The 5 Most Popular Decluttering Methods & Which One Is Right For You

Inside: Ready to declutter, but don’t know which approach to use?  This post explores the top 5 most popular home organizers, their specific decluttering steps, the pros and cons of their approaches, and their target audience. The organizers include Marie Kondo, The Home Edit, Peter Walsh, Cassandra Aarsen, and Dana K. White. Find out which method is right for you! 

When it comes to decluttering and organizing your home, there are countless approaches you can take. But some home organizers have risen to the top, gaining widespread popularity and helping people across the world transform their living spaces. You’ve seen them on HGTV, Netflix, YouTube, or perhaps even read their books.  In this post, we’ll look at the top 5 most popular home organizers, including their specific steps for decluttering, the pros and cons of each approach, and the target audience for each home organizer.

#1. Most Popular Home Organizer: Marie Kondo

Marie Kondo has become a household name in the world of home organization thanks to her best-selling book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” and her hit Netflix series “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.” Her approach, known as the KonMari Method, involves decluttering by category rather than by room and keeping only items that “spark joy.” Here are the specific steps of the KonMari Method:

Steps to the KonMari Method

1. Visualize your ideal lifestyle – think about your ideal lifestyle and how your home can support that vision. This will help you stay motivated and focused throughout the process.
2. Tackle categories in a specific order – clothing, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and sentimental items.
3. Hold each item and ask, “Does it spark joy?” If it does, keep it if it doesn’t, thank it for its service and let it go.
4. Discard before organizing. Kondo emphasizes the importance of decluttering items before organizing them.
5. Find a home for everything – Kondo recommends finding a specific home for each item and storing similar items together.

Pros of the KonMari Method:

• Her approach of discarding items that do not spark joy can be helpful in letting go of things that are no longer needed or useful.
• Her emphasis on visualizing your ideal lifestyle and storing items to make them easy to see and access can help create a more peaceful and organized living space.

Cons of the KonMari Method:

• Some people may find her approach too rigid or challenging to implement.
• The focus on discarding items that do not spark joy may not work for everyone, as it could lead to the unintentional discarding of items that are useful or necessary.

Who Is The KonMari Method Best Suited For?

Individuals who want a more minimalist lifestyle and who are looking for a holistic approach to decluttering and organizing. People willing to devote time and energy to decluttering and organizing their homes. Her approach is especially suited for those drawn to spiritual and reflective practices.

#2 Most Popular Home Organizer: The Home Edit

If you want to declutter your home and create a more organized space, you may have heard of The Home Edit. It was founded by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin and gained popularity with their Instagram account, where they shared photos of their organized spaces. It has since become known for their celebrity clients and appearances on TV shows like Netflix’s “Get Organized with The Home Edit.”

The Home Edit’s Specific Decluttering Steps:

Their approach to decluttering can be broken down into three simple steps: categorize, edit, and contain.

1. Categorize: For example, if you’re decluttering your closet, you would categorize all your clothes into groups such as shirts, pants, dresses, etc.
2. Edit: This means discarding any duplicates, items no longer needed or wanted, and anything that doesn’t fit or isn’t in good condition.
3. Contain: The final step is to contain the remaining items in storage solutions, such as baskets, bins, and shelves.

The Home Edit is known for categorizing items by color and creating aesthetically pleasing displays, often using clear containers and labels. The Home Edit also have their own line of organizing products.

Pros and Cons of The Home Edit’s Method:

As with any decluttering method, there are pros and cons to The Home Edit’s approach. Here are some of the most notable:

Pros:

• The Home Edit’s method is simple and easy to follow, making it accessible for anyone to try.
• The Home Edit’s method creates a visually pleasing and organized space by categorizing items and containing them in storage solutions.
• Labeling all containers makes it easy to find what you need quickly and efficiently.

