Where Do I Even Start?

Where Do I Even Start? A Beginner’s Guide to Decluttering Your Home

If you’ve ever stood in the middle of your home thinking, “I have no idea where to start,” you’re not alone. At Out of Place Solutions, we hear this all the time. Most people aren’t taught how to declutter or create systems that work, especially when life is busy, messy, or in transition.

Here’s the good news: you don’t need to overhaul your whole home. You just need a place to begin. And that’s exactly what this guide is here to help with.

Step 1: Forget the Big Picture (For Now)

Thinking about your entire home can feel completely overwhelming. Instead, zoom in. Ask yourself:

What area is bothering me the most right now?
What space would bring the biggest relief if it felt clear?

Start there. It might be your kitchen bench, your bathroom sink, or that hallway drop zone that collects everything. Choose one small area, and focus only on that.

Step 2: Clear, Sort, Decide

Once you’ve picked your spot:

Clear everything out
Group like items together
Decide what stays and what goes

Don’t overthink it. You don’t need to organize just yet, you’re simply creating space and clarity. If you’re stuck on something, use a “maybe” box and come back to it later.

Step 3: Set a Timer

This step is a game-changer: set a timer for 10, 20, or 30 minutes. That’s it.

You’re not trying to finish the entire project. You’re just giving yourself a doable container of time. When the timer goes off, stop. Celebrate the win, and pick up again when you're ready.

Step 4: Create a Home for What Stays

Once you’ve cleared the clutter, it’s time to set up simple systems.

Give every item a proper home, a basket, bin, shelf, or drawer that makes it easy to access and even easier to put things away.

This is where real organizing begins: creating systems that support your everyday life.

Step 5: Keep Going, One Zone at a Time

Decluttering isn’t a weekend project, it’s an ongoing process. The good news? It gets easier as you go. You build confidence and momentum.

Work through your home in zones: one drawer, one shelf, one space at a time. And don’t forget to pause and notice what feels better as you go.

You’re Doing Better Than You Think

If you’re here, reading this, it means you care about your space, and that alone is powerful. You don’t need to be perfect or fast. You just need to keep moving forward.

And if you want support along the way? That’s where I come in.

Need Help Getting Started?

At Out of Place Solutions, I offer hands-on organizing sessions and virtual coaching to help you:

Where Do I Even Start?

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