So, you’ve landed on this article because you are decluttering your home… and you need help. Welcome! You’ve come to the right place.
As a Mom of two littles, both under ten, who also works a full-time job and has multiple side gigs – I understand firsthand how hard it can be to keep your home tidy and organized. For years, no matter how many hours I spent each morning cleaning, it always felt like I never made a dent. With four of us at home, clutter builds up in the blink of an eye, and often, parts of my house that got overlooked. If I’m being completely honest, there were days when the clutter and disorganization was sometimes overwhelming.
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Experts like Aaron Traub say an organized home reduces stress. This is something I can attest to with certainty. As a neurodivergent mom, I tend to struggle with executive dysfunction and anxiety, which for me, means that the more out of control the mess gets, the more anxious I become and the harder it becomes for me to tackle.
So, needless to say, when someone taught me the art of decluttering your home, I was skeptical about the size of the impact that it could have on my home, and my mental health.
Below is a carefully constructed manifesto of how-to’s and tips for decluttering your home. If you are anything like me, the idea of taking on your entire home can seem daunting — But I promise, we are going to break it down into chunks and before long you will be teaching your friends about the miracle that is decluttering.
What this Home Decluttering Guide Will Help You Accomplish
By utilizing our ultimate 2025 home decluttering guide, you will learn to:
- Create a personalized approach to decluttering that works for you, your home, and your family.
- How to set aside time to accomplish and maintain a decluttered home.
- How to focus on one area at a time to prevent overwhelm.
- How to successfully utilize the ‘one-in-one-out’ rule.
- How to use regular, ‘micro-decluttering’ to help you prevent future clutter.
The Benefits of Decluttering Your Home
A cluttered chaotic home can often add to your stress levels but it also can affect your mental health. Decluttering can help you start fresh and feel better. It’s about simplifying your surroundings and creating a peaceful environment that you can thrive in.
To start your decluttering journey, you will need to set achievable goals. This should not be a stressful process. Always begin with small areas and work your way up. Most importantly, don’t forget to take care of yourself and rest when needed. By decluttering regularly, you can make your home peaceful and organized.
Getting Started: Your Mom-Friendly Strategy for Decluttering Your Home
To start your decluttering journey, creating a strategy and setting clear, attainable goals is key. Take before pictures of each room for reference as you create your plan.
Things to Consider BEFORE Decluttering Any Room:
Think about the home decor style you want. How can you add organization ideas to make your space both functional and beautiful?
Begin with one area, like the bathroom or entryway. These spots are less overwhelming. They help you get started and keep going.
Keep your goals realistic. Break it down into smaller tasks. This helps you avoid feeling too overwhelmed.
When sorting items, use these categories:
- Keep: items that belong where they were found or are useful but not in their current location
- Donate or sell: items that are no longer used, needed, or wanted
- Storage: items that are out of season or used occasionally
- Trash: items that are of no further use
Remember, as you embark on this journey that decluttering your home is a process. It’s not going to get done all in one day. You will have moments where you feel anxious or even unmotivated but remember to celebrate each milestone and accomplishment along the way. Every room you complete, and every item you donate is a victory.
The Kitchen Command Center: Decluttering Your Busiest Space
A well-organized kitchen is the heart of a happy home. In my personal experience, because my kitchen is the first space that people coming in my door can see, I often feel overwhelmed when my kitchen is dirty. I have a rather open floor plan, so when my kitchen feels cluttered and dirty, the rest of my home feels that way as well.
As you begin decluttering the kitchen, try tackling the clutter that can quickly build up in this busy area.
The countertop is a key area to focus on. Remove items that don’t belong and sort and purge paper piles. This will help you create a clean and clutter-free surface. Consider using catch-all baskets and containers to keep daily items organized and out of sight.
Some tips for decluttering your kitchen include:
- Remove items that don’t belong on the countertop – clear surfaces make a huge difference!
- Sort and purge paper piles – for papers that need keeping, Get yourself a cheap accordion folder to organize receipts, bills, and paperwork. Then assign that folder a specific home that is accessible and easily accessed. This way you can file these items as you receive them. This will help remove the temptation of laying these things on a table and forgetting about them.
