Create a Minimalist Home Without Giving Everything Away: A Ten-Step Guide on Decluttering and Organizing Spaces for a Simpler, More Peaceful Home Environment

Introduction

In today’s fast-paced world, creating a home that feels like a sanctuary is more important than ever. We have all heard of burning the candle at both ends, and if we cannot come home to an intentional space designed for peace, comfort, and restoration, we will spend the best energy of our day shuffling clutter from one place to the next, missing those precious memories with our loved ones. Many of us dream of a clutter-free, minimalist home where everything has its place. However, the thought of giving away half your possessions can be daunting. The good news? You don’t have to! You can simplify your life without having a yard sale every three months, or making your family live out of a conversion van. This guide will walk you through a 10-step process of organizing and decluttering your home without sacrificing the things you love, allowing you to embrace a simpler, more intentional lifestyle filled with value, simplicity, and memories.

What Will You Learn?

In this article, you’ll learn how to:

• Simplify your life without giving everything away.
• Approach decluttering your home with intention, focusing on high-clutter zones, and trouble spots.
• Use storage containers effectively to maintain organization – when, where, why, and how.
• Create new habits to keep your space clutter-free for the long term – manageable maintenance.
• Embrace the benefits of a minimalist lifestyle and simplify home life for good.

By following this guide, you’ll be able to transform your home into a space that supports peace, simplicity, and intentional living—all in just 10 to 15 days. For more specific guides, check out our articles on decluttering and organizing your Kitchen, Bathrooms, Closets, an Garage.

Step 1: Set Clear Goals and Prioritize Spaces

Why Setting Goals Matters

Before diving into the physical process of decluttering your home, it’s essential to define your motivations. Ask yourself: Why do you want to simplify your life? Maybe you want to create more time for family or simply enjoy a less chaotic environment. These goals will keep you focused when the process feels overwhelming. Start with a blank sheet of paper, excel doc, or notes app. List every value that you desire around having a clutter-free home. Once the list is completed, prioritize these points in order of importance, and list specific pain points in your home that are in opposition to these values. This will be a guide post for you as you deep dive into de-cluttering. When done correctly, there should be no corner of your home left untouched, and when you are in the trenches, we can tend to lose focus on the hierarchy of goals. Simply put, the goal is to declutter, not start new projects that will pull our focus away from the task at hand.

Prioritizing High Clutter Zones When Decluttering Your Home

Not all spaces are created equal. Start by identifying the trouble spots that cause the most stress. High-clutter zones like the kitchen, bathrooms, and closets are great starting points. When done correctly, decluttering is not a weekend event, and you should plan for 10-15 days to complete. Focusing on these areas first can give you the biggest and most immediate sense of relief and accomplishment.

Step 2: Create a Decluttering Plan

Breaking Down the Process

Decluttering an entire home can feel overwhelming, so breaking it down into smaller tasks is crucial. Create a plan that addresses each room and category, like clothing, books, and kitchen items. Allocate 1-2 days per area, aiming to complete the entire process in 10-15 days. This structure ensures steady progress without burnout. For a comprehensive approach to this process, check out our Mastering the Decluttering Mindset Article.

How to Stay on Track

Use a simple checklist or planner to track your progress. Apps like Any.Do or a good old-fashioned calendar can help keep you on course as you simplify your life. This is where your personality and creativity can takeover. Some people will choose to inventory the items as they go, keeping track on paper what is staying and what is going. For others, it is shooting from the hip. Go with whatever works for you. This is not a competition, it is about your peace.

Step 3: Gather Your Supplies

What You’ll Need

• Storage containers for organizing and storing items. Don’t be afraid to pop into a big box store and purchase an assortment of sizes (in multiples) of containers. All storage areas are not created equally, and items vary in size and associated uses. The last thing you will want is a decluttered home where you can’t find anything, or the items you use on a regular basis end up three rooms away from where you need them. We recommend Clear Storage Containers. You may pay a little more up front for quality containers, but being able to clearly identify contents will save you precious time when locating specific items for use or storage.

• New Hangers. This is not a must, but I have found that purchasing high-quality hangers, or at least replacing the ones that need attention, are defective, or not meant for the material they are hanging can be a huge boost to moral and confidence. Consider using a hanger system that will serve each type of fabric properly – i.e. hangers that will grip loose shirts to prevent shifting, or wider wooden hangers that will alleviate pressure stretching.

• Boxes for donations and items to sell. Divide and Conquer. If you are doing this as a team, put one person in charge of donations, one person in charge of pictures and listing. Do whatever works for your home and your varying abilities. If your home is anything like mine, you have an abundance of amazon boxes for donation. If you are looking for a more holistic approach, consider investing in collapsable boxes/crates that will serve you well in any space of temporary storage or transport. These are great for holidays, sporting events, and grocery runs.

