25 Benefits of Decluttering Your Home

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Decluttering is all the rage right now with the Marie Kondo show on Netflix.

Her book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, was one of the very first books I read about decluttering and simplifying my life. Here are 10 more simple living books to check out.

It’s cliche, but the book is literally life changing!

I didn’t follow her method to a T, but I did follow many of the principles she teaches.

Related post: 8 Steps to Decluttering Your Home

I like gathering all the like items together because it really gives you a sense for how much of something you actually have. If you just declutter by room then you could have coats in several places and think you don’t have an excess when really you probably do.

When I first started to declutter I immediately noticed the clearer space (and less tripping over toys!) as a benefit. I talked about my motivation to simplify here.

What I didn’t realize was all the other benefits, both big and small, I would experience as a result of letting go of the excess. The more stuff that I donate and throw away, the more I continue to realize the many reasons why decluttering is important for a more intentional life.

Today’s post will talk about these rewards of decluttering. I know that decluttering can seem overwhelming when you first start so I hope that this post is an inspiration to start your decluttering journey today.

25 BENEFITS OF DECLUTTERING YOUR HOME TODAY

“If we didn’t have all the possessions, we could have something else.”

Unknown

When I started to write down all the benefits to decluttering your home that I could think of, the reasons seemed to fall into four categories: physical health, mental health, time and freedom from stuff.

The rest of this post will discuss the reasons to declutter your home in each of these four categories.

You probably won’t experience all of these benefits overnight or all at once, but I do think that if you take the time to declutter your home you will start to see some of these benefits pretty quickly!

Let’s get to the benefits!

FREEDOM FROM STUFF

This is perhaps the most obvious set of benefits of decluttering your home. When you think of decluttering you probably first think of less stuff. Here are some of the specific benefits that I could think of when it comes to freedom from stuff.

1. You will have more living space.

If you don’t have extra stuff all over your kitchen table you’ll have room to eat dinner as a family, play a game or do a craft project.

This is especially important for kids – if there are not toys all over the floor, they will actually have space to play and will not get overwhelmed by all the clutter.

2. You will enjoy your favorite things more.

When you have fewer things in your home you’ll actually know what your favorite things are and you can find them when you want them. The items aren’t hidden in a box somewhere!

3. You’ll lessen the burden on the people you leave behind (i.e. a spouse or children).

This one is a little sad to think about, but for someone who has spent the past couple of months going through items from my mom who passed away, I know how difficult it can be when there is just so much stuff to go through.

While it’s nice to look at old photos and relive happy memories, it can also be super overwhelming when there are boxes of things that don’t necesarily mean anything to you.

“Only two things can happen to memorabilia over time:

1. It becomes more important;

2. It becomes less important.”

– Rose Lounsbury

4. You can revive lost memories or grieve the loss of a loved one.

Like I mentioned above it has been fun to go through old photos and items from my childhood that my parents kept in the attic. It has also helped me to continue to grieve the loss of my mom by going through some of the things I know she treasured and passing many of those items on to other loving homes.

5. Decluttering helps you let go of your past.

An old shirt or photo from a previous significant other may be more clutter than a closet full of extra dishes you don’t use.

By letting go of that sweatshirt from your old significant other you are able to move on and stop living in the past and enjoy the people in your present life.

6. You are able to help others in need.

By minimizing your own possessions and donating them to a local shelter or donation center you are helping those that need the items more than you.

PHYSICAL HEALTH BENEFITS

There are also physical benefits to having less stuff in your home. Here are a few to think about.

7. You will experience improved sleep.

By having less clutter in our bedroom I find that I sleep much better because there is less on my mind as I fall asleep. I also notice that the more I declutter my schedule and implement better systems for to-do lists I have less floating around in my head.

Science backs this up: “A study by Pamela Thacher, assistant professor of psychology at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., found that “People who sleep in cluttered rooms… are more likely to have sleeping problems. This includes having trouble falling asleep at night and experiencing rest disturbances.””

Need help with your evening routine? Read this post!

8. Better eating habits can be developed.

By decluttering your kitchen and pantry you know what foods you already have and are able to focus on meal planning and eating healthier options.

“In a more organized home, there is more time to plan and more space to prepare healthier meals, as well to relax and eat more slowly.”

