First Thing to Declutter: What Should You Start With?
The order of organizing is important.
When people ask what the first thing to declutter should be, the answer depends on the method being used and the personality of the client. When we approach a new client, we often discuss which direction they would prefer to go. Some prefer to use the KonMari Method®. If this method works for them, then we start with clothing.
The KonMari Method® moves in a sequence: clothes, books, papers, komono or miscellaneous items, and finally sentimental items. The rationale behind this approach is that there is an order to decluttering, and it should be done in that correct order. It also focuses on categories rather than going room by room.
Here’s why this order is important.
According to the KonMari Method®, it is important not only to declutter by category but to declutter in the correct order. There is logic behind this. Haphazard decluttering makes it more difficult to achieve long-term organization.
For example, have you ever run across old photos while trying to declutter? If you are not following a sequence, you can easily get sidetracked. You may spend hours going through sentimental items and suddenly the entire day is gone. This is a common distraction and one reason understanding the first thing to declutter matters.
By the time a client reaches sentimental items, he or she has already honed the skill of discarding and determining what sparks joy. Clothing is an ideal first category because it provides practice without the emotional weight of photographs or family keepsakes. Sentimental items are often the hardest category and should not be tackled until decision-making muscles are stronger.
The discarding process is important.
Whether a client follows the KonMari Method® or not, one of the most important things to do at the beginning is start the discarding process. In fact, regardless of the method, the first thing to declutter is always what clearly needs to go.
Discarding serves two purposes. First, it clarifies what is worth keeping. Second, it reduces the number of items that will need to be stored later. Many people who never finish decluttering make the mistake of trying to organize without letting anything go.
When everything is stored instead of sorted, the home may look neat on the surface. Cabinets and storage units, however, remain full of unnecessary items. Over time, this creates frustration and the clutter returns. The process must then be repeated.
We are currently working with a client who prefers to declutter by room.
When we first started working together, we asked which area made the most sense to declutter first. She chose her den since that is where she spends most of her time. It had become a dumping ground, so we started there.
Our intention was not to force her into a sequence but to help her decide what would make the biggest impact in her daily life. For her, the first thing to declutter was not clothing. It was the space that felt the most overwhelming.
She talked repeatedly about her overstuffed closet and dreaded entering it. Starting there would have shut her down. Instead, we helped her build her decluttering skills in an area that felt manageable. After a few weeks, she was proud of her progress. That confidence made it easier to expand into other rooms.
The key to success in tidying is to finish discarding first.
We encourage clients to store items only after they have decided what to keep and what to discard. This provides an accurate understanding of how much truly needs a home. Why purchase storage solutions for items that will eventually be removed?
Thinking about storage too early distracts from the real work. The first thing to declutter is always the excess. Any storage decisions made during this phase should be temporary. Focus on sorting and reducing volume before refining placement. That discipline prevents wasted time and money.
It’s important to make decisions quickly during decluttering.
One thing to remember is that decisions need to be made efficiently. Lingering over each item prolongs the process and drains momentum. At the beginning, everything can feel important. That reaction is normal.
To build confidence, focus on what we call low-hanging fruit. Get two trash bags, one for donations and one for trash. Most people intuitively know what no longer works for them. They may hesitate, but the awareness is already there. Starting with obvious discards builds traction.
This first stage of decluttering often requires encouragement. Some clients need a small, achievable assignment to get moving. Once the process begins, energy shifts and progress follows.
Getting stuck is part of the decluttering process.
As clients grow more comfortable, meaningful items begin to surface. This is when emotional attachment becomes more visible. We suggest creating a small discussion pile for items that feel uncertain.
Getting stuck does not mean failure. It is part of the process. Whether working through categories or rooms, the first thing to declutter is what no longer serves you. Letting go becomes easier with repetition.
By releasing unnecessary items, organizing what remains becomes straightforward. Decluttering simplifies storage. It also clarifies priorities. Once that shift happens, momentum builds and the rest of the home follows.