The start of a new year has a way of making us crave a fresh start. New goals, new routines, new habits—and often, a strong desire to finally get our homes under control. After the chaos of the holidays, the clutter feels louder than ever. Decorations linger, gifts pile up, paper stacks multiply, and suddenly your space feels heavier than it did just weeks ago.
But here’s the truth no one talks about: decluttering for the New Year doesn’t have to be extreme, overwhelming, or all-or-nothing. You don’t need to empty your entire house, embrace minimalism, or spend January exhausted and frustrated.
This guide is about realistic decluttering—letting go at a pace that works for real life, real homes, and real people.
Welcome to the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series! If you’ve been asking “how do you really declutter?”… You are in the right place! We will be starting by decluttering specific daily tasks. Each day is dedicated to spending only 30 minutes decluttering your specific daily task. We will be working 5 days a week, so you can take 2 days to enjoy time with your loved ones.
Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can sign up here.
Struggling with the daily housekeeping chores? Check out my ebook on this topic, entitled Make Over Your Homemaking. Use this link to get it at a discounted price.
New Year, Less Clutter: A Realistic Guide to Letting Go
Why the New Year Is the Perfect Time to Declutter (Without Pressure)
January naturally invites reflection. You look back on what worked last year and what didn’t. You think about what you want more of—and what you want less of. That mindset makes it an ideal time to evaluate not just your habits and goals, but also the things you surround yourself with every day.
Clutter has a way of anchoring us to the past:
- Clothes you never wore last year
- Items tied to old versions of yourself
- Paperwork from problems that are already solved
- Gifts you feel guilty letting go of
Decluttering at the start of the year isn’t about erasing memories—it’s about creating space for the life you want to live now.
What “Realistic Decluttering” Actually Means
Before you start filling donation bags, it helps to reset your expectations.
Realistic decluttering means:
- You don’t do everything at once
- You don’t aim for perfection
- You don’t keep items out of guilt or pressure
- You don’t buy organizing products first
- You focus on progress, not Pinterest-worthy results
It also means accepting that decluttering is emotional. Letting go can bring up guilt, fear, nostalgia, and even grief. That doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong—it means you’re human.
Common New Year Decluttering Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
1. Trying to Declutter the Entire House in January
Ambition is great. Burnout is not. Decluttering your whole home in a few weeks often leads to half-finished projects and decision fatigue.
Instead: Choose a few high-impact areas and start there.
2. Buying Organizing Supplies Too Soon
Bins, baskets, and drawer dividers won’t fix clutter—they just hide it.
Instead: Declutter first. Organize only what remains.
3. Keeping “Aspirational Clutter”
This includes clothes for a lifestyle you don’t live, hobbies you never started, or items tied to who you thought you’d be by now.
Instead: Keep what supports your life as it is, not as you wish it were.
4. Letting Guilt Make Decisions
Gifts, expensive items, inherited objects—guilt keeps many homes cluttered.
Instead: Remember that the purpose of an item is to serve you, not burden you.
A Gentle Decluttering Mindset for the New Year
Try asking yourself:
- Did I use this last year?
- Would I buy this again today?
- Does this add value to my daily life?
- Am I keeping this out of guilt or obligation?
Decluttering isn’t about what you should keep. It’s about what truly earns its place in your home.
Where to Start Decluttering in the New Year
1. Holiday Leftovers
January is the easiest time to let go of:
- Broken or unused decorations
- Duplicate serving dishes
- Holiday cards you’ve already enjoyed
- Gift packaging and excess wrapping
If you didn’t use it this season, you probably won’t next year.
2. Clothing You Didn’t Wear Last Year
Your closet tells a story. If something sat untouched all year, ask why.
Let go of:
- Uncomfortable items
- “Almost fits” clothes
- Styles that don’t match your current life
- Duplicates you always skip over
A simpler wardrobe makes mornings easier all year long.
3. Paper Clutter from Last Year
Paper builds up quietly and quickly.
Recycle or shred:
- Old receipts
- Expired warranties
- Instruction manuals you can find online
- Outdated school or work papers
Create a simple system going forward—less paper means less stress.
4. Bathrooms and Pantry
These areas are perfect for quick wins.
Toss:
- Expired food and medicine
- Half-used products you don’t like
- Duplicate items you forgot you owned
You’ll feel lighter immediately.
The “Last Year” Decluttering Rule
One of the simplest ways to make decisions is the Last Year Rule:
- If you didn’t use it last year
- Didn’t wear it
- Didn’t need it
- Didn’t even think about it
…it may be time to let it go.