- Put away small appliances not frequently used. Most of us have several appliances we won’t part with that often find homes on the counters – if it’s not an item you use more than once a week, it is an item that should be stored in a cabinet, rather than the countertop.
A huge part of decluttering every room is removing items that have migrated there that do not belong. Gather these types of items in a basket and set them outside the room. These can later be returned to their intended locations.
Other items and categories that will need attention in the kitchen include:
The Pantry – sort and remove old and expired food items. Also, get rid of or donate items that you don’t think you will ever actually consume.
Spices – While these often get overlooked during decluttering, spices do expire. Chances are half your collection have collected moisture and are now rocks. Chunk them. Basic spices are (for the most part) cheap and replaceable.
Silverware – yeah I know. But do it. Take inventory of what you have. Keep enough for your family to have one of each utensil at a meal, and to have several extra place settings in case you have guests over. Toss any bent chipped or rusted utensils and ones with handles coming out of the tang.
Cook Books – I know there are some bibliophiles screaming blasphemy at me right now, but seriously – copy down the recipes you love, and if you don’t need the book, don’t keep it. I promise you won’t miss them. I recommend ordering a personalized recipe book for you to write down all the recipes you love, the tried and true ones you don’t want to lose. You can always add to it, and one day you can pass it down.
Try to remember, the kitchen is a space that you spend a lot of time in. It’s a creative space. It NEEDS to be functional. Kicking the chaos out of the kitchen leaves space for you to create and enjoy the moments created there.
Living Room Revival: Creating a Peaceful Family Space
In my house the living room is the hub of the family. Everyone’s stuff ends up here. We spend the most time in this room there days that even after cleaning it I look around and still feel like I haven’t made a dent. Making an effort to declutter this room can make a huge difference in your stress levels, and create a welcoming space for your family to enjoy spending time together.
Like before, start by using a basket or a tote to collect all of the items in the room that do not belong. Gather them up. Pro Tip: If you need to use a basket for each member of the family and one for miscellaneous items, do it. This will make it easier to remove those items and quickly send them back to the rooms they belong to without much disruption to your process.
Next move on to the items that regularly live in this space. What in this space serves a purpose, and what doesnt? Of those things that have no purpose, like knickknacks and home decor, which of these things bring you joy to see and which are simply just taking up space? Evaluating items and asking yourself these questions will quickly help you decide what needs to go.
Use this opportunity to reaccess the cohesiveness of your home decor. Were you going for farm chic? Awesome, then that modern table sculpture probably needs a new home. Were you going for modern minimalist? Then the pink polkadot pillows probably aren’t a great fit. Keep what solidifies your theme, and donate the rest.
Here are some other important types of items to sort and declutter in the living room.
Books – most people have a bookshelf or two in their living room. When was the last time you went through those books? Are you keeping them for the aesthetic appeal, or are they books you *actually* intend to read. Maybe they are old faves you cant part with. Go through your hoard and get rid of the titles that just don’t excite you. Books are one of the easiest things to donate, so don’t feel bad about them going to a new home. Weed your collection down to the essentials, and you will maximize space, minimalize dust and have a collection that is uniquely you.
Artwork – While we all love a good art print on the wall, too many pieces of hanging art can really close off the room. Keeping your decor theme in mind, get rid of any that don’t enrich the tone you are looking to set. One or two pieces in a room can really open up wall space and make the room feel bigger and less closed in.
Throw pillows and blankets – If your family is like mine you have a million throw blankets in every square inch of your home. These make great donation items. Try keeping one comfy blanket for each member of the family to snuggle with on movie night. Toss the ones that have seen better days and donate the rest. If you have a few extra you cant part with, store them away in a vacuum sealed bag or a tote. And to keep your now minimalized collection from taking over the living room in ill-folded lumps, try working a ladder style banket rack into your decor. It adds to the space visually while also having a function. They are amazing.
