While it’s unlikely you’ll transform into the next Marie Kondo overnight, learning a few practical clutter-busting methods can keep your home from looking like a mess with minimal amounts of effort—so your home can finally feel like the peaceful, livable space you’ve been dreaming of at last. From the best decluttering tips that will help you get organized to smart storage solutions that conceal clutter you simply can’t live without, these 50 best organizing strategies can help you get your home in order once and for all. Here at Parade.com, we’re all about sharing products we love with our audience. When you make a purchase on an item seen on this page, we may earn a commission, however, all picks are independently chosen unless otherwise mentioned. 

50 Best Decluttering Tips

  1. Clear off all flat surfaces—and keep them clean! The fastest way to make your home look less cluttered is to clear off all flat surfaces, like your countertops, tabletops, nightstand, etc. Put everything on the floor and only add back the essentials. Then, corral the rest in drawers, bins or hang them from hooks. You’ll be amazed at the difference!
  2. Pick a decluttering strategy that best suits your lifestyle. “Tackling clutter is crucial to making your homework best for you and your family,” says Patty McNease, vice president of brand marketing for Homes.com. “The best approach is to find a system that works best for your lifestyle. Have limited time? Work on one room in the house each week. If you have children, focus on multi-purpose storage solutions. If your system works with you, it will work for you!”
  3. Make the most of underutilized storage spaces. “Underbed storage is a lifesaver in small spaces. I use soft, cotton storage bags to keep my seasonal clothes under the bed. I prefer the soft bags to hard containers because I can overfill them and squish them to fit,” says Alessandra Wood, VP of Style at Modsy.
  4. Don’t wait for spring cleaning season! “At the beginning of each year, I like to declutter both my digital and physical spaces. It helps get me into a clear headspace for the upcoming year. I start with my inbox, then move on to my photos and other digital areas before tackling my physical surroundings like my desk and office. I love using the TRU RED 6-Compartment Plastic Desktop Organizer to add a pop of color while keeping my office tidy,” says Bahar Takhtehchian, lifestyle expert and founder of BaharTak.com.
  5. Ask yourself what items you actually use—and ditch the rest! “The most important step in any organization process is to purge anything and everything that you don’t or won’t use. Often, I see clients fill spaces with pretty, labeled bins with contents they will never need. Only, when you start with precisely the things you are 100 percent sure that you want, does it warrant tackling a cluttered room or closet. Use your energy to simplify!” says Julie Couch of Julie Couch Interiors.
  6. Designate a place for the clutter to go. “I have a designated small closet shelf for any item that comes into my house that doesn’t yet have a place or I plan on using later. For example, Christmas lights: I bought new lights for the season but it would be a few days before I hung them, so instead of leaving them out on my kitchen table, I put them on my catch-all closet shelf until they got used or I put them away. I also keep unopened mail on my catch-all shelf as well as specialized cleaning products or parts that don’t yet have a home. In other words, designating a place for clutter is the best way to keep clutter off all the surfaces in your house,” says HGTV star and host of The Work Around, J. Pickens.
  7. Establish a “one in, one out” rule. “I find the easiest hack to keep a home organized is to have less stuff. Creating a rule where you don’t buy anything new until you let go of something you already have can help us achieve this.  Or, you can try to be more thoughtful and deliberate about the items that come into your home. Not only does this make it easier to keep your home organized, it also saves you money and time!” says Ashley Feinstein Gerstly, founder of Fiscal Femme.
  8. Declutter in stages. “I find it most helpful when helping clients or organizing my own spaces to go through all items individually but quickly initially discard anything that is trash and will not be kept or donated. Then I go through the remaining items a second time and thoughtfully consider which items I would miss if they were gone. If I’m honest with myself, if I haven’t needed it in several months then it’s out the door!” says Julie Couch of Julie Couch Interiors.
  9. Make sure everything you own has a “home.” Once you start designating spots for specific items, it will become easier to put things back where they belong.
  10. Evaluate one room at a time. “Chances are good that you’re underestimating how much you’ll need to get rid of and procrastinating just makes it more likely that you’ll bring the clutter into your new home. Go room by room, category by category,” says Amber Shay, head of design at Meritage Homes.
