15 Small Decluttering Projects That Make a Big Impact

Sometimes all it takes is one small decluttering project to make a space feel tidier. Whether it’s tackling a single junk drawer or organizing craft supplies, here are some manageable organizing projects that will bring you one step closer to home organization bliss.

September 02, 2020

By: Mina Hochberg

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Focus Under the Kitchen Sink

“Decluttering and organizing under the kitchen sink will provide daily benefits since the kitchen is such a high-use space,” says Michele Vig, founder and chief organizer at Neat Little Nest. To keep this area tidy, stow the items that you use on a regular basis, such as dishwasher tabs and sponges, and relocate all other items to a closet or garage shelf.

More Ideas: 20 Storage Solutions for Cluttered Cabinets

Corral Craft Supplies

Craft supplies can quickly get out of hand in a home with young kids. Stow all the crayons, glue sticks, scissors and construction paper in labeled bins, and designate a craft shelf that all members of the family can reach. Michele Vig of Neat Little Nest points out that organizing craft supplies can also prevent duplicate purchases.

More Ideas: 12 Amazing Craft Room Organization Ideas

Sort Out a Utensil Drawer

If you’re constantly searching for kitchen utensils in cluttered drawers, tidy up your drawers with customizable inserts. “Customizable drawer dividers allow you to use every inch of space,” says Michele Vig of Neat Little Nest.

More Ideas: Utensil Drawer Organization

Declutter Your Desk

Home office desks often double as dumping grounds for mail, magazines and random office supplies. Declutter your desk by tossing or relocating unwanted items and thoughtfully organizing paperwork and office supplies. Rachel Rosenthal, organizing expert and owner of Rachel and Company, organized this desk space with a matching mail center and desktop file for a clean, coordinated look.

More Ideas: 10 Home Office Hacks to Get You Organized Now

Tidy Your Fridge

Rachel Rosenthal of Rachel and Company decluttered this refrigerator by organizing snacks, dinner ingredients, produce and other items in clear, stackable bins. Rosenthal suggests organizing your fridge after a shopping trip so that you know what foods need to be sorted.

More Ideas: How to Successfully Organize Your Refrigerator and Keep It Neat All Year

Clean a Bathroom Closet

Reduce chaos in your bathroom closet by separating items into categories like hair, dental and first aid, and placing them in labeled bins. “The bathroom is the ideal space to implement plastic or acrylic containers for ease of cleanup when toiletries spill,” says Marissa Hagmeyer, co-founder of Neat Method. Hagmeyer also suggests a bin for backup shampoo, lotion and beauty products, so that you know where to look when you run out.

More Ideas: Organize the Bathroom Closet

Keep Linens in Line

To achieve orderly linen closets and cabinets, Ashley Murphy, co-founder of Neat Method, stacks and labels linens and towels according to bed size or room. She also suggests using linen closets to stash utility items that aren’t used every day, such as batteries, backup toiletries and medicine.

More Ideas: Organizing Your Linen Closet

Clear Kitchen Counters

Clear all of your kitchen counters for instant peace of mind and to maximize space for cooking. Ashley Murphy of Neat Method suggests hanging knives on a magnetized strip instead of storing them in a knife block, which takes up a lot of space. “If you have to have things out, consider a pretty tray or turntable to help minimize the visual clutter,” says Murphy. “A pretty label can also help make items that are on the countertop look much more purposeful.”

More Ideas: 15 Clever Ways to Clear Off Your Countertops

Create a Coffee Station

If you find yourself rummaging through a messy pantry every time you make coffee or tea, organize all your coffee and tea supplies at a centralized coffee station. Amanda Clark, owner of Ever So Organized, included mugs, coffee pods and tea bags in this coffee station.

More Ideas: 14 Home Coffee Station Ideas

Tidy the Medicine Cabinet

Amanda Clark of Ever So Organized tackled this disorganized medicine cabinet by removing all items, grouping similar items together and tossing anything that hadn’t been used in the past year. Clark put items in acrylic bins and pretty Mason jars for easy identification.

More Ideas: Quick Tips for Organizing Bathrooms

Organize Your Handbags

Bring order to your handbag collection so you can find your bags when you need them. Amanda Clark of Ever So Organized stores clutches and other small bags on their sides in clear acrylic containers. If you have enough closet space, you can also hang bags and purses on hangers.

More Ideas: Closet Organization Ideas: Strategies for Clearing Closet Clutter

Tame a Junk Drawer

Whether it’s a nightstand drawer or a kitchen drawer, junk drawers can happen in any room. Jennifer Jones of iHeart Organizing sorts junk drawer items into “keep” and “relocate” piles. She puts “relocate” items where they belong and places the “keep” items back in the drawer, organized in bins that can accommodate items of all sizes.

More Ideas: Organization Overhaul: Junk Drawer Edition

Tackle a Clothing Drawer

If your clothing drawers have fallen into disarray from daily rummaging, try “filing” your clothes vertically so that you can see what’s in the drawer without having to dig around. Jennifer Jones of IHeart Organizing uses soft-sided boxes to organize clothes by category.

More Ideas: Folding Clothes to Save Space

Organize Your Kid’s Schoolwork

Don’t let your child’s books, pens and other school paraphernalia take over the dining room table. Instead, corral them into a designated caddy that kids can access whenever it’s time for schoolwork. Photo courtesy of The Container Store.

More Ideas: Small Space Solution: School Supply Storage Cart

Declutter the Entryway

Tired of tripping over shoes every time you enter and leave the house? Stash all those shoes into a large shoe organizer — and use spare cubbies and shelf space for other common entryway obstacles like backpacks and outdoor accessories. Photo courtesy of The Container Store.

More Ideas: 20 Functional and Attractive Shoe Storage Ideas

Shop This Look

Photo By: Jes Lahay

Photo By: Erica Loeks Photography

Photo By: Jes Lahay, From The Holistic Guide to Decluttering

Photo By: Rachel Rosenthal, owner of Rachel and Company

Photo By: Marisa Belle

Photo By: Michelle Drewes

Photo By: Marisa Belle

Photo By: Ever So Organized

Photo By: Jennifer Jones of IHeart Organizing

Photo By: The Container Store

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