Decluttering can be difficult, time-consuming and both physically and mentally demanding. But the desire to see this task be finished ASAP can result in decluttering mistakes, making the task less effective now and harder in the long run.
With so many effective decluttering tips to choose from, it can be tricky to know which ones will work best for you and your home. For this reason, it’s often simpler to focus on what not to do, instead including lacking a goal and relying on gimmicky challenges.
We spoke to professional home organizers to uncover the 11 biggest decluttering mistakes you might be making, their top tips for fixing these issues and and what exactly to do instead.
11 common home decluttering mistakes
1. Trying to do everything at once
Although decluttering large areas at once can work if you are highly energized, motivated, and well-practiced, it is not a sustainable practice for many of us.
Brenda Scott, professional home organizer, and decluttering expert, owner of Tidy My Space says, 'Decluttering all at once doesn't always work into a busy schedule and it can get overwhelming and stressful to see your entire home turned upside down. I recommend either decluttering by category or area instead of decluttering without making a mess.
‘Pick a category, like sports equipment to sort and edit, or pick a room. I start with the storage areas first because that's where items are hidden away and forgotten. Forgotten and unused items are most likely the easiest and quickest to edit out.'
A good rule of thumb is if you haven't used it in a year, or forgot you had it, get rid of it by recycling, selling or donating. You can apply the same principle to duplicate items.
2. Focusing on getting rid of stuff, not what to keep
Knowing where to start when decluttering is one of the hardest elements of the process, so it can seem logical to start by focusing on everything you want to let go of. This is a mistake that can lead to too much negativity, however, and makes life more difficult.
Amélie Saint-Jaques, professional organizer and certified KonMari consultant at Amélie Organizes, explains, 'To reframe your thinking to make decluttering easier, instead of trying to figure out what to get rid of, only think of what you want to keep. And do make sure to examine every item.
‘For example, if you are standing in front of your cluttered bookcase and picking out one or two titles to get rid of, I guarantee you won't make much progress. But if you actually take all the books off your shelves, wipe them down, and then look at each title while asking yourself if you really love it enough to put it back on your shelf, you will make so much more progress. This is one thing I always do with my clients as part of Marie Kondo's method.’
3. Starting without a goal
If you’re looking for ways to declutter your home, the chances are you’ve not done it in a while. Getting stuck straight in may feel like a productive – and necessary – method, but it can have the opposite effect, leaving you feeling completely overwhelmed and wondering why you started the job in the first place.
To avoid this, and set yourself up for a successful decluttering session, begin by asking yourself what you want to achieve – is it to declutter the whole house or just one room? Perhaps you’d like to free up some space with clever storage ideas or streamline your morning routine with closet organization ideas. Whatever the goal, knowing it in advance will help you stay focused on the task at hand.
4. Relying on challenges
Decluttering challenges such as the seven-day declutter challenge, or the 30-day minimalism game can be a fun way to kick-start the process, it is not a sustainable decluttering approach for the longer term.
Amélie Saint-Jaques, professional organizer, adds, 'I often see those challenges online, where you get rid of X number of items a day, fill one trash bag a day, or declutter for a burst of 15 minutes, for example. While those can be good to get the ball rolling when lacking motivation, I find that they are not the best way to do a thorough job.
‘It is better to tackle an entire category or section of your home at once, instead of piecemeal over a long period of time. You can break down your closet and dresser into sections and declutter one section at a time, but it is better to tackle all your clothes in, say, a week of doing a bit of it every day, rather than declutter one shirt here, one pair of shoes there, over a year.'
5. Starting organizing before finishing decluttering
While decluttering and home organizing often go hand in hand, it’s important to remember they’re not the same thing. Organized clutter is still clutter, so decluttering must come first.
‘Too many people get carried away buying storage that isn’t necessary or doesn’t do the job they need it to. This can hinder space rather than enhance it, and undo all your decluttering efforts, says professional organizer Vicky Silverthorn of You Need a Vicky.
Only once you’ve completed the decluttering process fully are you best placed to work out the most suitable organization methods for what’s left. Experts recommend making a list and heading armed with measurements to shop for storage solutions. If you're on a budget, storage is one the things you should thrift, according to experts.
