6 Simple Decluttering Tips That Helped Me Love My Home Again (from someone who absolutely struggles with clutter and what helped me)

I struggle to keep clutter under control. Things pile up so fast: the mail, magazines, catalogs, piles of unfolded laundry, and on and on. Before I know it, I’m walking past stacks, baskets, and the “I’ll get to that later” piles. It overwhelms me and makes me uncomfortable in my own home. I’m not a neat freak, nor am I a slob. I’m in the middle.

Over the past year though, I’ve found a handful of small habits or methods that helped me feel more in control. Not perfect, not Instagram-worthy, but more peaceful and lighter. I do have a family member with the most beautifully organized pantry, and it makes me jealous (not an attractive character trait!).

If you’re in the same boat, here are the six tiny moves that helped the most, plus a few items I purchased that really helped. 

1. I Started Small — like one drawer at a time small!

My biggest mistake used to be taking on too much at once. I’d make a public service announcement to my husband, “I’m organizing my entire closet today!” and then overwhelm myself within 15 minutes (😁).

Now I pick the smallest possible space: a drawer, a nightstand, one shelf.

This Zen Habits article really reminded me that small steps matter.

Tools that helped:

• Fabric storage bins for clothes, which I use for underwear, bras, socks, lightweight T-shirts, and such. I have one bin for items needing my attention — missing a button or needing to be mended. The bins are foldable but have enough structure to hold items neatly without collapsing. They also come in assorted sizes, and Amazon has hundreds of brands to choose from. For me, these worked perfectly, and I've been pleased with the quality 👉 https://a.co/d/05PwcmvN.

• Modular drawer organizers for keeping my bathroom drawers, especially makeup, from turning chaotic. I prefer clear ones and found these on Amazon 👉 https://a.co/d/06JUOLz5.

• A clear plastic makeup organizer for the everyday essentials, easy to clean and keeps everything in reach 👉 https://a.co/d/06mLWXhi.

The Dollar Tree often has very affordable organizer options. The downside is you may have to hit several stores to get what you need. Home Goods and Target are also great options.

Having one little corner organized puts me in a better mood!

2. The “Three-Piles Rule”… plus a few others when I get stuck

The classic three: Keep, Donate, Toss. This is still the easiest place to start.

Even this method would sometimes make me emotional. I had emotional attachments to so many items, so I added a few other shortcuts:

 “Would I buy this today?”

If not, that’s usually my sign to let it go.

“Does this belong in THIS room?”

Half my clutter is stuff that wandered into a room or spot, which for me is my dining room table. The guest bedroom closet is another clutter stash spot for me.

A “use-it-up basket”

Lotions, beauty samples, random candles all go in one basket so I can intentionally use them or donate unused ones.

Tools that help:

• Heavy-duty rolling utility carts have been ideal for sorting and organizing without taking over the whole room. One is by my desk to store charging cords, pens, scissors, and the like. I also purchased one for the water closet in my primary bathroom. It keeps extra rolls of toilet paper and a few cleaning supplies. These carts come in various heights and widths and take up little space 👉 https://a.co/d/05kPSBI.

3. The 10-Minute Declutter Dash

My favorite hack: grab a garbage bag, set a 10-minute timer on my watch, and put 10 items in the garbage bag. Ten minutes isn't enough time for me to overthink or get sentimental. I commit beforehand: I’m doing this 10-minute dash, come hell or high water!

A Good Housekeeping article was my inspiration: 👉 https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/organizing/a70209659/10-10-decluttering-method-actually-works/

4. Everything Needs a Place (especially the things I use daily)

This one was huge for me. Once I realized that clutter often comes from things not having a “home,” it really clicked for me.

