Whether we are in spring-cleaning mode or packing for a move, we're always looking for simple tips on how to declutter. Looking for inspiration on how to declutter your room? Or do you need to overhaul your entire apartment? We've got you covered.

Why Less Is More: Decluttering 101

• Less stuff means less time spent cleaning (hello, weekend!).
• Less stuff means less clutter for a more stress-free lifestyle.
• Less stuff means more money for you to spend on hobbies, travel, and experiences with people you love.

Decluttering Tips for Beginners

Go Easy

Start with just five minutes a day or by donating a handful of items each week to reduce clutter in your home.

Take It In

View your apartment the way a first-time guest would and take note of the impression it gives off. Go room-by-room and ask yourself: does it look clean and organized or does it feel like stray items need a home?

Post Up

Take before and after pictures to stay inspired and get organized. You don't have to post the pics, but they'll help you keep the momentum.

How to Declutter the Simple Way

Rather than getting overwhelmed by clutter, we'll show you how to declutter your house one room at a time so tackling that junk drawer won't seem so daunting. Start by grabbing a few big baskets. We like to use one for trash, one for recycling, one for donations, and one for items that need to be put away in a different room.

Decluttering the Bedroom

Create a clean and relaxing space free from clutter where you'll always wake up refreshed. These simple tips on how to declutter are all you need.

• Step one for how to declutter your room: Make your bed. Place extra bedding and throw blankets that usually clutter your bed in under-bed storage bins or unused dresser drawers. This makes your bed look clean and light.
• Next, take everything off of and out of the nightstand. Anything that doesn't belong – like a broken phone charger or a pile of books – can be thrown out or put away. If you love having books near the bed, consider a bookcase. That way you'll still have surface space for the essentials: a glass of water, a lamp, your glasses, and your phone. Better yet, use your nightstand drawer to house your essentials for a surface free from clutter.
• Move on to the dresser next. Clear the surface first. Recycle old cards, mail, and papers. Toss out old candles or chipped picture frames. Organize TV cords. Consider placing a decorative tray on the dresser to corral loose items. Go through drawers one by one. Donate anything you no longer wear. If there are items that need to be mended, place them in a separate box to take to the tailor.

Decluttering the Closet or Armoire

The closet can seem like a tricky place because it's often a catchall for so many items. Start the decluttering process by taking everything out and organizing clothing by type: dresses, denim, jackets, shoes, etc.

• Hang similar items together or organize by color to streamline your morning routine. Put away anything that is in the wrong spot – like a pair of athletic shorts that belong in the dresser. Toss dirty clothes into the laundry basket for a trip to the laundry room. Set aside anything that needs to be repaired.
• If your armoire or closet is on the smaller side, consider placing a storage bench at the foot of your bed for out-of-season items like chunky sweaters or bathing suits. This helps make your closet less cluttered so you can easily find your fave in-season staples.
• Make a large pile in the donation basket for clothes you no longer love to wear and another pile for sentimental items you want to keep (like your alma-mater sweatshirt). As you learn how to declutter your home, you may find that this part of the process takes a significant amount of time as it requires you to decide what you can't live without or don't consider a part of your weekly outfit rotation anymore.

Decluttering the Bathroom

Craving that spa-like experience but feel like your bathroom is a mess? We've broken it down into an easy step-by-step checklist below.

• Start by taking everything out of the medicine cabinet. Toss old makeup, skin care products, and meds. Put everything you want to keep back inside the cabinet. Place items you use every day at eye level and place lesser-used makeup and toiletries in a vanity drawer or storage bin.
• Next, take everything out from under the sink. Any old cleaning products can be tossed out. Organize the items you want to keep in a basket and pop them underneath the sink.
• Take a peek at any remaining cabinets or closets. Fold up towels you want to keep and place them back inside. Or roll them up and stick them in a basket. Keep any lotions or products you use daily in a tray on top of the cabinet.
• Finally, go through the shower or tub area. Toss old bath products or samples you never got around to using.

Decluttering the Entryway

Since entryways are usually just a passage area between your front door and the rest of the apartment, they can quickly become bogged down with day-to-day clutter. Wondering how to declutter the entryway? Think about your AM and PM routines and create a space for everything, creating clean surfaces for a warm welcome home.

• Begin by taking anything off the console table that you don't need and recycling old mail.
• If you have a hall closet, start at the bottom and work your way up. Take the shoes and boots out first. Put away anything that's not being used this season. Place a shoe cubby in the closet for the most streamlined grab-and-go situation. Peek through your coats and place the most-used ones front and center.
• Any old umbrellas can be tossed out. Anything that needs to be mended should be placed in the to-be-tailored basket.
• If you don't have a hall closet, make do with a hall tree or a set of coat hooks. You'll always be ready for a last-minute walk with your dog or coffee run.

Pro Tip:

For a deep dive into entryway organization, check out our 9 Streamlined Small Entryway Ideas guide.

Decluttering the Living Room

Living rooms are challenging to keep clean since they're a space you use every single day. Once everything has a home, you'll be able to relax without looking at clutter.

• Wipe surfaces clean and fill a basket up with items that don't belong in the living room and need to go back into their respective rooms.
• Go into the TV console, coffee table, and side tables and recycle old magazines, toss takeout chopsticks and napkins, and fold blankets. Bonus points for a blanket ladder, as they take up very little space and create a stylish storage alternative to a pile of throw blankets on your sofa.
• If your living room doubles as a home office, keep your laptop and notebooks on the desk to create a clear work/life boundary.
• For living rooms on the smaller side, consider space-saving furniture like nesting tables and furniture that can double as a storage space – like an ottoman or bench.
• Our last tip for how to declutter the living room is to go back and edit often. Items can quickly accumulate clutter if you spend the majority of your time in the living room. Set aside a few minutes each week for a decluttering project to really look at your living room and determine what can be tossed and what needs to return to a different room.

Decluttering the Kitchen

Whether you're the queen of takeout or you love learning complex recipes, the kitchen is an important space to spend some time when you're looking at how to declutter your home and get organized. We recommend dividing the kitchen into zones and then tackling them one at a time.

• Empty out the pantry first. Since that's probably the area of your kitchen with the most storage, it's important to figure out what you're working with. Toss out anything that's broken and donate the things you don't use anymore that's making your pantry more cluttered. (Yes, it's okay, we thought we'd be really into bread baking, too, but it didn't pan out.)
• Next, move on to the cabinets. Organize glassware and serveware. Donate anything that doesn't match or you no longer use – like that shot-glass collection from college. Organize the cabinet under the sink with ready-to-use cleaning essentials. Having everything easily available will make cleaning up easier.
• Finally, sort through the countertop. If you don't use the blender or toaster every day, feel free to store it in the pantry or in a lower cabinet for a decluttered countertop. Set a decorative tray on the counter to hold the sugar jar, fresh flowers, or tea bags.
• For a savvy decluttering trick, we recommend adding a kitchen island or cart. It makes day-to-day organization easier and doubles as a station for serving appetizers and drinks when guests come over.

Keep Up with Decluttering + Enjoy Your Space

The most important thing to remember about how to declutter is that it's an ongoing process. Doing a little bit of decluttering each day will save you time and create a peaceful atmosphere. Once you're officially decluttered, light a candle and pour yourself a glass of wine – you deserve to enjoy your space.

Ready to declutter your space?