Smart Minimalist Decluttering Tips for Home
If you’ve been itching to start your minimalist lifestyle but have no idea where to begin, you’re in the right place. This post is packed with all the simple steps, helpful tips, and genius storage solutions you need to finally declutter your entire home—without losing your mind in the process. Whether you’ve been down the Marie Kondo rabbit hole, bingeing decluttering YouTube videos, or just wondering what to do with that overflowing junk drawer, this is your sign.
Minimalist living isn’t about owning almost nothing. It’s about owning the right things. The ones that make your daily routine smoother, your space calmer, and your mental health happier. And while decluttering can feel like a big project, especially if you’ve got sentimental items, a guest room packed with “just in case” stuff, or a hard drive full of digital chaos, it doesn't have to be overwhelming.
With a few small steps, the right mindset, and this giant minimalist declutter list (plus a free copy of our checklist if you want it!), you’ll be on your way to a clutter-free home that feels like an actual breath of fresh air. Ready to feel lighter and love your space again? Let’s go!
Minimalist Decluttering Tips
Before we get into the room-by-room breakdown, let’s talk strategy. Because decluttering your entire house without a plan can feel like trying to solve a puzzle with 500 missing pieces. The good news? With the right approach and some easy mindset shifts, it becomes a whole lot less overwhelming—and way more rewarding.
Start small, seriously.
The first step to any successful decluttering process is choosing one manageable space. Think of something that won’t take much time or mental energy. A drawer, a single shelf, or that one corner of your home office that’s been collecting stuff for way too long. Small wins lead to big momentum. Decluttering is a muscle—and starting small builds it up without burning you out.
Set realistic expectations.
You don’t have to declutter your entire house in a weekend. This isn’t a race—it’s a lifestyle shift. Give yourself permission to go at your own pace. Maybe you tackle one room a week or just 10 items a day. Progress is progress, and trust me, it adds up.
The daily clutter creep is real.
It’s not just the big stuff—it's the way old coffee mugs end up multiplying, how new clothes sneak in when we’re not looking, or how our to-do list never includes “clean out digital space” but probably should. Combat this by building decluttering into your daily routine. Something as simple as clearing your desk at the end of the day or doing a quick 5-minute tidy before bed helps keep clutter from building up again.
Focus on what you’re keeping—not just what you’re tossing.
This is one of the biggest mindset shifts in minimalist living. Instead of feeling bad about how much stuff you have or how long it’s been since you last decluttered, ask yourself: What do I actually love and use on a regular basis? What supports the kind of life I want to live? What would I definitely pack if I was moving next month?
Don’t skip the visual clutter.
Even if everything technically has a home, cluttered countertops, bursting closets, and knickknacks on every surface can still make a room feel overwhelming. Pick a few areas in your home to be clutter-free zones—maybe your nightstand, your kitchen island, or the top of your coffee table. These little oases of calm can totally shift the vibe of your space.
Use social media and YouTube for inspiration—not comparison.
Watching someone do a full pantry overhaul with $500 worth of labeled bins is fun... but it’s not a requirement. Minimalist living can look like a picture-perfect capsule wardrobe or a messy kitchen where everything just works better now. Your process doesn’t have to be aesthetic—it just has to be effective.
Keep a donation bag ready at all times.
Whether it’s in the coat closet, laundry room, or car trunk, having a dedicated spot for things you’re ready to part with makes it easier to act fast when you come across an item you no longer need. It’s a simple way to keep the momentum going without turning decluttering into a production every time.
Let go of “maybe one day.”
That sweater you haven’t worn since last year? The fancy serving dish still in the box? If it’s not something you’ve used or thought about during your last couple of seasons of life, it probably doesn’t have much useanymore. Make quick decisions. The easiest way to reduce clutter is to stop holding onto “what ifs.”
Tackle digital clutter too.
Decluttering isn’t just about the physical stuff. Your digital space deserves some love. Clear out old emails, delete apps you never use, and back up your hard drive so you're not stressed about lost memories. Start with the easiest way—maybe just your phone photos from the last month—and go from there.
Involve your people.
Whether it's your partner, your roommate, or a family member who's been hoarding old phones and cables since 2012, get them in on the process. Decluttering together not only makes it faster, but it creates accountability and shared ownership of the space. Plus, it’s a great way to teach kids about the value of less stuff.
Remember the long run.
The goal isn’t to have a perfectly minimalist home tomorrow—it’s to create a space that actually works for your life in the long run. A home that’s calmer, easier to maintain, and filled with only the things that matter. That’s the best thing about minimalism: it gives you more room for what matters most.
Ultimate Minimalist Declutter List
Living Room
The living room is usually the first spot people see when they walk into your home—and unfortunately, it’s often the most cluttered. Start by tackling anything that creates visual chaos. Clear off the coffee table, and if you're keeping items there, stash them in a coffee table with hidden storage. It keeps things like remotes, coasters, and game controllers out of sight but still within reach.
