Those appointment cards for the kids’ orthodontist appointments can be thrown away, too, after you enter the details in your phone or add them to the calendar in your family command center. Get Rid of GarbageAre you ever going to send those postcards from your trip to Spain three years ago? Have you forgotten what the receipts in the kitchen drawer were for? Toss them in the recycling bin. Or get the entire family involved in decluttering your home by learning to make tidying up fun. You can also throw on your favorite podcast, playlist or audiobook so you have some entertainment as you work. Invite a friend over to chat and lend a hand in exchange for helping him or her with their own organizing. Up the Fun FactorThere’s no rule that says cleaning out clutter has to be a miserable time. Setting and achieving smaller goals will make you feel good about your progress, meaning you’re more likely to keep going. Focus on decluttering one zone before moving to the next. For example, you could split the bedroom into five zones: dresser, bedroom closet, nightstand, bed and under the bed.

When that happens, you’re more likely to become overwhelmed and decide you’d rather sit on the couch and binge two seasons of a show you don’t even like that much. Work in ZonesIf you don’t portion off areas of a room, you’re going to be less efficient and more easily distracted. Not having a game plan and your supplies on hand can lead you to abandon the task altogether. Make sure you have all of these prepared before you start in on your cleaning and organization, so that you can get the job done right on the first attempt. Ready Your SuppliesWhat is needed to declutter your home? Four things: Time, trash bags, storage solutions and a box for any items you’ll be donating to charitable groups. Could those books on your nightstand be returned to the shelf in the living room? Did you fold towels on the guest bed and forget to put them away? Are you ever going to use the panini maker your sister-in-law gave you? Taking stock can help you mentally prepare for the task at hand. When trying to declutter room by room, it’s a good idea to take a quick visual inventory of what’s in the space you need to clean. Do a SweepBut with your eyes rather than a broom. Take a look at the following tips for getting rid of clutter, so that you can make your house feel more like a home again. And there’s no shame in that game: Life is busy and clutter happens to the best and most organized of us at times.

If you stumble over shoes every time you walk in the door or feel like you have so much stuff that the walls are closing in on you, it may be time to declutter your home.

Organize and declutter