-Anne-Marie Gambelin via Mother.ly

9. Your home will have fewer allergens, which means less illness.

Less clutter means less space for allergens to accumulate in your home. You’ll also see below that less clutter means there is less to clean. Bonus!!

Kristine Cane mentions this on usnews.com: “Removing clutter is also physically healthier because it removes dust particles and toxins from the air… – which can improve allergy symptoms and overall wellness.“

MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH BENEFITS

The mental health benefits are very interesting to me because they are not always visible to the eye. These benefits are more subtle but nevertheless are very profound benefits of decluttering your home.

10. Less Stress.

Research has linked less clutter to less cortisol, the stress causing hormone, in our system.

As Michael Cho notes on LifeHacker.com, “A team of UCLA researchers recently observed 32 Los Angeles families and found that all of the mothers’ stress hormones spiked during the time they spent dealing with their belongings.” 

Clutter can cause stress from the “weight” of needing to go through it all, organize it, move it, store it, file it, give it to people, sell it, etc. etc. etc. (Yes, the three “etc.” are necesary!)

Have you ever looked around your room and noticed the piles on every surface? You may have gotten used to them being there, but all that stuff is vying for your attention, one little bit at a time. This all adds up to stress, without us even realizing it.

By removing this extra stuff around our home we are essentially removing some of the stress in our life as well.

11. Reduced anxiety.

ScaryMommy points out there’s proof that clutter causes anxiety: “As psychologist Sherrie Bourg Carter explains in Psychology Today, “Messy homes and work spaces leave us feeling anxious, helpless, and overwhelmed.” 

For me personally, when my home is cluttered with books and paper and toys, I notice my breathing is shallower and I experience an overall sense of overwhelm of not knowing where to start.

By taking a few minutes at the end of each day to tidy up and bring my home back to a state of calm I am much more relaxed and able to return myself to a state of calm as well.

12. Sense of accomplishment.

Decluttering is not an easy feat! When you can accomplish even the smallest decluttering project, there is a sense of accomplishment! This helps to keep you moving towards your goals.

13. Happier outlook.

Decluttering has the ability to boost your mood and self-esteem. According to an article on Bustle.com, “Clutter can make you feel cranky not only because it’s like visual noise, but it also sends a signal that you don’t have your life together.”

 14. Fosters a gratitude mindset.

When you start to notice all that you have around you it’s easy to start approaching your stuff with an abundance mindset. In other words, we start to realize that we already have enough.

This mindset leads to a sense of gratitude for what you already have. If you need help cultivating a mindset of gratitude, this is a great post to check out.

15. Increase in concentration.

According to Mother.ly, “It may seem counterintuitive, but toddlers are actually more likely to play for longer and more happily when they have fewer toys to choose from. Think about it this way: If you were trying to read a book but your phone kept buzzing with new text messages, how likely are you to get through that chapter with a deep understanding of what you read? It’s the same for toddlers.”

To put this into perspective for adults, Marcy Mckay points out on thewritelife.com, “Clutter makes it difficult to focus on one task or object, according to researchers at Princeton University’s Neuroscience Institute. Your brain has a limited ability to process information, so a disorganized work environment pulls your attention in different directions.

So, the less clutter you have in your home, the more you’re able to focus on the task at hand.

16. Ability to invest more in relationships.

I noticed when I didn’t have to spend hours cleaning on the weekends or picking up the toys every night, I was able to spend more quality time with my family.

Additionally, when people have less clutter in their homes they are more likely to invite people over to socialize. If there is clutter all over it would feel overwhelming and defeating to even clean up before guests arrive. Most people in this situation will probably not even bother.

17. Increase in mindfulness.

As I continue on my simple living journey, mindfulness is something that I focus on. I have noticed that as I declutter and let go of the stuff that no longer serves me, I am much more mindful about what I bring into my home. Decluttering is a lot of work and I don’t want to just fill the space back up with more stuff!

I also think that less clutter around me allows me to be more mindful and present with my kids and spouse.

Since starting to declutter I have also started a mindfulness practice. You can start your own mindfulness practice by reading this post!

18. Lightens the mental load.

You know all the things rattling around in your brain?

That is mental load.

You know all the little decisions you make during the day? What to wear? Make for dinner? What to pack for lunch? What book to read?

That is mental load.

By reducing the options, you are essentially reducing the number of decisions you make during the day. This in turn reduces the mental load you are carrying around with you and the decision fatigue that results.