If you’ve got a tangle of cords from chargers, lamps, or the TV setup, hide them with a clean and sleek cable box organizer. Cluttered shelves and media consoles? Trade them for a more streamlined arch cabinet or a closed sideboard to tuck things away. Add texture and calm to the room with a few woven baskets, which are perfect for extra pillows or throws.
And if you're short on seating, a storage ottoman bench or accent chair with hidden storage does double duty by holding board games, seasonal decor, or even those dog toys you keep tripping over. Top it off with a tall cabinet that gives everything a home—from puzzles to picture frames—without taking up a ton of floor space.
Living Room Organization Products:
Kitchen
If your kitchen feels chaotic, chances are it’s because it’s working harder than it needs to. The first step in decluttering your kitchen is being brutally honest about what you actually use. If you haven’t touched that yogurt maker or spiralizer since last year, it’s probably time to let it go. Once you’ve cleared out the extras, focus on organizing the items you use daily.
Start by streamlining your dishes with a dish organizer that keeps everything neat and easy to grab. Add a stacking shelfinside cabinets to double your storage for plates, bowls, or pantry goods. And if your drawers are an avalanche of utensils, reclaim control with a utensil organizer that gives each item its own little home.
Love a clean countertop? Hang your mugs on mug hooks, and dry dishes on a sleek stone mat instead of the usual bulky rack. Store pantry staples in glass dry goods jars, and upgrade your spices with spice jars and labels that actually match. Under the sink can be a mess, but a sink caddy organizer and under-sink shelf can change that fast.
Don’t forget the paper towel holder and silicone sink tray to keep everything looking clean and intentional. If you’re tight on space, banquette seating with storage is a genius way to sneak in more room without adding clutter.
Kitchen Organization Products:
Baby Room
Tiny humans come with a lot of stuff, and the baby room can spiral into chaos quickly. But with the right storage ideas, even this space can be calm and functional. A rolling diaper caddy cart makes diaper duty way less frantic, and when it comes to clothes, using dresser organizers keeps everything from newborn onesies to extra burp cloths neat and visible.
Hang shelves with pegs to display books or cute baby shoes while also adding storage for swaddles and hats. Use wall baskets to keep the changing station stocked with wipes and creams. For all those little toys and pacifiers, a soft diaper caddy is easy to move around the house as needed.
Keep books within reach (and off the floor) with a pocket organizer shelf, and stash extra blankets or stuffed animals in a storage hammock up in the corner. Sorting baby clothes by age or size? Closet dividers are your new best friend.
Baby Room Organization Products:
Toddler Room
Toddler rooms are fun—but also total chaos magnets. Between toys, clothes, and random treasures, it’s easy to feel like your little one owns half the house. The best way to keep this space tidy is by making sure everything has a place and keeping only what actually gets used.
Start by rotating toys using a Montessori-style shelf, which keeps things accessible and helps your toddler learn to tidy up on their own. For the overflow toys (because there's always more), use a toy storage organizer that lets you sort by type—blocks in one bin, animals in another. Hang coats, backpacks, or dress-up outfits on coat hooks, and keep laundry wrangled with a beautiful oversized woven hamper.
Create a little reading nook with a plush toddler chair and a pocket bookshelf that encourages a love for books (and keeps them off the floor). Keep their clothes organized with drawer dividers, and toss everything else into woven baskets or easy-to-move handle baskets. Even a pouf ottoman with hidden storage can sneak in more function without taking up play space.
Toddler Room Organization Products:
Car
Decluttering doesn’t end at home—your car deserves some love too. Whether you're a parent on the go or just hate digging through crumbs and receipts to find your sunglasses, car clutter can seriously kill the vibe. Start by corralling all the odds and ends with a trunk organizer, and keep trash in check with a sleek car bin that won’t slide all over the floor.
Organize backseat chaos with a car seat organizer, and don’t underestimate the power of a cup holder expander—especially for water bottles or coffee on busy mornings. A sunglasses holder makes grabbing your shades a breeze, while a car bag hook keeps your purse from flying off the seat every time you brake.
Want to keep tissues handy and stylish? Go with a tissue holder that clips to your visor. Bonus: if you’ve got kiddos in the back, a headrest tablet holder is a lifesaver for long drives, and a handheld vacuum keeps the snack messes under control. Oh, and those mystery items that always fall between the seats? A seat gap filler saves the day.
Car Organization Products:
Decluttering your home doesn’t have to be dramatic. It doesn’t have to be perfect. But it does have to start somewhere. This time of year is the perfect starting point for building a clutter-free home, and trust me—decluttering challenges can actually be fun things once you see how much better your space feels.
Whether you’re downsizing with a designer’s eye or just trying to make space for new clothes and new things, taking the next step toward less stuff is the best thing you can do for your peace of mind. And if you ever feel stuck? Refer back to this minimalist list of things to clear out and tackle it at your own pace.
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