How to Declutter Your Entire Home by March
A new year brings fresh opportunities to reset and refresh. If you’ve been dreaming of an organized, clutter-free home, the first quarter of the year is the perfect time to make it happen. Whether you’re motivated by the promise of simplicity or a desire to create a peaceful space, this guide will help you declutter your home by March.
Step 1: Set Your Vision
Before diving into decluttering, take a moment to define what you want your home to feel and look like. Do you envision a minimalist retreat, a cozy and functional family space, or an efficient, tidy home office? Write down your goals to stay motivated throughout the process. Defining why you want a clutter-free home is essential to help you stay disciplined when the motivation ebbs and flows.
Step 2: Make a Plan
Decluttering your entire home can feel overwhelming, but breaking it into manageable steps makes it achievable. Use this month-by-month approach:
January: Start with visible areas like living spaces, the kitchen, and bathrooms. The goal here is to clear the surfaces of your most frequently used areas and create a blank slate to help you in your decluttering journey.
February: Move on to bedrooms, closets, and personal items. After getting warmed up with the everyday items, you’ll easily be able to handle more sentimental items.
March: Tackle storage spaces, the garage, and any lingering areas. By this point, you will feel like a decluttering professional and have a system that works best for you. You’ll be able to tackle large storage spaces with no problem.
Step 3: Gather Your Supplies
You’ll need a few essentials to declutter effectively:
Boxes or bags for items to donate, recycle, or discard. We prefer unscented contractor trash bags since they hold their shape best. We use clear for donation items and black for trash.
A bin for items to relocate to other areas of the house after you’re finished sorting the area you are working in.
Post-it notes or painter’s tape and markers to create temporary labels.
Cleaning supplies to wipe down surfaces as you go.
Work gloves when you are working in the attic or garage.
Step 4: Adopt the Right Mindset
Decluttering is as much about mindset as it is about physical effort. Keep these tips in mind:
Be honest: If an item no longer serves a purpose or brings joy, it’s time to let it go. It WILL feel hard at first and you may even feel guilty for getting rid of something you’ve spent money on, but remember, that money is already spent and the item will only continue to take up space in your home if you do not use it.
Focus on progress: Every small step gets you closer to your goal. Taking smaller steps may not feel like you’re making an impact, but that’s the most important part of the transformation—be persistent, consistent, and detail-oriented. Remember your goals and take before pictures to help track your progress and keep you motivated.
Embrace imperfection: Your home doesn’t need to look like a magazine—just functional and peaceful for you! Don’t get sucked into the comparison trap.
Step 5 (option 1): Declutter Room by Room
Focus on one room or space at a time to keep the process manageable. Here’s a checklist of tasks for each space:
Living Room
Remove everything from surfaces like coffee tables, bookshelves, and side tables and sort into categories sorting through books, magazines, and décor, etc. Evaluate one category at a time.
Ask yourself: Do I love this? Does it serve a purpose? Have I used it enough to warrant storing it?
Evaluate furniture and larger items. Donate or sell pieces that no longer fit your style or needs.
Organize remaining items in a way that’s functional and visually pleasing. Items should be easy to access with one step or as close to one step as possible. This will help you maintain your newly organized living space!
Kitchen
Start with your pantry and fridge. Toss expired items and donate non-perishables you won’t use.
Empty each cabinet and drawer, sorting items into keep, donate, or discard piles. If you are busy, this can be broken down into multiple decluttering sprints, doing one cabinet or drawer in 5-10 minutes at a time.
Assess your small appliances—do you really use that bread maker or extra coffee machine?
Organize by zones: cooking, baking, serving, and food storage.
Bathrooms
Toss expired products, old makeup, and toiletries you no longer use.
Keep counters clear by storing everyday essentials in drawers or cabinets. This will make daily cleaning a breeze and prevent clutter from accumulating again. Clutter attracts clutter.
Group like items together for a more organized daily routine.
Bedrooms
Start with nightstands, dressers, and under-the-bed storage.
Sort through clothes, shoes, and accessories. If you haven’t worn it in the past year, consider letting it go.
Donate or recycle linens and bedding you no longer use. ( A good rule of thumb is to keep 2-3 sets per bed.)
Closets
Take everything out to assess what you have. (If you cannot commit to finishing the whole closet in one sitting, do a category at a time.) Categorize by type: tops, pants, dresses, shoes, etc.
Let go of anything you haven’t worn in a year, doesn’t fit, is damaged or you no longer enjoy wearing.
Use the “one in, one out” rule to maintain a manageable wardrobe. Consider storing seasonal items separately to maximize space.
Storage Areas (Garage, Basement, Attic)
Identify items you rarely use or have forgotten about. These make perfect donations.
Be realistic about what you’re keeping—sentimental value is valid, but holding on to every childhood memento may not be practical.
Organize remaining items into labeled bins for easy access. This is our favorite label maker.
Step 5 (option 2): Declutter by Category
If tackling room by room feels daunting, try taking a page out of Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and decluttering by category instead:
Clothing: Go through all closets and drawers at once.
Books: Gather books from every room and evaluate what to keep.
Papers: Sort documents into shred, file, or discard piles.
Sentimental Items: Always save these for last to avoid stalling progress.
Step 6: Maintain Your Progress
Decluttering isn’t a one-time event—it’s a lifestyle. To keep your home organized:
Establish routines: Spend 10-15 minutes daily tidying up. It becomes an easy morning or night-time habit when you are motivated to keep your home tidy!
Adopt the “one in, one out” rule: For every new item you bring in, donate one. This prevents overaccumulation and helps you maintain a clutter-free home.
Schedule regular check-ins: Set aside time every few months to reassess your spaces. This could be done when you deep clean or at the start of each new season.
Celebrate Your Success
By the time March arrives, your home will feel lighter, more organized, and more peaceful. Celebrate your hard work with a treat that aligns with your new, clutter-free lifestyle—perhaps fresh flowers, a cozy new throw, or a relaxing evening in your beautifully organized space.
Decluttering is a gift to yourself and your family. It creates room for joy, efficiency, and a sense of calm. Start today, and by the end of Q1, you’ll have transformed your home—and your mindset—for the better. You’ve got this!
