Declutter First, Organize Later

Mint green sofa adorned with pink cushions harmonizes beautifully with a minimalist setting; a side table with a vase and books completes the tranquil scene.

Let’s get one thing clear: organizing doesn’t start with bins.

It starts with a bag for donations.

If you want to reset your space in a way that actually lasts, you have to declutter first. Because if you jump into organizing without clearing the clutter, you’re just designing a system around the problem.

That’s why I created the 30-Day Room Reset. It’s a methodical, doable way to clear first and then create systems that work for your space and your life.

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🧹 Why Decluttering Comes Before Organizing

When you declutter before you organize, you:

• Eliminate things that no longer serve you

• Get a clearer picture of what actually needs a home

• Prevent yourself from wasting time organizing items you don’t even need

Trying to organize before decluttering is like cleaning the garage without first taking out the trash. You’re making things look better, but you’re not fixing the problem.

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📆 The Power of a 30-Day Room Reset

The 30-Day Reset is not a weekend project. It’s a thoughtful plan that breaks your space into small, manageable zones.

Here’s how it’s structured:

Weeks 1–2:

Decluttering Phase (Simplify)

– You tackle small sections each day (think: top of dresser, one drawer, one basket)

– You’re not worrying about organizing yet—just clearing what you don’t need

Weeks 3–4:

Organizing Phase (Sort + Sustain)

– Now that you know what’s staying, you can assign it a home

– You’ll implement basic systems based on what your space actually holds

– You can start adding in sustainable routines to help it last

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🔁 Decluttered Spaces Make Organizing Easier

When the clutter is gone, everything feels clearer.

You don’t have to guess how much storage you need. You can see it.

You don’t have to invent a fancy organizing system. You’ll intuitively know what goes where.

Decluttering gives you the blank canvas—and then you organize the life you actually live.

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🧠 Real Change Happens Slowly

This method isn’t a gimmick. It’s a mindset shift:

• You don’t have to finish in one day.

• You don’t have to make it pretty before it’s functional.

• You’re allowed to go slow—and get it right.

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📅 Want the exact steps for your home? Inside the Library, you’ll find room-by-room calendars, resets and more that guide you through every phase—decluttering first, organizing next, and setting habits that last. It’s not about perfection. It’s about progress, one day at a time.

PS. Use the code 'Blog' when signing up for the $9 Library plan and get your first month free.