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Walking into a home that’s for sale and finding stuff everywhere is a major turnoff. If you’re serious about selling your home, one of the most important tasks you should complete before placing your home on the market is to declutter your home. Buyers want to walk into a space and envision how their life could work in the home — where they could put their furniture, hang their photos, and more.

Not many buyers have the ability to see the potential in a cluttered home, so you need to make it easy for them.

In this blog post, we’ll talk about how to start decluttering your home and keep your motivation up. By the end, you’ll have a much clearer and more organized space. 

Room-by-Room Guide to Declutter Your Home

Decluttering your home room by room can make the task feel more manageable. Instead of focusing on the whole house, tackle one space at a time. This way, you’ll make consistent progress and see immediate results.

But before you start, you have to pump yourself up. I know it might sound a little silly, but trust me, it really works. Tell yourself, “Okay, it’s time to work, and I’m going to finish this room today!” Put on some music and make it fun. If you’re a competitive person, set a timer and see if you can beat the clock. Turn the task into a game and challenge yourself!

To keep yourself motivated, you don’t have to declutter everything in one day. You can tackle one room a day, but just make sure you’ve set a deadline for yourself. Little accomplishments go a long way.

Start With the Bathrooms

If you start with a small room in your home, it won’t feel so overwhelming. Plus, once you’re done, that feeling of accomplishment will be great. For the bathroom, you’ll want to go through all the cabinets and drawers. Get rid of empty lotion bottles, old medicine, or makeup. Next, clear off the countertops. Throw away anything you don’t need and neatly organize what’s left, keeping it out of sight in the cabinets.

If there are a lot of photos or artwork on the walls, take them down. You want the room to feel as spacious as possible, and you want the buyer to envision their belongings in there.

Then, go through the closet. Make sure you only have the essentials, and remove anything that belongs in a different room.

After you’ve decluttered, make sure the room is cleaned. Decluttering and then cleaning will really make the space shine. I know it’s a lot of work, but after this, you’ll have one less room to go!

If you have more than one bathroom, do those next. Get all the bathrooms done, and the next one will go faster because you’ll be getting better at it!

The Kitchen

After the bathrooms are done, work on the kitchen… oh, the dreaded kitchen! You can do it! Go through each cabinet or drawer one at a time. Toss out expired food, old utensils, broken appliances, pots and pans you never use, and anything else you don’t need. Remember, kitchens and bathrooms sell homes, so you want these rooms to shine.

Your countertops should be 90% cleared of items. Since you started with the cabinets, you’ll now have room for some of those items that were on your countertops to go into your cabinets. Before replacing items, wipe the shelves and consider a pretty shelf liner to really make them feel fresh.

If you have plants that are half alive in the kitchen, it might be time to give them to a friend who can revive them or maybe just get rid of them.

If you have your kids’ art on the fridge, now is the time to take those items down and put them someplace safe. Cereal boxes or other items on top of the fridge should be cleared away.

Remember, after you declutter, you need to clean. Wipe everything down and make the kitchen sparkle! The kitchen is one of the main rooms in the home that you use every day, so having this room decluttered is going to feel amazing and really help you stay motivated.

Entryway

The entryway is a small space, but it makes a big impact! Plus, after tackling the kitchen, you deserve a little break, right? Start by putting any random items back in the rooms they belong in.

Straighten up the shoes, toss out the junk mail, and make sure everything is in its place. If you need to, add hooks or baskets to help you stay organized. Keep only the essentials, and this area will feel neat and welcoming for potential buyers.

We’re working our way through the house, room by room. Each day, it’s getting a little better, and you can see and feel your accomplishments. You’ve probably even found a few items you’d been looking for too!

Living Room

Go through all the shelves in the living room and toss anything you don’t need or want. Get rid of those old magazines (unless you’re planning on reading them from 1998 — no judgment).

Clean all the surfaces and, if you have extra blankets lying around, fold them up and stash them away in the closet.

