Most People Declutter the Wrong Way (Do This Instead)

I used to think I was a tidy person.

Then I moved into my first apartment in Sydney, and within three months, the truth revealed itself.

Random cables living in a fruit bowl.

A "filing system" that was really just a stack of papers on the dining table.

Clothes that had somehow migrated from the bedroom to the living room chair and just... stayed there.

The worst part?

I'd stopped noticing.

My brain had gone numb to the chaos.

Like when you live near train tracks and eventually stop hearing the trains.

But here's what I couldn't ignore: how I felt when I walked through my own front door.

Tense. Scattered. Like my home was a to-do list with furniture.

That's when I realised something important:

Clutter isn't just stuff. It's noise.

Visual noise that makes your brain work overtime, even when you're meant to be relaxing.

So before we get tactical, I want you to ask yourself two questions:

How do you want to feel in your home?
What actually matters to you in your life?

These seem obvious. But if your home is cluttered, you probably haven't thought about them in a while.

For me, it's calm, order, and systems.

I want things to have a place so life can run smoothly, no matter how hectic things get.

That's what we're aiming for.

One Thing at a Time

What works for me is breaking clutter into five categories:

Trash
Dishes
Laundry
Things out of place
Things without a place yet

Start with trash. Grab a bag and go room by room. Don't overthink it, just collect anything obvious.

Trust me, watching that bag fill up is oddly motivating.

Next, tackle dishes.

Gather them, pile them in the sink, and move on. Don't wash them yet. (Yes, really.)

Then laundry. Go room by room, toss dirty clothes in a hamper, and keep moving.

By the time you've done these three steps, your space will already feel lighter.

Now it's time for the real clutter.

Photo by Belle Morizio (left) & Photo by Casey Dunn (right)

Declutter by Category, Not Room

This might seem counterintuitive, but decluttering by category is far easier than going room by room.

Switching between books, clothes, and random clutter is exhausting.

Your brain loves patterns, so focusing on one category at a time helps it click into gear.

Start with clothes. Then books. Then papers. Then miscellaneous items. And finally, sentimental things.

Always finish one category before moving to the next.

Here's a tip that saves my sanity: set up three boxes.

Toss/donate
Not sure
Keep, but no place yet

Everything goes into one of these. This prevents decision fatigue and keeps momentum going.

Photo by Tom Hutton (left) & Photo by Jacqui Turk (right)

What to Keep & What to Toss

A few questions help me decide:

If I didn't already own this, would I buy it again?

If it were destroyed in a fire, would I replace it?

If the answer is no... donate or toss it.

Another filter: if you can't remember the last time you used something, it's probably time to let it go.

For items you're genuinely unsure about, stash them in the "not sure" box and forget about them for three to six months. If you haven't reached for them by then, you have your answer.

My Organising Principles

Three things keep my spaces functional long after the initial declutter:

Compartmentalise. Split your drawers into sections. IKEA SKUBB dividers, Muji acrylic boxes, or simple office organisers all work brilliantly. No more rummaging.
Know the difference between active and passive zones. Keep daily-use items in easy-to-reach spots. Store rarely used items out of the way. Your most-used things should require the least effort to access.
Do a quick scan before leaving a room. Return anything out of place. It's a small habit, but it reduces mental clutter massively. Takes five seconds but compounds over time.

Be Realistic About Time

Decluttering takes time. Don't expect to finish overnight.

Do it in chunks. One small category this weekend. Another next weekend.

Progress beats perfection.

Because here's what I've learned after designing hundreds of homes:

A beautiful space isn't about having perfect furniture or the right colour palette.

It starts with breathing room.

And breathing room starts with letting go of the stuff that's weighing you down.

Cheers,
Reynard