5 Smart Reasons Why You Should Declutter Your Home

Are you sitting there in front of your computer or wrapped up under a blanket on your couch, staring at your phone, wondering why you should declutter your home? Chances are you’re afraid to look past your screen because you’ve got a pile of clutter within your field of vision, and you don’t like it. 

The clutter bothers you, and you need to fix it — which is exactly why I put together my list of decluttering tips to help you reclaim your home. 

But in this post, let’s talk about a few specific reasons why decluttering is important.

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Why You Should Declutter Your Home

I’m going to tell you something very important about clutter and your home: When you’re overwhelmed with clutter, it can be hard to move forward. In fact, it can even be paralyzing.

Conquering the feeling of being overpowered by the clutter in your home is one of the biggest reasons why you should declutter your home. 

Once you’ve actually started to declutter, you’re going to make a huge realization: You feel better with less clutter. 

It’s going to happen pretty quickly. In fact, I’ve put together nine ways you’ll start to feel better immediately once you get things decluttered. 

Of course, getting started is the hardest part! If you’re REALLY not ready to jump in yet, here are 3 things to try when you’re overwhelmed by clutter.

But today I want to give you a little more push, so I’ve put together a few more reasons why you should declutter your home…

Decluttering Cuts Down on Dust

All of that clutter is holding dust. Not just on top, but down deep, in the folds of fabric and stacked books, there’s dust you don’t see every day. 

If you have pets, then pet hair and dander are building up there as well. 

Decluttering for Allergies

With the dust and dander build up comes the allergy response. 

If you’ve got the windows and doors open to bring in that fresh spring air or capture the last bits of fall before it gets too cold, then you’re bringing in pollen, too. That pollen, combined with any breezes that your open windows catch, will drive those allergens deep into any hidden spaces created by your clutter. 

Decluttering for allergies will help alleviate those uncomfortable allergy and sinus symptoms for anyone who is having a hard time dealing with high pollen counts.

Decluttering gives you the opportunity to cut down on all of that dust. If you’re decluttering one room at a time, make sure to vacuum after you declutter, and clean surfaces, so that you’re getting any dust that may have spilled over onto the floor.

Decluttering for Safety

If you’ve got little ones, then decluttering is a necessity, too! 

Even if you have only just brought baby home, decluttering will help you more easily make your way through the house on those sleep-deprived late-night feeds. 

And while you may feel like it’s not yet a priority, your little one will be mobile before you know it! Crawling babies very quickly become masters at finding every little thing you haven’t yet decluttered — it’s like a strange gift they’re blessed with as soon as they figure out how to scoot!

However, babies are not the only reason why you should declutter your home. If you’ve ever stepped on a Lego in the middle of the night, then you know the importance of decluttering for safety! 

Plus, it’s not just toys that pose a danger when you’re walking through the house! Piles of laundry, stacks of magazines, and that collection of Amazon boxes that need to go out to the trash or recycling are all tripping hazards that should be dealt with instead of left to sit.

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Decluttering for Retirement

I once knew someone whose husband was a firefighter. 

During his career, their home was filled with firefighting “stuff.” From gear that needed to be washed spread out through the kitchen and laundry room, to building plans and topographic maps spread over every surface in the living room. 

There were plaques, letters of merit, and other bits of memorabilia on the walls throughout their home. 

It was a bit frustrating to my friend that her husband brought so much of his work home, but she understood; he was very devoted to his work. To cope, she turned her bedroom into a sanctuary and made a hard and fast rule: no firefighting “stuff” in the bedroom. It was her space where she could be free of his work pursuits.

When her husband retired, they began to declutter. 

Gear was washed and donated to a local volunteer fire department. Important papers were boxed up for her husband to go through. 

The living room remained a place where he could keep his plaques and memorabilia. Over the years, he became a collector of other bits of memorabilia, which were displayed tastefully. 

But they were able to declutter most of the work items her husband no longer needed when he retired. My friend felt like she had reclaimed most of her home, and they were able to enjoy their space together.

Of course, decluttering with a partner doesn’t always go that smoothly. 😉 Here are 8 strategies to try if your husband refuses to declutter.

Decluttering for a Move

Moving is a great reason to declutter, especially if the thought of moving a bunch of stuff you don’t use from one house to another is just overwhelming. 

Chances are, if you are getting ready to move, you have been living in your current home for quite awhile and have built up quite a bit of clutter, even if you’ve managed to hide it well. 

Clutter can hide in closets, under beds, and in junk drawers. When you’re decluttering for a move, you should actually start in those spots. 

First of all, you probably have stuff stuck in closets that you haven’t touched in a while; that stuff can be the first to go as you declutter. This frees physical space AND mindspace, plus it motivates you to get rid of even more stuff.

Second of all, once you have decluttered and cleaned those spaces, you have created storage space for any boxes you are able to pack early, including seasonal clothes, books, and knick-knacks. 

If you are selling your home, empty closet space creates room for you to stash items quickly if you get a phone call from your realtor about a last-minute showing. 

The more things you can declutter now, the fewer things you will have to find homes for in your new space. Plus, needing a smaller moving truck usually costs less money!

Decluttering for Self-Care

Speaking of clutter and mindspace, decluttering for self-care is the best possible reason for decluttering. 

There’s a lot of evidence that suggests clutter negatively impacts our psychological well-being. 

For most people, evening is a time when your work should be complete. You should be winding down at the end of your day, relaxing as you finish dinner and get ready for bed. 

If you see clutter around you, or are constantly thinking about the long to-do list that includes the clutter you need to tackle in other rooms, you never have that chance to relax. It not only inhibits your ability to relax, it’s bad for your long term health. 

Decluttering really is a form of self-care (here’s a more detailed post about why decluttering is important for self-care). 

It lets us be fully able to relax in the evenings, meaning that we’ll fall asleep easier and enjoy our time with our loved ones. It also means we’ll be able to focus our evening efforts on other important areas such as helping with homework or cleaning up after dinner. 

You will have that feeling of peace once you’re not looking at those piles of clutter or feeling pressured by a to-do list that you haven’t gotten finished!

All of these things allow our households to run smoother, meaning that our long-term stress levels are lower.

More Resources to Help You Declutter 

Once you’ve figured out why you should declutter your home, it’s time to get started. 

I’ve got you covered with 5 Baby Steps for Successful Decluttering That Don’t Require a Huge Time Commitment. It’s the perfect starting point for decluttering without feeling overwhelmed. 

If you are a little more advanced than baby steps, then you can start with Clear Your Clutter: 10 Tiny Tasks to Get Big Results. 

Either way, 62 Things to Declutter That You Won’t Miss at All will be a great next step!

Have a problem with all the papers that pile up every day? Here are the products I recommend for getting organized when it comes to those paper piles.

Reclaim Your Home

All in all, decluttering our homes to reclaim our space is an important part of household management. 

But it’s not only done for the sake of keeping a neat and tidy home. It’s also done to make things easier for long-term goals, and to keep out mental health, healthier! 

If you’re ready to jump in with both feet, my 30-day challenge printable will get you going quickly! Head on over to download it so you can start decluttering today!

You’ve got this!