Where to Start Decluttering (Hint: It’s Not Where You Think)

Sonja
Jan 6
3 min read

A dresser drawer overflowing with clothes with the text "Where to Start decluttering"

If you’ve ever Googled “where to start decluttering”, you’ve probably seen advice like:

Start with one drawer.

Pick the easiest room first.

Set a timer for 15 minutes.

And that's good advice — but it often skips the most important first step. Before you start removing things from your home, you need to look at what’s still coming in.

An Analogy That Makes This Click

Imagine coming home to find your kitchen sink running and overflowing. Water is everywhere. What do you do first?

You don’t grab a mop.

You don’t throw towels on the floor.

You turn the water off.

Because if you don’t stop the source, you won’t make real progress. You can mop all day, but the sink is still overflowing. This is exactly what happens when people try to start decluttering without changing what’s coming into their space.

Why Decluttering Doesn’t Seem to Work

Many people tell me things like:

“I keep decluttering, but it never lasts.”
“I donate bags of stuff and still feel overwhelmed.”
“I’m constantly organizing, but my house still feels cluttered.”

In most cases, the issue isn’t effort or motivation. It's that the “water” is still running.

If you’re bringing new items into your home—especially more than you’re letting go of—you’re mopping while the sink is overflowing. You’ll work hard, get tired, and see very little lasting change.

The Best Place to Start Decluttering: Turn Off the Inflow

If you want decluttering to actually stick, the best place to start decluttering is with reducing what comes into your home. This doesn’t mean you can never buy anything again. It means creating a pause—long enough for your home to catch up.

Here are a few simple ways to “turn the water off”:

Wait 24 hours before buying non-essential items
Say no to freebies, hand-me-downs, and “just in case” items
Unsubscribe from emails that encourage constant buying
Use One In, One (or Two) Out as a temporary rule

Even one or two of these changes can dramatically slow the inflow—and that’s when decluttering starts to feel different.

Then Start Letting Go

Once fewer items are entering your space, decluttering finally becomes effective.

Now you actually see progress when you toss, donate, and let go. Your space stays clearer longer. The effort feels worthwhile. You’re no longer fighting against a constant stream of new stuff.

Decluttering Is About Balance, Not Perfection

Decluttering isn’t just about removing items—it’s about creating a balance your home can sustain. If things are constantly coming in, your home never gets a chance to recover. But when you slow the inflow, even temporarily, you create breathing room. From there, decluttering becomes calmer, more intentional, and far less overwhelming.

Want Support While You Start Decluttering?

If you’re ready to start decluttering in a way that actually lasts—and you don’t want to do it alone—I’d love to invite you to Lit & Pitch, my decluttering book club.

We pair thoughtful reading with guided decluttering sessions that focus on: