Get a Clutter-Free Home in One Day by Organizing These Messy Areas (2024)

Decluttering a home in a single day might seem overwhelming. To make the process easier, consider the places you frequent most on a daily basis. Then think about which areas your mind turns to first when you picture clutter. While evaluating your home's decluttering needs, plan to tackle those areas first. And if you don't even know where to start, don't fret. This easy guide will point to you the most cluttered areas in your home.

First, designate a day to organizing your home. Then, tackle each problem area for a set amount of time, whether 30 minutes, an hour, or more or less. By dedicating a specific time to an area, you put the finish line in sight. Once your timer goes off, put away whatever is left, and move on to the next area.

1. Entryway

Typically, your entryway is the first area you see when walking into your home. As a designated drop-zone, odds and ends can quickly pile up. To start decluttering your entryway, first put away any shoes, coats, or bags. Move any items that belong elsewhere to their respective homes. Then take a step back and evaluate what's left so you can determine storage solutions.

Hooks are a great option to keep jackets off the ground. If space isn't an issue, add baskets or a small cabinet to optimize available space and organize shoes and other accessories. Add name tags above each hook so each family member has their own dedicated spot. Try incorporating a bowl or tray to catch keys and other miscellaneous items.

2. Pantry

Shutting items behind a pantry door is a notorious solution for kitchen clutter. While this might be an easy option, it doesn't actually solve any problems. Start decluttering by pulling all items out of the pantry, then check expiration dates. Discard expired foods and donate anything you won't use. Any non-food items can be separated into two piles: keep or donate.

Now that you've established what will stay in the pantry, consider adding bins or baskets to help with organization. Head to your local dollar store for great options and label these bins with their respective items. Labeling the front of shelves works too. Move products back into the pantry, placing the earliest expiration dates in the front.

3. Kitchen Cabinets

When tackling cabinets, go through each one individually. Take out multiples and items you never use, and donate them. Dispose of or recycle any items that no longer work. Once your cabinets are free of these items, organizing will be easier.

Keep your most-used items in easy-to-reach places and cookware or small appliances you barely touch in your uppermost cabinets. Oven mitts and cooling racks should go near the stove, and cups and glasses should go near the fridge. Invest in drawer organizers (or make your own) and group like items together.

4. Refrigerator

A disorganized fridge can quickly become a clutter nightmare, and expired foods and too many condiments take up a lot of space. Similar to your pantry, disposing of expired food comes first. Once you've narrowed down food products, you can take advantage of the freed-up space.

Group salad dressings or sandwich condiments together while designating certain shelf space to various food groupings. Use trays and containers to organize items like cheese, beverages, or packaged snacks. Assign shelves for larger items and use labels to indicate contents at a glance. Cut down on packaging as possible to reduce bulk and optimize fridge space.

5. Living Room

First, do a sweep of your living room, returning any random items to their homes. Next, focus on clearing papers, magazines, and other small items from surfaces. Recycle or shred them. Check couch cushions and chair seats for lost items, then fluff any throw pillows or blankets.

Next, survey the shelves and bookcases in your living room. Donate books you no longer read or accessories that you've outgrown. Reorganize shelves and fill any empty spaces with decor you already own. Dust surfaces before returning any accent items.

6. Bathroom Vanity

Your bathroom vanity is an infamous location for forgotten products. When decluttering this area, start by tossing expired products. Next, go through each category of bathroom supplies (hair tools, skincare, makeup, first aid items) and determine which are daily essentials. Keep the products you use every day in an accessible spot and move others to the back or another location, like a cabinet.

Adding drawer dividers or trays helps keep bath items organized. Try assigning each drawer to a family member or product type. For the cabinet under the sink, add risers or drawers to separate products. Over-the-door caddies keep hair tools in reach while freeing vanity space.

7. Hallway Closet

To wrap up your day of decluttering, head to your hallway closet. Remove broken or outdated items first. Survey everything within your closet and decide if this is the appropriate place for them. Once established, group like items together.

Labels, bins, baskets, and containers make reorganizing a hall closet a lot easier. Fold or roll towels to optimize shelf space. Cleaning products should go on the bottom shelf or floor so they don't drip on linens or other items. Overflow of bulk items like toilet paper or tissues can be stored up high where they're out of the way.