Learn more about reducing your mental load here.

FINANCIAL BENEFITS

As you start to declutter your home you will likely experience financial benefits as well. Here are a couple major money benefits.

19. Reduced financial pressures.

After I started to declutter I also started to be more intentional with what I brought into my home. Consequently, I wasn’t shopping as much and was able to save money in the process.

We also saved money by not buying duplicates of items we couldn’t find, not paying late fees because the bill got lost on the counter, not buying more socks because we couldn’t find matches or our laundry wasn’t clean. I know I am not the only one who did that!

If you need help not spending money, perhaps a no spend challenge would be helpful for you.

20. Potential to unlock hidden value.

You might find collectible items or larger ticket items that you could sell for cash that can in turn help pay off debt.

While you can make some money decluttering, I don’t usually recommend selling all of the items you are letting go of. This would take way too much time and slow down your decluttering efforts. But if you can sell something for $100 or more it may be worth your while.

TIME MANAGEMENT BENEFITS

21. Boost in productivity.

Megy Karydes on Inc.com states that “The more visual stimuli present within your view will fight for your visual attention. The more clutter you see, the more distracted you’ll be.”

By removing clutter from your desk at work you’ll be less distracted and more able to focus on the task at hand and get more productive work done.

22. Boost in creativity.

Emily Glover points out on Mother.ly, “According to a new study, toddlers play longer and more happily when there are fewer toys to choose from. Better yet, the researchers say fewer toys mean more opportunities for creativity, imagination and skill development.”

If you think you have too many toys, you could try a toy rotation to see how your kids respond to fewer toys and also see which toys they tend to play with.

Our family experienced this on a recent family vacation. The kids each had a set of magic markers and magic coloring paper, their night time stuffed animals and a small Lego set.

The kids played for hours with those toys because that is what they had. And they came up with creative ways to use the paper and setup the Legos. This just shows that kids usually don’t need more, more, more. Less will usually do just fine!

Related Post: 5 Tips to Combat Toy Clutter

23. You will have more free time.

Since you won’t have a million things on your calendar you’ll have more free time to spend on something else or with your loved ones. You also won’t have to spend as much time looking for lost items or cleaning up a messy home.

There will be more time to invest in yourself and your family.

24. There will be less cleaning to do.

According to the National Cleaning Institute, clutter can add up to 40 percent to the amount of housework you have to handle.

This is a pretty interesting statistic! I would agree! When your home is full of knick-knacks and piles of stuff, you have two options when cleaning. You can either move the stuff before you clean, which takes more time and effort, or, like most people, you probably just clean around the stuff. This second option does not clean as well as if you were to move the stuff to clean underneath.

If you don’t have the clutter or piles of stuff to begin with you won’t have the extra things to move, to dust and to clean around.

25. You’ll be able to achieve your goals.

This benefit has to do with the aspirational clutter (i.e. the stuff you hold onto for the person you think you should be). Examples of aspirational clutter are the yoga mat becuase you’re supposed to be awesome at yoga or the paints because you think you should be a painter.

Having all these things around distracts you from what you actually want to achieve in life. Worse than that, it can cause guilt for NOT doing yoga or NOT spending time painting.

For me personally, I used to love making beaded jewelry as a kid and as I got older as well. As I had kids I found less and less time to work on these projects, and, if we’re being honest, I didn’t really even WANT to do these projects anymore. But I still kept all the supplies sitting in my basement for years, untouched.

It it TOTALLY ok to declutter these items because it means you will actually be able to focus on the activities and goals that really do light you up.

For me that means reading, working on this blog, doing craft projects with my kids and spending evenings with my husband.

“Keep things that inspire or motivate you, but get rid of anything that makes you feel guilty.”

Carolyn Steber on Bustle.com

Start setting your own S.M.A.R.T. goals today with this FREE workbook!

Are you inspired to start decluttering your home, or what??

WHERE TO START DECLUTTERING YOUR HOME

Now that you have a better understanding of the many reasons you should declutter your home, here are a few practical tips to help you start getting rid of the clutter in your life.

• Start really small. 10 minutes is all it takes.
• Use a checklist. 8 Steps to Clear The Clutter Checklist
• Find inspiration. Here are 5 blogs and 10 Instagrammers to follow.
• Do a decluttering challenge. Here are 5 to choose from.

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