Clutter-Free Tips for Your Home and Life

Does it sometimes feel like no matter how much you clean up, your home still isn’t as organized as you’d like? You’re definitely not the only one. Dealing with clutter can be overwhelming, frustrating, and a job that doesn’t seem to end. The good news is, with a few clutter-free tips for your home, you can get unstuck and back on track again.

How to declutter excess stuff and organize what’s staying, so you can keep the mess gone for good.

When my kids were little, I slipped into the habit of keeping just about everything. If it might come in handy or had a memory attached, it stayed. Maybe it was because our budget was tight and I didn’t want to waste anything. Maybe it was just how I was raised. Either way, those habits slowly filled our home with stuff we didn’t really need—and to be honest, it took a long time and a big shift in my thinking to get out from under all that clutter.

The thing is, habits really shape how our homes feel.

Some help us keep things neat and easy, while others make life a lot messier. The key is noticing which routines are making life harder and which ones are helping. When you spot a habit that’s adding to your clutter, try swapping it out for a small routine that moves you closer to the calm and organized space you want.

Little changes in our daily habits really can make a big difference!

Downsizing with Purpose

Let’s start decluttering by clearing out the extra stuff. It’s so easy to hold onto things just because we have the space. And when they’re tucked away behind a closed door, they’re even easier to forget about.

Take my coffee mug collection, for example. I used to have an entire cabinet packed with mugs—at least two or three dozen, plus even more stored away for the holidays. But with just my husband and me at home now, we only ever use a handful.

That’s when I shifted my focus from simply decluttering to actually downsizing—a mindset shift that made all the difference.

woman reaching into a cabinet decluttering coffee mugs with a donation box

I let go of the “just in case” mentality and kept only the 4-8 mugs we actually use. Now, that cabinet looks neat, stays organized, and our kitchen feels so much lighter. Plus, finding what I need is a breeze.

Action Step: Choose one spot—like your mug cabinet, a bookshelf, or your coat closet—and take a look at what you actually use. Let go of the extras and make space for the things you reach for regularly. Starting small like this can make decluttering feel easier and more doable.

Clutter-Free Tips for your home

Clutter has a sneaky way of settling into our homes, doesn’t it? Whether it’s your kitchen counter, an overstuffed closet, or those “just in case” items you’ve tucked away, it can make your home feel more chaotic than it needs to. But don’t worry—creating a simpler, cleaner, more organized space doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

With a few practical changes and some good habits, you can enjoy a home that feels open, calm, and ready for whatever stage of life you’re in.

1. Start by Removing the Excess

It’s important to free up space by removing things you don’t need anymore. A great way to begin is by picking one small area, like a single drawer or a cabinet. Tackling small spaces makes the process feel manageable, and every little win adds up.

Let’s look at a few examples:

Keep What You Need

Many times we keep things because we think we will need them someday. Take dishes for example. You may have a mismatched set of everyday, a set for each holiday, a formal set, your grandmother’s set, a plastic set for picnics.

Keep: One full set of dishes for everyday meals, a good set for holidays and company, and display a few pieces of your grandmother’s set if you love them and her.
Remove: The excess or incomplete sets and toss anything that is chipped, cracked or stained.

special dishes displayed on a tray in a room

Keep What You Use

If you use you, go ahead and keep it. This includes things you may only use a few times a year. A good example of this is a slow cooker, or crock pot. I have 2 of these because in the colder months I use them several times a week. Even with just my husband and myself, having two is important and efficient.

Keep: Your crock pot even if you only use it seasonally.
Remove: The instant pot you purchased 2 years ago but only used once.

Keep What Fits Your Space

Just because you have a lot of cabinets doesn’t mean you need to fill them all up. Take water bottles for example, many homes have so many more than is needed. Keep what is reasonable and free up space.

Keep: One drinking bottle for each family member.
Donate: Any extra bottles that have mysteriously multipied over the years.

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Keep Tools You Use Daily

Office supplies are one of those things that grow when we are not looking. Pens, paper, notepads seem to show up out of nowhere yet, when you need them they are impossible to find! Streamline your supply and give it a specific home so you always know where to find them.

Keep: Enough office supplies to pay bills, do homework, or write letters.
Location: Keep things where you use them. In the kitchen, office, your car, and next to your bed.
Donate: The hundreds of pens, pencils, and markers that you have collected over the years.

A pile of pens, pencils, and markers on a desk

By clearing out the excess, you’ll create the breathing room you need to organize and enjoy the items that truly matter to you. And remember—letting go of things that no longer serve you makes space for ease in your day-to-day life.

2. Organize What Stays

Once you’ve pared things down, it’s time to give everything a proper home. The goal is to make it as easy as possible to put things away so you don’t fall back into old habits. Simple solutions go a long way, so choose organizing methods that make sense for you and your lifestyle.