  11. Conceal clutter smartly. Invest in closed storage pieces for your living room, dining room, or family room. These pieces allow you to organize and hide your clutter, so surfaces stay clean and minimal,” says Alessandra Wood, VP of Style at Modsy.“One of my absolute favorite pieces for organizing is IKEA’s PAX wardrobe. This is the one IKEA piece I still recommend even as you grow out of IKEA. It’s extra deep and can be floor-to-ceiling. You can fill it with everything from shelves, baskets, drawers, organizing systems, even hanging rods. If you live somewhere without enough closet space, this piece will be your best friend.”
  12. Create a decluttering checklist. It’s easier to stay on task when you know exactly where you are at a glance. Create a list of your top five or so clutter-collecting areas and make cleaning them up a part of your weekly chore routine.
  13. Decide what to keep. “Take inventory of your closets and say goodbye to anything you haven’t worn in over a year. As the KonMari Method says, you can also ask yourself if an item ‘sparks joy.’ If it doesn’t, you don’t need it. That question is particularly helpful when deciding what to keep based on sentimental value. Give yourself one large, clear plastic bin to pack keepsakes. Put into the bin only what you can’t live without,” suggests Amber Shay, head of design at Meritage Homes.
  14. Make decluttering fast and easy. “Baskets are your best friend when it comes to avoiding any sort of clutter. You can throw truly anything into a beautifully designed nesting basket—blankets, kids’ toys, you name it—and a room instantly becomes polished and clear,” says lifestyle designer Jenni Kayne.
  15. Be strategic. “The best hack I’ve learned is to place organizational items in the places where I tend to collect piles,” says interior designer Nancy Charbonneau of Charbonneau Interiors. “For me, this is in my bathroom, as I often work as I get ready for the day, as well as when I’m winding down from the day. I put a file drawer in my bathroom vanity cabinet to hide the notes, inspiration pages, and other collected clutters from the chaos of the day. Once a month, I clean the file drawer out and start fresh all over again.”
  16. Make use of vertical storage to reduce clutter. “Adding a hanging bar on the side of your kitchen island or backsplash for kitchen utensils, baskets, cutting boards or dish towels can add a lot of storage space to an otherwise unused area of the home,” says Ashley Bowen, lead editorial stylist at Zulily.
  17. Think outside of the box. “Look for storage in unexpected places, such as discreet corners tucked away from sight. For example, the area behind doors, under stairways, above headboards and under bed frames can serve as an easy base for racks, shelving, built-in drawers and more,” suggests Emilie Baltorinic-Navarro, interior designer at Living Spaces.
  18. Donate your extra items! “Become an advocate for a charity that helps those that are less fortunate,” suggests interior designer Cathy Maready of Elephant Ears design firm. “It is easier to give away things that clutter your home when you know they are going to a good cause. Women’s shelters, domestic violence shelters, habitat charities, etc. are all wonderful ideas.”
  19. Make your bed every day. This tip from Holly Hernandez, realtor at RE/MAX Professionals, is a quick and easy way to feel instantly feel more organized. Your bed is the centerpiece of your room.
  20. Use hooks to keep hats and other items from piling up. “One of my favorite hacks is using Command Hooks for hats. On otherwise-wasted wall spaces or the back of doors, I utilize Command Hooks to hang baseball caps, beanies, etc. to make it easier for a client to pick their hat in the morning and put it back at night. This way, hats are not lost on the floor nor in the depths of a shelf,” suggests Amanda Davis, founder and professional organizer at The Home Revival.
  21. Make keeping your space clutter-free easier. “I find that having fewer things is the easiest way to declutter a home. Depending on what the items are, you can sell them for extra cash or donate them. As a result, you’ll have less clutter and the items you do have will be a lot easier to maintain and organize,” says Ashley Feinstein Gerstly, founder of Fiscal Femme.
  22. Devise a storage strategy. “After purging, you’ll have a better idea of how much storage space you have available. Think about the best places to store what you have. Items you use on a daily basis should be in easy-to-reach spots—your kids will be less likely to make a mess after using them,” says Amber Shay, head of design at Meritage Homes.
  23. Enlist the help of baskets. “My number one way to keep things organized is with baskets. Are you feeling like your pantry is out of control?  Invest in some canister sets, 3 tier shelves, and don’t forget the baskets.  An organized pantry will help prevent food going stale or expiring which will save you money in the long run,” says Rene Hauck, broker/seniors real estate specialist at RE/MAX Advanced Realty.