Exceptions are okay (sentimental items, seasonal gear), but for most everyday clutter, last year is a powerful filter.
Time Capsule Decluttering: A No-Regret Approach
If you struggle with fear or uncertainty, try Time Capsule Decluttering.
Here’s how it works:
- Place “maybe” items in a box
- Seal it and label it with a future date (6–12 months)
- Store it out of sight
- If you don’t open it by the date, donate the contents
This method removes pressure while still moving clutter out of your space.
Letting Go Without Regret
Regret often comes from focusing on what you’re losing instead of what you’re gaining.
You’re gaining:
- Clearer surfaces
- Easier cleaning
- Faster routines
- Less visual noise
- A calmer home
Remember:
- Money spent is already spent
- Keeping an item doesn’t recover its cost
- Your home is not a storage unit for guilt
You’re allowed to choose peace over possessions.
Decluttering Is Not a One-Time Event
One big January purge won’t keep clutter away forever—and that’s okay.
Instead, think in terms of maintenance:
- 5-minute daily resets
- Monthly mini declutters
- Seasonal reviews
- One-in, one-out rules
Small habits prevent clutter from creeping back in.
Decluttering Your Mind Along with Your Home
Physical clutter and mental clutter are deeply connected. As you let go of things, you may notice:
- Reduced anxiety
- Improved focus
- Better sleep
- More motivation
A calmer environment supports better habits, clearer thinking, and a more intentional year.
A Fresh Start That Actually Lasts
The New Year isn’t about becoming a completely different person overnight. It’s about making your life easier, lighter, and more aligned with who you are now.
You don’t need to declutter perfectly.
You don’t need to do it all at once.
You just need to start.
New year. Less clutter. More room for what truly matters.
Maybe your house is clean but cluttered. If so, you need to know how to begin Clearing Out Clutter using the Step By Step Decluttering plan I use. Does a Cluttered House Cause Stress? Let’s look at a reputable, mental health site to answer that question. They have given us 8 ways mess leads to stress. According to Psychology Today:
Clutter can play a significant role in how we feel about our homes, our workplaces, and ourselves. Can a Messy House Affect Your Mood? How Does Clutter Affect Your Life? Messy homes and work spaces leave us feeling anxious, helpless, and overwhelmed. Yet, rarely is clutter recognized as a significant source of stress in our lives. (source)
Why does mess lead to so much stress? (source)
- Clutter bombards our minds with excessive stimuli (visual, olfactory, tactile), causing our senses to work overtime on stimuli that aren’t necessary or important. (source)
- Clutter distracts us by drawing our attention away from what our focus should be on. (source)
- Clutter makes it more difficult to relax, both physically and mentally.(source)
- Clutter constantly signals to our brains that our work is never done.(source)
- Clutter makes us anxious because we’re never sure what it’s going to take to get through to the bottom of the pile. (source)
- Clutter creates feelings of guilt (“I should be more organized”) and embarrassment, especially when others unexpectedly drop by our homes or work spaces. (source)
- Clutter inhibits creativity and productivity by invading the open spaces that allow most people to think, brainstorm, and problem solve.(source)
- Clutter frustrates us by preventing us from locating what we need quickly (e.g. files and paperwork lost in the “pile” or keys swallowed up by the clutter). (source)
Overwhelmed by a Messy House? It can really affect you negatively. How Do You Deal With a Cluttered Mess? One way is to have a plan, set aside a specific time, and learn the Step By Step Decluttering plan I use for Clearing Out Clutter. What Cleaning Should Be Done Daily? I have a room by room specific Printable House Cleaning Checklist linked above. How to Fix Cluttered House Issues: For a clean, simplistic look, one of the best Deep Cleaning Home Tips is to declutter a room before cleaning and then use an Easy House Cleaning Schedule to maintain it. How Does Clutter Affect Your Life? As you can already see, there are at least 8 ways we become negatively affected by clutter. Also, I though it might be thought provoking to look at some statistics on clutter.
- US consumers buy 40% of the world’s toys, but bear only 3% of the world’s children.
- Most people wear 20% of their clothing 80% of the time. (source )
- 9.4% of U.S. households rent a storage unit. (source)
- People do not look at 80% of the papers and information they keep.(source)
- The average American house is double the size it was in the 1950s–and getting bigger. (source.)
