12 Practical Ideas to Declutter Your Home and Unlock the Hidden Benefits

January is usually a time when we sit down and set ourselves goals for the coming year or make new year’s resolutions.  It’s also a great time to have a good clear out and declutter to make better use of the storage available in our homes.

Did you know that decluttering can contribute to improved focus and efficiency?  As there are fewer distractions around you, you should find it easier to complete tasks and as there is a clearer space, this will provide you with the mental space for new ideas to flourish.

As clutter can contribute to feelings of stress and be overwhelming, decluttering and organising your space can create a more calming environment.  It can also contribute to reduced anxiety and improve moods, as a tidy home will provide a sense of control and accomplishment. 

As decluttering will naturally create more physical space in your home, it should make it feel larger and more open.  This is especially beneficial in smaller living spaces.  It will also be easier to clean which will save time and effort in your daily or weekly cleaning routines.  That’s a big win for me.

A surprising benefit is that decluttering could save you money: by assessing what you already have, you may realise that you don't need to purchase duplicates of items you already own.

Tidy desk area free of clutter with motivational quote

There are lots of ways to have a decluttered home, some more drastic than others. Here are some for you to consider implementing this year:

The 30-Day Challenge:

Dedicate each day to decluttering one specific area of your home, whether it's a drawer, a shelf, or a room. Small, consistent efforts can lead to significant results.

One In, One Out Rule:

For every new item you bring into your home, consider letting go of an item. This will help maintain a balance and prevents accumulation.

Capsule Wardrobe:

Create a capsule wardrobe by keeping only the clothes you truly love and wear regularly. Donate or sell the items you haven't worn in the past year.

Digital Declutter:

Clean up your digital space by organising files, deleting unnecessary documents, and clearing out your email inbox. Unsubscribe from newsletters you no longer read and brand marketing emails.

 Donate or Sell Unused Items:

Identify items that you no longer use or need and donate them to charity or sell them online. This not only declutters your space but also benefits others.

Kitchen Simplification:

Streamline your kitchen by decluttering utensils, dishes, and appliances you rarely use. Keep only what is essential for your daily needs.

Book Purge:

Go through your book collection and donate or sell books you no longer plan to read. Consider using digital alternatives like e-books or audiobooks.

 Paperless Transition:

Minimise paper clutter by switching to digital alternatives for bills, statements, and documents. Invest in a scanner for important papers you need to keep.

Sentimental Items Display:

Instead of stashing sentimental items in boxes, consider displaying them creatively. This way, you enjoy the memories without cluttering your storage spaces.

There’s lots of inspo on Pinterest for storing sentimental items but a fab glass storage unit it perfect for larger items you want to display.

Mindful Purchasing:

Before buying something new, ask yourself if it truly adds value to your life. Avoid impulse purchases and be intentional about what enters your home.

Rotate Seasonal Items:

Store seasonal items in labelled containers and rotate them as needed.

Declutter Digital Photos:

Organise and delete redundant or unneeded digital photos. Use cloud storage or external hard drives to keep your digital files organised

Decluttering your wardrobe? - Set aside an afternoon and be ruthless. Clothes that you no longer wear are easy to sell on Vinted or Ebay (I prefer Vinted now - much easier and its not an auction so you can ask what you want and the buyer pays the postage).

I didn’t say decluttering would  be easy and it’s not something you can do overnight. The process of decluttering can be time-consuming, especially if you have accumulated a significant amount of stuff. Sorting through items and deciding what to keep, donate, or discard can take time and effort. I like the 30 day challenge idea and might do it in a slightly different way – spending an hour a day on some of the other ideas on the list.  30 hours of decluttering is bound to make a difference wouldn’t you say?

Sometimes how you store items can make a difference in how you use them. Storing jewellery in a drawer like this so you can see it all might mean you will wear items you forgot you had.

I’m going to acknowledge issues that you could face on your decluttering journey, one being letting go of sentimental items.  Decluttering can be tough but a friend once told me that you can make new memories with the money you could receive for a sentimental item that you do not get use of.  Friends of mine have also used jewellery they no longer wore to be melted and the gold used to make a new piece of jewellery which they had commissioned. You could consider displaying or using sentimental items instead of storing them away at the back of cupboards.

Constant decision-making during the decluttering process can lead to decision fatigue. This may result in feeling mentally exhausted and less motivated to continue.  That’s why I think the one hour a day challenge might get me started on the journey and hopefully when I see the results that will be enough to motivate me to continue beyond the 30 days.  I already use my Kindle so my book collection is already lean, so I know this idea does work!  The capsule wardrobe is something I have aspired to for years and I am slowly getting there as I’m mindful before purchasing new clothes and make sure that I can make at least 3 outfits from each new item I buy.

It’s a good idea to have a supply of storage boxes when you start decluttering. Perfect for storing seasonal items or putting away items for a period of time before you make your final decision to get rid.

 I know there's a risk of getting rid of items that you later regret parting with. It's important to carefully consider each item before decluttering to avoid this, but you could also box the items up and then leave them for a period of time. If you realise you haven’t missed the item or have had any need of it during that time, the chances are you won’t regret getting rid.  I know I’ve fell into that trap with clothes and not wanted to throw away something that no longer fitted or something that is no longer in fashion but might come back some day.  Well, thankfully I don’t think like this anymore – if the item does come back into fashion the chances of my 50 year old self wearing something I wore in my 20’s is slim.  Also, if clothes don’t fit me now and I do manage to shift the two stone I’d love to lose, then I’ll just treat myself to some new items.  The exceptions will be classic items like my leather biker jacket etc.  These will be kept for my daughter to have.

Having less items cluttering your space will make cleaning much easier and quicker. Think of reducing the number of items on your kitchen counters, especially those you do not use!

The decluttering exercise can have your home looking like it’s been burgled as you have to pull everything out in order to assess what you want to keep or get rid of.  You should have four piles: keep; bin; donate; sell.  If you do small sections each day then this will stop the job getting too overwhelming, but remember, as my hubby always says: ‘you can’t make an omelette without breaking an egg!’

Let me know in the comments if you try any of the ideas and how you get on!