  24. Edit your decor. “If your home is overflowing with pillows and decorative accessories, box up a few and place them in a closet. When you start to feel like your space needs a refresh, pull from that box to mix things up a bit,” says Alessandra Wood, VP of Style at Modsy.
  25. Make use of over-the-door pocket shoe organizers. They’re great for storing kids’ toys, such as animals and barbie dolls, Rene Hauck, broker/seniors real estate specialist at RE/MAX Advanced Realty, suggests.
  26. Keep clutter from accumulating by choosing smart storage containers. “Acrylic storage bins are one of the most durable and versatile storage hacks for any area of the home, plus they stack to make the most of storage space and come in a multitude of sizes. They can be used in almost any area of the home from the fridge to pantry to the laundry room and even closet, for accessories, shoes, or sweaters.  I like to unpack my groceries for both fridge and pantry into acrylic storage bins and then add labels to easily identify the contents at a glance,” says Ashley Bowen, lead editorial stylist at Zulily.
  27. Keep the flow of your space in mind. “Ensuring that everything has a place is important, but creating a space that feels open, fresh and comfortable is important too. When decluttering and rearranging your furniture, make room for at least three feet of ‘walking space’ between dressers and beds, coffee tables and sofas, and dining tables and sideboards to promote a layout that’s relaxed and easily accessible," says Emilie Baltorinic-Navarro, interior designer at Living Spaces.
  28. Make a clutter-free first impression. “From shoes to paperwork, entryway areas can become easily overrun with stuff. To limit the number of shoes on the ground, utilize a hall closet and/or place bins on the floor for each family member’s shoes. If you do not have a hall closet handy, a large decorative basket not only hides shoes, but also is more appealing to the eye as this is one of the first spaces guests will see upon entering your home,” says suggests Amanda Davis, founder and professional organizer at The Home Revival.
  29. Digitize your address book to reduce clutter. To make it easier, try using Minted’s free Concierge Address Book Service. All you have to do is send Minted a list of addresses in any format (seriously!), and they’ll update your online address book on your behalf to make future mailings easier. They’ll pull addresses from a school directory, a Word doc or other formats, and they’ll even collect addresses off of return mailing labels affixed to old envelopes, so you just mail them a stack and be done with it!
  30. Set a timer. “Time yourself to stay motivated,” suggests Holly Hernandez, realtor at RE/MAX Professionals. And if you get overwhelmed, try and do just 5 minutes of clean-up at a time. This can help the process become more manageable.
  31. Take before and after photos. As your area starts to feel cluttered again, go look at the photo after you cleaned it for an easy assessment of what needs to be done.
  32. Sort clutter into piles before putting them away. “When you’re decluttering, use large, laundry-style baskets for separating your ‘Keep’ and ‘Discard’ piles, and smaller baskets for miscellaneous items,” says Emilie Baltorinic-Navarro, interior designer at Living Spaces. It makes it easier to tackle large areas, like an entire hallway closet, in one go.
  33. Get a second opinion! Have a friend or family member help you go through your home. Maybe they can give you an idea of what is reasonable to keep and what is not.
  34. Use labels. Designate a place for everything and use labels to remind yourself—and the whole family—where everything should live. Our labels from The Happy Planner are my favorite way to label the pantry, bathrooms, garage, craft room and kid’s rooms,” says Stephanie Fleming, co-founder of The Happy Planner.
  35. Use clear storage bins. “Clear storage keeps you organized because you can see inside when you are searching for something without opening it up," says HGTV star and host of The Work Around, J. Pickens. “This way, you don’t have to pull everything out to find one thing and then throw all the items back in haphazardly when you are in rush. When the bin is clear, you also don’t need to label it, which means you won’t be switching bin labels every time you re-organize. Additionally, since it is clear and I can see inside, I never let them accumulate too much clutter inside. I have to keep it stylish.”
  36. Take a cue from decluttering pro, Marie Kondo. “For me, the biggest impact in decluttering my life is Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. I queue this in my Audible and listen to it, start to finish, pretty much every month. I keep it downloaded and ready because my life is so much more peaceful without clutter—when I refresh and listen to the book, it takes me right back in line to where I need to be with living a life of peace and order!” says interior designer Nancy Charbonneau of Charbonneau Interiors.
