This year, I'm all about championing functionality, accessibility and minimalist approaches. After all, if a tidy home reflects a tidy mind, there's no better time like the present to cut clutter and get organized.
From purging paper, taming tupperware, and creating a donation station, simple small steps are almost always the best way to beat the chaos, and they'll make the process smoother and easier, too.
I'm a professional organizer and these are my decluttering tips to try in 2025. Ready to take on the challenge?
My expert decluttering challenge 2025
1. Declutter with purpose
The curated shelves in this mid-century dining room look elegant and streamlined, bringing out the decorative elements
Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, set your intentions for your space, which will make it easier to decide what to declutter later down the line.
As founder of Diisorganized, one of the core ideas in my Organize Yourself Healthy method is that your environment has a direct impact on your well-being, and that a tidy and clean house really does make you happier.
Before you start decluttering, take a moment to think about how you want your space to feel. Is it calm and cozy? Energized and inspiring? Let that vision guide what stays and what goes. The benefits of a beautiful and tidy home are not to be underestimated.
For example, if you want your bedroom to feel restful, keep only the items that make your bedroom more relaxing – like soft bedding, a good book, or a calming candle. Let go of distractions that don't serve that purpose (looking at you, laundry pile, and old tech gadgets).
By aligning your space with your goals, you're not just tidying up – you're creating an environment that truly supports the lifestyle you want.
All prices correct at time of publication.
Using a planner like this one is a brilliant way to keep track of your intentions and progress, with goal-setting frameworks to help you build decluttering into your daily habits.
2. Start small, start easy
The next step is to pick one tiny area that feels doable – like conquering the dreaded junk drawer or tackling one of the most cluttered areas of every home. Starting small lets you feel accomplished right away, and that momentum makes tackling bigger areas easier later on.
Set a timer for 15 minutes, crank up your favorite playlist, and put a decluttering method to the test, seeing how much you can can clear out in that time. It's amazing how much better you'll feel after just a short session!
A tip to turbocharge your decision-making process is to use the Didn't Know decluttering method. If you didn't know, or remember, you had something, it's time to let it go.
3. Tame your lidded storage
Food storage containers are notorious for causing clutter, which can make organizing kitchen cabinets a real chore.
Empty your entire collection onto the counter, taking cues from the chaos decluttering method, and match each container with its lid. Toss any unmatched pieces, or ones that are cracked or warped, recycling them to be sustainable at home.
Then, neatly stack the containers and lids to organize your plastic containers so you can easily grab what you need without causing an avalanche. By the end of this task, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner!
If you find yourself in a constant battle to find the right lid, this handy organizer keeps them upright and accessible.
4. Purge the paper pile
As one of the most common types of clutter, paperwork can build up before you even realize it.
To successfully get rid of paper clutter, tackle one stack at a time, and use the pile decluttering method to sort papers into three piles: keep, shred, and recycle.
Then, to organize paperwork at home, important documents like birth certificates should be filed in a safe place, such as a document box like the Sterilite Portable File Box Plastic available at Walmart, while outdated bills and junk mail can go straight in the shredder.
You'll feel a weight lifted as those piles disappear, and you'll be better organized for the future – there's a reason why this is one of the types of clutter minimalists never have.
Just remember important paperwork is one of the things you should never store in an attic, and to use a security stamp, available from Amazon if you can't shred sensitive data.
Keep your important documents safe with this fire resistant box, designed to protect your documents from fire damage for up to 30 minutes at 1550° Fahrenheit.
This paper shredder can shred 11 pieces of paper per pass, as well as staples and credit cards, with a built-in handle for convenient waste disposal.
These heavy-duty plastic boxes are ideal for stacking and storing documents, while their clear construction makes finding and identifying items easy.
5. The forgotten drawer dive
Every home has at least one of those drawers. You know, the one filled with mystery keys, old receipts, and maybe a random charger or two.
Take a deep breath and dive in! Pull everything out and sort through it. Toss the truly useless things to get rid of in your junk drawer (yes, those dried-up pens), relocate things that belong elsewhere, and organize what's left, making sure to only include essential household items to keep in your junk drawer.
