Decluttering – What it is, how and why to do it?

What is Decluttering?

Decluttering (sometimes referred to as home editing) is the process of making decisions about what deserves to take up valuable space in your home (and your brain), and letting go, physically and mentally of anything that doesn’t need to be there. It’s about taking care of the environment you live in to take care of yourself. 

The Home Organisation

Decluttering is the process of organising and removing unnecessary items from your space, whether it’s your home, office, or digital life. It goes beyond simply tidying up—it’s about intentionally assessing your belongings, identifying what is truly useful and meaningful, and eliminating excess that contributes to chaos and disorganisation.

In our consumer society, which urges us to shop, shop, shop, decluttering can be viewed as a counterbalance to endless acquiring.

This process often begins with evaluating each item based on its functionality, sentimental value, or frequency of use. If something no longer serves a purpose, brings joy, or fits within your current lifestyle, it may be time to let it go. Decluttering can involve donating, selling, recycling, or discarding items to free up space and create a more streamlined and efficient environment.

How to declutter?

We have now established what decluttering is, now let us turn to ways of decluttering. There are many decluttering methods, and it is well beyond the scope of this article to describe them all in detail. I will concentrate on the five best-known ones.

Ski Slope Decluttering Method

Anita Yokota developed this method for her book Home Therapy. In this approach, she blends her therapist and interior designer expertise to make decluttering more manageable. The ski slope method involves systematically tidying up a space or room by working through it as if navigating a ski slope—moving side to side from the top of the room to the bottom. This structured approach helps prevent overwhelm and provides a clear, organised path.

1. Start at the Top (Most Visible Area)

• Begin with the most noticeable and frequently used space, such as a countertop, desk, or room floor.
• This gives an immediate sense of progress and motivation.

2. Declutter in a Sloping Motion

• Imagine clearing the space like a skier going down a slope.

• Work from top to bottom or left to right, gradually clearing sections.

3. Remove the Biggest, Most Obvious Items First

• Large, unnecessary items make a significant impact and create instant space.

• This also helps clear mental resistance to decluttering.

4. Continue with Smaller Items

• Once the major clutter is gone, move on to smaller objects.

• Categorise as you go (keep, donate, trash, relocate).

5. Smooth Out the “Slope”

• Do a final pass to make sure the area looks neat and functional.

• This ensures the space doesn’t just shift clutter elsewhere.

6. Repeat in Other Areas

• Once one area is cleared, move to another section and repeat the process.

• The goal is to gradually clear space without feeling overwhelmed.

The above method works because it is easy to start, prevents decision fatigue, and is flexible and visually rewarding.

Swedish Death Cleaning

Swedish Death Cleaning, or döstädning in Swedish, is a decluttering and organising method focused on simplifying your belongings as you age. The idea, popularised by Margareta Magnusson in her book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning (Read my review of her book here), is to gradually reduce unnecessary possessions so that your loved ones won’t be burdened with sorting through them after you pass away.

It’s not a morbid process—it’s more about making life easier for yourself and others while keeping only what truly brings joy and meaning. The method encourages mindful downsizing, letting go of clutter, and organising in a way that makes sense for those who might handle your things in the future.

1. Shift Your Mindset

• See it as a gift to yourself and your loved ones.
• It’s not about throwing everything away—it’s about keeping what adds value to your life.

2. Start with the Least Emotional Items

• Begin with clothes, kitchen items, or household objects.
• Leave sentimental items like letters and photos for last.

3. Declutter with Purpose

• Ask yourself:
  • Do I use this?
  • Does it bring me joy?
  • Will someone else find this helpful?
• If not, donate, recycle, or discard it.

4. Organise in a Way That Makes Sense for Others

• Label essential documents (wills, insurance papers, bank details) and store them safely.
• Create a “death cleaning” box for personal keepsakes you want to pass down.

5. Involve Your Loved Ones

• Offer items to family and friends while you’re still around to share their stories.
• Ask if they want specific things instead of assuming.

6. Make It a Habit

• Death cleaning isn’t a one-time event—it’s an ongoing process.
• Regularly reassess your belongings so things don’t pile up again.

The four-box method

The Four-Box Decluttering Method is a simple and effective way to organise and reduce clutter in your home. It involves using four boxes (or categories) to sort through items in any space. The four categories are:

1. Keep – Items you use regularly and want to keep in their current space.
2. Donate/Sell – Items are still in good condition but are no longer needed or wanted.
3. Trash – Items that are broken, damaged, or unusable should be discarded.
4. Relocate – Items that belong in a different room or space in your home.

