To be ruthless when decluttering, focus on purpose, set strict limits (like container sizes), stop valuing items by their price, and ask hard questions about utility and joy, using methods like the "one-in, one-out rule" or "30-day challenge boxes" to create momentum and ditch guilt over letting go of "what if" items to create space for what truly serves you now.
'The key to being ruthless when decluttering is to remember that your items are not serving anyone by sitting in a storage room, or a musty basement or attic,' she adds. 'If the item is no longer serving you, let it go so that it can benefit someone else. '
The 5-5-5 Rule for decluttering, popularized by Steph of The Secret Slob and Apartment Therapy, is a quick, low-pressure method that involves setting a 25-minute timer, picking five different zones in your home, and spending just five minutes tidying or decluttering each zone before moving to the next, making it ideal for tackling daily messes without feeling overwhelmed.
Shared by Holly Blakey of the @breathing.room.home, the 1% rule involves doing just one small thing to make your home better. The habit definitely leads to a more tidy home, but, more importantly, it also creates a more peaceful emotional state.
The 12-12-12 decluttering method is a simple, game-like strategy to tackle clutter by finding 12 items to throw away, 12 items to donate, and 12 items to return to their proper home (36 items total), creating momentum and making organizing less overwhelming, and can be adapted with different numbers like 5-5-5 or 20-20-20. Created by Josh Becker of Becoming Minimalist, it turns decluttering into an achievable challenge for any room, helping you make quick progress without getting stuck.
The chaos method is an organizing strategy popularized by Kim Jones of Lock & Key Home. It embraces total immersion in the decluttering process. You empty every box, container, bag, drawer, and cupboard in a room or space. Ideally, it's about creating a temporary state of chaos to gain full clarity on what you own.
Be clear about the sentimental items that should have a place in your home. You only have so much space to store them all. "Family photos, heirlooms, and keepsakes are often decluttered because they feel like clutter, when the real challenge is deciding how to honor the memory," says Hines.
Developed by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus of The Minimalists, the 90/90 rule is simple: If you haven't used or loved an item in the past 90 days, and don't see yourself needing it in the next 90 days, it's time to let it go.
Here are 5 clever tips to help you declutter and bring order back to your living space: 1️⃣ Embrace the "One In, One Out" Rule: For every new item you bring into your home, let go of one you no longer need. This simple rule will keep your possessions in check and prevent unnecessary buildup.
The "333 rule" in clothing refers to two popular minimalist fashion challenges: the viral TikTok trend of creating outfits with 3 tops, 3 bottoms, and 3 shoes (9 items total) for many combinations, and Project 333 by Courtney Carver, which challenges you to wear just 33 items (including clothes, accessories, jewelry, outerwear, but excluding underwear, sleepwear, and workout gear) for three months to reduce decision fatigue and declutter. Both methods encourage mindful consumption and creating versatile capsule wardrobes from existing items.
Most people probably think the hardest thing to declutter is sentimental clutter. While it's true that presents its own challenges, I actually think the hardest thing to declutter is aspirational clutter. This type of clutter is tied to your actual identity!
Personalities that thrive on chaos often include narcissists, who create it for control and attention, and individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), for whom chaos can be a familiar distraction from internal turmoil or a way to feel alive, while some ENTPs (Explorer Personality Type) also enjoy the novelty and challenge chaos presents, though mature types prefer novelty to actual disorder. It's a mix of manipulative control (narcissism), emotional instability (BPD), and a thrill-seeking/problem-solving drive (ENTP/ExxP types).
At its core, decluttering is an act of self-care. It's about clearing space for peace, joy, and new opportunities. When you tidy your environment, you're also tidying your mental space, making room for clarity, creativity, and happiness.
The '1% rule' is definitely about shifting your mindset to teach yourself that by making simple improvements and avoiding burning out or getting bored by tackling everything in one go (or not tackling it at all), it's the consistency that is key. If I found something in a room that needed to be put away, I did it.
The 5Ss (sort, set, shine, standardise, and sustain) have been adopted by professional home organisers and enthusiastic declutterers alike as a way to – you guessed it – organise the home. Like the Japanese organising principle of inyo-onyo, the 5S method has become increasingly popular lately.
The idea behind Project 333 is simple: Wear only 33 articles of clothing for the next 3 months. All clothing, accessories, jewelry, outerwear, and shoes count towards your number. Exceptions include wedding rings, underwear, sleepwear, in-home loungewear, and workout clothing.
The 70/30 fashion rule is a wardrobe strategy suggesting 70% of your closet should be timeless, versatile basics (like quality jeans, neutral tees, classic jackets) and 30% trendy or statement pieces (bold colors, patterns, unique accessories) to balance longevity with current style and prevent overconsumption. It helps create a functional, mix-and-matchable wardrobe where staples anchor fun, expressive items, ensuring outfits remain stylish without constantly chasing fleeting trends.
The KonMari Method™ encourages tidying by category – not by location – beginning with clothes, then moving on to books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and, finally, sentimental items. Keep only those things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy.
The 50% rule for clutter is a straightforward decluttering method that challenges you to reduce the number of items in any space (drawer, closet, room) by half, aiming to keep spaces only 50% full for easier management, better organization, and a less overwhelming environment, often by removing duplicates, unused items, or things you no longer love, creating breathing room and simplifying decision-making.