• Trash bags for things that need to be discarded. Don’t go cheap on these. get at least heavy duty bags. This is an undertaking, and although you may begin to enjoy it as you progress, the last thing you need is unnecessary frustrations like an entire bag of trash exploding and cascading down your staircase.

Using Storage Containers Effectively

Choose clear storage containers so you can see what’s inside, making it easier to find items later. I have plenty of people that push back on this because they don’t want to see the junk. Do it right the first time, you’ll thank me later. Label each container to ensure that everything has a designated space. DO NOT commingle uses. if it is for the bathroom, and there is a little space on top, do not place closet items inside. You want this to be for efficient use, not trying to remember where you put the extra face wipes at 11 o’clock at night. Remember, you are decluttering your home, not organizing by creating 35 separate containers of clutter.

Step 4: Sort by Category, Not Location

The Benefits of Category-Based Sorting

Instead of tackling an entire room, focus on one category at a time (e.g., clothing, books, or kitchenware). This approach allows you to see how many similar items you have and makes it easier to identify duplicates or items you no longer need. Having duplicates is okay in some respects, but if you have your organization specific to functional needs, you may find that you have multiples of items based on passive organization – i.e. I set this down somewhere other than its given place, could not find it in the moment, so I impulsively purchased again. Decluttering your home is a process, and often times a cycle of forgiveness. If you have never engaged these tools, it is critical to acknowledge the learning curve and understanding that you are going to be breaking unconscious habits. This doesn’t happen overnight, so give yourself some grace.

Example: Sorting Through Clothes

Gather all of your clothes from every closet and drawer, and put them in one place. Evaluate each piece based on its use, quality, and whether it fits your current lifestyle. Donate or sell items that no longer serve a purpose in your minimalist lifestyle.

From a value-based approach, it may benefit you to understand what looks good on you from an objective stand-point. I took the time to evaluate my colors, and I am so glad that I did! When my wife initially told me she was getting her colors checked, I thought it was a little ridiculous. When she showed me her results, it made sense to get the entire family assessed. As a man who doesn’t like shopping, understanding my color palette has been the best stress reliever when choosing clothes that I just want to look good on me, and has pushed me out of my comfort zone for colors and patterns that I would have never explored. Do get a better understanding of this process, check out Laurie Loo. If your goal is to simplify your life, this could be a massive step in the right direction!

Lastly, clothing stays with us for many reasons and seasons. Sometimes it’s memories, sometimes it’s motivation, sometimes it’s “when I wear that dress, I feel like a million dollars,” even if once in a blue moon. Be careful to let go of clothing that shames you. We all have goals, but if they are unreasonable, or unattainable, it might be time to accept you for you and get rid of them. The last thing you need is to feel shamed by a piece of clothing in your closet that calls out to you every time you’re trying to get ready. Small moments of guilt like this can compound and create a negative space in your spirit, mind, and body. If you want to dive a little deeper into this rabbit hole, check out Shira Gill

Step 5: Use the “Keep, Donate, Sell, Trash” Method

How It Works

For each item, ask yourself:

• Do I use this regularly?
• Does it add value to my life?
• Is it worth the time and space it takes up in my home?
• What would I lose by giving it away?

Place each item into one of four piles: Keep, Donate, Sell, Trash. Be honest with yourself during this process. Remember, the goal is to simplify without feeling deprived.

Dealing with Sentimental Items

Sentimental items can be the hardest to part with. Consider keeping just a few that truly mean something and taking photos of the rest to preserve memories without the physical clutter.

Step 6: Organize As You Go

Step 6: Organize As You Go

As you decide what to keep, start organizing those items immediately. Use storage containers and drawer organizers to create a space for each item. Organize based on how often you use items, placing everyday essentials in easy-to-reach spots. Important note: When purchasing containers, drawer organizers, and space savers, the big box stores near you may not carry the specific types/styles that you are looking for. Be sure to take time to measure all areas and carefully review the three-dimensional measurements of the products you are buying online. This is a marathon, and the last thing you want to do is show up to the starting line with the wrong shoes on. Remember, you’re trying to simplify your life. Measure twice and cut once.

Organizing Tips for High-Clutter Zones

• Kitchen: Use shelf risers and pull-out drawers to maximize storage space. This also includes letting go of the ziploc containers you have had since college. You don’t need 30 of them. Treat them like clothes. If you haven’t used them in a year, get rid of them!
• Closets: Group similar items together (e.g., shoes, accessories) and use storage bins for seasonal clothing. Ask yourself questions like: How many pairs of black boots do I need? And, do I really need twelve green shirts?
• Bathrooms: Install shallow, wall-mounted shelves to store toiletries and free up counter space while avoiding crowding traffic zones. Get rid of that tube of toothpaste you brought home from that all-inclusive resort you stayed at three years ago.

Step 7: Maximize Storage Space

Vertical Storage Solutions

Think vertically when organizing—install shelves or use tall storage units to make use of your home’s vertical space. This not only saves floor space but also helps keep surfaces clear, contributing to a clutter-free environment.

