Tidying, decluttering & clearing out your home – step by step towards greater ease and a sense of lightness

Creating and maintaining order

A tidy home means much more than just clean surfaces or neatly organized cabinets. Our surroundings influence our well-being, our concentration, and often our inner peace as well. When things pile up, everyday life quickly becomes chaotic: you’re constantly looking for something, feeling stressed, or putting off tasks.

The good news: order doesn’t happen overnight—and it doesn’t have to be perfect. With the right steps, any home can be transformed back into a place where you love to spend time.

Why decluttering your home can be so liberating

Many people hold onto items out of habit or for emotional reasons. But often, it’s precisely these things that cause closets to become overcrowded and rooms to feel cluttered.

When decluttering your home, you can consciously get rid of unnecessary clutter. Anything that no longer serves a purpose or brings you joy often takes up unnecessary energy and space. Consciously sorting through your belongings not only creates more space in your home but also often brings a sense of lightness.

Decluttering your home – less clutter, more space

Many people view decluttering as a massive project that takes days or even weeks. That’s why it’s often put off again and again. But it doesn’t have to happen all at once.

Start small. Instead of seeing the entire home as a single task, tackle individual areas:

• a drawer

• a closet

• a shelf

• a corner of the living room

If you want to declutter your entire apartment, go through it room by room, because a tidy apartment rarely comes together in a single day. This way, you’ll stay on track and see results more quickly.

The key is: to first sort through your belongings, then organize them, and finally assign a specific place to each item.

Ask yourself about each item:

• Do I still use this?

• Do I really need it?

• Does it bring me joy?

We often keep things out of habit, out of guilt, or with the thought, “Maybe I’ll need this again someday.” But it’s precisely these things that take up space—and often energy, too.

Decluttering doesn’t mean throwing away memories. It means consciously deciding what still has a place in your life.

Living Room

The living room often ends up cluttered with all sorts of things: magazines, cables, decorations, remote controls, or items that actually belong in other rooms.

Take it step by step:

1. Gather all items that don’t belong in the living room

2. Review your decorations and get rid of anything unnecessary

3. Bundle and organize cables

4. Use baskets or boxes for small items

Kitchen

The kitchen is often one of the rooms that gets cluttered the fastest.

Work your way through:

1. Check your pantry and discard expired items

2. Sort out duplicate or rarely used kitchen utensils

3. Reorganize drawers and cabinets

4. Place frequently used items within easy reach

5. Keep countertops as clear as possible

Bathroom

Bathrooms often hide many products that haven’t been used in a long time.

Here’s what to do:

1. Dispose of expired cosmetics and personal care products

2. Get rid of duplicate items

3. Organize drawers and cabinets

4. Use small containers or inserts

5. Keep only items used daily in plain sight

Bedroom

A tidy bedroom often has a calming effect and can contribute to a more pleasant atmosphere.

The following steps can help:

1. Go through your wardrobe

2. Sort out clothes that no longer fit or are no longer worn

3. Declutter nightstands

4. Make good use of under-bed storage space

5. Keep surfaces as clear as possible

Children’s Room

Clutter can quickly build up in a child’s room—which is why simple systems are especially helpful.

Here’s how to proceed:

1. Sort through toys together

2. Discard broken or unused items

3. Group toys into categories

4. Label storage bins

5. Establish regular small tidying routines

Hallway and Entryway

The entryway is often the first thing you see.

The following tips can help:

1. Reduce and organize shoes

2. Sort through jackets

3. Keep keys and small items in a designated spot

4. Don’t leave bags and mail lying around

Basement and Storage Room

These rooms often become a dumping ground for everything that doesn’t have a designated spot.

Here’s what helps:

1. Sort everything into categories

2. Dispose of broken items

3. Keep only the things you really need

4. Use labeled boxes

5. Make good use of shelves

6. Boxes sorted by category on a shelf in the basement – tips and tidying help

Most importantly: Perfection is not the goal. Even small steps create visibly more order—and little by little, many small areas come together to form a home that feels lighter, more organized, and more pleasant.

Decluttering your home efficiently doesn’t mean throwing away memories. It means consciously deciding what still has a place in your life.

Creating order – everything needs its place

Helpful questions:

• Where is this item used?

• Is it easily accessible?

• Does this storage make sense for everyday life?

Items used daily should be easily accessible. Rarely used items can be stored higher up or further back.

The simpler a system is, the more likely it is to work in the long run.

Staying organized with a good storage system – small habits with a big impact

After decluttering your home comes an important step: organizing your belongings in a practical way. Even after a major clean-up, clutter can quickly return if you don’t have a suitable storage system in place. A well-thought-out system helps you organize your household and saves you time and stress in the long run.

After all, the biggest challenge is often not the cleanup itself, but maintaining order over the long term. The simpler a system is, the more likely it is to work in the long run.

A one-time cleanup is a good start, but the routine that follows is crucial. Small habits help establish lasting order in everyday life.

Even small routines and just a few minutes a day can make a big difference:

The biggest challenge is often not the tidying up itself, but keeping things organized over the long term.

Small routines can help:

• Spend 10 minutes tidying up every evening

• Put things back in their place immediately

• Sort through items regularly

• Consciously integrate new items into your home

A simple rule can help: When something new comes into the house, something old must go.

Tidiness is not a one-time project, but a process. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about making everyday life easier.

Making smart use of storage space

Not every home has large closets or plenty of space. That’s why it’s worth making the most of the storage space you have. Boxes, baskets, drawer organizers, or closet storage solutions can help you keep your belongings neatly organized.

Keep in mind: More storage space doesn’t automatically mean more things to store. The goal should be to use available space wisely while keeping everything organized.

Conclusion: Tidiness improves quality of life

A decluttered and well-organized home creates more than just space. It provides clarity, peace of mind, and more time for the important things in life.

Tidying up and decluttering your home involves much more than simply putting things away. If you consciously sort through your belongings, get rid of unnecessary clutter, and develop a suitable organizational system, you can eliminate chaos in the long run and improve your quality of life.

Those who proceed step by step and set realistic goals will quickly realize: order doesn’t mean sacrifice, but more freedom.

After all, sometimes a better quality of life doesn’t come from owning more, but from carrying less baggage.

Have fun decluttering!

Warm regards, natacha@ordnungundmehr.ch