Here are a few easy ideas to get started:

A magnet rack for spices keeps seasonings accessible without eating up cabinet space.
Shallow baskets for mail and papers help you avoid piles on countertops.
A carousel or caddy for pens and office supplies keeps your desk neat and functional.
Large baskets for kids’ or pet toys corral clutter quickly.

A wooded carousel organizer with pens, pencils and markers inside with 2 spiral notebooks in the lower corner

When little things have a designated space, your home stays tidier, and you’re less likely to feel overwhelmed by clutter creeping back in.

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3. Finding Homes for Sentimental Items

It’s not always easy to part with sentimental stuff, but it doesn’t have to overtake your space. Here are some smart storage ideas for things with emotional value:

Magazines

If you adore magazines but struggle with stacks piling up, try a hanging rack. It keeps everything neat while still letting you enjoy flipping through your favorites.

Clothes

Consider storing off-season clothes or infrequently worn items in bins or vacuum-sealed bags. This keeps your closet functional and stress-free.

Books

Love your books but out of shelf space? A storage ottoman can hold your favorites while doubling as functional furniture.

Giving these kinds of items a purposeful space ensures you can enjoy them without letting them take over your home.

5. Set Up a Routine

Decluttering isn’t a “one and done” activity—it’s about building small habits into your daily and weekly rhythm. Pairing decluttering with cleaning works wonders, as it keeps those spaces tidy without adding too much extra effort to your day.

A simple schedule could look something like this:

Monday: Clean up the bedrooms.
Tuesday: Focus on the bathrooms.
Wednesday: Organize the kitchen.
Thursday: Declutter the family room.
Friday: Tidy up the mudroom or entryway.
Saturday: Handle errands or outdoor tasks.
Sunday: Do laundry and plan for the week ahead.

Spending just 30 minutes a day on these tasks can make a big difference over time. One small step at a time really does add up.

More Cleaning Resources:

6. Focus on What You Love and Use Often

Here’s the truth—your home should feel like a sanctuary filled only with things you love and use regularly. If you want to make sure everything you keep earns its place, try this simple approach:

Walk into each room and take a hard look. Are surfaces crowded? Are there piles collecting in corners?
For anything you’re unsure about, try the “maybe” box. Place questionable items in a bin and set them aside for a month or two. Did you reach for them at all? If not, it might be time to move on.

This method helps you “test drive” decluttering without committing right away, so letting go feels less intimidating.

A basket of dog toys on a hardwood floor

7. Commit to “All the Way Away”

A lot of clutter happens because things are left “almost” put away—like dirty dishes stacked on the counter instead of loaded into the dishwasher, or magazines piled on the sofa instead of tucked into a rack. The solution? Take the extra 10-20 seconds to put items all the way away, not just close to where they belong.

This simple shift makes a huge difference and keeps clutter from piling up.

8. Simplify with Containers

One of the easiest ways to keep your home looking neat is by using containers. They make tidying up quick and painless, which means you’re more likely to stay on top of it. Here are some ideas to try:

A basket in the family room for throw pillows and blankets gives the room an instant pick-me-up.
Clear bins in the fridge help you see everything at a glance and prevent food from getting lost.
A Stair basket can hold items that need to go up or down, keeping hallways clear of clutter.
Hamper in every bedroom = no more clothes piles on the floor!

The key here is to make your organizing solutions work for the way you actually live. The easier it is to stay tidy, the more you’ll naturally stick to routines.

9. Work 10 Minutes at a Time

Don’t have hours to organize? No problem! Just set a timer for 10 minutes and pick one tiny area to tackle—like clearing off the kitchen counters, sorting that shoe pile in the mudroom, or tidying up your nightstand. It’s amazing what you can get done in such a short burst—maybe you’ll empty a drawer, put away stray mail, or finally toss those old magazines.

Those quick 10-minute wins really add up over the week and give you the boost you need to keep going. By making it a habit, you’ll start seeing progress without feeling overwhelmed.

Decluttering doesn’t have to be complicated. By making small, intentional changes—like letting go of the excess, finding homes for sentimental items, and creating daily habits—you’ll not only declutter your house but also lighten your mental load. A clutter-free home may just be the thing that turns your space into a place you truly love to wake up to.

If you have an area in your home that tends to get messy, try putting a basket there to put random items inside. This one tip will neaten up any area in your home. Don’t forget to empty your basket out every day or so to ensure nothing get’s lost inside.9.

Keeping your home free of clutter can be a bit tricky but I hope you learned some easy Clutter-Free tips for your home that you can start using today.

Clutter-Free tips for your home