Kids’ toys? Yep, time to round them up and return them to their rightful owner (a.k.a. your child’s room or a closet). Try taking out only one toy at a time to keep the clutter at bay and allow for an easy clean-up for surprise visitors or last-minute showings.

And don’t forget to vacuum and clean the floors.

Good news, you’re almost done with the home! Just a little more effort, and you’ll be ready to show it off! Keep pushing through — the finish line is in sight!

Dining Room

After the living room, work on the dining area. First off, clear that dining room table. We know, everything seems to end up there, but it’s time to clear it off! Throw away items you don’t need, and put things back where they belong. Make sure you clean the room and push in all the chairs. You’ll be amazed at how much better it looks!

Bedrooms

Primary Bedroom

Declutter your primary bedroom first, or you may lose the motivation to clean it out properly!

Start with your closet. It seems like a huge task, but just look at one item at a time. Once you get that closet cleaned out, you’ll feel like you have a whole new space.

Take a look at all the clothes you’ve been holding on to for years but never wear. It’s time to give them away or just let them go.

And don’t forget about your shoes! We all tend to hold on to things “just in case,” but if you haven’t worn them in over a year or they’re uncomfortable, it’s time to part with them. If you’re debating about keeping an item, put it in a bin and store it away. If you don’t use it in 6-12 months, it’s time to say goodbye. Keep what makes you feel good and happy.

Next, tackle your nightstands. We tend to use them as dumping grounds for old receipts, random knick-knacks, or half-empty glasses. Clear all that stuff off and keep only what you use daily—like a lamp, clock, or maybe a book you’re currently reading. And don’t forget about the space under your bed! It’s easy for things to pile up under there, so pull everything out and sort through it. Only use under-the-bed storage if truly necessary, and store only what you really need. You can use storage bins or baskets to keep things organized and hidden away.

Another quick win is making your bed every morning. It instantly makes your bedroom look tidier and more put together. If your bedding is worn out, consider replacing it with something fresh that makes you feel cozy. Also, if you have any excessive decor or trinkets around the room, take a moment to simplify. A few meaningful pieces are all you really need to give your bedroom a calm, peaceful vibe. Lastly, be sure to take care of any tech clutter or tangled cables. They can quickly take over your space, so organize them neatly or store them out of sight.

Additional Bedrooms

The next day, hop on over to the other bedrooms. Clear those out the same way you did your own bedroom. Keep only what you like and need, and get rid of the stuff you just don’t use anymore. Don’t forget to clean the floors and make the beds too! A made bed can instantly make a room feel more organized and inviting.

If you’re tackling a kid’s room, take the time to sort out their toys. Rotate or donate anything that they no longer play with. It’ll make the space feel less cluttered and help keep their playtime fun and organized. Plus, when you clear out the excess, they’ll be able to find the toys they really enjoy without the mess!

Laundry Room

If you’re lucky enough to have a laundry room, do this room last. If you’re anything like me, you probably have piles of clean and dirty clothes scattered everywhere. Now’s the time to fold them—and yes, actually put them away. I know, it’s a lot, but hey, you’re getting your steps in for the day, so think of it as a little extra workout for yourself. Plus, it’s the last room in the house, so once this is done, you can finally breathe easy knowing your space is decluttered!

While you’re at it, clear out old detergent, unused products, and anything else that doesn’t belong. Organize the shelves and cabinets so everything has its place. A tidy laundry room not only looks better but also makes laundry day a whole lot easier.

Sit Back and Enjoy: The Reward of a Decluttered Home

Once you’ve finished decluttering, take a moment to sit back and admire your beautifully organized home.

You’ve put in the effort, and now it’s time to enjoy the results. Not only will your home feel lighter and more spacious, but the process of decluttering will also help you feel more relaxed and in control.

The best part? You’ve created a space where potential buyers can easily envision themselves, which can make a huge difference when it’s time to sell. Now, you can breathe easy knowing that your home is not just ready to be shown off but is also more enjoyable to live in. Well done!