Minimalist Home Decluttering Tips for a Calm and Clear Space

Let’s be honest—decluttering isn’t just about getting rid of stuff. If it were, it’d be easy, right? You could just throw everything into a box and drop it off at Goodwill, and that would be the end of it. But, have you ever done that and still felt like you hadn’t made much progress? I know I have. It’s not just the physical things we cling to, but the meaning and comfort we attach to them.

Decluttering, especially in a minimalist sense, is about peeling back the layers, not just to make your space look better, but to feel better.

And isn’t that why we’re here? To feel lighter, more intentional, and less burdened by what we keep around us?

The Emotional Side of Decluttering

The first time I really dug into decluttering, it wasn’t just my closet that felt heavy—it was my mind. I had all these things, clothes I hadn’t worn in years, stacks of papers I didn’t need, and they were taking up space. But they were also tied to moments, people, and ideas I didn’t want to let go of. It seems like we often keep things not because we love them but because we’re afraid of what letting go might mean.

So, before we dive into any “tips,” take a moment to breathe. Ask yourself—why am I holding onto this? What am I hoping it will give me? This isn’t just about making your home look like an Instagram feed; it’s about making space for who you are now.

Where to Start: The “Surface Declutter”

Minimalist decluttering can feel overwhelming, especially if you look at your whole home at once. I’ve noticed it’s easier if you start with a “surface declutter.” That’s the stuff right in front of you—things on counters, tabletops, or the floor. You don’t even have to open a drawer yet. Just start where your eyes land.

• Clear off countertops: Kitchens are a big one. If you’ve got appliances you never use or a stack of mail that’s growing by the day, start there. Even just wiping down a bare counter can make the whole room feel lighter.
• Empty the coffee table: Do you really need all those magazines or remotes out in the open? Think about what gets used every day and store the rest.
• Tidy up the floor space: Shoes, bags, random toys—sometimes the floor feels like it’s collecting clutter faster than any shelf. Try to clear up those obvious tripping hazards.

Once you get a sense of satisfaction from these easy wins, it becomes easier to dive deeper.

The Magic of the “One-Year Rule”

This rule is popular for a reason—it works. If you haven’t used something in a year, it might be time to say goodbye. But here’s the thing: the idea isn’t to get rid of everything you haven’t touched in 12 months, but rather to reevaluate why you’re keeping it. Sometimes we hold on to things because we think we’ll need them “someday.”

I once found a fancy kitchen gadget at the back of my cupboard, still in its box. I had never used it, but every time I opened that cupboard, it reminded me of some ideal version of myself who would throw dinner parties and make elaborate meals. It sounds ridiculous now, but at the time, it was hard to let that go. I wasn’t just letting go of the object, but the expectation of who I thought I should be.

Create Boundaries with Sentimental Items

Here’s the tricky part: what about the stuff that isn’t just stuff? Old birthday cards, your kids’ art projects, or a scarf your grandmother knitted—these things have emotional weight. So, how do you deal with them?

• Pick a “memory box”: Limit yourself to one box or container for sentimental items. This boundary helps you prioritize what really matters.
• Take pictures: Sometimes, it’s not the item itself we want, but the memory. Snap a photo of that concert ticket or birthday card and let the physical thing go.
• Keep a few, not all: If you’re holding on to a stack of your child’s artwork, pick the top three pieces that mean the most. The rest? Consider letting them go. They served their purpose.

I’ve found that keeping a few really meaningful items can feel just as comforting as keeping a box full of things you never look at.

Decluttering by Category, Not Room

One of the traps I used to fall into was tackling decluttering by room. I’d stand in the middle of my bedroom, determined to make it a minimalist haven, but then I’d move things from the bedroom to the living room, or stuff things in a closet. It felt like I was just shuffling things around rather than making real progress.

That’s when I started decluttering by category instead of by room. It’s a game changer. You take one type of item—like clothes, books, or paperwork—and go through it wherever it’s stored in your home. This way, you avoid that pitfall of just moving clutter from one space to another.

Here’s how you can break it down:

• Clothes: Gather all your clothes in one place, even if they’re spread out in different closets. Then ask yourself, do I wear this? Does it fit my life right now? If you haven’t worn it in a year, or it doesn’t make you feel good, it might be time to let it go.
• Books: I’m guilty of holding onto books for far too long, thinking they made me look more well-read or intellectual just by sitting on the shelf. But books aren’t trophies, and they’re meant to be read, not stored. Keep the ones that spark something in you, and donate the rest.
• Paperwork: This is the sneaky clutter, hiding in drawers and on desks. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably got piles of old bills, receipts, and random notes scattered around. Most of it can be digitized or recycled. Keep only the essential documents, and organize them into a simple, accessible system.

Focusing on one category at a time feels less overwhelming, and you’ll see tangible progress more quickly.

Practice the “One In, One Out” Rule

Once you’ve done the hard work of decluttering, keeping it up becomes the real challenge. We live in a world that’s constantly encouraging us to consume more—new gadgets, the latest trends, things we’re convinced will make our lives easier or better.

That’s where the “One In, One Out” rule comes in. Every time you bring something new into your home, let go of something else. Bought a new sweater? Donate an old one. Got a new kitchen gadget? Pass on the one that’s collecting dust.

I’ve noticed that this practice forces me to be more intentional about what I buy. Instead of impulsively bringing things into my home, I stop and think, “Is this really worth replacing something else for?” It’s a simple rule, but it keeps the clutter from creeping back in.

Decluttering Your Mind Along the Way

Here’s something I didn’t expect when I started decluttering: the mental clarity that came with it. As my physical space became more open and simple, my thoughts did too. There’s something about clearing out the excess that creates space in your mind for what really matters.

You see, clutter isn’t just physical. We clutter our minds with stress, with too many commitments, with unrealistic expectations. And just like the stuff in our homes, this mental clutter can weigh us down.

When you start decluttering your home, you might notice the same thing happening in your head. Maybe you start saying no to obligations that don’t bring you joy, or you stop chasing that ideal version of yourself that was tied to your clutter. You begin to see what you really need—what really serves you—instead of just holding on out of habit.

And that’s the beauty of minimalism. It’s not about owning as little as possible. It’s about owning what matters. It’s about creating a space, both physically and mentally, that reflects who you are, not who you think you should be.