Decluttering your home doesn’t have to be complicated. Many guides will tell you, “Do this, don’t do that,” or, “Follow this exact method, and you’ll achieve the perfect minimalist home.” But the truth is, the secret to keeping your home free from clutter is different for each of us. That’s because the reason your home became cluttered in the first place isn’t the same as your neighbour’s or your best friend’s.
So, how do you solve your clutter problem? How do you get rid of unnecessary belongings in a way that ensures they don’t just pile back up again? If you were searching for something but had no idea what it looked like, how would you find it? That’s what decluttering feels like if you don’t first identify why you’re in this mess.
In this guide, we’ll break down the most effective decluttering strategies based on the specific cause of your clutter, so you can create a home that stays tidy long after the process is complete.
Take a look at your hand, and then take a look at your fingers. You’ll notice that each one is a different size and shape. Well, just like your fingers, we’re all different. We all have our own habits, tendencies, and (let’s face it) shortcomings when it comes to keeping things in order. Understanding why clutter builds up in your home is the key to eliminating it for good.
Some reasons might be:
• Sentimental attachment – Holding on to items because they were inherited, gifted, or tied to memories.
• Hoarding tendencies – Difficulty letting go of anything, often due to a deep psychological need to hold onto possessions.
• Procrastination – Piling up items because sorting them feels overwhelming or time-consuming.
• A busy lifestyle – Lack of time or mental space to organise your home due to work, family, or other commitments.
• Impulse buying – Constantly acquiring new items without properly evaluating whether they are needed.
• Lack of storage solutions – Poor organisation leading to clutter, even when the items themselves are useful.
• Avoidance – Ignoring clutter because facing it feels stressful, exhausting, or even emotionally painful.
Knowing which category you fall into, or if it’s a mix, will help you choose the best decluttering method.
Now that you know why your clutter exists, let’s go over methods that will help you eliminate it efficiently.
The ‘One Room at a Time’ Method
Ideal for: Busy lifestyles, procrastinators
Instead of trying to declutter a whole house at once, which can become overwhelming very quickly, you can work through systematically, tackling one room at a time. You can even set a timer for around 30 minutes to 1 hour to use short, focused bursts and concentrate on specific areas or categories. You don’t have to do it all on the same day either—this can be done over a matter of days, even weeks if necessary. Before you know it, your home will be clutter-free.
The ‘Four Box’ Method
Ideal for: Those who already feel overwhelmed by clutter
In this simple but effective method, you set up four different boxes, ideally cardboard boxes or something sizable, and label them:
• Keep – Items you regularly use and love.
• Donate – Items in good condition but no longer needed.
• Bin – Any broken or unusable items.
• Recycle – Anything that can be reused or repurposed.
Every item you touch must go into one of these four. Be honest with yourself; otherwise, it will not work. Try not to keep absolutely everything. You can hire house clearance services to bin or recycle your items if needed. And you can contact charities who will collect or you can drop off. If you haven’t used something in a couple of years, the chances are you don’t need it and it needs to go.
The KonMari Method
Ideal for: People emotionally attached to their belongings
Created by Marie Kondo, this method focuses on keeping only items that "spark joy." It’s a highly intentional approach based on emotional attachment rather than functionality. You declutter by category, not location. For example, you’d start with clothes, then books, then sentimental items. Pick up each item and ask yourself, "Does this spark joy?" If the answer is no, thank the item for its service and let it go.
The 12-12-12 Challenge
Ideal for: People who find it difficult to focus on one thing for too long and want something fun
This gamified method makes decluttering more engaging by setting specific goals. Identify 12 items to throw away, 12 to donate, and 12 to put back in their proper place. This can be done daily, weekly, or as needed and is great for maintaining a clutter-free space over time.
The 20/20 Rule
Ideal for: Those embracing minimalism, hoarders
Created by The Minimalists (Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus), this quick decision-making tool helps eliminate "just in case" items. If an item can be replaced for under £20 and in under 20 minutes, you probably don’t need to keep it. It works well for small household goods, tech accessories, and miscellaneous clutter.
You should now have a good understanding why your clutter builds up and even a suitable method for sorting through it in a way that does not cause any stress or inconvenience.
It's important to remember that decluttering doesn’t always have to mean getting rid of everything. Yes, If you have huge amounts of old, unusable, or unneeded clutter then you should definitely go for one of the proven decluttering methods above, but sometimes you might just need better organisation.
Try to remember these final points :
• Adopt a daily ‘reset’ routine - spend 10 minutes tidying up each evening.
• Don’t let things pile up - if something takes less than 2 minutes to put away, do it immediately.
• Avoid unnecessary shopping - think twice before buying more stuff.
• Regularly review your possessions - make decluttering a habit, not an annual event.
If the thought of decluttering feels overwhelming, and the sheer volume of unwanted items seems impossible to tackle alone, you don’t have to face it by yourself.
If possible, reach out to friends or family for guidance and support. Those who know you well can offer advice, motivation, and even hands-on assistance to help you make decisions about what to keep and what to let go of.
However, if you’re unable to get help from those close to you, there are expert services available to make the process easier. From professional organisers and house clearance services to support from your local authority, there are specialists who deal with decluttering every day and can take the stress out of the process.
• Professional organisers - These are trained experts who specialise in decluttering and home organisation. They work with you to create structured systems, optimise storage solutions, and provide personalised strategies to maintain a clutter-free home. Whether you struggle with sentimental attachments, hoarding tendencies, or just lack the time to get organised, a professional organiser can guide you through every step, ensuring a smooth and stress-free experience.
• House Clearance Services - Once you've sorted through your belongings and decided what stays and what goes, hiring an expert service like Central Junk can take care of the heavy lifting. Whether you need to dispose of old, broken, or unwanted items, they will handle the entire process for you, from removal to responsible disposal or recycling. They can also donate reusable items to charities, ensuring that nothing goes to waste unnecessarily. For more information on Central Junk’s house clearance services, get a free quote or call 020 3923 3679.
• Your local authority - Many councils offer bulky waste collection services for large items such as furniture, mattresses, or appliances that are no longer needed. While these collections may require booking in advance and sometimes involve a small fee, they provide a simple and reliable way to clear out unwanted household items in an environmentally responsible manner. Some councils also have waste and recycling centres where you can drop off items for free, ensuring that they are disposed of properly.
Decluttering is more than just tidying up - it’s about creating a home that feels peaceful, functional, and stress-free. By identifying why clutter builds up in the first place and following a structured approach, you can maintain a tidy home all year round.
So, are you ready to take on 2025 with a fresh, organised space? Let’s do this!