But there’s more to homesteading than just the tasks that take place outdoors. It’s also about simplicity. It is pairing down and scaling back so we can live a more intentional lifestyle.

Today we’re going to talk about simplifying the inside of our homes. We will look at the items we have so we can streamline our rooms to be more efficient. 

Yes, we will talk about decluttering (for a great resource, check out my ebook here), but please stick with me! My goal is to make this an easy project that you can do without sacrificing the time you spend on homesteading projects.

Before you start working in a room, stop and ask yourself these questions. What is the purpose of this space? What activities routinely happen in this area? 

Knowing the answer to these questions will help you to more easily identify the items that will stay along with any items that can go.

For example, let’s take a look at the family room. The activities in this area most often center around entertainment, like watching TV, playing games, working on crafts, or reading. That means any items that do not support those activities; can be moved to another room or area. 

A few examples of items that belong in another room are:

• Clothing

• Boxes of paperwork

• Toys

• Stacks of old newspapers

• Empty food containers 

• Pet toys

• Dirty dishes

These items belong in another room, and by putting those things where they belong, you will significantly reduce the amount of stuff you have left lying out.  

Another helpful task before starting a decluttering project is completing the 3 Core Steps. These three steps are easy to do, cause no stress or overwhelm, and give massive results. 

How the 3 Core Steps work:

Core Step #1. Trash:  Arm yourself with a plastic shopping bag and walk the room looking for anything you can throw away. Please do not overthink this step; look for any garbage or trash, tossing it into the bag as you see it. 

Core Step #2. Recyclables:  Arm yourself with another bag and gather any recyclables in this space—empty water bottles, soda cans, paper, cardboard, Etc.

Core Step #3. Put Away: You will want to use a laundry basket this time because it is easy to carry as you fill it up. Again, walk this same space looking for items that belong somewhere else, things that you keep in another room. 

A few examples of “put away” items are: 

Clothes – belong in the laundry room.

Toys – belong in the playroom.

Dishes – belong in the kitchen sink.

Food – belong in the pantry. 

Once you finish gathering items and putting them into your laundry basket, walk through your home and put things away until your basket is empty. 

When the 3 Core Steps are complete, go back into the room and take another look. You should find a space that is less cluttered and messy. 

Declutter Your Home Month by Month 

I love small steps, and the plan I will share with you now is full of them! A list of easy things you can work through each month for each room in your home. 

The goal is that by the end of the year, you will have worked through each space, decluttering and organizing your way to a home you love. 

January

It’s the new year, and that means you’re motivated to start fresh by creating a home that is organized and free of clutter and mess. Let’s start with a room used by everyone in your home, the family room. 

Things you can declutter in the family room: 

• Donate old movies – DVDs or VHS.
• Donate old blankets or pillows to the pet shelter.
• Donate games to local shelters.
• Toss any broken toys. 
• Remove extra knick-knacks. 
• Toss old or damaged pet toys.

February

February is a good month to work in the master bedroom. Spend time creating a space to help you unwind at the end of a busy day. 

Things to declutter in the master bedroom: 

• Donate extra Linens.
• Toss old or worn pillows.
• Donate clothes you no longer wear or need.
• Toss old or worn-out shoes.
• Remove extra knick-knacks. 
• File any receipts. 
• Donate excess magazines.

March 

With taxes right around the corner, this is a good month to work on paperwork and other items in your home office.

Things to declutter in the office: 

• File away old paperwork.
• Shred any papers you no longer need.
• Toss dried-up markers and pens.
• Donate extra pads of paper and other excess office supplies. 
• Remove extra knick-knacks. 
• Bundle up receipts for the previous year and label them. 
• Replace broken office equipment. 
• Toss old notes on your desk or bulletin board. 

April

April is a good month to work on the kitchen. With the temperatures warming up, you can open up the windows in this space and bring in some fresh air. 

Things to declutter in the kitchen: 

• Donate any unopened food you no longer want to the food pantry. 
• Toss any stale or outdated food. 
• Toss any plates or glass that are cracked or chipped. 
• Donate extra tools such as measuring cups, serving dishes, or cooking utensils. 
• Remove extra knick-knacks. 
• Toss torn or ratty potholders.
• Replace damaged cookware. 
• Donate any cookbooks you no longer use. 
• Donate small appliances you do not need. 
• Safely dispose of expired medicines or supplements. 

May

Let’s face it; May is a busy time on a homestead, so bathrooms are a great project to tackle this month.