Remotes, cables, and cords – If you still have remotes hanging around from 1992, get rid of them. Also sort through the mass of cords around your entertainment center and make sure they are all actually attached to something. Purchase some cheap cord binders or wraps to bundle them neatly and make them less of an eyesore. You’ll be amazed at the difference this makes.
Movies and DVDs – Yes I know everyone has their favorites. But with most movies and music accessible online at the touch of a button – keeping an immense DVD collection no longer makes sense. Keep a few family faves and some essentials for the kiddos in case of cable and internet outages, but feel free to donate the rest. When was the last time you actually watched that Sex in the City season 9 box set??
The living room is a space that you should be able to ‘live in’. You and your family should not have to compete with daily clutter in order to sit down together. Creating an open, peaceful space will put your mind at ease, and allow you to be present in the moment.
Your Complete Decluttering Guide for Kids’ Rooms
Creating a kid-friendly organization system is key to a clutter-free room. It helps your kids develop good habits and responsibility. Organizing toys is crucial. Categorize items into KEEP, DONATE, DISCARD, and SAVE. This helps decide what to keep and what to give away. It makes playtime more enjoyable and manageable. Kids tend to have the hardest time with this process because they often have feelings attached to many of their toys, whether they play with them or not. So, bear in mind they will need to be part of this process and you will need to hold their hand through it. Especially the younger ones.
Toy Organization Systems
Toy organization can be simple or complex. Use bins and baskets or a toy rotation schedule. The goal is to encourage your child to put away toys after play. Toy rotation, similar to how one would rotate their wardrobe through the seasons of the year, allows you to split the ‘keep’ pile into two or three smaller piles and pack them away. When a child starts to get bored with the items they have been playing with, switch them out for one of the other sets. It keep toys fresh and prevents them from being discarded and forgotten about. It also keeps the room from being over-cluttered.
Other things to work on in your child’s room:
Books – similar to those in your living room, children’s books can accumulate. If you have a few favorites from when they were a baby, of course, keep them or pack them away in a memory box. Otherwise, sort through the ones they have, keep the age-appropriate ones, and sort out the ones that are no longer of interest to them and send them to the donate pile.
Clothing – this is one that always seems to give people trouble. Really, it comes down to detaching yourself from the emotions that often get attached to clothing. You know what your kiddo wears. You know what they don’t wear, what they hate wearing and what they will never wear again. Sort out clothing that is old and damaged to toss. Then move on to pulling out items that are now to small. From there, Move to items that are out of season that will be too small for them next year. All of these can be donated. If you have a few sentimental baby items that you cannot bear to part with, stick them in the memory box. What you should be left with is a function wardrobe personalized to your child’s needs and in their current sizing.
Clothing is one of the main culprits of clutter in the home. Items we no longer wear can pile up fast, taking up valuable space and creating physical and mental chaos.
Decluttering Kids Rooms Cont.
Toys and Games: Another big culprit of clutter in a child’s room is small toys and games with lots of parts. This is wear a good sturdy set of home organization bins are going to come in handy. In children’s rooms especially, I recommend clear storage bins that can be stored on existing shelves. If shelves are not available, clear storage containers that can easily stack on top of one another are best.
I know that moms often have a color scheme in mind for their young children’s rooms so you may be tempted to pick up colored open top bins. I promise this is a mistake. Having clear bins allows you and your kiddo a clear view of what’s inside, which make clean up much easier. It also makes it easier for you and your kiddos to find the toys they are looking for without having to take down or potentially dump out three or four totes looking for their building blocks. Clear stackable bins also typically have snapping side handles to keep the tops locked in place, which makes it easier for children to pull down what they need without toppling the contents over on themselves.
Stuffed Animals – Like books, young children typically have a massive stuffed animal collection they have accumulated over the years. While it may be tricky, sit down with your child and help them to determine which ones they want to keep and which they can comfortably part with. This can become frustrating for the kiddo who likely has emotional attachments to these things. So be patient and remember not to force them to get rid of stuffies they love.
