So Christmas is done and dusted and we are into a New Year. 2025 here we come... I start to get a little itchy and claustrophobic at this time of year. The excess of Xmas over and feeling overstuffed (both me and my house) makes me want to throw open the doors and start decluttering. Too much time inside with dark days means I crave space and light. So this year I thought I would share some methods and my declutter challenge to get you organised and feeling ready to take on 2025.
With life moving at a rapid pace, clutter often sneaks in without us noticing. From overstuffed wardrobes to junk drawers bursting at the seams, we are all the same. Enter decluttering: not just a practical task but a transformative process with major mental and physical benefits.
Why now you ask? I'm exhausted after the festivities! But decluttering in January sets the tone for the rest of the year, creating a home that feels more aligned with your goals and lifestyle. Well if you’re going to the effort of making those New Year Resolutions then make your home work for you too. And trust me, feeling organised and ready to take on the year is never a bad feeling. You’ll be glad you got a head start!
Now I appreciate there are people out there who already are fairly organised and like to keep clutter to a minimum by regular stints of decluttering but there are also people out there who this feels hugely overwhelming for too (and then would rather do pretty much anything else than declutter). So for those of you who find decluttering a huge challenge then please be kind to yourselves here. If you can’t do everything - so what? There’s 12 months in a year. Just be pleased with any progress you make and keep chipping away. Little and often and consistency are those January buzz words after all.
In my life a cluttered home often feels like a cluttered mind. Perimenopause is hard enough without constantly searching for things! And I’m backed up by researchers at Princeton University saying that visual clutter competes for our attention, leading to a feeling of overwhelm. So there you have it, clearing out your space helps create a sense of calm and control, reduces stress and improves focus. #Winning!
Photo credit: Jessica Mangano
It’s important to find your reasons and motivation for decluttering as this will help power you through when you are wobbling with a cupboard emptied at your feet! So if it’s not overwhelm then maybe it’s that you want more room to move. It can transform your home when your storage is working effectively. It’s especially helpful in smaller spaces, where every square metre counts.
Or is it more time you are craving - imagine not having to spend so long searching for things, cleaning, or shuffling items from one surface to another. Over time, this adds up to hours reclaimed for much more fun stuff instead.
And finally get sustainable. Decluttering often involves donating or recycling items, so instead of contributing to waste, you give items a second life. So you can feel good about your clear out too.
Photo Credits with thanks to: Minh Pham
So if you’ve nailed your motivation and you’re ready to start but not sure where to begin, my day-by-day decluttering checklist is your perfect guide. It breaks down the key decluttering areas in your home on a day by day basis so by the end of January you will have a sanctuary of organised loveliness as a home. Obviously if life gets in the way and committing to once a day doesn’t feel sustainable then pick weekends to tackle room by room. Either way breaking the task into smaller, manageable chunks avoids that overwhelm. Start with less sentimental areas, like your bathroom or kitchen, and move to more emotionally charged spaces, like your wardrobe or attic.
Photo Credits with thanks to: Thanos Pal
Decluttering doesn’t have to be daunting. When deciding whether to keep, donate, or discard an item, ask yourself the following questions:
Have I used this item in the past year?
Does this item serve a specific purpose or make me happy?
Would I buy this item again if I were shopping right now?
Do I have duplicate items that serve the same purpose?
Is this item worth the space it takes up in my home?
Photo Credits with thanks to: Steve Johnson
Then it’s all about using the easiest methods for you. These 2 are good ones to start with:
1: Follow the "Three-Box Method"
As you go through your belongings, sort items into three boxes: Keep, Donate/Sell, and Discard/Recycle. This method provides structure and ensures every item has a designated destination.
2. Use the 80/20 Rule
We tend to use 20% of our belongings 80% of the time. Identify those go-to items and evaluate the necessity of the rest.
Photo Credits with thanks to: Alex Lvrs
Your Step-by-Step Decluttering Journey
So here is the print out for you to check off and you can either follow my daily plan and allocate yourself 15–60 minutes to tackling a specific area of the house or group into weekends/rooms (see below). Even though I declutter alot, the sneaky thing about clutter is that it always finds its way back in. Everyone needs a tune-up—and January is the perfect time to start.
Here’s how to approach your decluttering journey using my weekend approach:
Week 1: Tackle communal areas. Start with high-traffic spaces like the kitchen and living room. These rooms create an immediate sense of accomplishment when decluttered.
Week 2: Move to private spaces like your wardrobe. Think about what you wear regularly and be ruthless with what’s gathering dust.
