Looking to start your new year with a clean slate? Have “staying tidy” as one of your 2025 resolutions? Get ready to declutter your space with this ultimate checklist. Whether you’re looking to tidy up your rental home in Phoeniz, AZ, organize your apartment in Richmond, VA, or finally clean out some areas in home in Henderson, NV, we’ve got you covered.
The new year is the perfect time to start fresh and we’ve got great ideas for you to check off as you go. Having a clean space is especially important for the mind, says Diane Sainte Marie of Simply Organized By Diane, who says,“The importance of professional organizing is to reduce clutter in the home, modify environmental spaces for safety, minimize the time to process information, and improve time management. Studies show that clutter increases cortisol which…affects attention, language, and ability to accomplish goals in a timely manner. [Thus,] appropriate storage solutions for easy access [can] lessen frustration and decrease stress levels in the brain.”
1. Establish your mindset
Before starting the decluttering process, it’s important to first get a mental grasp on this arguably daunting task since it can easily become overwhelming.
Start by setting your intentions and reminding yourself why you want to tidy your spaces. Having a strong goal and motivators will help during this process. Amanda Maish, a certified organizational specialist at LHL Organizing, recommends first taking “a moment to visualize the joyful space and gatherings you want to have.” Then think about a goal, like decluttering your “space to enjoy activities and gatherings with your friends and family and invite new people into your life and home.”
Don’t forget to be realistic with your goals as well. “Self-reflection plays a key role in understanding which habits and solutions will work best for you,” says Sensibly Sorted’s Amanda Strine. “Tackle your home in manageable phases and implement easy-to-maintain organizing systems and habits to ensure long-term success. The most impactful habit is adopting a ‘less is more’ mindset and being mindful of what you bring into your home. Focusing on quality over quantity will keep your home tidy and practical,” adds Amanda.
Also, remember decluttering is not only physical but emotional. Go Goddess Organizing’s Unison Frances reminds us that this process “isn’t about rushing; it’s about building a lifestyle of intention.” Sorting through certain items or spaces may be difficult, so please be kind to yourself and give yourself grace when needed. Remember to “give yourself freedom and permission to get rid of things,” says The Organized Drawer’s Melanie Caffee.
“Often we feel wasteful when we get rid of items; however, there are items you don’t need taking your time, energy, and peace of mind which is also a waste,” Melanie adds. After all, “the magic is in the movement — when you release what no longer serves you, you make space for what truly matters and create a cozy comfy home that serves you!”
2. Have a gameplan: best decluttering tips
Now that you’ve set your intentions and are ready to mentally tackle the decluttering process, here are some tried and true tips for the best success.
Ask yourself questions when sorting
Once again, it can be hard getting rid of items, especially ones you may be attached to. Neatly’s
Angelique Beach recommends asking yourself the following four questions to make the process easier: “1. When you bought this item what meaning did it have for you then vs what meaning does it have for you now? 2. Did this item serve its purpose? 3. If you were shopping today, would you buy it again? 4. For seasonal items, ask yourself: If the weather changed tomorrow, would this be one of the first things you chose to wear? These questions can help you hone in on what truly adds value, leaving you with a more organized and intentional space for the year ahead,” says Angelique.
Three categories method
When going through your items, opt for the three categories method. Here you’ll “create three bins [boxes, bags, or piles]: keep, throw, and donate,” tells Elite Garage And Closets’ Kami Rasmussen. If you’re not sure where an item should go, remember the four questions and “focus on what actually makes you smile or serves a purpose in your life right now,” suggests Philly Neat Freaks’ Marlena Masitto.
A great way to go through everything is to “remove everything, group similar items together, and evaluate what truly belongs there,” recommends Orderly At The Shore’s Kimberly Cheeseman. Seeing all of your items out in the open can help you see what you really need and “once you return only the essentials, your space will feel more streamlined and functional,” says Kimberly.
This method helps keep you organized well, while you organize, and “the more you do it, the better (and faster) you get,” says Marlena. Just “be sure to label your bins for easy identification,” adds Kami.
Set a timer
Another great method is to set a time to declutter. Organizing With Joy San Diego’s
Kim Santos recommends “pick[ing[ an area, designat[ing] a time (maybe even set a timer so as not to become overwhelmed), and have bags [thee categories method] handy.”
“Set a 20-30 minute timer and start sorting items into categories (keep in this room, keep in another room, donate, recycle, specialty recycling, and trash). When the timer goes off, bag or box each category and take it where you’ve determined it should go as soon as possible (to spare yourself having to make the decision again later down the road),” Real Life Professional Organizing’s Bethel Swift-Muñoz.
One way to use the timer method is to listen to a podcast when decluttering. For example, choose an episode and listen to that when you’re cleaning out your pantry, choose another when you’re reorganizing your bathroom drawers, etc.
3. Tackle the main areas
One method is to start with your main areas like the living room or entryway since that’s what you’re likely to see first.
Reorganize the living room
“The new year is the perfect time to reset and create a home that brings you peace and clarity, [so] start with the most visible area in your home, like the living room,” suggests Organizing NJ’s
Galina Mao. “Tackling these spaces first can deliver immediate results and inspire you to continue with other areas,” says Galina. “Break[ing] projects into small, manageable chunks [can help to] avoid feeling overwhelmed,” she adds.
Straighten out the entryway
“Start the new year by decluttering one small, high-traffic area in your home — like the entryway,” suggests professional organizer Carolina Barreto of In Style Home Organizing. For this area “set up a system for shoes, coats, bags, mail, and other bits and bobs that tend to accumulate at the entry,” recommends Tartan Organizing’s Natalie Broyhill. Carolina also recommends the three-category method to “resist the temptation to buy organizing products until you’re done decluttering.” After you’ve decluttered, “create a home for everything else that will stay,” as Natalie recommends to maintain the tidiness.
