Decluttering vs Organizing — What's the Difference? Here's What The Experts Think

Understanding your home and how you can take care of it is important. Think of your first home as your first love, it deserves attention, care and romance. Naturally, if you are dealing with a busy schedule, life can feel quite chaotic, which can often reflect onto your home. Dishes might begin to pile up, you might be storing items which no longer benefit you or you might be throwing clothing items into the closet, in hopes of never having to deal with it again.

I recently stumbled upon a fantastic book called ‘Made For Living’ by California-based interior designer Amber Lewis, where she notes: ‘Less is more people!’ something we all need to hear once in a while. In this instance, Amber looks at the way furniture is used in different areas of a home. In her book, she highlights the importance of storage and says ‘it’s non-negotiable,’ if you are not willing to let go of things. ‘Declutter by storing extra blankets in baskets, stacking books neatly on the coffee table, or displaying knicknacks on shelves,’ Amber adds.

Now, I think it is fair to say that many of us (myself included) sometimes struggle with decluttering and organizing a space, but how can we do this efficiently? First and foremost, I believe we need to learn the difference between the two. Although decluttering and organizing are often used interchangeably, they are not the same.

Here’s what you need to know as you figure out how to declutter your home and organizing your space, according to experts.

1. Decluttering comes first

Di Ter Avest, a professional home and lifestyle organizer and the owner of Di is Organized, tells us, that although decluttering and organizing are 'connected' they have 'distinct differences'.

When it comes to how to organize a room with too much stuff, decluttering comes first. 'If a room is too full of things everywhere and you clearly don't have a way to store all your belongings in that space, decluttering is the first step toward your dream home,' Di adds.

Decluttering is step one in 'creating a more organized and spacious living environment,' Di explains. She says removing unwanted items from a home will 'not only streamlines your belongings but also creates a more spacious and orderly environment, allowing you to let go of items that no longer serve a purpose or bring value to your life'.

2. It's time to organize!

When it comes to organizing, Di says this method brings 'efficiency' and 'ease'. When you want to organize something, it typically focuses on 'arranging and categorizing the items that remain after decluttering'. Di tells us this method involves 'creating systems and structures to efficiently store and access belongings, maximizing the use of space, and minimizing clutter'.

But let's not forget, 'both decluttering and organizing are essential steps in creating a tidy and functional space,' Di emphasises.

In order to carry out these methods in the best way, try decluttering your space first. 'Decluttering typically comes first, as it involves making decisions about what to keep and what to discard or donate,' Di adds.

Understanding the difference is important

Melissa Gugni, founder of Melissa Gugni Organizing, says the difference between 'decluttering and organizing is an important one'.

She explains: 'Some people may live minimalist lives, however they choose to define it, and may not need to declutter before organizing.

'For most of us, we will want to consider decluttering the key to a successful organizing project. Why bother organizing things that you don't want or need? They need to go first!'