Kids rooms can be one of the more difficult rooms to get through because while you have a mission to complete – you have to keep your child and their feelings in mind, especially if they are older kiddos 5+ because they are going to have feelings and opinions about their space. Remember to keep them involved as much as possible to make the changes and transition as easy and beneficial to them as possible.
Craft Items and School Supplies:
Most kiddos have a huge stash of coloring sets, art supplies and craft projects tucked away in their room. These can easily accumulate and become a clutter trap. Start with tossing used papers (that aren’t their masterpieces, of course). Remove any trash or plastic garbage hanging around, bits of string, scraps, etc. and toss them.
From there, separate the items by category, crayons, pens, markers, paper, scissors, project kits, etc. Organize these items with small clear tabletop bins or open-top round desk organizers – if you plan to keep them on a table or in a designated craft area for easy accessibility. If space is limited, a dedicated clear storage container can stash all art supplies and be taken out for use as needed.
Tackling Your Home-Office
As a mom, having a personal space that works for you is key. Whether you work from home and need a dedicated workspace, or just a quiet place to pay bills and surf the net with a cup of coffee the home office should be a space that fuels you to be productive. It needs to be comfortable and functional and not fill you with dread every time you open the door. Through decluttering your home, you can turn your office space into a happy haven by using our easy tips to reinvent your space.
Here are some tips for organizing your Mom Cave:
- Open, clean surfaces make a huge difference. Work through clutter on your desktop and tables. Avoid letting these places be catchalls for paperwork and odds and ends.
- Avoid using books as decor. Sort through and keep your favorites and any that you need for specific purposes – donate the rest. Your shelf space is too valuable to hang on to books you will never touch.
- Line open shelves with an attractive set of clear storage bins to create homes for things like desk supplies, shipping materials, Notebooks, etc. This helps keep these utility items off your desk until you need them.
- Make it a habit to put things back in their place to keep your space organized
In the process of decluttering your home, an in-home office space should be one of the easiest spaces to successfully declutter and maintain because it is a room that’s primary purpose is to be functional. This is the room that should have the least random, excess items in it – which should make it simpler to focus on finding homes for the necessary items in the room.
Bathroom Basics: Simplifying Your Self-Care Space
The bathroom is often one of the most chaotic spaces in the house, especially if you have a large family. Items belonging to all family members tend to congregate here on the counters, causing an eclectic build-up of clutter. Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to remove all the items in the bathroom, because most of them serve a purpose. So, in this room – best strategy is to declutter what you can and then organize the rest.
Start by getting a basket/ storage container for each member of your family, and sort the items on the counter into those personal baskets. As you go – discard any trash, nearly empty products and any utility items that have seen better days. If you have a label maker, adorn each basket with the corresponding family member’s name and assign a shelf for these baskets to live on. Then as people come in to get ready or shower, they can grab their basket and use what they need out of it. This helps to keep the counter spaces clear and clean.
Other things to focus on in the bathroom:
Makeup and beauty products: most women have an excess of these. They definitely need to be gone through. The first pass should be removing empties and items that you don’t or wont use again for discarding. Then sort them once again separating the items you use everyday from the items you use occasionally. Everyday items get a caboodle that is easily stored on the shelf with the baskets or under the sink.
As for the occasional use items – give these a second pass through and consider if there are any you could live without, things you have similar products with similar functions for, etc. These can be discarded. What your left with should be a small collection of items that can be stored in a small clear container in a bathroom cabinet or hallway closet that can be accessed as needed. The important thing is to remove them from the shared space in the bathroom.
Managing beauty product management is key when decluttering your home. With many products, clutter can build up. Sort your beauty items into what you use often, sometimes, and what you don’t need anymore.
Here are some tips to help you get started:
- Get rid of expired or unused products to reduce clutter and save resources.
- Use decorative baskets or containers to store small items, keeping them organized and hidden.
- Go for a minimalist look in your bathroom, avoiding items that are hard to clean or keep up in a humid place.
