drawer is a quick win in your decluttering journey. This small, often-overlooked space can become a catch-all for random items, but decluttering it is straightforward and satisfying.

It’s easy to start because it’s a small contained area. It creates immediate, visible progress, setting a positive tone for your continued decluttering efforts.

8. Implement the One-In-One-Out Rule

If your house is filled with junk, limiting what’s coming in is best. However, this isn’t always practical. So, start with the one-in-one-out rule to maintain control over your belongings. For every new item you bring into your home, you let go of one existing item.

This method prevents additional clutter and creates a clear, manageable guideline for keeping clutter at bay. It also encourages mindful consumption and helps you maintain a balanced, organized living space over time.

9. Start With the Garage or Storage Unit

Garage and storage units often become dumping grounds for rarely used items, making them prime targets for a declutter session. These spaces are typically separate from your main living areas, reducing the emotional attachment to the items stored there. Because let’s be honest, you probably haven’t seen or thought about them in a long time.

Clearing out the garage or storage unit can free up valuable space, creating a more functional and organized home environment. So, start there just to get started and see where it takes you.

10. Clear off Surfaces

Ok, this one is brutal–immediately clear off all flat surfaces. This simple hack is one of the quickest ways to make your space look instantly tidier. Focus on countertops, tables, and other flat surfaces, removing items that don’t belong.

This task is easy to start because it’s highly visible and provides immediate satisfaction. You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment that gives you momentum to keep going. Your home will feel more spacious and organized immediately once everything is put away.

11. Start Eliminating Duplicates

It’s time to start looking through your belongings and identify items you have in multiples, such as kitchen gadgets, office supplies, or clothing. The decision is straightforward–get rid of duplicates. Beeping only what you need, you rapidly free up space and create a more efficient, organized environment.

12. Start Purging Unused Items

Identify belongings you haven’t used in the past year and consider whether they still serve a purpose in your life. You can start by looking around the items that you use regularly.

Focus on keeping items that add value and letting go of things you aren’t using and probably won’t ever use again. Create more space for what truly matters, making your living environment more functional and enjoyable.

13. Digitize Documents Moving Forward

Digitizing documents moving forward is a smart way to reduce paper clutter. Scan important papers and store them electronically to organize and access your files easily.

This task focuses on new documents as they come in rather than tackling a backlog. Plus, going digital saves space, reduces the risk of losing important information, and simplifies your filing system. Your home office will be more efficient and organized before you know it.

14. Schedule a Garage Sale

Scheduling a garage sale is a fantastic way to declutter while earning some extra cash. Set a date, gather items you no longer need, and prepare to sell them to your community.

This step is simple and quick to start. It provides a clear deadline and purpose for your decluttering efforts. A garage sale will motivate you to let go of items more easily, knowing they will find a new home, be appreciated by others, and. make you some money.

15. Let Go of Guilt

Letting go of guilt is crucial for successful decluttering. Holding onto items out of guilt or obligation can keep you trapped in clutter.

This mindset shift focuses on your emotional well-being rather than the physical task. Releasing guilt allows you to make clearer, more rational decisions about what to keep. You’ll find that you have a more harmonious and clutter-free mindset and living space.

16. Adopt a Minimalist Mindset

Adopting a minimalist mindset can revolutionize the way you approach decluttering. You don’t have to be a minimalist to embrace a minimalist mindset or simple living. Focus on keeping only what truly adds value and joy to your life, and let go of the rest.

This shift in thinking is life-changing because it involves a change in perspective rather than immediate physical action. It reduces the temptation to accumulate unnecessary items, leading to a simpler, more intentional, and clutter-free lifestyle.

Featured Image Credit: Fizkes and Shutterstock.