How Can You Declutter Your Home One Room at a Time?
Sep 8, 2026 / Ann Griffith
Declutter your home by choosing a clear goal, sorting one small area at a time, and putting each item into a keep, donate, recycle, or pack-away category. Cory Chalmers, a co-creator of Hoarders and founder of Steri-Clean, recommends short, focused decluttering sessions that keep the process manageable.
Start with an easy area, such as a garage, entryway, or kitchen counter. Avoid beginning with sentimental items if they make decisions harder.
Home Decluttering Essentials:
- Choose a specific goal for the room or area you want to declutter.
- Start with a small, easy category instead of sentimental items.
- Set a 15-minute timer and declutter in focused sessions.
- Stop before the task becomes frustrating.
- Sort items into keep, donate, recycle, and pack-away categories.
- Display items that are important to you instead of leaving them in drawers or piles.
- Use labeled bins to organize permitted household items you plan to pack away.
- Keep floors, walkways, and frequently used surfaces clear.
- Use storage only for clean, dry, permitted household items that you use less often.
Decluttering at a Glance:
How Should You Start Decluttering Your Home?
Start decluttering by deciding how you want your home to function. Cory Chalmers recommends using a practical goal, such as creating room to host a meal, use a spare room, or park in a garage.
Take stock of the items in the space, then identify what needs to leave the room. Work in short sessions, such as 15 minutes at a time, to keep the process focused.
What Room Should You Declutter First?
Declutter the easiest room or category first. A garage shelf, kitchen counter, bathroom cabinet, entryway, or single closet can provide a clear starting point.
Avoid starting with highly sentimental items if they slow down your decisions. Build momentum by sorting items that are easier to donate, recycle, put away, or discard.
How Can You Declutter Without Feeling Overwhelmed?
Declutter without feeling overwhelmed by setting a timer and focusing on one small area. Cory Chalmers recommends stopping before the task becomes frustrating, then returning to it during another short session.
Use music, a podcast, or another simple routine to make the task easier to continue. Consistent short sessions can help you make progress without trying to organize the entire home in one day.
How Should You Sort Clutter?
Sort clutter into clear categories so every item has a next step. Use the same categories throughout the home to keep the process consistent.
Avoid creating a large “maybe” pile. A labeled revisit-later box gives you time to consider an item without letting it remain in the middle of the room.
How Can You Organize Items You Want to Keep?
Organize items you want to keep by giving each category a designated place. Cory Chalmers recommends displaying items that give your home meaning instead of leaving them at the bottom of a pile or inside an unlabeled box.
Use clear or labeled bins for lower-use household items. Place heavy containers on the floor or lower shelves, keep frequently used items within reach, and tidy each zone after adding or removing items.
When Can Storage Help With Decluttering?
Storage can help when you need more room for clean, dry, permitted household items that you use less often. Put away seasonal décor, extra furniture, hobby supplies, and labeled household bins while you organize daily living areas.
Keep personal records, everyday essentials, and items that are important to you at home. Use the Public Storage size guide to compare unit sizes for permitted household items.
How Do You Keep Clutter From Returning?
Keep clutter from returning by tidying regularly in short sessions and returning items to their designated zones. Cory Chalmers describes this as continually maintaining the space after the initial decluttering process.
Use a simple weekly reset:
- Put away items left on counters, tables, and floors.
- Review one drawer, shelf, or closet.
- Donate or recycle items you no longer use.
- Update labels on bins and household zones.
- Keep walkways and high-use surfaces clear.
Create More Room With a Clear Decluttering Plan.
Declutter by sorting one area at a time, putting lower-use household items into labeled bins, and maintaining clear surfaces and walkways with short weekly resets. Public Storage can help you pack away permitted household items, such as seasonal décor, extra furniture, and hobby supplies, while you organize your home.
Clear space. Clear routine.
Home Decluttering FAQs
How Do You Start Decluttering When You Have Too Much Stuff?
Start with one small, easy area, such as a counter, drawer, shelf, or closet. Set a 15-minute timer and sort items into keep, donate, recycle, pack-away, and revisit-later categories.
What Should You Declutter First?
Declutter items that are easy to identify as unused, worn out, or no longer part of your routine. Start with a garage, entryway, kitchen counter, or bathroom cabinet before sorting sentimental items.
How Do You Keep a House Tidy After Decluttering?
Keep a house tidy by using designated zones, labeled containers, and short weekly resets. Return items to the same place after using them and review clutter-prone areas regularly.
Can Storage Help You Declutter Your Home?
Storage can help you put away clean, dry, permitted household items that you use less often, such as seasonal décor, extra furniture, and hobby supplies. Keep daily essentials, personal records, and items important to you at home.
How Long Should a Decluttering Session Last?
A 15-minute decluttering session can provide a manageable starting point. Stop before you become frustrated, then continue during another focused session.
