Why the 'Room-by-Room' Decluttering Method Might Be the Key to Finally Getting Your Home in Order

At Mytour, we cover a wide range of cleaning routines and organizing strategies because we know that no single method works for everyone. Having tried (and failed) with several popular organizing techniques—such as Marie Kondo's 'spark joy' concept—I was eager to find something that would actually stick. That's when I came across the room-by-room decluttering method, which many organizing experts swear by.

I reached out to professional organizers for their expert advice and tested the room-by-room approach myself to see if it would actually work for me. Here’s everything you need to know before giving this strategy a shot in your own home.

Understanding How Room-by-Room Decluttering Works

This decluttering method is simple yet effective: you focus on one room at a time. Clear it out completely, and then proceed to the next. Use bins to separate items for the trash, for donation, or for other rooms, and make sure everything that belongs in the room has a designated spot.

This approach is highly recommended by professional organizers. "We know that the room-by-room organizing method actually works because that is how most of us work with our clients," says Katrina Teeple, professional organizer and founder of Operation Organization. "We work on one space until it is thoroughly decluttered and organized, instead of doing a little here and there all over a house."

Advantages of Decluttering Room by Room

For those who often struggle to maintain momentum while decluttering, adopting a room-by-room method brings many advantages and keeps things manageable.

Achieve Significant Results More Quickly

Tidying up a little here and there—like clearing a pile of paper on your desk or picking up shoes in the entryway—can help reduce clutter overall, but it doesn’t have the same impact as focusing on one room at a time. By dedicating attention to each space, you can experience that satisfying "big reveal" home makeover moment much sooner, even if it's just one room.

You Create a More Inviting Space at Home

Once a room is fully decluttered, it becomes a much more pleasant place to spend time. I realized this firsthand after finally tackling several years’ worth of paperwork in my home office. Not only was the room more functional, but it became a refuge from the other, still-cluttered spaces. "When you declutter going room by room, you have a clean sanctuary to go back to when you're overwhelmed with your clutter and you need a break from what you're working on," says Cian Ballentine, founder of Cannonball Cleaners.

You Gain More Motivation to Keep Going

Achieving significant wins in the decluttering process can motivate you to continue, especially as you tackle more complex spaces in your home. 'Focusing on one room at a time can build your confidence, allowing you to move on to the next room because you'll see real progress and experience that sense of accomplishment—something we often miss if we’re not intentional about it,' explains Teeple. 'Working on random areas across the house doesn’t deliver the tangible results that motivate most people to keep going.'

Drawbacks of the Room-by-Room Approach

Like any organizing strategy, the room-by-room method can have its challenges.

The clutter can migrate to another room

As you clear out one room, you inevitably have to relocate things, and if the new space isn't already organized, you might just create a bigger mess somewhere else. 'One major downside is that areas like the basement often turn into a dumping ground for things you don’t know where to put,' Ballentine explains. 'By the time you get to cleaning that space or other areas where these items piled up, it becomes an even more challenging task.'

Results Aren't Always Visible Everywhere

As you concentrate on clearing one room, other areas of your home might slip under the radar—like a growing pile of mail or an increasingly chaotic shoe collection. I experienced this with my entryway: not only was I neglecting to maintain it, but I was also piling up all my 'giveaway' items there. (However, revisiting the rooms I had already tackled helped me stay motivated!)

Strategies for Effective Room-by-Room Decluttering

Want to give this decluttering method a try? Here are some expert tips—along with insights from my personal experience—to help you create an organized home.

Begin with a Quick Victory

It might seem like a good idea to dive into a challenging space first—like an overcrowded basement or a kitchen filled with clutter. However, you might have better luck starting with a room that’s already somewhat organized or a smaller project that you can complete quickly for an early win. I began with my bathroom, which only took a couple of hours to finish, giving me the momentum to move on.

Stay Focused on One Room

If you’re sorting through books in your living room, it can be tempting to collect all the books from other rooms—like your bedroom or office—and go through them at once. But to keep your progress on track, it’s crucial to stick to one space. 'You might feel pulled to address another cluttered area while putting things away, but focusing on completing one space at a time will reduce overwhelm and help you cross the finish line,' says Teeple.

Break Larger Room Tasks into Smaller Steps

For rooms that might take more than one decluttering session—like your kitchen—try dividing the task into manageable chunks. For example, I spent an hour going through my spices and organizing them using a new in-drawer rack. It didn’t take long, but it gave me a great sense of accomplishment and helped me stay motivated for the next task.

Optimize Your Put-It-Away Bins

Instead of relying on a single bin that requires multiple stops to sort, create room-specific bins or bags. That way, you can gather everything for the kitchen in one container, and all the items for the bedroom in another. This method speeds up the process of putting things back in their proper places.

Move Your Put-It-Away Bins with You

To prevent clutter from building up in rooms you haven’t tackled yet, consider taking your room-specific put-it-away bins with you as you move through each space, suggests Ballentine. This way, you'll stay organized and avoid scattering items across areas you haven't yet addressed.

"If you use tote bags or laundry baskets to collect things from different spaces, by the time you get to the living room, you'll have four bags of stuff that need to be put away there; when you move to the kitchen, you'll find items that need washing and organizing; and when you reach the bathroom, you'll be left trying to find storage for everything that's been scattered around."

Don't let your to-go items pile up at home

Guilty as charged! I get excited about donating things I no longer need to local charities or Buy Nothing groups—but often struggle to find the time to actually get those items out of the house. To avoid having them linger in your entryway for weeks, try these strategies:

Ensure you complete everything before moving on

It can be tempting to rush through a nearly finished room and jump to the next project. But Teeple advises making sure one room is fully completed before starting another. "Don’t skip reorganizing what you keep and maintaining the order you’ve established with labels and good habits, like returning things to their rightful place. This is how organized homes stay neat and clutter-free."