Things to declutter in the bathrooms: 

• Dried-up makeup, face lotion, or hair products. 
• Donate torn or ratty towels to a pet shelter. 
• Replace broken combs or brushes. 
• Toss moldy or broken bath toys. 
• Replace razors, sponges, or loofahs if they are over a month old. 
• Remove extra knick-knacks. 
• Toss any magazines or old newspapers. 

June

Enlist the family to help you work on the remaining bedrooms. If your children are teenagers, encourage them to work on these areas independently. If you have a guest bedroom, this is a good month to work in this space.

Things to declutter in remaining bedrooms: 

• Toss any broken toys. 
• Donate any toys that your children have outgrown. 
• Donate stuffed animals to Alzheimer’s center. 
• Toss any stained or torn pillows.
• Donate clothes or shoes that no longer fit. 
• Remove extra knick-knacks. 
• Toss any stained, torn, or damaged clothes or shoes.
• Toss any dried-out pens, pencils, or broken crayons. 

July

The holiday season is coming quickly; let’s clean your creative space, so you have more room to make gifts this coming holiday season.

Things to declutter in your hobby room:

• Donate extra material. 
• Toss used-up spools of thread. 
• Toss dried-up paint. 
• Donate excess supplies.
• Remove extra knick-knacks. 
• Donate old patterns. 
• Replace damaged brushes or tools. 
• Toss dried-up pens or markers. 

August

Since August is a busy time in the garden and the kitchen, let’s focus on an easy space: the laundry room.

Things to declutter in the laundry room: 

• Toss empty bottles of detergent or other supplies. 
• Toss any clothes that are in this room that you no longer need. 
• Toss any cleaning supplies that are old or used up. 
• Replace broken laundry baskets. 
• Donate excess hangers or clothes pins. 
• Remove extra knick-knacks. 

September

The weather is starting to get a bit cooler; spend this month going through your clothes and swapping them out for things you will need to wear in the upcoming cold weather.

Things to declutter in the master closet: 

• Donate clothes or shoes you no longer wear. 
• Toss anything that is stained, snagged, or torn. 
• Donate excess jewelry. 
• Donate excess belts or other accessories. 
• Donate excess hangers. 
• Store away out-of-season clothes. 

October

You spent the entire summer gardening and the start of fall canning; let’s streamline your food storage area so you are rotating your food efficiently. For food storage areas, you will work in your kitchen pantry, your root cellar, and any freezers you use. 

Things to declutter in the food storage area: 

• Toss any cracked jars or jars where the seal is compromised. 
• Toss any rusty rings. 
• Toss any dented lids. 
• Toss any stale or outdated food. 
• Toss any freezer-burned items. 

November 

November is when many folks decorate for the holidays making this a great time to declutter and organize storage areas.

Things to declutter in the garage, basement, or other storage space:

• Toss anything that is broken, stained, or damaged beyond repair. 
• Donate anything you no longer need or use. 
• Safely dispose of anything that is dried up or outdated. 
• Donate excess lawn care items or garden tools. 
• Toss any broken toys or recreational items. 
• Toss cracked buckets or other containers. 
• Replace worn car cleaning tools. 
• Donate excess tools that you do not need. 
• Replace boxes in your storage areas with plastic totes. 

December

Finish the year strong by decluttering your entryway—welcome guests in a clean and organized space.

Things to declutter in the entryway or mudroom: 

• Donate shoes or coats that no longer fit. 
• Toss anything that is stained, torn, or snagged. 
• Toss single gloves or mittens. 
• Donate extra hats, scarves, or other cold-weather gear you do not need. 
• Remove extra knick-knacks. 

As homesteaders, we love to plan so we know what needs to be done every day, week, and month. There’s a lot of work when it comes to homesteading, and when you’re able to follow a plan, it helps you to be more productive and get more things done.

Every month starts with a new plan.

1. Work on the room designated for the month. 
2. Decide what activities happen in this space. 
3. Put any items that belong in this room away. 
4. Do the 3 Core Steps. 
5. Refer to the checklist for the month and declutter the things on that list. 
6. Keep repeating the steps until this room is free of clutter. 

Finally, I would like to leave you with one last tip. A tip from our grandmothers that is so effective it will change the entire look of your home.  

Be sure to put your things away whenever you finish using them to reduce items you see lying out. 

Refer to this tip throughout your day, and you will watch the clutter disappear, never to return. 

If you want more decluttering help, you can get your own copy of our FREE started plan by clicking right here!