Let’s face it—decluttering your home isn’t always fun, but it is freeing. Whether you’re prepping your house for the market, simplifying before a big move, or just tired of the mess, clearing out what you don’t need can help your home (and your head) feel lighter.

At Gillies Team Real Estate, we’ve helped countless homeowners prepare their spaces for listing, and one of the most impactful steps is decluttering. Here’s a room-by-room checklist to help you break down the process and finally let go of what no longer serves you.

🔑 Start Small & Stay Focused

Looking at your whole house can feel overwhelming, so we recommend starting with one room at a time—and even breaking that room into smaller zones. Tackle a drawer, a shelf, or one corner before moving on.

Pro Tip: Label items before you start—Keep, Donate, Toss, Sell, or Recycle. Making decisions ahead of time makes decluttering faster and easier.

🚿 Bathroom Checklist

  • Expired medication & makeup
  • Dried-out nail polish
  • Extra or worn-out towels
  • Hair tools you no longer use
  • Old skincare samples

🛏️ Bedroom Checklist

  • Paper clutter on nightstands
  • Books you won’t reread
  • Worn-out sheets and pillows
  • Extra decorative pillows
  • Unused furniture

👚 Closet Checklist

  • Clothes that don’t fit or haven’t been worn in 9+ months
  • Socks with holes
  • Broken jewelry or shoes that hurt
  • Fitness gear you never use
  • Hangers from dry cleaning
  • Expensive “maybe I’ll wear it one day” pieces

💻 Home Office Checklist

  • Paper piles (bills, receipts, insurance docs)
  • Dead pens, old tech, unused cords
  • Expired coupons or gift cards
  • Instruction manuals for items you no longer own

🧸 Kid’s Room Checklist

  • Outgrown clothes and shoes
  • Broken or neglected toys
  • School projects from years past
  • Art supplies that are dried up
  • Books that are too young for them

🍽️ Kitchen Checklist

  • Duplicate tools or appliances
  • Expired pantry items or spices
  • Takeout menus, fast food utensils
  • Containers without lids
  • Chipped or broken dishes
  • Cookbooks collecting dust

🛋️ Living Room Checklist

  • Furniture that no longer works in your space
  • Old magazines, unread books
  • Decorative pieces you don’t love
  • Dead plants or stained textiles
  • Extra throws and pillows
  • Chargers and cables with no home

🏠 General Household Items

  • Old electronics (phones, cameras, laptops)
  • Holiday décor you don’t use
  • Hobby gear collecting dust
  • Luggage you never travel with
  • Extra linens (2 sets per bed is plenty)
  • Cards and photos you don’t need to keep

📦 After the Purge: What to Do with the Stuff

Almost everything you declutter will fall into these categories:

Throw Away: Trash it now—don’t wait, or you might reconsider.
Donate: Choose a charity that means something to you for a more meaningful goodbye.
Gift: Focus on the joy your item will bring to someone else.
Sell: Give yourself a deadline. If it doesn’t sell, donate it.
Recycle: Handle it the same day you declutter to keep momentum going.

Why It Matters

Decluttering isn’t just about tidiness. If you’re thinking of selling your home, it can boost perceived value, simplify staging, and make your move easier. If you’re staying put, it creates more space and a greater sense of calm in your daily life.

No matter where you are in your homeownership journey, Gillies Team Real Estate is here to help you love where you live—or make a smart move when it’s time.

📩 Thinking of selling soon or just want advice on home prep? Let’s chat!

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