Cons:

• The Home Edit’s method can be expensive, often requiring purchasing new storage solutions.
• For some people, categorizing and editing items can be time-consuming and overwhelming.
• The focus on aesthetics may not be important to everyone, and some may prefer a more practical approach to organization.

Who Is The Home Edit Approach Best Suited For?

The Home Edit’s approach to decluttering and organizing is best suited for those who enjoy aesthetically pleasing spaces and are willing to invest in storage solutions. It may also be a good fit for those new to decluttering and organizing, as the steps are simple and easy to follow.

#3 Most Popular Home Organizer: Peter Walsh

If you’ve ever watched an episode of “Clean Sweep” or read one of his books, you’re likely familiar with Peter Walsh. Peter Walsh is a professional organizer and decluttering expert who has helped countless people get their homes in order. In this blog post, we’ll explore Peter Walsh’s specific decluttering steps, the pros and cons of his decluttering method, and the target audience for his approach.

Peter Walsh’s Decluttering Steps

Peter Walsh’s approach to decluttering is straightforward and starts with the “three-boxes” method. When decluttering, you should have three boxes with you: one for things to keep, one for items to donate or sell, and one for things to throw away. Here are the steps he recommends:

1. Pull everything out and empty the space.
2. Create a clear vision for the space.
3. Sort everything into piles: using the three-box method of keep, donate/sell, or throw away.
4. Donate or trash items.
5. Organize the items you’re keeping: Finally, organize the items you’re keeping in a way that makes sense for you.

Pros and Cons of Peter Walsh’s Decluttering Method

Here are the pros and cons to Peter Walsh’s approach.

Pros:

•  The three-box method makes it easy to sort items quickly and efficiently.
• By decluttering one area at a time, you can avoid getting overwhelmed and feel accomplished after each session.
• His approach is practical and easy to follow.

Cons:

• This method may not work for people who prefer a more detailed, Marie Kondo-like approach.
• Some people may struggle with deciding what to keep and get rid of.

Who Is The Peter Walsh’s Method Best Suited For:

Peter Walsh’s decluttering approach is perfect for people who want a straightforward, no-nonsense way to get rid of clutter. It’s also ideal for people who don’t have much time to devote to decluttering, as his method is designed to be quick and efficient, working on one small space at a time.

Conclusion:

Peter Walsh is a highly respected decluttering expert and for a good reason. His approach to decluttering is practical, easy to follow, and can help anyone get rid of clutter for good. Whether you’re looking to declutter a single drawer or your entire home, following Peter Walsh’s steps can make the process manageable and even enjoyable.

#4 Most Popular Home Organizer: Cassandra Aarssen

Cassandra Aarssen, a popular home organizer, and has a unique approach to decluttering. She’s the founder of Clutterbug, a company that offers practical tips and advice for people struggling to organize their homes.

Cassandra Aarssen’s Decluttering Steps:

Cassandra’s decluttering method focuses on identifying your organizing style and working with it, rather than against it. She believes that each person has a unique way of organizing, and once you figure out what works for you, decluttering becomes much easier. Here are the steps in Cassandra’s decluttering process:

1. Determine your organizing style: Butterfly, Cricket, Ladybug, and Bee.
2. Have clear rules for what you will keep or discard
3. Declutter hidden areas first because they contain the things you never use
4. Create bins for things that “don’t belong” in a space and for “memories” – sentimental clutter that you can deal with later.
5. Start with small areas first, so you don’t get overwhelmed.

Pros and Cons of Cassandra Aarssen’s Decluttering Steps:

Cassandra’s approach has both pros and cons.

Pros:

• Focuses on identifying your unique organizing style
• Helps build momentum with small decluttering projects
• Emphasizes keeping only what you love and use

Cons:

• Some people may not easily fit into one of the four organizing styles
• Starting with small spaces may not be practical for those with larger decluttering projects
• May not be as effective for those who prefer a more minimalistic approach

Who Is The Clutterbug Approach Best Suited For?

