Tips for Decluttering Your Home

Creating Space for What Matters Most

Do you find that as you mature you value peace more than ever? As life gets more and more hectic I find that focusing on what peace means to me is an important part of each new day. I recently moved. Yes, it was a hard slog and I was dreading it. I knew that the entire process would be hectic, chaotic and exhausting, and I thought I had prepared myself for the ordeal - but it turns out I hadn’t.

Moving Day Woes

I honestly thought we didn’t have a lot of stuff - but we did. It was hiding in the corners. As it turns out, we ended up moving everything 2 or 3 times by first packing it up and moving it into the moving truck, and then moving it out of the truck and into our new place. We then moved it out of the way to put other stuff away. It was too much! We finally decided to donate the excess stuff to people who need it more than we do. It feels so good to be clutter-free and help people at the same time. It’s a win-win.

How Much Stuff Do We Really Need?

During the transition process I came to realize that all that moving of stuff was not serving us in any way. It was weighing us down, both from a financial perspective as well as from a perspective of peace.

If you have stuff that you’re holding on to for “what if” - that’s ok - but really stop and consider how important it is to your daily life. Have you used it in the past year or two? If not, then it might be time to let it go. You’ll be freeing up space for peace in your life while helping out others in need. I’ll tell you - it’s definitely cathartic and rewarding!

"I didn’t know it existed yesterday, but today I can’t live without it."

Tips for Decluttering your Home

Decluttering can feel like a lot at first, but with a gentle approach, it can be both calming and refreshing. Here are a few simple tips to help you get started and keep going:

1. Start Small, Stay Focused

Begin with one drawer, shelf, or corner.
Don’t attempt to tackle the entire house at once.
Set a timer (e.g., 15–30 minutes) to keep momentum and avoid burnout.

2. Use the 4-Box Method

Label four boxes:

Keep (you use it regularly)
Donate (good condition but no longer needed)
Trash (broken, expired, or unusable)
Relocate (belongs in a different place)

3. Ask Yourself These Questions

Have I used this in the past year?
Would I buy this again today?
Does this item bring me joy or serve a purpose?

4. Declutter by Category (Not Room)

Inspired by Marie Kondo:
Clothes
Books
Papers
Miscellaneous items
Sentimental items (last)

5. Eliminate Duplicates

Do you really need 5 spatulas, 3 phone chargers, or 12 coffee mugs? Keep the best, donate the rest.

6. Adopt a One-In, One-Out Rule

For every new item you bring into your home, one old item must go. This prevents clutter from building back up.

7. Digitize Where You Can

Scan documents, receipts, and photos.
Store them digitally to free up physical space.

8. Create “Homes” for Everything

If everything has a place, it’s easier to clean up and stay organized. This also makes lost items less common.

9. Be Ruthless with Sentimental Items

Keep only what truly matters.
Consider photographing items before letting them go.

10. Don’t Organize Until You Declutter

Organizing clutter is just moving it around. Declutter first, then find storage solutions.

I found tips 5 and 9 really resonated with me. Leave a comment below to let us know which tips work best for you.

Only Jesus Can Satisfy

“They have dug...cisterns that can hold no water.” Jeremiah 2;13 NLT

I read an interesting devotional that speaks to this “need for stuff”. The Word For You Today passage says that “we are desirous by nature and that we keep desiring things just like we keep taking our next breath. The trouble is, when we get the things we crave, they don’t bring us the happiness we yearn for. So we keep looking for more and more things. God said, 'My people have done two evil things: they have abandoned me - the fountain of living water. and...dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!'”

Do you shop online?

I’m definitely guilty of it. When we want it we simply order it and it arrives the next day. It’s very convenient! “Online stores are in the business of ‘creating need’”. Things we had assigned to our ‘want’ category are switched to our ‘need’ category. We can’t get enough of what we don’t need...no matter ow much we have, we remain , ‘not-enough’ people.  For not-enough people, there exists no lasting soul satisfaction. Desire leads to emptiness.

The Myth of More

I didn’t know it existed yesterday, but today I can’t live without it. This is the myth of more, the myth that one day more will be enough. Isn’t this interesting? If we believe this myth, we spend our lives looking for the next thing. We hope that the next thing will be it - the source of true satisfaction for our souls.  For a few minutes, or perhaps days, we experience true soul satisfaction. Then it wears off. It always wears off.

Spend Time with Him

My recent move reminded me how important it is to make space for Him in my life—whether it’s a quiet moment each day, once a week, or whenever I can. Inviting Him in helps me feel more grounded and at peace, right in the middle of my everyday life.

And if you see a move in your future, whether it’s a physical move or a shift in life take time to sort through all that weighs you down, both in your home and in your heart. Trust that as you release what no longer serves you, God will gently fill that space with peace, purpose, and His loving presence.