15 Decluttering Principles and Rules That’ll Help You Tidy Your Home

Decluttering is just as mentally demanding as it is physical. You have to make a lot of decisions on what stays or goes — a lot of which can be emotionally taxing. So if you’re not in a good headspace, it can make it even more difficult to start decluttering.

That’s why it’s so crucial to have a good mentality going into it. Today, we’ll help you get there by providing you with two crucial tools that’ll make this process much more manageable.

The assignment is twofold: You’ll need to establish a guiding principle and set some ground rules before you can declutter anything. Having these two things in mind will help you in times of difficult decision-making — now and in the future.

A guiding principle can be a word, phrase, rule, statement, or philosophy that will resonate with you and keep you on-track. Here are some ideas (but feel free to create your own, or have multiple!).

• “Less is more,” said Mies van der Rohe (which aligns with a more minimal lifestyle!).
• Emily Ley’s belief that you only need “the best, the favorite, and the necessary.”
• Marie Kondo’s philosophy of keeping things that “spark joy.”
• “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful,” said William Morris.
• “One in, one out” rule — for every item you bring in, one must go to keep balance — or the more difficult one in, three out.
• If it’s simple to do, do it now to prevent clutter accumulation.
• “Clutter isn’t just the stuff in your closet; it’s anything that gets between you and the life that you want to be living,” said Peter Walsh.
• “Decluttering doesn’t happen all at once — it happens every time you switch rooms,” a writer’s grandmother shared.
• “A Place for everything, and everything in its place,” said Benjamin Franklin.
• Always Be Decluttering, aka ABD (even when shopping or receiving a gift).

These five ground rules will come in handy when you are stuck on a particular item. You’ll want to ask yourself the following questions when decluttering: 

1. Have I used this item in the past year? If it hasn’t been worn, used, or appreciated since last fall, it might be time to let it go. 
2. Will I use it in the year ahead? Be honest and think about if you’ll use it instead of if you might use it. If you don’t have a real need/plan, then the answer is no. 
3. Would I buy this again today? Be mindful of your current tastes, habits, and priorities. Other factors to consider: Does it work or fit, or do I own a better version?
4. If it’s broken, is it worth fixing? You’ll have to weigh the cost and benefit of taking the time to get it repaired. You could also set a deadline on when you’ll fix these items. If it’s not done by then, get rid of it. 
5. Would I keep this if I moved? Would you take the time to pack, move, and unpack it? When forced to think about what stays and goes in a big move we’re a little more decisive.

If you find yourself answering “no” to most of the questions, then it’s a sign that you should get rid of the item, whether you donate, sell, or toss it.

PRO TIP: In addition to these five ground rules, consider any others that might help you. For instance, when it comes to the closet, consider applying the 90/90 rule.

What’s your guiding principle? Share it with us in our community forum!

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• Visit the 2024 Decluttering Cure page and catch up on assignments.
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• Join the conversation by checking out the Decluttering Cure board in our community forum.
• Check off that you’ve completed this task and track your overall Decluttering Cure progress here!
• See all the winners from our 2024 Organization Awards to get your home organized. 

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