  37. Conduct a 15-minute nightly clean-up. Keep cluttering from piling up by conducting a 15-minute clean-up each evening before bed, suggests Holly Hernandez, realtor at RE/MAX Professionals.
  38. Declutter in order. Whether you start at the center of your room and work your way out or focus on one half of the room at a time, h having a process—and a plan—can help you stay focused and see your decluttering progress more clearly.
  39. Repair broken items, or finally decide to let them go! It’s easy to hold onto things that need to be fixed, thinking you’ll soon find the time to tackle them, like that watch that needs a new band or that pair of pants that needs to be hemmed. Put them in your car so you can drop them off at their respective repair shops while you’re out and about, and if you don’t get to it within 30 days, it’s time to let them go.
  40. Pare back on cleaning supplies. Instead of having a handful of cleaning products that do virtually the same thing, pare your collection down to the essentials. Or try a brand like Branch Basics which has a non-toxic soap concentrate product that, when combined with water in various quantities, can replace your glass cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, hand soap and laundry detergent and instantly cut down on under-sink clutter.
  41. Set mini decluttering goals. Don’t try to declutter your home all in one go! You’re likely to become overwhelmed and stop halfway through. Instead, set smaller, practical goals, such as cleaning out a single drawer one Saturday afternoon, or picking out just five clothing items from your closet to donate.
  42. Choose clutter-hiding furniture pieces. Look for furniture items that are both pretty and practical. For example, a sofa with hidden blanket storage underneath its cushions, a bed frame with drawers underneath it or a coffee table with shelves or drawers are all good clutter-busting options.
  43. Say no to multitasking. When you decide you want to declutter a room, set a concrete goal and timeframe and stick to it. Only do things that will help you finish what you set out to do, rather than getting distracted with other side projects that can come up while decluttering.
  44. Try the “out of sight, out of mind” method of decluttering. Create a container labeled “maybe” for the items you’re unsure about. When you can’t decide if you want to throw away or keep an item, put it in the box and hide it away for a few months. Go back later and look through it and see if you can part ways with some of the items.
  45. Make a decluttering date with yourself. Like many things, you’re not all that likely to “find extra time” that you’ll want to use for decluttering, so to make getting organized a priority, schedule a day or time when you can really focus on it. And don’t stress if you weren’t able to finish in your allotted time—you can always get a new date on the calendar where you can wrap up any loose ends.
  46. Look at your home through the eyes of your guests. Sometimes, we can get so used to looking at our own clutter that it’s hard to spot messy or over-packed areas of our home. To help, try to view your home as if you’re a guest seeing it for the first time.  You might even walk in your home through the front door, rather than the garage, to get a new perspective and a better feel for the first impression you’re giving visitors.
  47. Create a catch-all landing station near the door. Designating a space to toss your keys, purse, sunglasses, etc. as soon as you get home can help keep daily clutter from accumulating. Plus, it’ll be easier to keep track of where you last set your keys down too!
  48. Organize your closet by clothing type and color to avoid duplicates. Beyond hanging all of your shirts in one area of your closet, organize them by sleeve length too, so all of your short sleeve shirts are grouped together. Repeat for sleeveless, long sleeves, etc. Then, within each sleeve-length section, order your clothing items by color. This will help you quickly see if you have four blue short sleeve shirts or three black long-sleeve cardigans, for example, and help you decide which ones you can donate to help free up some extra closet space.
  49. Go vertical! When applicable, opt for hanging storage solutions. Not only will it help keep flat surfaces clear—a must for clutter-free spaces—it’ll make accessing frequently used items easier, too.
  50. Make a mess before you get organized. Sometimes, you have to make more of a mess first before you can start to effectively organize and streamline what you own. To give this decluttering strategy a try, first take everything out of its storage place—whether that means taking every food item off of your pantry shelves and piling them on the floor, or dumping all of your t-shirts out of your dresser drawers so they’re all completely empty.  Then, you can dust the shelves or drawers thoroughly before consciously sorting through each item and giving it a new home. For more clutter-busting tips to help you get organized, check out this list of 10 books that will help you declutter.