Closet Clean-Out: Wardrobe Solutions for Busy Moms
Decluttering your home also includes keeping a clutter-free closet. With around 200 items of clothing, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But, a few organizational strategies for busy moms can help keep your closet functional and beautiful.
Begin with a closet organization system. Use open storage boxes for special items or seasonal clothes. Remove labels to cut down on clutter. Open woven baskets are great for storing less often used items like bags and extra hangers.
Try the KonMari method for a wardrobe solution. It means tidying by category, not room. Discard items that don’t bring joy. Start with clothes, then books, papers, miscellaneous, and sentimental items. This method makes your closet peaceful and inviting.
Here are more closet organization tips:
- take all clothing out of the closet, this way, only items you plan to keep go back in.
- sort clothing into categories, tops, bottoms, dresses, accessories etc.
- sort each of those categories individually, removing items that no longer fit, that you will never wear again or that are overworn and falling apart.
- sort each category a second time by choosing only the items you wear regularly or that you wear on special occasions.
- Get rid of any items that you haven’t worn in the last year.
- Put items in the closet that can be worn year round or are currently in season. Out of season garments can be packed away in a tote or a vacuum-sealed space bag for compact storage.
- Organize accessories like bags, scarves, and hats into separate decorative bin for easy storage and retrieval.
Decluttering your home will give you a functional closet wardrobe that will consist only of items you wear, and that are in season. You’ll have a clutter-free closet space that makes life easier and more enjoyable. 
| Closet Organization Tips | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Use plain and simple open storage boxes | Reduces visual clutter and makes it easy to access special items or seasonal clothing |
| Implement the KonMari method | Helps to discard items that do not spark joy and creates a peaceful and inviting closet space |
| Utilize open woven baskets | Maximizes space and maintains organization |
Digital Decluttering: Managing Family Photos and Documents
While its not likely the first category you think of when you are working on decluttering your home for the new year, Digital decluttering can be immensely helpful, especially to our mental help. Decluttering our digital media across our devices helps us free up space, reduce stress, and boost productivity. Managing family photos and documents is a big part of this.
If you are anything like me, your phone and your computer downloads, photos are full of misshot photos and screenshots of things you thought you’d need to remember. Sorting through these can be a bit time-consuming – and it’s not likely to happen all at once. So, try taking 10-20 minutes a day in your free time to delete things you don’t need and sort into well-labeled folders that make things easy to find.
Effective Document Management
Managing documents is also a vital part of digital decluttering. Having a system for important papers like receipts and contracts keeps you organized. Cloud services like OneDrive offer a safe and easy way to store these documents.
Streamlining Digital Storage
Streamlining your digital storage is essential. Tools like 1Password help protect your sensitive information and help you not lose important passwords and website logins. By managing your digital space, you can enjoy a more organized and peaceful online life.
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Lightroom | Photo management and organization |
| OneDrive | Cloud-based document storage and management |
| 1Password | Secure password management |
Conclusion: Maintaining Your Clutter-Free Home Year-Round
Congratulations on finishing the ultimate decluttering guide for moms! Keeping a clutter-free home all year needs commitment and effort – but it doesnt have to be something that consumes all your free time. Establishing a regular strategy that includes putting things back in their assigned homes will help you immensely. Good organization habits and maintenance tips will ensure you are able to maintain the work you’ve done to create a functional, less chaotic home.
We definitely recommend making decluttering a part of your daily life. Use the “one-in, one-out” rule to stop clutter from building up. Regularly check your stuff and get rid of what you don’t need anymore. Also, involve your kids to teach them how to organize.
Plan to declutter your home seasonally to keep up with its changing needs. In the fall, clean up your workspaces to boost productivity. In winter, sort out holiday decorations for a calm home. And in summer, organize your garage or shed and maybe have a yard sale.
Remember, keeping a clutter-free home is a long-term effort, not just a one-time job. Stay consistent and positive, and you’ll enjoy a tidy, stress-free home for many years.
While we do include a number of recommended product links in this post, if you’d like to see our entire list of home organization product recommendations, check out our Home Organizations idea list on Amazon. You can find that HERE.
