Sometimes, it feels like things just pile up without you realizing it. A drawer gets full, the table in the hallway collects random papers, and soon every corner has something on top of it.
Yes, you don’t mean for it to happen… It just does.
Before long, it starts to get in the way. Maybe it’s harder to clean. Maybe it’s tough to find things. Or maybe your home just doesn’t feel as comfortable as it used to.
Getting rid of clutter doesn’t mean tossing everything or turning your house upside down. It means removing what you no longer use or need, so you have more room for what helps you today.
In this guide, you’ll see why clutter builds up over time, where it usually hides, how to decide what to keep, and how to start clearing things in a way that’s simple and realistic.
Why We Hold On to More Than We Need
Most clutter starts with something we needed or wanted at the time. But over the years, those things stay… Even if we no longer use them.
You might still have work clothes hanging in your closet, even though you’re retired and spend most days in jeans and soft tops.
Or maybe your kitchen cabinets hold appliances you tried once and never used again. That bread maker or ice cream machine seemed like a good idea, but now it just takes up space.
And sometimes, we only hold onto something just because we feel guilty.
Maybe it was a gift from someone close to you. Maybe you spent a lot of money on it and don’t want to feel like it went to waste. Or maybe you keep saying, you will use it someday, even if that day hasn’t come in years.
Other times, it’s about memories. A sweater that belonged to your mother. Greeting cards from past birthdays. Boxes of craft supplies from when the kids were younger. These things remind us of people, places, or times we don’t want to forget.
It’s not wrong to keep a few things that mean something to you. But when the items you don’t use start to take over your space, it makes daily life harder. Closets get harder to clean, drawers won’t shut, and you stop using parts of your home altogether.
But, Where Do You Usually Find These Clutter?
Clutter usually builds up in the places we use the most, but don’t always take time to keep in order. It often starts small, with a few extra things that get set down for now. Then one day, the space will start to feel crammed and harder to use.
One good example is the kitchen drawer. You might toss in a pen or a notepad, then add coupons, old batteries, keys, and menus. Eventually, the drawer won’t close right, and you end up avoiding it.
Hallway closets fill up fast, too. You may have jackets no one wears, mismatched gloves, or extra shoes that don’t fit anymore. It’s easy to open the door and toss something in, especially when you’re tidying up quickly before company comes over.
Another space that often becomes the spot for everything you don’t know what to do with is the garage. You might have boxes from a move, furniture that no longer fits in the house, or tools you planned to use but never got around to. Over time, these items pile up, and it’s hard to even walk through the space.
Even the spare bedroom can turn into a storage room. It might have started as a guest room, but now it holds unopened mail, bags of returns, or bins filled with old paperwork. And at some point, the door stays shut just so you don’t have to see it.
These areas become cluttered not because we’re careless, but because we stop noticing them. And the longer things sit there, the easier it is to forget what’s there.
So, How Would You Know What’s Really Worth Keeping?
It’s not always easy to decide what to let go of. You may have items that have been sitting in the same spot for years, but something about them makes you hesitate. Maybe they cost a lot. Maybe someone gave them to you. Or maybe you keep thinking you’ll need it later.
BUT… when drawers are full, closets are tight, or your shelves are crowded, something has to give.
One helpful question to ask is, “Have I used this in the past year?” If the answer is no, that’s a good sign it might not need to stay.
Maybe you have a kitchen appliance you used once and then pushed to the back of a cabinet. Or clothes that don’t fit your current style or lifestyle but are still taking up space in your closet.
Sometimes we keep things from a season of life that’s over. Craft supplies from a hobby you haven’t done in years. Extra serving bowls from when you hosted big family holidays. High heels or suits from when you worked full-time but now spend most days in comfortable clothes.
Letting go of these items doesn’t mean they weren’t useful at one time. It just means they’re not helping you NOW.
And that space? You could use it for the things you reach for every week. (your favorite shoes, the pan you use for dinner, or the sweater you actually wear)
You can still keep a few items that carry meaning. A handmade quilt from your kids. A mug that reminds you of your mother.
But not every item has to stay just because it has a memory attached to it.
Because when you keep only the things that you actually use and appreciate, your space will start to feel easier to manage. It also becomes easier to clean, easier to move through, and easier to enjoy.
A Simple Way to Start Clearing the Clutter
Looking at a messy house can feel overwhelming. When every room has piles or packed shelves, it’s easy to stop and just deal with it later.
One reason it feels so hard is because we think we need to fix the whole house at once. But trying to do everything at the same time usually leads to burnout or giving up before we really get started.
So, instead of doing it that way, a much better thing to do is pick one small area that you see and use every day. That might be your nightstand, the top of your dresser, a kitchen counter, or the chair that ends up holding bags, coats, and anything else you didn’t put away.
These spots fill up fast with things like receipts, mail, keys, lotion bottles, pens, or random chargers.
Start by clearing everything off. Don’t shuffle things around—REMOVE IT ALL. Then, wipe down the surface and take some time to check what’s really been sitting there.
Now ask yourself what you actually use. Are you still using that notepad? Do you need three hand creams? Are the receipts still useful?
You don’t need to keep something just because it’s been sitting there for a while.
Once you've sorted it, only put back the things that belong there and that you use often. If it’s your nightstand, maybe that’s your lamp, glasses, and a current book. If it’s the kitchen counter, keep it clear except for what you use every morning, like the coffeemaker.
Clearing just that one area will make a noticeable difference. It’s a small success that gives you the push to move on to the next spot. And the more often you do it, the easier it gets.
Clutter doesn’t go away for good, but once you learn how to clear and reset a space, you’ll be more prepared to keep it that way. The goal isn’t to have a perfect home. It’s to make your space easier to live in, one step at a time.
Make Space for the Way You Live Now
As time goes on, we collect things from different parts of life. But if your home starts to feel full, even when life has slowed down, it may be time to look at what’s still filling your space.
Maybe you don’t have the busy routine you once had, but the house still feels crowded. The hallway table might be stacked with mail. The dining room might hold bags, paperwork, or items that never got put away. It gets harder to clean, harder to find things, and harder to relax.
Clearing out clutter doesn’t mean getting rid of everything. It means making room for what helps you today. That could be your favorite chair by the window, your go-to dishes in the kitchen, or just a little extra space to move around without bumping into stuff.
Even small changes—like clearing off one shelf or organizing one drawer—can make a difference. When your home has less in the way, it becomes easier to manage and more peaceful to live in.
Your home doesn’t need to stay stuck in the past. It can reflect who you are now and what you need today.
If you’re ready to start clearing your home but want a little structure to follow, the Free Self-Care Decluttering Bingo can help. It gives you small, easy tasks that you can do at your own pace—without feeling overwhelmed.
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