Start where you are, pick up one thing and put it away. If it doesn’t have a home, find a home for it or make it leave your home.

This is simple, and something you can do in bite-size chunks when you have the time. Decluttering doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

Recent trends have been all about neutral themes with light colors, gray floors, and white cabinets.

Wood is the perfect partner for a neutral scheme. It brings warmth and character. And it ensures your space doesn’t end up feeling cold or clinical.

Choose a natural wood finish for big furniture pieces. Various tones of brown and tan baskets and natural material bins are easily found to add those little touches.

Add in yet more warm tones with wooden accessories, like wood shelving or wood picture frames.

Have a large bag, bin, or basket somewhere readily accessible in your home at all times. Maintaining a beautifully ordered and decluttered home is a long-term project, so make sure that you have a dedicated container in which to put items you no longer want.

By throwing as you go, you can keep on top of unwanted (but still usable) items filling up your house. Whenever the container becomes full, simply drop the items off at your local thrift store.

Personally, I use an extra-large cotton woven basket with handles that I keep in the closet of my home office. Other great places to keep your donate bin so that it’s easily accessible for the whole family are tucked in the corner of a kitchen, living, or bedrooms.

A large part of decluttering is “active curation”. When deciding what to keep and what to get rid of, ask yourself if your possessions serve a useful purpose. If not, are they beautiful or do they bring you happiness?

Especially if your items fall into the latter category, why not make a feature out of them?

Pedestal bowls are wonderful ways to create displays out of your most treasured possessions (with the added benefit of keeping trinkets and treats safe and dust-free!). By treating your house as a curated space, you can declutter and organize through carefully considered focal points.

Are there any items or furnishings that could serve multiple purposes in your home?

For example: Lidded multi-colored raffia baskets could be used as great storage items, as well as adding a touch of fun color. With a few baskets in different sizes, could one store toys, and the other be used as plant pot cover? Remove the lid, and this could become a low basket on a dining table. Place the lid back on top, and you have a stylish footstool.

When organizing your home, items with multiple uses will save space, streamline décor and keep clutter to a minimum.

Think outside the box and get as creative as you can with your storage solutions. Decluttering is about so much more than tidying; it helps you create a serene, visually delightful space.

Take the bathroom for instance. Who says toothbrushes have to go in traditional holders, or towels and toiletries have to be hidden away in cupboards?

Could you make a feature of your towels, neatly wrapped in antique planter, or proudly display make-up brushes in a classic brass julep cup? Whatever your personal style, don’t feel constrained by the “normal” uses for containers. Creating and defining uses for objects is entirely up to you.

If you are a visual abundance person you’ll want storage solutions that don’t hide everything from sight. You’re more likely to put things back where they belong if you use unstacked containers and transparent materials. This has the added benefit of making objects much easier to find, with less labeling too!

To successfully declutter and organize your home, begin by sorting your items into groups. If you’re working on your kitchen — collate all your spices, pantry items, plates, or cutlery separately. Identify the groups of objects (starting with those you use most often) that need attention. What items could help you store each category in a clear, easily accessible way?