- The U.S. Department of Energy reports that one-quarter of people with two-car garages have so much stuff in there that they can’t park a car. (https://www.becomingminimalist.com/the-statistics-of-clutter/)
- According to the National Soap and Detergent Association, getting rid of clutter would eliminate 40 percent of housework in the average home.(https://www.becomingminimalist.com/the-statistics-of-clutter/)
Today, we’ll lay out the solutions to get you some Help for Cluttered Homes using my tips on How To Tackle Clutter. Plus, we’ll look at a few ways to answer the question:What Cleaning Should Be Done Daily? A Printable House Cleaning Checklist will help you keep your home clean and maintained. I’ll even give you my Deep Clean Checklist and House Cleaning Tips to help you get started. Maybe you are thinking: My House Is So Cluttered, I Don’t Know Where to Start. How can I recognize clutter? Let’s address those questions. I have a visual below to help. Also, check out these 5 Important Guidelines to keep you focused as you begin the process of Clearing Out Clutter:
5 IMPORTANT guidelines to keep you on task:
1.Only spend time on your specific daily task.
2.Do not get side-tracked or distracted.
3.Work within a time of day that you have the most energy and stamina.
4.Avoid thinking too long about whether to keep or discard an item. Recruit help if you are stuck in the decision process.
5.Avoid cleaning during your declutter. Getting rid of the clutter is your priority. Cleaning can be accomplished later.
We are working in the Garage this week. Your task today for today, June 9th, is to: Declutter any unwanted sentimental items. (See tip below.)
Maybe, if you’re like me, you hold onto boxes of some of your more expensive purchases, such as a TV or computer, just in case you need to return them within the store’s return policy time. If so, make a note to discard these boxes routinely(once a month is fine), so they don’t pile up.
Tip: When dealing with sentimental items such as trophies and photos, consider how you might display them in your home if you plan to keep them. For photos, consider storing them in a box or an album in your home. If they are damaged beyond repair, take a photo of the item and keep the photo as your keepsake to preserve the memory.
Need to deep clean? I have lists for you to guide you along.
My How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Bathroom list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Kids’ Rooms list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Living Room list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Bedroom list can be found here.
You can get your printable Daily Housekeeping Routine and Deep Cleaning Your House Schedule here. This 15 page printable kit is delivered digitally to your email for you to print and personalize. What Does a Deep Clean Include? It includes a daily schedule, calendar pages, and deep cleaning checklists for every room and area of your home. Below is a sample page of what you’ll get in my printable set designed to help you make a Housekeeping Schedule for Your Home.
Also, to keep up the general housework, you may need to create a daily housekeeping schedule that suits your specific needs. To do so, I have created a helpful series you can read here.
Need to Declutter Every room? I have declutter checklists for every room and every space in your home to guide you along below. How do you really declutter every room? Follow my checklists to get you started.
Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can sign up here.
Struggling to decide if an item is clutter? Use these questions below to help you determine whether to keep or toss any item.
How to Declutter the Guest Room or Your Kid’s Room checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Laundry Room and Patio checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Coat Closet/Hall Closet/Linen Closet checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Home Office checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Attic checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Garage checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Living Room checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Kitchen Checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Entry/Foyer/Mudroom checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Clothing checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Bedroom checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Bathroom checklist can be found here.
Happy Decluttering!
To Subscribe to this Declutter Series, drop me a comment below. Your email will be sent to me but will not be posted publicly. You’ll receive a daily declutter task via email for the daily task we are working on. You can unsubscribe at any time.
New to deemiddleton.com and don’t know where to start? I recommend going in this order:
Step 1: Check out this post on the 1st step you should take to get organized. Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can sign up here.
Step 2: Create a daily Housekeeping Schedule. You can use this series to start to set up your own schedule. You can also use this simplified weekly schedule.If you struggle to get organized and have tried and failed time and again, you can likely find out which of these 11 reasons cause you to fail to get organized.
Step 3: If you’ve been wondering how do you really declutter…Sign up for the Declutter Series and get your entire home decluttered in just 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
Step 4: Use the Deep Cleaning Checklists above. They will help you get your home sparkling after you’ve decluttered.
Interested in becoming a full-time blogger like me? Check out my blogging series. At the top of every page on my blog, you’ll find a drop down menu. Just select the BLOGGING category.
Check out the most popular posts on deemiddleton.com:
14 Things That Make Your Home Look Cluttered
How to Create a Daily Housekeeping Schedule
How to Clean House When You Are Completely Overwhelmed By Clutter
What is Preventing You From Getting Organized?
Also, check out a great post on decluttering over here from becomingminimalist.com. Joshua Becker has some great tips.
For further reading, check out the fly lady here. She has some excellent organization tips to get you started.
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