That means taking down the knickknacks, picking up the toys and hiding away all of your other home accessories that aren’t a necessity.  This also means that some of your family photos may need to make the move to the moving box for a bit.

What is clutter?  The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as: to fill or cover (something) with many things.  Yes, that about describes our home.  Surprisingly clutter was harder to get rid of than it was to minimize.  Clutter for us wasn’t about knickknacks though there certainly were a couple of those.  It was more about getting rid of all of the little catch all containers around the house.   You know, the little container that collects mail, or the one for coins, or the one with little things you don’t want to lose, but only ever look at once a year.  I found with clutter, I needed to be honest with myself—would I or would I not ever use this item again.  Clutter in your kitchen could be all of the little “tools” you bought and they sit on your counter.  You know, the coffee grinder, the Keurig coffee maker, the coffee scoop, that utensil container, and every other thing that started to become a permanent resident.

Some people love family pictures everywhere.  Unfortunately, other people, potential house buyers will love looking at your family too.  They’re curious about the family they’re potentially buying the house from. So what you run the risk of is people becoming gawkers of your family instead of shoppers from your house.

From personal experience, I think this is one of the most important steps, but hardest.  Recently Doug and I did a little house shopping.  One of the houses had so much stuff (knickknacks, pictures, magazines, trinkets, refrigerator magnets, etc) that I couldn’t tell you what one of the rooms looked like.  Not one and I’m the kind of person that prides myself in remembering details.

Take this opportunity to organize those trinkets and give the others a chance to live elsewhere through charitable giving to Goodwill.  All of those papers you were looking to organize, do it.

When you are done de-cluttering you should be able to see every surface.  You should be able to see your entire counter, your entire table, your entire computer desk and your entire dresser.  Have loads of shampoo in your shower?  Pick one shampoo and conditioner.