How to declutter your home without completely losing your bearings

I have always been an advocate of clearing up, at least on a conceptual level. In an ideal world, I would have only one clothes rail and a nearly empty apartment (my dream home is ascetic and brutalist, something Lydia Tár from Tara probably owned). In reality, I live in a relatively small flat in south-east London with a wardrobe that could collapse (from all the jeans) and a partner who adores old books and second-hand electronics. Together we created a home that currently looks like a flea market.

But decluttering doesn’t have to be a nightmare. The word itself clearing off it can be chilling, but once you get into the groove, it can even be fun (or at least borderline fun). There are also ways to approach the whole thing without immediately wanting to give up. Personally, I allow myself 10 minutes on TikTok after I complete an assignment (I have to treat myself like a dog waiting for a cookie, otherwise I won’t get anything done). Or I listen to a really interesting podcast while I do something quiet, like folding clothes or throwing away unwanted things.

Still, it can be hard to find the energy. And it’s even harder to apply Marie Kondo’s KonMari method when every thing “cheers” you up as soon as you remember it exists (“Maybe I need these little egg cups that I haven’t touched since 2019?”). With that in mind, here are some tips on how to declutter your home without losing your mind or, worse, getting so overwhelmed that you end up just… giving up.

Why clear up at all?

There’s no point in rolling up your sleeves if you don’t know why you’re doing it. Before you get started, it’s a good idea to set some goals for yourself. Maybe you want to feel more at peace in your own space, so if that’s the case, let that be your main motivation. “ Walking into a clean and tidy space can be both refreshing and calming, while walking into a messy space can be exhausting and overwhelming ,” Dr. Marni Amsellem, a clinical psychologist at Smart Health Psychology, told Vogue.

On the other hand, it could be that you want to step into a new version of yourself, and your current clutter is holding you back. ” Let’s say you have a new job, you don’t fit into your old clothes anymore, maybe you’ve had a baby, or your style has changed ,” virtual stylist Naina Singla told Vogue, referring specifically to spring cleaning your closet. Either way, your motivation determines your behavior. No one wants to do something without a clear reason. And every time you feel like giving up, remind yourself why you started in the first place.

Choose a clearing method

It’s great to set aside a Sunday afternoon for cleaning, but you also need to have a plan. Fortunately, today there are plenty of podcasts, reality shows, YouTube videos, and TikTok clips that make cleaning not only easy, but also soothing (type “organizing” into TikTok and a whole ASMR-like world opens up).

As for the method, there is of course Marie Kondo’s KonMari method (which advises cleaning by category and keeping only what “speaks to the heart”). There is also the 80/20 rule (which implies that 20% of the space remains empty). Or my personal favorite, a method I call “slow cleaning,” which basically means I clean little by little until I’m done. In any case, do a little research beforehand and choose what suits you best. Better that than cleaning randomly.

Cleaning tips

Force yourself to start.

One simple secret I wish I had known my whole life is: just start. Once I start putting things in the donation bag, it’s hard to stop. But the very act of taking that first bag often seems like an insurmountable obstacle.

Some of the most organized people I know swear by the “one-minute rule” when it comes to household chores. “ If a task takes less than 60 seconds, it needs to be done immediately ,” Violeta Valdés wrote for Vogue. “ If you do it right away, you hardly notice it as a task. ” When it comes to cleaning, this can mean simply putting all the utensils back in their place or, if you have kids, throwing all the toys in a box.

Invest in good storage

This is more practical than psychological advice, but decluttering will serve no purpose if you have nowhere to put things. It doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune on a new dresser, but at least make sure everything has a place and is easily categorized (my life changed when I started keeping my shoes in boxes, instead of just piling them up by the door).

In that sense, if you don’t want to throw something away, at least put it away meaningfully. You’ll thank yourself later. ” A space that’s more open and has less distractions brings peace and concentration ,” psychologist Laura Palomares told Vogue. ” Letting go and getting rid of what we don’t need is ultimately liberating and creates a sense of control and mental order. “

Turn it into a game.

I know, we’re not children, but… I realized that treating yourself like a child actually helps. That is, creating a reward system that acts a bit like blackmail. As I mentioned, it seems to me that I’m only allowed on TikTok after I’ve completed a task (e.g. organizing all the coats in the house) and only for 10 minutes (I know – dystopian). Or I can afford an episode Real Housewives after exactly 60 minutes of clearing. Believe me, it works!

Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, hosts of The Minimalists podcast, they created a “30-day minimalism game” that, you guessed it, lasts 30 days. On the first day, throw away one thing, on the second two, on the third three… and so on until you have 30 (and 465 things!). Sometimes all it takes is a little different branding to master the clearing.

Is there anything you shouldn’t clear up?

Yes, it is possible to overdo throwing or become obsessive (I know this from personal experience). If you use something regularly, it’s probably not a good idea to throw it away just because it has a scratch. The same goes for sentimental items (like old photos).

And most importantly, don’t stress if your home doesn’t look like a perfect Tetris puzzle, especially if you have small children, work a lot, or both. Decluttering should make your life easier, not harder, so do what you can, when you can.