Storage baskets can be used both while decluttering, to help separate piles, and after to help organize the items you are keeping. These have handles for easy maneuvering.
With decluttering out of the way, you can think about hiding your lesser-used items such as spare linens and out-of-season clothes. We love under-bed storage items like this one, which has a clear sealing lid to help you identify what you have where, and easy pull handles and wheels for easy access.
Keep clutter at bay by organizing drawers into sections after decluttering. Drawer dividers are a great way to make drawers easier to navigate so nothing gets hidden or lost at the bottom. These expandable ones will fit most standard drawers but check the minimum and maximum dimensions to make sure they work for your space.
6. Letting sentimentality get the better of you
Whether it’s an heirloom coat or a cherished childhood toy, we’ve all got items that we no longer use but couldn’t bear to part with, and that’s okay. Decluttering doesn’t mean you have to get rid of absolutely everything, but you do need to be a little strict with yourself, and keeping more than you can house is one of the top decluttering mistakes you can make.
‘Keep in mind that your home is not a museum and memories are not in physical objects, so you should be able to remove them from your home without feeling guilty’, say the decluttering experts at The Classy Home .
Try to limit yourself to just one storage box per room when decluttering sentimental items. That should help you to be selective about what you really want to hold on to. It may be tempting, but try not to create a ‘maybe’ pile. If you start one of these every time you declutter, you’ll often find it’s the biggest of the lot and you’re no better off than when you started.
7. Getting rid of too much stuff
Of course, the whole point of decluttering is to get rid of stuff. However, it is entirely possible to get rid of too much stuff and end up with decluttering regret points out Meaghan Kessman, a professional home organizer at Meaghan Kessman Home Organization.
‘Decluttering isn't about minimalism for everyone.' she says. 'It's about creating a functional space that works for you. Focus on organizing and storing items practically. Use storage solutions for tidiness and accessibility. Aim for a more enjoyable space, not just discarding items.’
8. Thinking it is a once-and-done task
Although many decluttering tips are incredibly effective, you can’t rely on them once and never again. Decluttering is a constant effort.
Audra George, professional home organizer and owner of Pretty Neat, Oklahoma says, 'Decluttering should be a habit that happens at least a few times a year to gradually work through each space and as you buy new things, get rid of the old that is not serving you anymore. The more you do it, the quicker and easier it gets each time really keeping your space clean and tidy.’
9. Starting with the hardest tasks
It may feel like a good idea to tackle your biggest decluttering challenges head-on, but according to Catharina Björkman, Scandi lifestyle expert at Contura, starting with the easier tasks is a much better way to build momentum.
She says, ‘Start by setting yourself small challenges that can be crossed off quickly, such as reorganizing your spice rack, organizing a desk, or organizing a drawer. It will only take you 10 minutes or so, but you’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment.
'Starting small like this will build your confidence in tackling bigger tasks, such as clearing out the attic or garage, for example, making for a more efficient – and enjoyable – experience overall.'
10. Focusing on the cost of items
When we have spent so much money on things, it can be hard to let them go – even if we do not use them or like them. Getting away from thinking about the initial cost of items – or trying to sell them on – is a mindset shift that helps prevent clutter and makes decluttering easier.
Brenda Scott, professional home organizer, says, ‘What we see as having value is usually because we remember what we paid for it originally. This doesn't translate to the price someone else will pay for it used. Unless you have lots of time to post items online with auction houses or collector sites, the average person will be paying a very small fraction of the original price. This is especially true with solid wood furniture, figurines, and fancy dinnerware.
‘Be realistic and be ready to lose money on items that you've collected over the years, thinking that it's increasing in value, it most likely is not.’
11. Thinking it takes ages
Thinking about decluttering a house takes ages is one of the biggest barriers to getting started. In reality, however, it can take as long or as little as you like to declutter a home room by room.
Audra George, professional home organizer, recommends decluttering baby steps so it is not so overwhelming. She adds, 'Start in one space and work one shelf and one drawer at a time. Even 30 minutes a day adds to up to a lot of time over a month.'
Don't forget there are ways to make decluttering fun. Working with a friend or family member, putting on your favorite movie or music to work on, or adding in little treats and rewards can make the process quicker and help you when decluttering when you feel overwhelmed.
