When it comes to clearing out your home of surplus items, it can be difficult to muster up the effort to get started. But by keeping these seven encouraging decluttering quotes in mind, you're sure to feel ready to begin.
I have asked professional home organizers for the phrases they hold dear and often share with their clients for inspiration. From making peace with discarding items to giving treasures a home, these are as useful as they are motivational.
If you're looking for decluttering tips that will give you a boost, these thought-provoking quotes are seriously useful to keep in mind.
7 transformative quotes to remember when decluttering
1. ‘The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding’
Many people avoid starting to organize their home, as decluttering can feel overwhelming, which means they delay tackling their issues with it. However, it’s important to remember the beauty of the result and utilize this feeling to get started.
Meghan Cocchiaro, professional organizer and founder at Organized By Meg, says, ‘I love this quote as it applies to many things in life, but can be particularly helpful in a clutter challenge. This is because when the hard work is tackled, the results that solving it brings can be life-changing and even feel magical.’
I recommend finding a decluttering method that suits you, so you can find the right potion for your home.
For those who panic at the thought of decluttering, the Reverse Advent Calendar method, the CORE 4 Method, and the Three-Second Decluttering Rule will help you regain some control over clutter while reducing mental load.
You can also take the decision-making element out of it but applying one simple decluttering rule: If you didn't know, or had forgotten you had a particular item, get rid of it.
2. ‘Clutter is nothing more than postponed decisions’
When you’re quickly cleaning your living room or cleaning your bedroom, it can be easy to stash away items to deal with on another occasion.
Unfortunately, the more you avoid sorting them out, the more these small tasks will add up.
Jennifer Q. Williams, professional organizer and founder of Saint Louis Closet Co., explains, ‘Every item that is left in a pile or crammed into a drawer is a decision that hasn’t been made yet. Don’t let items pile up, because it will make your organization process harder in the long run.’
If these are too much to deal with at once, break them up into bite-sized chunks. I suggest using the SIMPLE method to go through each area and sort through what to keep, what to organize, and what to throw out.
The benefits of a tidy home are far-reaching and can help improve your mental and physical well-being.
3. ‘If your space doesn’t support who you’re becoming, it’s time to refresh it’
If you’ve lived in your home for a long time, you have likely evolved as a person. With that, your tastes, wants and needs will have changed too. That’s why it’s sensible to take a step back and see if your space still truly represents you.
Tina Priestly, professional declutterer and owner of Ready, Set, Refresh, says, ‘I’ve worked with so many individuals and families who feel stuck, and a big part of it is that they’re living in spaces filled with stuff from old chapters – careers, relationships, identities they’ve already moved past.
‘This quote helps me guide them back to the version of themselves they’re becoming, not the one they feel pressured to hold onto.’
Decluttering while mindful of your 'fantasy self' will help you clear out things you've been holding on to, but no longer serve who you are.
4. ‘A place for everything and everything in its place’
Giving everything a place in your home will make it easy to know exactly what is where – no more searching through closets and drawers for hours on end, or leaving things to clutter up surfaces because they do not have a dedicated spot.
Meghan explains, ‘It emphasizes the basic organizing principle that everything you own should have a place it belongs in your home. It doesn't necessarily mean that everything is in its place, nice and neat all of the time – rather when it is time to tidy up, everything has a designated place that it belongs, making clean up a breeze.’
I like using storage containers and labeling them, so I can see where things are at a glance. The Mainstays storage bins from Walmart are perfect for this, as they are a versatile solution.
5. ‘Don’t keep anything in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful’
While you’re decluttering, it’s sensible to be practical yet mindful when working out what to keep and what to discard or donate.
Jennifer says, ‘This quote should remind everyone that organization isn’t just about neatness, but rather about intention. I always encourage our clients to evaluate each item in their home with this saying in mind.’
One of the most famous ways to work out if items still mean something to you is by using Marie Kondo’s Sparking Joy method. If you don’t love it, it’s time to let go.
6. ‘Your space should serve you, not stress you’
It can be easy to keep holding onto items that you don’t need – but the more you do this, the more that items can pile up in your home.
David Hurless, storage expert at Stor-It, says, ‘When you try and force your things to fit within a particular space, this just doesn't serve you or bring you happiness. I believe that trying to consider whether your things fit into a space rather than forcing them to fit can significantly shift your mental perspective.’
Rather than forcing things in, use a quality storage solution to keep them stacked neatly. I love using stackable clothing bins (specifically the Snslxh Storage Bins from Amazon), as they fit wonderfully on shelves and in closets.
7. ‘Progress over perfection’
Decluttering and organizing do not have to be an all-or-nothing approach – just focus on doing what you can, when you can.
Meghan says, ‘Small habit changes and being focused and productive in amounts of time as small as 10 and 20 minutes can really add up to big changes when it comes to both decluttering and tidying up.’
The 10-10-10 decluttering method is really effective for this reason.
When it comes to decluttering, it’s much more important to just do the task, rather than trying to do a perfect job. Remember this, and your home will be much easier to maintain long-term.
Decluttering essentials
The PVC windows on these boxes will allow you to see exactly what items are where. They are ideal for storing larger sentimental items that you want to keep safe, but that you don't want to have on display.
These smaller storage boxes are perfect for storing smaller items like crafts, photos, and toys. You can also use them for fridge and pantry organization as they're BPA-free. The handles will help you lift them out of closets and drawers quickly.
Once you have decluttered items, you can keep your home looking neat and tidy with these sleek and stylish storage books. Store these on bookshelves or use them as coffee table decor.
Meet our experts
Looking for more ways to get motivated while decluttering? The SPOT Method is the perfect laser-focused solution for procrastinators.
