Decluttering vs. Organizing: Why You Need Both
Jul 24, 2025
When life feels chaotic and your home is overflowing with stuff, it's easy to lump everything under one big task: “I need to get organized!”
But here's the truth—decluttering and organizing are two different things, and you need both to create lasting peace in your space.
If you’ve ever spent hours putting things into pretty bins only to feel overwhelmed again a few weeks later, chances are you skipped an important step: decluttering.
Let’s break down the difference—and why doing one without the other won’t give you the results you really want.
What Is Decluttering?
Decluttering is the process of removing the items that you no longer want or that no longer serve you.
It’s about letting go of the excess, the unused, and the unnecessary. It’s the stuff you don’t need, don’t love, and don’t even notice—until it’s taking over your space and your sanity.
Decluttering means asking questions like:
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Do I use this?
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Do I love this?
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Would I buy this again today?
- Why am I keeping this?
When you declutter, you’re clearing the way for simplicity. You're choosing what stays—before deciding where or how to store it. AND that is a huge piece of the "getting organized" puzzle.
We don't need to just move and arrange stuff - we need to organize the things we truly want to keep.
What Is Organizing?
Organizing is what happens after you’ve decluttered.
It’s the process of assigning everything a home in a way that’s functional, sustainable, and aligned with how you live.
Think labels, bins, drawer dividers, color-coded calendars, and systems that keep your home running smoothly. That’s home organizing.
Good organizing is about:
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Creating zones
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Maximizing space
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Finding what you need when you need it
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Reducing daily stress
- Making life easier and less "heavy"
But if you try to organize without decluttering first, you’re just rearranging clutter.
Why You Need Both
If you’re stuck in a cycle of reorganizing the same stuff over and over again, the problem likely isn’t your bins—it’s the volume of stuff.
Decluttering gives you clarity.
Organizing gives you structure.
Together, they create a home organization system that actually works.
Without decluttering, organizing is just a Band-Aid.
Without organizing, decluttering won’t last.
When you pair the two, your home becomes a place that supports your life—not a place that overwhelms it.
How to Start
If the idea of decluttering and organizing your whole house feels overwhelming, start small. Choose one drawer, one shelf, or one category—and go through these steps:
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Declutter first. Remove what doesn’t belong or isn’t needed.
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Group like items together. This helps you see what you have and avoid duplicates.
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Assign a home. Choose a place that makes sense and is easy to maintain.
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Contain it. Use bins, baskets, or drawer organizers as needed.
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Label it. Labels reduce decision fatigue and help everyone in the house maintain the system.
Final Thoughts
If you want a home that feels calm, clear, and under control, remember this:
Decluttering and organizing are partners, not substitutes.
So the next time you feel the urge to organize, pause and declutter first. Then create systems that simplify your life—not just your shelves.
Your path to a more peaceful, functional home starts with both.
Looking for help with your home organizing journey?
Whether you’re overwhelmed by clutter or struggling to create systems that stick, I can help you build a personalized routine that brings clarity and calm to your everyday life.
I've built a course that helps you evaluate where you are, then craft and implement your plan of action that you create just for you and your family. This course is self-paced and one you will have lifetime access to.
AND there is an option to add coaching to the course. When you add the coaching option you will receive 4 coaching sessions (one per module) designed to help you go deeper and help you if you get stuck.
