5 Resolutions to Declutter and Create Your Dream Home in 2025

Inside: Use these resolutions as inspiration to declutter and create your dream home in the coming year.

A guest post by Evelyn Long

2025 will be here before we know it. Now is a great time to consider how you approach your living space.

Clutter has a way of creeping into your home, and the new year is a time for fresh starts. Consider what resolutions you want to make to create the home of your dreams.

Setting goals for a more organized space and developing routines to make it happen can help you create the space you’ve always envisioned.

Why Setting Decluttering Goals Matters 

Clutter can have a bigger impact on your life than you may realize.

Living in this type of environment can increase the risk of mood disorders, making it harder to maintain a positive outlook.

When your home overflows with out-of-place items, it can lead to stress that keeps you from tackling your to-do list.

Keep the ripple effects of a tidy home in mind. Let it remind you that setting and achieving decluttering goals will help create a space you love.

In doing so, you set the stage for a more productive and energized year.

5 Resolutions to Declutter and Create Your Dream Home

Consider these resolutions to declutter and create your dream home.

1. Create a Weekly Decluttering Routine

Maintaining a clutter-free home may seem like something you can do overnight. In reality, small, consistent efforts make a bigger impact over time.

To keep your home organized, you need to create decluttering habits and routines. This strategy works because it prevents clutter from rebuilding, making it more manageable and easier to keep a clean and inviting space.

Here’s how to achieve it:

• Choose a consistent day and time: Set aside the ideal time when there are fewer distractions. This could be on a Saturday morning or a quiet weekday evening.

• Break it down by area: Tackle one room or section at a time. This could mean focusing on the kitchen counters one week and the entryway closet the next.

• Set a timer: Start with 10-minute decluttering sessions to make the process more approachable. You’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish quickly.

• Use the “keep, discard, donate” method: As you sort through items, place them into these three categories — things to keep, donate, and throw away. This simple system helps you make quick decisions and reduces the temptation to hold onto items you don’t need. 

2. Refresh the Exterior of Your Home

While decluttering often focuses on the inside of your home, the exterior is also vital in creating a welcoming atmosphere.

Over time, weather, dirt, and grime can build up on the outer surfaces of your house, making it look neglected. Refreshing the outside of your home can make a noticeable difference in curb appeal.

Take the following steps to ensure the exterior complements the inside of your home:

• Choose the right cleaners: Select a cleaning solution that works for the specific material of your home. Some products work on multiple surfaces and can clean up to 4,000 square feet of the house’s exterior.

• Use the appropriate cleaning tools: A pressure washer or a garden hose with an attachment can make exterior cleaning more efficient. Opt for a gentler approach with a soft brush or cloth for delicate materials.

• Break it into sections: Feeling the need to clean the entire exterior in one day can put more pressure on yourself. It’s better to work on one section at a time and gradually work your way around the house.

• Inspect for damage: As you clean, note any areas needing repairs, such as chipped paint, cracked brick, or loose vinyl siding. Promptly addressing these issues will maintain your home’s longevity.

• Declutter the outdoor space: While cleaning, remove items that add to visual clutter, such as unused planters, broken lawn decorations, or outdated furniture.

3. Tackle Seasonal Deep Cleaning Projects

Seasonal deep cleaning projects point your focus toward areas that regular cleaning often overlooks. One example of a deep cleaning project is tackling the mess in your garage. 

A garage full of clutter makes it difficult to find what you need. It can also trap heat and restrict airflow. This buildup can increase the temperature inside your garage, affecting your cooling system’s efficiency and increasing electric bills. Decluttering and organizing this space enables your HVAC system to work better and save you money in the long run.

Take these steps to clean out your garage come springtime:

• Sort through the clutter: Take everything out of the garage and organize items into the keep, donate, and throw-away piles. Be honest about what you actually use.

• Use vertical space: Install shelving units or wall hooks to keep items off the floor and maximize space.

• Label containers: Store similar items in clear bins for easy access and organization.

• Sweep and clean: Once you’ve put everything away neatly, sweep the floor and clean surfaces with dirt and debris.

Another area that is often forgotten when cleaning is your appliances. Doing a deeper cleaning on your oven, dishwasher, refrigerator coils, and washer and dryer will help ensure that your appliances continue to function properly.

4. Implement the 10-Minute Cleanup Rule

Finding the time to keep your home tidy can be challenging, especially with kids and work involved. That’s where the 10-minute cleanup rule can help.

Rather than decluttering, which we already addressed, daily cleaning habits are focused on spending 10 minutes cleaning certain areas in your home. Dedicating a small amount of daily cleaning enables you to maintain order and a calmer space, benefiting your entire family.

Use these tips to implement it:

• Set a timer: Using a timer is key. It helps create a sense of urgency while keeping you on track of how much time remains.

• Focus on high-traffic areas: Rooms with the most use tend to get dirty more quickly. Consider cleaning up areas such as the living room, kitchen counters, or entryway.

• Stay consistent: Commit to doing this activity at the same time every day. For instance, you could complete this task each day after work. This way, it’s done and over with, and you have time to focus on dinner and catching up with your family.

5. Create a Cleaning Schedule for Your Family

Keeping a clean and organized house is easier when everyone in the family pitches in. The best way to do this is to create a family cleaning schedule, which promotes accountability and reduces the stress of managing household chores alone.

When everyone knows their role, cleaning becomes a routine part of daily life.

A few tips to set this up include:

• Use a cleaning app: Take full advantage of cleaning apps like Tody or OurHome. These apps allow you to create and share schedules with your family. They also make it easy to assign tasks, set reminders, and track progress.

• Set up a weekly plan: Break down tasks by day and assign specific chores to each family member. For example, have one person handle vacuuming on Mondays while another takes care of dusting on Wednesdays.

• Include age-appropriate tasks: Ensure the chores match the abilities of each family member. For instance, younger kids can handle tasks like picking up toys and putting them away.

Declutter and Create Your Dream Home in 2025

Creating your dream home in the new year starts with setting practical resolutions. By implementing these strategies, you can turn your space into a sanctuary. After all, a tidy home is a happy place you can enjoy daily.

How do you plan to declutter and create your dream home this year? Let us know in the comments section below.

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