Week 3: Dive into storage zones—think attics, basements, and those “just in case” items.
Week 4: Address sentimental items. By this stage, you’ll have momentum, making it easier to evaluate what truly adds value to your life.
A quick note on sentimental items as these can be the most challenging to declutter. Don’t try and do this on an emotional day - it’ll be impossible and you’ll fall down the rabbit hole of memories! Some tactics I’ve employed over the years that help have been taking photos of the item to preserve the memory without keeping the physical object - great with kids artworks and turning them into photobooks. Or repurpose sentimental items into something new and functional, like a quilt made from old tops. And if you can bring yourself too then try and set a limit on the number of sentimental items you keep and choose only the most meaningful ones.
Letting go of items you no longer need or use can feel surprisingly liberating. It’s about creating room for what truly matters, both in your home and your life. Try to celebrate your progress along the way to stay motivated and get everyone in the household involved. It will help speed things up and if you’re a competitive family or couple then it can even be a challenge to see who can de-clutter the most.
Photo Credits with thanks to: Milada Vilagrova
But do stay realistic please. Decluttering isn’t about achieving perfection. It’s about creating a space that works for you and your family. January brings a sense of renewal—a fresh start. So make the time and you’ll be pleased you did.
Do remember that decluttering is a continuous process. So if you struggle with your clutter or just don’t have the space you need then try to incorporate habits like a “one in, one out” rule in 2025, where bringing in a new item means letting go of an old one.
Photo Credits with thanks to: Uliana Kopanystia
And as an extra support here if you are struggling room by room to know where to start how about thinking about these top 60 things to consider de-cluttering this year?
Clothing
Clothes that are damaged or no longer fit (including undergarments)
Socks without matches
Clothes you no longer love
Worn out shoes and handbags
Cold weather gear that no longer keeps you warm
Old glasses
Tangled or damaged jewellery
Broken or flimsy hangers
Bathroom and Bedroom
Expired makeup & dried up nail polish
Used or even unused & forgotten body care products
Expired medicine (prescription and over the counter)
Excess bed sheets (we only have two sets per bed)
Flat pillows, sheets or towels that are too worn to be comfortable
Living Space and Entertaining
Stained tablecloths and worn kitchen towels
Accesories that are no longer your style
Too many picture frames (pick only your favorite and rotate photos)
Magazines and books you won’t read again
Movies you won’t watch again or video games
Gaming consoles you no longer use
Unused furniture
Office and Junk Drawer
Excess boxes/packaging
Office supplies that you’ve saved for just in case (paper clips, binder clips, staples, tape rolls, thumb tacks, etc.)
Dried out pens, broken pencils or crayons
Filled up notebooks (take pictures of important information first if needed)
Outdated calendars and planners
Incomplete craft projects
Instruction manuals
Paperwork older than 7 years
Outdated textbooks
Old receipts (excluding the ones for major purchases)
Expired credit cards
Dried out super glue, empty tape rolls, etc.
Technology and Digital Items
Cords and cables you don’t know what they go to or no longer have the device for
Computer parts (mouse, keyboard, monitors, etc.) that are broken
Dead batteries (including rechargeable)
Duplicate digital photos
Downloaded files on phone and computer
Outdated technology, empty flashdrives
Old cell phones
Cell phone, tablet and laptop cases that you no longer use
Kitchen and Cooking
Cleaning chemicals that are no longer used
Excess food storage jars or ones without working lids (pickle jars, pasta jars, takeout containers etc.)
Chipped or cracked dishes, leaky water bottles and warped or rusty bakeware
Old scrub brushes and sponges
Expired food and spices
Small appliances that are never/rarely used
Too-fancy glasses and serving dishes (or actually use them in your daily lives!)
Coupons that are expired or you know you won’t buy the product
Kids’ Areas
Puzzles and toys with missing pieces or damaged toys and books with ripped pages
Toys that are no longer played with or duplicates
Outgrown kids’ clothing or damaged kids’ clothing
Excess artwork (photograph and then use as gift wrap!)
Garage, Garden & Lofts
Garden chemicals/leftover paints that have been open too long or you don’t use
Cracked and unused flower pots
Broken tools and power tools with batteries that no longer charge
Outgrown sports equipment and exercise equipment you no longer use
Worn out camping gear
Kids’ bikes they’ve outgrown
Extra suitcases and duffel bags
Wood scraps
Now no procrastinating (and if you’ve read this far then that’s what you are doing possibly!) and go forth and declutter!
And of course, if you ever need support or guidance, just give me a call.
Photo Credits with thanks to: Kyle Garrett
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