How to Start Decluttering When You’re Overwhelmed

Have you ever walked into a messy room, looked around, and thought, “I really need to declutter, but where do I even start?” If so, you’re definitely not alone. Figuring out how to start decluttering when overwhelmed can feel like trying to climb a mountain in flip-flops—frustrating, exhausting, and totally discouraging.

But don’t let it get you down!

Feeling overwhelmed by clutter or disorganization is something we all experience from time to time—yes, even the most organized people!

Sometimes, the problem is not just the physical mess—the mental load that comes with it.

The piles, the forgotten projects, the stuff you meant to deal with weeks ago… it can all start to feel like too much.

And when that happens, it’s easy to freeze or avoid the space altogether.

But here’s the good news: you don’t have to tackle everything all at once.

In fact, the best way to start decluttering when you’re overwhelmed is to take baby steps—ones that build momentum instead of draining your energy.

Even the tiniest step forward can make a big difference in how you feel and how your home functions.

In this post, I’ll walk you through simple, stress-free steps to help you organize any space, even when you’re feeling totally overwhelmed.

You’ve got this, and I’m here to help you every step of the way!

How I Decluttered an Overwhelming Space—One Day at a Time

I have a lot of beautifully organized spaces in my home, but there’s one room you never see pictures of, our secret room!

You see, we have a small room tucked away off our guest bedroom that started out as a sitting room and looked like this.

Guests had a small TV, a coffee station (not pictured), and plenty of room for their suitcases or a cot or two for children.

The shelves in the corner held out-of-season decor items.

However, as I started to create DIY home decor for the house, I needed a place to store it, and it ended up in this room!

Over time, it turned into a complete disaster zone and looked like this…

Things were piled everywhere, and I could barely walk through them without tripping over a pile of baskets or a random bin.

I didn’t know where to start and was embarrassed whenever we had overnight guests.

The clutter was out of control, and you know what made it worse?

There’s no door to this space, so I couldn’t lock it to hide the mess.

Finally, with guests on the way this spring, I finally set a goal to get it under control.

But instead of trying to do it all in one exhausting weekend, I gave myself permission to go slow.

I started by tackling just one small section at a time, setting a timer for 30 minutes each day.

That felt manageable, and more importantly, it got me moving.

And guess what…

Little by little, the space started to take shape.

And now, it looks like this…

It feels so good to finally walk in there and not feel overwhelmed.

Here are our best tips to help you get organized if you feel the same!

Steps To Declutter When You’re Overwhelmed

1. Start by Shifting Your Mindset

Before you even touch a single item, it’s important to get your mindset in the right place.

When you’re overwhelmed by clutter, it’s easy to fall into the trap of all-or-nothing thinking—“I have to get this whole space done today or it’s not worth trying.”

But that kind of pressure only leads to procrastination and burnout.

The truth is, decluttering doesn’t have to be a huge, exhausting project.

When I finally decided to tackle the decor storage room off our guest bedroom, I had to remind myself that progress, not perfection, was the goal.

I was tempted to wait until I had a whole weekend free, but that time never magically appeared.

So instead, I started with a shift in mindset: Doing something is better than doing nothing.

Here are a few simple mindset shifts that made all the difference for me:

• Start small, and trust it will add up. Even 10 or 15 minutes a day can create real momentum.
• Let go of perfection. It’s okay if it’s not Pinterest-worthy. You’re creating a space that works for you.
• Focus on what you can do today. Don’t worry about the entire room—just one drawer, shelf, or box.

Once you let go of the pressure to do it all, you’ll be amazed at how much lighter the process feels.

And honestly?

That mental shift is half the battle when figuring out how to start decluttering when overwhelmed.

2. Pick a Small Space to Focus On

Once your mindset is in the right place, the next step is choosing where to start.

This part can feel tricky—when everything feels like a mess, jumping from one area to another is tempting without really finishing anything.

But here’s the secret: when you’re overwhelmed and trying to figure out how to start decluttering, smaller is better.

I mean really small.

When I was staring at that decor room, I didn’t try to tackle the whole thing in one go—that would’ve been way too much.

Instead, I started by picking up items off the floor because, let’s face it, I couldn’t get to the shelves if I wanted to.

I placed each item in the bedroom or the loft and put them into categories of similar items.

When I finished that, I moved on to the TV stand and removed everything from inside and off the top( it was filled with candles and frames).

Each small win gave me the confidence and motivation to keep going.

Here are a few easy starting points you can try:

• The top of a dresser
• A single kitchen drawer
• One shelf in the pantry
• Your nightstand
• The bathroom counter

Remember, you’re not just clearing clutter—you’re building momentum.

And momentum is what will carry you through the rest of the room, one baby step at a time.

3. Set a Timer and Stick to It

Setting a timer is one of the best tricks I’ve found for getting started, especially when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

I know, it sounds almost too simple to work, but trust me, it makes a huge difference.

When I was working on that chaotic decor room, I committed to just 30 minutes a day.

That’s it. I’d set a timer, focus on one small section, and when the timer went off, I stopped—no guilt, no pressure to keep going.

