8 Smart Ways To Declutter Your Home For Less Chaos And More Calm.
Declutter your home and simplify your life for less chaos and more calm. Here are 8 smart ways on how to start decluttering when overwhelmed as an ambitious and busy mom. Mom Coach Nadine Stille interviewed Professional Organizer Sarah Adams who shares practical tips on how to declutter without going crazy.
Blog by Nadine Stille and Sarah Adams
As we were decluttering and reorganizing our home to welcome our second child, I joked with my husband that we either need to move or have a new baby on the way to motivate us to declutter at this level!
It also made me think of my friend, fellow Vancouver mom, and Professional Organizer, Sarah Adams, and all the tips I’ve learned from her over the years. She helps caregivers create a prepared, organized and child-friendly home through home visits, virtual consults, and online courses.
As a busy mom, entrepreneur, and coach for ambitious moms, I know many of my clients are striving to create less chaos and more calm, so they can focus on what really matters.
So, I reached out to Sarah, and she was excited to share 8 smart ways to declutter your home!
Ready to dive in?
Check out our interview below.
Sarah Adams - Montessori Teacher, Professional Organizer, and Mother.
8 Smart Ways To Declutter Your Home For Less Chaos And More Calm - The Interview
Nadine: What are the first steps busy moms can take when they feel overwhelmed by clutter but don't know where to start?
Sarah: When working with families, I often recommend starting small - like focusing on a single drawer, shelf, or corner. Tackling a manageable project first helps create a sense of accomplishment without the process feeling overwhelming.
I also suggest setting a timer for just 10-15 minutes each day. This allows you to make progress without feeling like you need to devote an entire day to organizing.
Prioritizing high-impact areas like the kitchen counter, entryway, or your child’s play space can give you a sense of immediate relief and momentum. A quick win, such as tossing out obvious trash or broken items, can quickly clear space and boost your motivation to continue.
How can we create more space in our homes, especially when expecting a new child or preparing for the holiday season?
Times of change and transition offer the perfect opportunity to evaluate your home.
Before bringing in anything new, it’s important to prioritize your upcoming needs while assessing what’s already working and what could be improved.
Start by decluttering - donating, selling, or recycling items you no longer need - to make space for what truly serves a purpose.
Rotating seasonal items like toys, clothes, and decorations can help ensure that only relevant things are out, keeping your space more functional and streamlined.
What are your top tips for setting up a calming and productive workspace at home for moms who work from home?
Great question! As someone who works from home, I’ve had to think about this for myself.
Even if you don’t have a separate room, it’s important to designate a specific area as your workspace. A corner of a room or even a small desk can help you mentally shift into “work mode.”
Keep it simple by limiting the number of items on your desk to the essentials—like your laptop, notebook, and a few key supplies—since a clutter-free workspace enhances focus and reduces stress.
When time is tight and energy levels are low, what do you recommend people start with or prioritize when it comes to decluttering and organizing?
When decluttering, I recommend focusing on key zones, such as high-traffic areas like the kitchen counter, living room, or bedroom.
These spaces affect your daily routine the most, so clearing them out will have an immediate positive impact. Try using the 5-minute rule: spend just 5 minutes on quick wins like clearing a surface, putting away laundry, or tossing expired items from the fridge. These small tasks add up and give you a sense of accomplishment.
Creating designated drop zones for common items like keys, mail, or bags can reduce clutter in other areas and make daily tasks easier.
When your energy is low, limit decision-making by focusing on simple choices, like getting rid of broken items, rather than tackling more sentimental belongings.
How can moms involve their family members, including young children, in the decluttering process without adding to their own workload?
When involving children in the decluttering process, it’s helpful to assign age-appropriate tasks.
Young children will show you which items to declutter if you observe their play! What do you see them interacting with, being frustrated by or ignoring?
For older children, you can give simple jobs like sorting toys into bins or putting away books. Activities like these allow them to participate without feeling overwhelmed.
To make it fun, turn cleaning into a game or family challenge. You can set a timer to see how many toys can be put away before it goes off, or make it a race to see who can tidy their space the fastest.
Leading by example is also key—decluttering alongside your children helps them learn by watching you.
Setting clear guidelines through a family discussion, such as a “one in, one out” rule for toys or clothes, can also help everyone stay on the same page. Let your children help decide which items to donate or recycle.
Afterward, celebrate your collective efforts with a family reward, like watching a movie or doing a fun activity together, to reinforce the positive experience of working as a team.
What’s a common decluttering mistake or myth you keep encountering?
One of the most common myths I come across is the belief that you need to dedicate an entire day or weekend to decluttering. This can feel overwhelming and stop people from
starting at all.
In reality, decluttering can be done in small, manageable chunks. Even 10-15 minutes a day can make a big difference over time.
Another misconception is thinking you need to buy storage solutions before decluttering. It's important to evaluate what you actually need after you’ve sorted through your items, rather than adding more stuff before you’ve cleared out the clutter.
What are some simple decluttering habits we can incorporate into our daily routines to maintain a calmer home environment?
Incorporating small daily habits can prevent clutter from building up.
One tip is to establish a “one in, one out” rule for new items, especially with toys or clothing. This helps keep things balanced and prevents accumulation.
Another helpful habit is creating designated drop zones for things like keys, mail, and bags. When every item has a home, it reduces the chances of clutter piling up in high-traffic areas.
Having low hooks and baskets at your child’s level gives them the opportunity to be independent.
Lastly, spend just 5 minutes at the end of each day tidying up and decluttering. Quick wins, like putting away laundry or clearing surfaces, make a big difference in maintaining a calm,
organized environment.
What advice do you have for parents who struggle with the decision-making aspect of decluttering?
For parents, the emotional attachment to items can make decision-making difficult, especially when it comes to sentimental belongings or their children’s things.
My advice is to focus on what truly serves your family right now. Ask yourself: Is this item still being used, or does it hold real value in our lives? If not, it might be time to let it go.
I also encourage parents to start with easy decisions, like discarding broken or outgrown items, before tackling more sentimental ones.
Involving your children in the process by letting them choose which toys to donate or keep can help them develop decision-making skills as well.
Summary
From starting small with a single drawer or setting a timer for quick decluttering sessions, to involving our kids in age-appropriate ways, I love Sarah’s practical advice that fits into a busy mom’s life.
She recommends focusing on high-impact areas first, creating a workspace that boosts productivity and calm, and incorporating simple daily habits like the “one in, one out” rule to keep clutter at bay.
Whether you’re struggling with sentimental items, not sure where to start, or just want to involve the whole family, Sarah’s smart ways and practical tips to declutter your home make it feel manageable and even fun.
It doesn’t have to be a daunting, all-day event—it’s all about taking small steps that add up to big changes over time.
Ready to simplify your life and create a calmer home so you can focus on what really matters?