Hidden Storage Ideas

Use multi-purpose furniture like storage ottomans, beds with built-in drawers, or under-bed storage boxes to keep things tidy and out of sight. If you plan to put items under the stairs, make sure you use containers on the bottom tier that have wheels, or build some sort of roller system. The last thing you want is to drag ten containers out to get to the Halloween decorations under the first two stairs.

Step 8: Digitize Paperwork and Photos

Why Go Digital?

Digital storage can drastically reduce physical clutter. Scan documents, receipts, and old photos to keep a digital copy, then shred or recycle the paper versions. most smart phones have scanner apps/options, or you can purchase an inexpensive scanner that will connect to your laptop or desk top.

How to Organize Digital Files

Use cloud storage services like Google Drive or Dropbox to keep important files accessible yet secure. Create folders to sort documents by type, such as financial records, family photos, or personal projects. If you plan to store these items on your computer, purchase an external, Solid State hard drive. You will pay more initially, but it will likely outlast your current computer.

Step 9: Establish Daily and Weekly Tidying Habits

Create a Daily Routine

Spend 10 minutes at the end of each day putting items back in their designated places. A quick daily tidy-up helps prevent clutter from building up over time. Build this into a family planner, calendar, or app for convenience and accountability. In our home, this happens right when we get home for the day – 10-15 minutes, then 10 minutes right before bed.

Weekly Clutter Checks

Set aside time each week for a quick clutter check of high-use areas like the living room, kitchen, and entryway. This habit ensures that everything remains in order. Keep this as a set time period as much as possible. Stick to it and make it a priority for the whole family. You are building generational mindset and values as much as you are cleaning an organizing your home. Remember, decluttering your home is a process that never ends, but with the right habits in place, it clutter can be prevented before it even happens. For a comprehensive checklist, check our article on Mastering the Decluttering Mindset.

Step 10: Embrace a Minimalist Mindset and Lifestyle

What Is Intentional Living?

Living intentionally means making mindful decisions about what you allow into your space. Before making new purchases, ask yourself if the item aligns with your goal of simplifying life. Decluttering your home is merely addressing the symptoms of misalignment with bringing value into your home. This is about understand what is coming into your space and why.

Go through the checklist:

• Do I want this or do I need this?
• Do I already have something like this that will serve the same purpose?
• How will this serve me and/or my family?
• How will this bring Value to my life?
• Will this simplify my life or will it add unjustified complication?

Tips for Embracing a Decluttering Lifestyle

• Focus on quality over quantity when shopping.
• Only bring in items that serve a purpose or bring genuine joy and peace.
• Regularly assess your possessions to ensure they still align with your vision for a minimalist home.
• Resist justifying keeping items that you spent large amounts of money on. if you feel uncomfortable giving them away, sell them.

Maintenance Tips for a Clutter-Free Lifestyle

1. Keep a Donation Box Handy: Place a donation box in your closet or garage for items you no longer need. When it’s full, drop it off at a local charity.
2. One In, One Out Rule: For every new item you bring into your home, commit to removing one item. This prevents accumulation.
3. Create a Paper Management System: Use a tray or folder system for incoming mail and bills, and digitize them weekly.
4. Revisit Your Goals Every 6 Months: Check in with your original goals and adjust as needed to stay on track with your minimalist lifestyle.
5. Schedule Regular Declutter Sessions: Every three months, revisit your trouble spots and high-clutter zones for a refresh.

FAQ: Simplifying Life Through Decluttering

Q: How long to plan for decluttering your home?
A: This 10-step process can take about 10-15 days, depending on the size of your home and the amount of clutter. Breaking it into daily tasks makes it more manageable.

Q: Do I have to get rid of everything to have a minimalist home?
A: No, minimalism is about being intentional with what you keep. Focus on simplifying life by keeping what truly adds value and letting go of the excess.

Q: How do I decide what to keep and what to discard?
A: Ask yourself if each item serves a purpose or brings you joy. If not, consider donating, selling, or discarding it.

Q: What’s the best way to organize small spaces?
A: Use vertical storage solutions, multi-purpose furniture, and clear storage containers to maximize small spaces. Keeping surfaces clear can make a small room feel larger.

Q: How do I maintain a clutter-free home long-term?
A: Establish daily and weekly tidying habits, and regularly reassess the items in your home. Being mindful about new purchases also helps maintain a clutter-free space.

Summary

Decluttering your home doesn’t have to mean parting with everything you own. With this 10-step guide, you can simplify home life, create more space, and embrace a minimalist lifestyle in a way that feels comfortable and sustainable. Whether it’s sorting through high-clutter zones or establishing new habits for maintaining your space, each step helps create a home that supports peace, simplicity, and intentional living. By following these steps over 10-15 days, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying a more organized, clutter-free life.