Sometimes I wanted to keep working (and did!), but other days, 30 minutes was all I could manage—and that was enough.

When you’re figuring out how to start decluttering when overwhelmed, giving yourself a time limit helps in three big ways:

• It makes the task feel doable. Anyone can handle 15–30 minutes, even on a busy day.
• It keeps you focused. When the clock is ticking, you’re less likely to get distracted by old photo albums or half-finished projects.
• It creates a habit. Decluttering a little bit each day builds consistency, which leads to real progress.

And the best part?

Once you finish a few timed sessions, the overwhelm starts to lift.

You’ll see real results—and that’s incredibly motivating.

4. Sort, Donate, and Toss—Don’t Overthink It

When you’re overwhelmed by clutter, decision fatigue is real.

That’s why it helps to use a basic, no-fuss sorting system:

• Keep – Items you use regularly and truly love.
• Donate – Items in good condition that you no longer need or want.
• Sell – Things with value that you’re ready to part with (yard sale, Facebook Marketplace, etc.).
• Trash – Anything broken, damaged, expired, or unusable.
• Relocate – Items that don’t belong in this space but need to stay somewhere in your home.

If I hadn’t used it in a year or no longer loved it, it went into the sell pile.

We had a neighborhood yard sale coming up, so I designated a spot in our loft to collect those items. Knowing they’d be leaving the house soon and might put some extra cash in my pocket made it easier to let go of things.

After the yard sale, we put the remaining items in a moving box and took them to the nearest thrift store.

Note- If you don’t have a yard sale coming up, no worries—schedule a donation pickup, list items online, or drop things off at a local charity. The goal is to move clutter out of your home so you can make space for what matters most.

And remember: don’t overthink every decision.

Decluttering isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress.

Every item you move out is one step closer to a calmer, more functional space.

5. Improve Your Storage for the Long Term

Once you’ve sorted through the clutter, you should consider how to keep your space organized in the future.

This step often gets overlooked, but it’s a game changer—because clutter tends to creep back in when there’s no clear home for your stuff.

When I finally cleared out the piles in our decor room, I realized I needed better storage solutions if I wanted the space to stay organized.

Here are our tips for creating smarter storage in your space:

Go vertical

Rich moved the white bookshelves from my office up to this room, which allows me to display all sizes of home decor items neatly.

Use clear bins

Clear drawers are inexpensive and make it easy to see what’s inside.

So, we added three plastic stackable drawers and secured them to each other and the wall with command strips.

I store items like bowl filler, moss orbs, and faux fruit.

It made everything so much easier to find and put away.

Group like items together

I put all our candles in this cute shelf that Rich built a long time ago!

This shelf holds baskets, trays, and bowls.

To the shelf’s right are out-of-season artwork and frames I plan to upcycle.

Take advantage of wall space

One of the smartest things I did was to use the empty wall space. 

I hung a shoe organizer (my friend Kimberly’s idea) on the wall and filled each pocket with faux flowers.

It freed up a ton of shelf space and made it easy to see everything at a glance.

Don’t forget—walls aren’t just for decor!

They can be super functional storage areas, especially in tight or oddly shaped spaces.

You don’t need fancy systems or a big budget.

Just choose containers and shelving that work for your space and needs.

6. Celebrate the Small Wins and Build Momentum

One of the most powerful things you can do while decluttering—especially when you’re feeling overwhelmed—is to start acknowledging and celebrating your progress, no matter how small it may seem.

So often, we wait to celebrate until a whole room is “done,” but when you’re overwhelmed, that finish line can feel impossibly far away.

Instead, celebrate every drawer, every bin, every little corner that gets decluttered. It all counts.

Here are a few ways to celebrate as you go:

• Snap a before-and-after photo of the space you worked on.
• Light a candle or put on your favorite music to enjoy your progress.
• Share your success with a friend or family member who will cheer you on.
• Cross it off a checklist (so satisfying!).

Small wins may seem insignificant in the moment, but they add up quickly. And each one proves that you can do this, even if you’re starting out overwhelmed and unsure of where to begin.

The more momentum you build, the more motivated you’ll feel to keep going—and that’s how lasting change really happens.

Final Thoughts

If you’re overwhelmed, start by remembering that decluttering doesn’t have to feel like an impossible task.

Start small, set a timer, and give yourself permission to make progress a little at a time.

That’s exactly how I transformed our chaotic decor room into a space I’m proud of.

And you can do the same.

The most important step is simply to begin.

You’ve got this—and every shelf, drawer, and bin you clear out brings you closer to a home that feels peaceful, functional, and truly yours.

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Until next time, follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram!

Blessings, Donna and Rich

More Home Organization Inspiration

Looking for more home organization ideas and inspiration? Check out these posts:

• How to Organize Appliances to Free Up Kitchen Space
• Our Best Tips to Organize Under the Bathroom Sink
• The Best Craft Room Organization Ideas
• Drop Zone Ideas You Need to Organize Your Entryway
• 21 Best Closet Organization Ideas for Your Home

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