How to Use the Method:

To declutter using this method, you pick a room or area. Sort each item into one of the four boxes. Once everything is sorted, act:

• Put the Keep items back in an organised way.
• Drop off Donate/Sell items at a charity or list them for sale.
• Throw away or recycle Trash items.
• Move Relocate items to their proper place.

This method helps prevent decision fatigue and ensures everything has a designated place. It’s great for tackling clutter systematically!

KonMari

The KonMari Method is a decluttering and organising technique developed by Marie Kondo, a Japanese organising consultant and author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. The method is based on the idea of keeping only the items that “spark joy” and discarding the rest.

Key Principles of the KonMari Method:

1. Tidy by Category, Not by Location

Instead of organising room by room, sort items by category (e.g., clothes, books, papers, miscellaneous items, sentimental items).

2. Follow the Specific Order

Marie Kondo recommends tidying in this sequence:

• Clothes

• Books

• Papers

• Komono (miscellaneous items)

• Sentimental items

3. Hold Each Item and Ask, “Does This Spark Joy?”

If an item brings you happiness, keep it. If not, thank it for its service and let it go.

4. Discard First, Then Organise

Before putting things away, eliminate the clutter so you only organise what you truly value.

5. Store Items in a Way That’s Easy to Maintain

• Use vertical storage (e.g., folding clothes so they stand upright).

• Organise in a way that makes everything visible and easy to access.

The KonMari Method isn’t just about tidying—it’s about creating a home that aligns with your ideal lifestyle and brings happiness. Have you tried it before?

Packing Party

A Packing Party is a decluttering method popularised by The Minimalists (Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus). It’s a way to quickly declutter your home by pretending you’re moving.

How It Works:

1. Pack Everything – Box up all your belongings as if you’re moving. This includes clothes, kitchenware, books, and even decorations.
2. Unpack Only What You Need – Over the next 30 days, take out only the things you actually use.
3. Declutter the Rest – Anything still in boxes after a month is something you don’t truly need. Sell, donate, or discard it.

This method helps you realise what you use and what’s just taking up space. It’s an extreme but effective way to declutter quickly. Would you try it?

The Minimalism Game

The Minimalism Game is a decluttering challenge created by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, also known as The Minimalists. The game’s goal is to gradually get rid of excess stuff over a month. Here’s how it works:

• On Day 1, you get rid of one item.
• On Day 2, you get rid of two items.
• On Day 3, you get rid of three items.
• …and so on, until Day 30, when you get rid of 30 items.

By the end of the month, you’ll have decluttered 465 items in total!

Additional Rules:

• You can donate, sell, recycle, or trash the items—whatever makes the most sense.
• The challenge works best when done with a friend for accountability.
• If you miss a day, you’re technically out of the game, but the main goal is to reduce clutter.

I wrote a more detailed article on the Minimalism Game. Read it here.

How I declutter with my clients

The above might all seem reasonable in theory, but in practice, these approaches might feel daunting or overwhelming to many people. That’s why hiring a professional organiser who can guide you through the process and look at your belongings without being attached to them is worth it.

I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach, so I adapt my methods to each client’s situation. While I gently guide clients and suggest a battle plan, I like my clients to have the final word.

I usually suggest something like the Four Box Method, which I have called Bettina’s Box Method or BBM for short. I believe this method to be easy to grasp and very efficient. I used it in my own flat on multiple occasions.

I offer a general decluttering service, both virtual and in your house. In these three-hour sessions, we do physical decluttering and organising of one specific area, such as your bookcases, wardrobe or paperwork.

As decluttering can be physically and mentally exhausting, I usually work with clients over a more extended period of several weeks or months.

Many of my clients are older or disabled, and I am happy to do most of the physical lifting.

However, I need you to be there to make decisions. I advise on the storage and organisation of someone’s belongings and gently nudge them to part with some of their unused stuff, but ultimately, the decision is always yours.

Why Should You Declutter?

There are many reasons for decluttering. Below is a short summary of my eight main reasons.

1. Reduces Stress & Anxiety – A cluttered space can lead to a cluttered mind. Decluttering helps create a sense of calm and control.
2. Saves Time – When everything has a place, you look for lost items less.
3. Increases Productivity – A tidy environment can help you focus better and be more efficient.
4. Boosts Mental Clarity – Physical clutter can overwhelm your senses, making it harder to think clearly.
5. Creates More Space – Removing unnecessary items frees up room for things that matter.
6. Promotes a Healthier Lifestyle – Less clutter means fewer places for dust and allergens to accumulate.
7. Encourages Mindful Consumption – Decluttering helps you reassess what you truly need, reducing impulse purchases.
8. Improves Mood & Motivation – A clean, organised space can uplift and energise.

Conclusion

I hope the above has given you some insight into decluttering, ways to declutter, and reasons to do it.