How to Declutter Your Home (When You Don’t Know Where to Start)

You look around your home and feel it immediately: the weight of too much stuff and no clear place to begin. Maybe there are boxes that have been sitting untouched for months. Maybe every surface feels like it’s collecting piles faster than you can clear them. Either way, you realize it needs to change.

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Where do I even start?”—you’re not alone. Most people assume

the best place to begin is in the busiest area (like the kitchen or playroom), but that often backfires. Those spaces carry the most daily weight, which means tackling them first can feel like sprinting into quicksand.

Here’s the good news: there’s a systematic way forward. One that actually reduces overwhelm, builds momentum, and works in real homes—not just in Pinterest-perfect photos.

I know you can do this—because I’ve done it myself. When I blended my household and shifted the direction of my career, I had to walk through the same overwhelm many of my clients feel. And over the years, I’ve helped countless women do the same—resetting their homes in ways that feel sustainable, even in the middle of big life demands and transitions.

Why Starting Feels Hard

Clutter isn’t just about stuff—it’s about emotions and logistics.

The emotional load: You look at an item and immediately feel guilt (“I spent money on this”), regret (“What if I need it later?”), or even anxiety (“What if I make the wrong decision?”). Those emotions add up, creating decision fatigue before you’ve even touched a box.

The physical load: Decluttering takes time, energy, and space to work through. Trying to squeeze it into already-busy days without a system makes it nearly impossible to follow through.

Here’s the truth: the problem isn’t you. It’s the approach.

The Modern Steward Method (Systematic, Top-to-Bottom)

Instead of jumping into the heaviest-used space, I teach my clients to work systematically—top to bottom, room by room. Sometimes that means starting on the second floor and moving downward. Other times, it’s the reverse.

Why does this work?

1. It creates flow. Items naturally “shift” into the spaces they belong as you move through the home.

2. It prevents overwhelm. You’re not emptying out multiple high-traffic areas at once—you’re building progress in an order that makes sense.

3. It allows for staging. We often create a “holding area” for trickier categories (photos, paperwork, or sentimental keepsakes) that require more thought later.

This way, the process isn’t about ripping your house apart—it’s about steadily putting it back together.

And if you’re considering the DIY route and still are not sure where to start, I’ve created a free Decluttering Guide + Checklist to walk you through the process step by step. Grab your copy here and use it as a companion while you reset your home.

What About Photos, Papers, and Sentimental Items?

I get this question all the time: “Shouldn’t I just start with the boxes of old photos or my kids’ artwork?”

Here’s my answer: no.

Not because those items don’t matter—but because they matter too much. Sentimental categories carry the most emotional weight. If you start there, you’ll stall there.

Instead, I encourage families to reset the whole home first. Once your daily spaces are functioning and calm, you’ll have more mental and emotional bandwidth to dive deep into photos, papers, or keepsakes.

In fact, many of my clients circle back to these categories as part of their New Year goals—when the rest of their home already feels lighter and more manageable. 

If you want more on this, I wrote a full post on conquering emotional clutter .

Practical Steps to Get Started (DIY Version)

If you’re tackling this on your own, here’s a clear, step-by-step approach:

1.  Get clear on your vision. Before you touch a single item, ask: What do I want this home (or room) to feel like? Calm, welcoming, efficient? Vision gives direction.

2.  Choose a starting point. Pick a floor or zone, and commit to moving systematically from there.

3.  Declutter systematically. Work room by room, focusing first on removing what no longer serves you.

4. Donate or discard immediately. Don’t let bags pile up by the door. Follow through by getting them out of the house quickly.

5. Organize items back in with function and lifestyle in mind. Systems should support how your family actually lives, not how an influencer’s home looks.

Remember: momentum matters more than perfection. Progress compounds, and the earlier you start, the lighter your home will feel.

A Real Client Example

Not long ago, I worked with a client—we’ll call her J—who felt paralyzed about where to start. Her family had lived in their home for nearly a decade, and every room carried its own weight of unfinished projects and hidden clutter.

When I asked what she wanted most, she didn’t say “a perfect pantry” or “a styled closet.” She said: “I just want to stop feeling behind in my own home.”

So instead of just diving into the busiest spaces, we followed my top-to-bottom method. We created a staging zone in her basement, then worked floor by floor. By the time we reached the main living areas, her decisions were easier because she’d already built momentum.

Within weeks, she wasn’t just clearing piles—she was reclaiming her evenings. She told me, “I finally feel like I can relax on the couch without looking around and seeing a thousand unfinished tasks.”

That’s the power of a systematic reset: it shifts both your space and your state of mind.

Final Thought: Just Begin

If your home feels overwhelming, the hardest step will always be the first one.

But you don’t need a perfect plan or endless weekends free. You just need a system—and the willingness to take one step, then another.

Your home doesn’t need to wait for January, or for the next “perfect time.” The best time to begin is when the clutter is already costing you energy.

✨ Ready to feel the difference? Start today—and if you’d like support, let's chat with me. Together, we’ll create a home that feels calm, functional, and aligned with the life you want to live.