Photo courtesy of Sensibly Sorted
4. Tidy the kitchen
A great place to start is with your kitchen! Professional organizer Rebecca Haumann of In Harmony Organizing recommends starting “with the area of your home that is currently most frustrating on a daily basis,” like the kitchen. “Decluttering your kitchen for the new year is [also] a practical way to refresh one of the most used spaces in your home,” adds EZstorit’s director of marketing and promotion Lee Preston.
Purge the pantry
When was the last time you cleaned out your fridge? Okay, what about your cupboard? You likely have several seasonings and food items that you haven’t used in ages!
“Start by going through your spices, tossing those that have expired or lost their potency,” suggests Lee. Same goes with old food and beverages – get rid of anything you no longer use or eat. Be sure to check expiration dates as well since you likely have expired items you’ve forgotten about, never even used, and are begging to be tossed away.
Clear out the cabinets and drawers
Moving onto your kitchen appliances, tools, and other things you store in your drawers, “consider storing them in a less accessible spot to free up everyday space,” suggests Lee. “Clearing out unused gadgets and cookware creates a more efficient and enjoyable cooking environment,” they add.
Join Sorted’s co-founder Talia Rosenthal recommends “start[ing] small to build momentum by focusing on a single category, like kitchen gadgets.” Remembering the four questions, she also reminds us to “be honest and let go of items that no longer fit your lifestyle.”
5. Declutter random drawers
Speaking of drawers, like many of us, you may have a junk drawer (or two – we listen and we don’t judge) of miscellaneous items.
You can also start here instead of with the entryway or kitchen. “Beginning with a ‘quick win’ like tackling a small space like a junk drawer is a great way to build momentum,” says Happy Lark Home Organizing co-owner Amber Hollenbach. Starting with “spaces that cause you the most frustration is where you’ll notice the biggest difference,” adds Shaping Spaces’ Emily Mensing.
Don’t look over your bathroom drawers as well! We all know how cluttered and unorganized bathroom drawers get throughout the year, so you may have one of these drawers in your bathroom, especially if you travel often. Various toiletries, makeup, and other accessories tend to get thrown into bathroom drawers over time and before you know it, your bathroom drawer has become your junk drawer. So, be sure to deep clean the bathroom drawers (not just the junk/miscellaneous ones) and throw out any personal items you don’t need anymore.
6. Sort through your closet
Although a tough one, the closet is on every decluttering list for good reason. Going through your closets might take some time, but we promise it’ll be worth it in the end.
Professional organizer Keri Scott of Once Upon A Clutter challenges you to start with the closet since “there are lots of people who can benefit from the things that you don’t wear.” Wondering where to start? “First, pull all empty hangers out and place them in one area of your closet; this is a best practice because it makes it easier for you to go through the clothing,” Keri suggests. “It doesn’t matter if you organize your [clothes] by sleeve size, color or both, but as you do so, make a pile of the clothes you tried on (but didn’t end up wearing) or the pieces that you thought about taking off the hanger (but never did) … when you see the space this creates and feel the energy that comes with space, you will want to tackle other closets and cabinets in your home too,” she adds.
Don’t forget about your closet floors as well! This is a great place to start when handling a more daunting area like the closet. We’ll bet the floors are full of items you’ve accumulated and forgotten were even there.
7. Rid of your magazines and books
When was the last time you went through your bookshelf? What about the stack of magazines lying around for that one craft project? Especially if you’re an avid reader, there’s likely piles of the like in your home. It’s a good idea to purge the stack every year and start fresh since “it’s time to get rid of items that no longer serve you,” says The Resiliency Group’s Eileen McDargh.
Although it may be hard to part with the books on your TBR list, “consider ridding of the books you will never read again,” suggests Eileen. These older magazines and books really don’t serve much of a purpose besides cluttering up your home. If there are certain magazine articles or recipes you’d like to keep,you can either rip them out and store in a folder or take a picture/scan of them on your phone.
Unsure what to do with your books? You can pass your books off to friends or family, put some in local little library stands, or the local library. For instance, Eileen’s “public library takes used books and sells them,” which is a great way to recycle your reads.
8. Dejunk the storage areas
Similar to closets, your storage area is another that might take some time to purge. Whether it’s your storage closet, a garage, or another space you keep storage items in, there’s likely a lot of junk to clean out.
All of your items should serve a purpose and these storage spaces often become home for items that really don’t. Of course, give yourself grace when going through items, but be honest with yourself about what you need to keep. Decluttering will help you start the year fresh and in turn, you’ll feel a lot more organized going forward.
Photo courtesy of Organizing NJ
9. Don’t forget about the spare rooms
Maybe you’ve converted your spare room into a craft space, home office, fitness center, or children’s playroom. Either way, it’s time to purge!
“Kid clutter seems to multiply overnight, but it can be managed,” claims Live Organized by Erin’s
Erin Vyhanek. To engage your children in decluttering their belongings, “make it fun by playing some music, showering them with affirming words and affection, and explain the advantages of tidying up and organizing their space,” suggests Erin.
Clearly there are many different ways to start your decluttering session, but All Things Neat By Hope’s Hope Kerner recommends starting with these spare spaces. “Focus on things like kitchen mugs or toys and remember, your home is not a storage unit, but a refuge from the outside world,” says Hope.
10. Continue to stay tidy and organized
Congratulations, you’ve finished decluttering! Now it’s time to implement strategies to stay organized throughout the year. Be sure to check out our staying tidy in the new year article and remember that decluttering isn’t just physical, but mental as well. Having a tidy home will create a sense of calm and make space for what really matters in the new year.