Apartment Therapy explains it well: 👉 https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/fast-decluttering-methods-2024-37445240

My favorite helpers:

• My husband who installed white shelves in a small nook. I keep extra work supplies, my puzzles (one of my favorite past times) and I bought white cardboard magazine file holders with labels. I use them not only for magazines but also for work files, printed recipes, household manuals, and purchase receipts. They have helped tremendously with all the paper I accumulate 👉 https://a.co/d/00p3ZcxD.
• Lazy Susan cabinet storage bins for my corner Lazy Susan bathroom cabinets. In our primary bathroom, we have two of these cabinets. Before purchasing the storage bins, everything would fall over as you turned the shelf. With these bins, again all sizes are available, medicines, shampoo bottles, etc., stand up and are easy to grab 👉 https://a.co/d/0exmwHeR.
• Labels Did you know studies show that using labels makes it much more likely you’ll return things to their place? Studies from psychology and home-organization research may not always run “lab experiments,” but they consistently find that the use of labels reduces cognitive effort when finding and returning items. It removes the guesswork, which increases the likelihood items are put back properly, and motivates consistent behavior because they create a mental association between an item and its place.

5. How I Finally Organized My Jewelry (and why it made me a happier person)

This deserves its own section because it was a major clutter pain point for me. I have a lot of jewelry — pieces made by local talented jewelry artisans, beautiful things my creative sister made for me, and personal gifts from my husband and kids. All sentimental. All meaningful. And all of it shoved in boxes, trays, and dare I admit it, even empty coffee cans. It was a mess. Getting ready for date nights, special events, church, or even just a normal Tuesday became frustrating because I could never find what I needed quickly.

So, I finally invested in this over-the-door or wall-mounted jewelry organizer, and I’m not exaggerating when I say it changed my life! 👉 https://www.amazon.com/SONGMICS-47-2-Inch-Lockable-Organizer-UJJC093N01/dp/B01EYEBS4O/

It stores everything: necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets. Everything is visible, accessible, and protected. There’s a mirror on the outside, and it comes with a lock and key. Now I can grab what I need in seconds without getting stressed. No more tangled necklaces, no more searching, and best of all, no more guilt about beautiful pieces I never wear because I can’t find them.

6. I Built Small Daily Habits Instead of Big Weekend Projects

This is what keeps the clutter from creeping back – well, let me back up a bit first. I need to give my husband much-deserved credit. He hates clutter, too, and he is quick to recognize it and put everything away. However, what I see as clutter often differs from what he sees as clutter, but that’s a story for another day (or a therapy session 😆).

For me, the following mini-resets keep me on track:

• 5 minutes after my shower
• A quick tidy-up before bed
• A “carry-it-with-me basket” so things get put away room-by-room

This easy guide helped me set a routine: 👉  https://sloely.com/simple-declutter-guide/

Initially I used a decluttering planner like this one on Etsy, https://www.etsy.com/listing/4298273857/decluttering-planner-pdf-home, but it ended up feeling like a chore. Instead, I went to an Excel spreadsheet and gave up on it quicker than the planner. Now, I use a “reminder and list” app on my iPhone, and I feel like it is my true soulmate 🤣.

How All of This Made Me and My Home Feel Calmer

As someone with a chronic, debilitating illness with decreased mobility, I spend a lot of time in my home. The piles, no matter how small, made me feel frantic and anxious. As I attacked my clutter, something shifted for me:

• My home felt lighter and cleaner.
• The visual noise disappeared.
• I felt more grounded and less overwhelmed.
• Getting dressed became easier.
• My creativity improved.

Science backs that up:

• Why decluttering reduces mental overload:
  👉 https://helpingminds.org.au/decluttering-for-mental-clarity/
• Why a tidy environment makes you feel calmer and happier:
  👉 https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-resilient-brain/202302/the-many-mental-benefits-of-decluttering

When your home feels peaceful, you feel peaceful. Achieving this does not require perfection. Social media leads us to believe otherwise, but don’t let the pictures of perfection creep into your mindset. Adopting small, doable habits is enough. Your home should feel like your calm haven while still being functional for your everyday life. If decluttering has you wondering whether your current space still fits your needs, the Home with Sherry Team is always here to have real conversations about what works best for you and your life.