Nate Berkus' three guidelines for reducing clutter are the key to both an intentionally designed and effortlessly managed environment
Decluttering your home can be a daunting task, but following the golden rules of Nate Berkus, a renowned designer, and Meghan Cocchiaro, a professional home organizer, can make the process easier and more effective. Here's a guide to help you declutter your home intentionally and create a space that feels "collected, not cluttered."
Start with Big Pieces First
Contrary to many organizers who suggest beginning with small items, Berkus recommends starting decluttering with the largest, most energy-consuming items like furniture. This approach leverages your highest energy levels to decide what truly fits your home and lifestyle, making letting go easier and more effective. He advises careful handling of heavy pieces and notes that items in good condition may be sold locally rather than discarded.
Avoid Decluttering Sentimental Items First
Berkus and other professionals warn that tackling emotional possessions at the beginning can cause fatigue or derail the process. Instead, build confidence decluttering less emotionally charged categories first and save sentimental items for later.
Simple Organizing Routine after Decluttering
Berkus' organizing method involves sorting items by colour, size, and frequency of usage. This straightforward system makes storage intuitive and keeps spaces functional without overcomplicating solutions.
Additional Recommendations
- Declutter before buying storage solutions to avoid merely organizing clutter.
- Avoid mass purging in one overwhelming session and instead work steadily from bigger items to smaller ones.
Tips from Meghan Cocchiaro
Cocchiaro encourages assigning a home for everything and suggests using baskets and trays to keep smaller items tidy and accessible. She also recommends beautifully woven baskets as a timeless option for containing items and preventing clutter in a home. For items that are not used frequently, such as seasonal items, she suggests using clear bins with latches.
Investing in Craftsmanship
Choosing fewer pieces with personality and craftsmanship, and investing in things that tell a story, can break the stages of clutter and reduce future clearing out. Investing in craftsmanship can help stop clutter before it starts by reducing the risk of items wearing out, breaking, or falling out of style.
Organized by Meg and Solved's Advice
Head of Solved, Punteha van Terheyden, explains that starting with larger items can be a great way to tackle a lot of stuff quickly if you are already highly motivated to declutter. Organized by Meg, a professional home organizing company, emphasizes the importance of consciously choosing what you are storing away to avoid buying containers for which you then have to find a purpose for or mindlessly boxing up everything you own without taking care to let go of items.
The Reid Storage Trunk
The Reid Storage Trunk is a timeless and functional decorative accent that helps keep clutter well hidden for a more intentional home.
Remember to Display Memories and Mementos
Cocchiaro encourages displaying memories and mementos whenever possible so the item is actually seen and appreciated.
By following these golden rules, you can create an intentional, curated home environment that feels "collected, not cluttered," emphasizing purpose and ease over aesthetic band-aids or emotional overwhelm. Happy decluttering!
[1] Berkus, Nate. "The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing and Realizing Your House Goals." HarperCollins Publishers, 2019.
[2] Cocchiaro, Meghan. "The Home Edit Life: A Guide to Organizing Everything from Emotions to Time." HarperCollins Publishers, 2020.
[3] van Terheyden, Punteha. "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: A Simple and Effective Way to Banish Clutter Forever." Ten Speed Press, 2014.
[4] Kondo, Marie. "Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up." Ten Speed Press, 2016.
[5] Duggan, Clea. "The Japanese Art of Decluttering: Tidying Up Your Home in Small Steps." Penguin Books, 2016.
- To maintain a style that exudes elegance, consider decluttering your home by investing in craftsmanship and fewer items with personality, creating a lifestyle that reflects your taste in fashion-and-beauty.
- Transform your home-and-garden into a functional haven by implementing simple organizing routines, such as sorting items by color, size, and frequency of use, for a seamless and clutter-free living space.
