15 Quick & Simple Decluttering Projects

Does the prospect of tackling a home decluttering project make you want to close your eyes and bury your head under a blanket?

Are you feeling overwhelmed about the time it will take or the hard decisions you’ll have to make about what stays and what goes?

I adore Marie Kondo and her philosophy. I truly believe that learning to recognise which possessions ‘spark joy’ will have a profoundly positive impact on your life.

However, implementing the KonMari Method of decluttering can take a lot of time and energy.

What if you could improve your well-being and start the journey toward a more organized, intentional home, without having to dedicate a whole weekend (or longer) to decluttering?

You can! By starting small.

I’m a big believer in taking small, consistent steps towards goals. Any step in the right direction is progress.

Small steps help you to create new habits. They help you build momentum, boost your confidence and feel accomplished.

So like any other goal, you’ll make progress decluttering your home when you take small steps.

To help you take those small steps I’ve put together 15 quick and simple decluttering projects.

They’re designed to give you a quick win. Each decluttering project is easy to tackle in a small amount of time, with very little emotional energy required.

Trust me, these are easy things you can remove from your life that you’re not going to miss.

15 quick and simple decluttering projects

1. One kitchen drawer or cupboard

Discard

chipped or cracked glassware or crockery
promotional coffee cups you never use
duplicate utensils (how many ladles do you really need to use at one time?)
burned-down birthday candles
travel mugs or water bottles that leak
cracked or damaged containers
containers without lids
lids with containers

2. Pantry

Discard

anything congealed, expired, or weevilly.
herbs and spices that have lost their aroma – if you can’t smell them you can’t taste them
sauces and condiments you’ve tried but don’t like

3. Linens

Discard

any ripped, damaged or worn out towels, washcloths, bedsheets, pot holders, face cloths, dishtowels

4. One type of clothing or shoes

(eg jeans, t-shirts, sweaters, socks, underwear)

Discard

items with holes or other damage that you haven’t mended (if you loved it you would have mended it straight away)
any item that has worn out

Donate

anything that doesn’t fit properly
anything you don’t feel comfortable in (hence you never wear it)

5. Makeup

Discard

expired makeup and toiletries (yes, they do have a shelf-life)
samples – if you don’t use them as soon as you get them you never will
perfume or other fragrances you’ve been gifted but never wear (perfume will deteriorate over time)
cracked/dried up makeup and nail polish
lipstick, nail polish or eye shadow in that new color that you wanted to try but then found didn’t suit you at all
make-up brushes/equipment you don’t use (eg. eyelash curler)
dull nail files and emery boards

6. Purse or bag

Discard

old receipts
expired coupons
spent gift cards
old shopping lists
used tickets

7. Medicine cabinet

Discard

expired medicines
sunscreen older than 3 years (or past its expiration date)
expired vitamins and supplements

8. Bath / Shower products

Discard

slivers of dried-up soap
half-used bottles
hotel toiletries you’ve been ‘saving’ but never use
lotions you don’t like

9. Recipies

Discard

new recipes you’ve clipped from magazines but never tried
recipes you’ve tried but don’t like
recipe books you never cook from

10. Stationery

Discard

dried up pens and highlighters
ripped, crushed or otherwise damaged cards and wrapping paper and gift bags

11. Books & Magazines

Donate

the books you read but didn’t enjoy
books you’ve never read and don’t intend to (I’m looking at you War and Peace)
the books you started but never finished
books for hobbies you don’t do, or sport you don’t play.
previous editions of magazines (keep the most recent edition and discard or donate the rest)