Cassandra’s approach to decluttering is best suited for those who struggle with organization and have not been successful with other methods. Her focus on identifying individual organizing styles and creating a system that works for each person makes her approach accessible and practical for people who may feel overwhelmed by decluttering.

Conclusion:

Overall, Cassandra Aarssen’s Clutterbug method is a unique and practical approach to decluttering. By identifying your organizing style and working with it, rather than against it, she helps make decluttering less daunting and more achievable.

#5 Most Popular Home Organizer: Dana K. White

Dana K. White is the author of the book “Decluttering at the Speed of Life” and the host of the podcast “A Slob Comes Clean.” She has helped thousands of people tackle their clutter and create a more organized home.

Dana K. White’s Decluttering Steps:

Dana K. White’s decluttering method focuses on tackling one small area at a time, such as a single drawer or shelf. She recommends starting with the easiest area first, as this can build momentum and motivation for the larger and more difficult areas. Dana also emphasizes the importance of making decisions quickly and without overthinking, as this can lead to decision fatigue and procrastination.

Dana K. White’s decluttering method is called “Decluttering at the Speed of Life,” and it involves the following steps:

1. Trash – Start with the most visible mess; remove trash… things that are broken, expired, or no longer useful.
2. Do the Easy Stuff – return things that have an established home somewhere else.
3. Have readily available a donation box that you can put easily add to. She calls this Duh Clutter.
4. Ask the Two Decluttering Questions Question #1: If I needed this item, where would I look for it? Take it there now. Question #2: If I needed this item, would it occur to me that I already had one?
5. Use the container concept: This means only keeping what fits in the space you have available rather than buying more storage containers to accommodate excess items.

Pros and Cons of Dana K. White’s Decluttering Method:

Pros:

• Dana’s emphasis on taking small and manageable steps, can make the daunting task of decluttering feel more approachable
•  Quick wins by removing trash and returning items to their homes build confidence. 
• Practical approach that works for the chronically disorganized and those with a limited amount of time or energy.

Cons:

• Some people may find her approach too simplistic and not detailed enough.
• The emphasis on sorting items into categories may not work for everyone, as some people may prefer to organize items by location instead.

Who Is Dana K. White’s Method Best Suited For?

Dana K. White’s decluttering method is ideal for people who struggle with decision-making or who feel overwhelmed by the clutter in their homes. Her emphasis on taking small steps and making quick decisions can be particularly helpful for those who feel paralyzed by the enormity of the decluttering process. Additionally, her method may be particularly helpful for those who have tried other decluttering approaches without success or who have a tendency to procrastinate when faced with a large and overwhelming task.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, if you are looking for a simple and straightforward decluttering method that focuses on small and manageable steps, Dana K. White’s approach may be a great fit for you. While her method may not work for everyone, her emphasis on making quick decisions and taking small steps can be particularly helpful for those who struggle with decision-making or feel overwhelmed by clutter. With the help of Dana’s decluttering method, you can create a more organized and peaceful home in no time!

4 ways to learn from the best home organizers

Learning from the top home organizers can be especially helpful.  They’ve spent years honing their skills and have developed effective methods to get your home in tip-top shape. Here are 4 ways to learn from the best:

1. Read their books or watch their shows to get a sense of their approach
2. Follow them on social media for daily tips and inspiration
3. Attend one of their workshops or conferences to learn in-person
4. Try out their methods for yourself, adapting as needed to suit your own needs and preferences.

Learning from the top home organizers can help you make your home a more organized and peaceful space.

In Conclusion

There are a variety of home organization methods and experts to choose from, each with their own unique approach. From Marie Kondo’s emphasis on sparking joy to The Home Edit’s focus on categorizing and color-coding, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. It’s important to find the approach that resonates with you and your lifestyle and to remember that decluttering is a process that takes time and effort. By taking small, manageable steps and staying committed to your goals, you can create a home that feels organized, functional, and stress-free. Good luck on your decluttering journey!