Tips to Declutter Your Home

The need to declutter your home hits all of us every now and then. It can be before or after the holidays (maybe both), preparing for the fresh start of a new year, as spring arrives, or when your child either leaves or returns from college. However, realizing it’s time to declutter your home and actually doing it often are two very different things!

I can become easily overwhelmed by the process because either I can’t decide where to start or it just feels too big to tackle. However, I love the feeling of freshness and order it creates when I do declutter and organize spaces in my home.

While we all can benefit from a seasonal purge and reset, it feels less overwhelming when you keep it simple.

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Where do I start decluttering my house?

Whether it’s reading your Bible daily, organizing your home, or planning for a new project, knowing where to start often is the biggest hurdle. That’s the primary reason Marian (the organizer extraordinaire at How Clever!) created the 30 Day Declutter Your Home Checklist that I’ve included below. Starting small is the key to success.

And the best part about decluttering your home and life a little at a time is that it keeps you from feeling overwhelmed, which often is the reason that prompts us to begin in the first place. 

I know my forays into organization typically happen in spurts — often driven by a desire to calm the chaos — and the thing I like most about the idea of a challenge to clear the clutter is the bite-sized chunks.

However, let’s not overlook an important spiritual aspect to the process of decluttering. Many years ago, Dr. Billy Graham responded on his website to a question about being organized; part of his response was this:

A disorganized person is a defeated person, and no matter who we are, if we aren’t organized we’ll never accomplish as much as we could…if we’re always disorganized, we’ll never accomplish everything God wants us to do.

Why decluttering is important.

When I read that comment from Billy Graham, it’s a strong reinforcement to the question of “why.” Clutter and disorganization often stem from an accumulation of stuff. While I am getting much better at letting go of “things,” I still have a tendency to hang on “just in case,” like the fondue pot that hasn’t been used in I don’t even know how many years or the dress I paid a lot of money for umpteen years ago and plan to wear again when I shed a few pounds (never mind it’s now woefully out of style).

Maybe that’s you, too. If so, don’t wait until the new year, the next holiday, or spring to begin. Declutter your home, and start today. It’s a small step but an important one. Call on your friends to help; use the resources here to begin.

While being overly organized and decluttering is not my natural default, I recognize the importance of creating order in the home. So based on the steps Marian takes when she is decluttering her home, we created a “Declutter Your Home” checklist and printable to share with the world.

Whether you are shaking off winter or preparing for spring, it’s a perfect time to lighten your load, physically and mentally.

Decluttering your home – Give it 30 days!

What do you say? Are you ready to jump in and take the 30 Day Declutter Challenge? Most tasks will take you less than 30 minutes to complete! You can spare that, right?

The beauty of the 30 day declutter challenge is that each day includes simple tasks. Even better, most of them you’ll be able to complete in less than 30 minutes. But each of those small tasks adds up to a big impact when it’s all complete, and when you reach the end of the month, you’ll be so happy you jumped on the declutter train!

Before we dive in, let’s talk big picture. Most of us have found ourselves spending much more time at home since 2020, and as a result, some of our spaces either are pulling double duty or being reimagined to meet new needs. 

Even if you’re someone {like me} who can deal with a certain amount of clutter, the chaos of a disorganized and messy space eventually catches up to you. Having an uncluttered space makes me happy, and with Marian’s help, I’m working my way toward actually being organized. 

3 tips to declutter your home…for good!

1. Mindset

Decluttering your home is all about creating a lifestyle that maximizes efficiency and reduces stress. Marian puts it this way, “What can I do today to make tomorrow better?” You know, it’s often the simple things that make the biggest difference, and for me, nighttime routines often are the key to less frantic mornings. Whether it’s picking out your outfit the night before an early morning meeting, packing tomorrow’s lunches before bed, or organizing school and work backpacks for the following day, these little shifts in behavior go a long way.

2. One day at a time

Perhaps the biggest obstacle to any goal is taking on too much at one time or setting unrealistic expectations. The thought of cleaning out my closet or office closet or pantry all overwhelm me. As a result, those tasks often get pushed to “later.” However, with a plan of action and a small task, the BIG project seems less daunting. And I’m more likely to be successful.

3. Habits

Each of us probably has an area(s) of our home that is more prone to clutter than others. To keep clutter to a minimum (or eliminate it), you need to develop habits that keep your spaces decluttered. Based on your age and stage of life, these are some areas that benefit from creating simple, daily habits:

Pick up toys

Clean sink

Prepare backpacks and lunches

Select next day’s outfit(s)

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The book Atomic Habits by James Clear is an easy read with some excellent ideas for both creating and eliminating habits. And just like with Marian’s approach to decluttering, his approach inspires readers to create simple, incremental changes that ultimately make a big difference.

While you don’t have to take all 30 days or even use the challenge approach at all, the idea of a quantified challenge can be motivating. Maybe you’re not ready to declutter all of your kitchen cabinets, but cleaning out your junk drawer or refrigerator feels like an easy, and productive, place to start.

When we simplify our space, we clear our mind. It is a physical activity, for sure, but there’s an undercurrent of spirituality that I hope you won’t overlook.

I once heard Rebekah Lyons, speaker and bestselling author of Rhythms of Renewal, You Are Free, and Freefall to Fly, say, “Outer order creates inner order,” and that really resonated with me.

Yes, I want my home to feel uncluttered at the end of 30 days, but I also want to approach this from a place of surrender. To that end, I’ve compiled a few Bible verses to spur your efforts.

Bible verses about organization.

No, you can’t turn to a passage in the Bible that speaks specifically to decluttering your kitchen cabinets or whether or not you should keep that t-shirt from 1991. But Scripture does help you assess motive while also making clear how we should live.

So if you need some additional encouragement for decluttering your home, here are a few Bible verses to inspire your next steps.

Ecclesiastes 3:1, 6

For everything there is a season…a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away.

Matthew 6:19–21

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Luke 12:15

And [Jesus] said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

1 Corinthians 14:33

For God is not a God of disorder but a God of peace.

1 Corinthians 14:40

But all things should be done decently and in order.

We serve a God of order. We can see it in the beginning as God created all things, and it’s evident in the fulfillment of prophecy and the purpose and life of Jesus.

If you’re holding on to “stuff,” asking “Why?” is a good place to start.

Note: Verses above from the English Standard Version (ESV) translation.

How to declutter your home: 30 day Declutter Challenge.

So are you ready to declutter your home? Can you commit the next 30 days to decluttering one area of your home at a time? Remember, this is not about completely reorganizing every room in your house; it’s about clearing away the clutter, all the extra stuff that no longer serves a useful purpose or is expired. It’s also not intended to overwhelm you. Maybe you’re not ready to tackle your kitchen cabinets, but I bet you would find benefit in cleaning out that junk drawer.

Start small and give yourself grace.

Here’s what you’ll need to get started tackling the clutter:

• Download the 30 Day Declutter Challenge printable (link below)
• Use the checklist to keep track of your progress (scroll to end of post)

Declutter your home checklist.

A decluttering checklist like the one I’ve included below is simply a tool to keep you focused on one decluttering task at a time. It keeps you from having to decide where to start and what to do. This declutter-your-home checklist is a free printable for you to use, and it was designed to complement the 30 Day Declutter Challenge. However, you also can use it independent of that, simply as a guide for your organizing efforts.

Remember, this challenge is not about Marie Kondo-ing every space in your house but rather removing the noise of all the extra “stuff.” The goal here is to simplify your space and clear your mind. 

Whatever you do, do something! 

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