My home used to feel like a reflection of my old life: cluttered, chaotic, and overwhelming. Every surface was covered, every drawer was full, and just looking at it all made me feel tired. I get it. When your space is a mess, your mind feels like a mess too. It’s hard to think clearly, relax, or even find the energy to start. But creating a peaceful home isn't about achieving perfection. It’s about creating a space that serves you, supports you, and brings you peace.
For me, clearing my physical space was a huge part of clearing my mental space. It went hand-in-hand with overcoming bad habits and building a new, intentional life. It’s not just about cleaning. It’s about taking control and deciding what you want your life to look and feel like.
If you’re feeling buried under stuff, I want you to know there’s a way out. It doesn’t require a complete overhaul overnight. It starts with small, simple steps. Here are 20 tips that helped me create a clutter-free home and a more peaceful mind.
Start with Your Mindset
Before you even touch a single item, the real work begins in your head. Getting your mind right makes the physical work so much easier.
- Embrace the One-Minute Rule. If a task takes less than a minute, do it immediately. Put the dish in the dishwasher. Hang up your coat. Wipe the counter. These tiny actions prevent messes from building up.
- Define Your "Why." Why do you want a clean space? Is it to feel more relaxed? To be more productive? To have a peaceful place for prayer and reflection? Your reason will be your motivation when you feel like giving up.
- Forgive Yourself. Don't beat yourself up for how the clutter got there. Life gets busy. Things happen. Forgive yourself for the past mess and focus on the clean slate you’re creating today.
- Detach from Things. We often attach strong emotions to objects. Ask yourself: "Does this item serve my life right now?" It’s okay to let go of things that represent a past you’ve moved on from.
- Start Incredibly Small. This is the most important tip. When I decided to lose over 110 pounds, I didn't start by trying to run a marathon. I started by walking for ten minutes. The same applies here. Don’t try to declutter your entire house in one weekend. Start with a single drawer. Or one shelf. That’s it.
- View It as Stewardship. I try to see my home and possessions not just as things I own, but as things God has entrusted to me. Taking care of my space is a way of showing gratitude and respecting what I’ve been given. It’s not about materialism; it’s about being a good steward.
Practical Steps for Decluttering
Once you’re in the right headspace, it’s time to take action. Here are some simple, practical methods to get you started.
- Use the Four-Box Method. Get four boxes and label them: Keep, Donate, Trash, and Relocate. As you go through an area, put every single item into one of these boxes. Don't just make piles on the floor. This forces you to make a decision for each item.
- Follow the "One In, One Out" Rule. Once you’ve decluttered, maintain it with this rule. Every time you bring something new into your home, something similar has to go out. New pair of shoes? Donate an old pair.
- Declutter by Category, Not by Room. This is a game-changer. Instead of cleaning the living room, decide to declutter all your books. Gather every book from every room in your house into one pile. You’ll be shocked at how many you have, which makes it easier to let some go. Do the same for clothes, mugs, papers, etc.
- Set a Timer. I built my productive routine on short, focused bursts of work, and the same applies to cleaning. You don’t need to spend all day on this. Set a timer for 15 or 25 minutes and go. When the timer rings, you can stop. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish in a short, focused burst.
- Ask the Hard Questions. For each item, ask yourself: Do I use it? Do I need it? Would I buy it again today? If the answer is no to all three, it’s probably time to let it go.
- Digitize What You Can. Old photos, children's artwork, and important documents can be scanned and stored digitally. This frees up a ton of physical space and preserves your memories safely.
- Give Everything a Home. Clutter happens when items don't have a designated place to live. Once you decide to keep something, assign it a permanent home. Keys go in the bowl by the door. Mail goes in the tray on the desk. When everything has a home, tidying up takes minutes.
- Use the Container Concept. Your storage containers are your limit. If your sock drawer is full, you don't need a bigger drawer. You need fewer socks. Only keep what comfortably fits in the designated container or space.
- Create a "Maybe" Box. If you're really struggling to let go of something, put it in a "maybe" box. Seal it, label it with a date six months from now, and store it out of sight. If you haven't needed or thought about anything in that box after six months, donate it without opening it.
Build Habits to Stay Clutter-Free
Decluttering once is great. Staying clutter-free is the real goal. This is about building simple habits that become second nature.
- Do a Nightly Reset. Before you go to bed, spend 10 minutes resetting your main living areas. Put things back where they belong, wipe down the kitchen counters, and fluff the couch pillows. Waking up to a tidy space sets a positive tone for the entire day.
- Stop Clutter at the Source. Be mindful of what you bring into your home. Unsubscribe from junk mail catalogs. Politely decline freebies at events if you don’t truly need them. The less that comes in, the less you have to manage.
- Be the Gatekeeper of Your Home. You are in control. Before buying something, ask yourself if you have a place for it and if it truly adds value to your life. Pausing before you purchase is a powerful habit.
- Schedule a Seasonal Refresh. Four times a year, schedule a couple of hours to do a quick declutter. Go through your closet, your pantry, or your medicine cabinet. This regular maintenance prevents clutter from ever getting out of control again.
- Celebrate the Progress. Just like I learned to celebrate losing one pound at a time, you should celebrate clearing one countertop. Acknowledge your hard work. A clean space isn't the final destination. It's the peaceful environment that helps you live a better, more focused, and more faithful life.
A clutter-free space is possible for you. It’s not about having a perfect, magazine-worthy home. It’s about creating an environment of peace and order so you can focus on what truly matters.
So, here’s my question for you: What is one small spot—a single drawer, a small shelf, or just the top of your nightstand—that you can clear today?
Just one. Start there.