This forgotten drawer often holds items you didn't even know you had, and clearing it out can feel like finding hidden treasure – or just a lot of junk you're better off without!
6. The bathroom cabinet cleanout
Bathroom cabinets are prime real estate for half-used products, expired medications, and things you didn't even know you had, which is why sorting them out should be top of your bathroom decluttering checklist when organizing a bathroom.
Pull everything out and sort it into categories: skincare, haircare, medications and so on. Toss anything expired or no longer useful (bye-bye, dried-up mascara, and questionable sunscreen).
Use small bins or organizers to keep what's left neat and easy to find, taking inspiration from some of the things organized people have in their bathrooms. Just make sure you're clued up on what not to store in a bathroom cabinet before getting started.
Lazy Susans always crop up among storage products professional organizers couldn't live without, loved for their ability to keep items organized and accessible while taking up minimal space.
There's no reason your cabinet organization can't look gorgeously stylish, too. This storage bin is perfectly sized to fit most shelves, with silicone feet to prevent slipping and protect surfaces.
Available in a pack of four, these plastic storage bins have built-in carry handles for portability, while their narrow design makes them suitable for slotting into gaps to make the most of your storage space.
7. Round up children's clutter
Kids are experts at accumulating clutter – think toys, craft, supplies, and clothes they quickly outgrow. Involve them in the process by making it a game.
Ask them to choose toys they no longer play with or clothes that don't fit and donate these items to families in need. This not only helps to organize a playroom and clear up space, but also teaches children the value of giving back.
If you're still short on storage, these playroom storage ideas make the most of small playroom must haves, and are ideal for successfully avoiding any playroom organizing mistakes.
And, if you don't have kids, take this time to organize pet supplies if applicable, or sort out any supplies you use for your hobbies, be it arts and crafts, DIY, or reading.
Large storage baskets like this one are ideal for storing toys, books, or hobby supplies, keeping them out of sight but still accessible.
8. Apply the 'What Even Is This?' test
Every home has those random items you look at and think, 'What even is this?'.
Dig through storage spaces and find those mystery objects eliminating items you didn't even know you had. You can also use the KonMari method and ask yourself if this item sparks joy. If it doesn't, thank it, understand what it's taught you (for instance, that you have too many clothes) and let it go.
After all, if you don't know what it is, can't remember why you have it, or it doesn't make you happy, chances are you don't need it. Let it go, and enjoy the newfound space!
9. Create a home for everything
One of the biggest causes of clutter is not knowing where things belong. As you declutter, assign each item a dedicated home – whether it's a drawer, bin, or shelf.
When everything has a designated spot, it's easier to maintain order, find what you need, and quickly tidy up with a daily reset. This helps to prevent losing control of clutter. This simple habit can make a huge difference in keeping your space organized long-term, boosting your home organizing ideas and keeping rooms orderly.
10. Set up a Donation Station
Finally, set up a designated spot in your home for items you're ready to let go of. A box by the front door will work just fine, as long as you don't find it a source of visual clutter in your entryway. Opt for something like the INDRESSME XXXLarge Cotton Rope Basket available at Amazon, which has strong, durable handles.
Whenever you find something you don't need anymore, pop it in the box. Once it's full, schedule a trip to your local donation center. Keeping the process ongoing makes decluttering feel less overwhelming.
You can also try the 30-day Minimalism Challenge. However many days the month has, declutter that many items, with one item going into your bin a day.
This lightweight and portable storage bin is great for transporting items to your car for taking to the donation center, with a strong wire frame.
If you're interested in learning more about my Organize Yourself Healthy method, my book has all the details you need to break free from bad habits and achieve decluttering success.
For smaller bits and bobs, this affordable storage bin is ideal for tucking away on shelves or in cabinets until full, with convenient, integrated handles.
If you're feeling inspired to set yourself some more challenges, the 5 minute cleaning challenge helps to carve out time and conquer clutter.
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