5 Small Spaces You Can Declutter in Under 15 Minutes
Quick wins to motivate even the most overwhelmed.
When your home feels like it’s bursting at the seams, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you need a full weekend—or a total overhaul—to get things back on track. But the truth is, progress doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing.
Starting with small, manageable areas can give you a boost of motivation, clarity, and control. These five quick spaces take 15 minutes or less, and the impact goes far beyond what’s visible.
1. Your Nightstand
Your nightstand often becomes a catch-all: books you meant to read, receipts, half-empty water bottles, old lotion, and more. Because it’s the first and last thing you see each day, its condition can influence your mood more than you realize.
How to declutter it:
Clear everything off the surface and out of the drawer(s). Start with a clean slate.
Toss anything that doesn’t belong—think expired medications, old receipts, broken earbuds, or pens that don’t work.
Decide what you truly want within reach. This might include a journal, hand cream, a lamp, glasses, or a calming book.
Wipe down the surfaces before placing items back.
Use a small dish or tray to corral loose items like lip balm or hair ties.
Why it matters:
A calm, clutter-free nightstand encourages better sleep and a smoother start to the day. It also creates a more intentional, restful environment.
2. The Entryway or Front Closet
This is the first impression of your home—and often the place where clutter gathers quickly: random shoes, unopened mail, shopping bags, and outerwear that’s out of season.
How to declutter it:
Remove anything that doesn’t belong: expired coupons, winter gear in summer, broken umbrellas.
Sort shoes—only keep the pairs you regularly wear at the door.
File or recycle unopened mail or flyers.
Hang up coats and bags or relocate them to their proper place.
Add a bin or basket for grab-and-go essentials like keys, masks, or dog leashes.
Why it matters:
A tidy entrance reduces chaos as you come and go. It also helps you leave the house faster, with less stress and fewer “Where did I put my…?” moments.
3. The Bathroom Counter or Cabinet
This high-traffic space tends to get cluttered with old products, tangled tools, and items you stopped using but never removed.
How to declutter it:
Take everything off the counter or out of a drawer or cabinet.
Toss expired medications, old makeup, empty containers, and samples you never used.
Separate items into categories: daily use, occasional, and backup stock.
Store daily items within easy reach, and tuck away less-used products in bins or baskets.
Use drawer organizers or trays to keep items in place.
Why it matters:
An organized bathroom makes morning and evening routines smoother. Less clutter = less decision fatigue when you’re getting ready.
4. One Kitchen Drawer (Not the Junk One—Yet)
It might be your utensil drawer, your food storage lid drawer, or even one full of dish towels. These often-overlooked areas get disorganized fast but are quick to reset.
How to declutter it:
Pull everything out and wipe down the drawer.
Toss anything that’s broken, missing a piece (hello, random lids), or never used.
Group items by function: all measuring tools together, all cutting tools together, etc.
Consider a drawer organizer to help keep items contained and easy to find.
Place the most-used items toward the front for convenience.
Why it matters:
Even a small drawer impacts your day-to-day flow. A tidy drawer makes cooking, cleaning, and prep less stressful—and you might even rediscover a helpful tool you forgot you had.
5. Your Phone’s Home Screen
It may not be physical clutter, but digital chaos has a very real mental cost. An overloaded screen with too many apps, alerts, and visual noise can feel overwhelming—especially for neurodiverse brains.
How to declutter it:
Delete any apps you haven’t used in the past month.
Group remaining apps into folders based on categories like “Work,” “Wellness,” “Home,” or “Finance.”
Remove unnecessary widgets or shortcuts you no longer use.
Turn off non-essential notifications to reduce interruptions.
Choose a calming, neutral background image to lower visual stimulation.
Why it matters:
Your phone is probably the first thing you look at in the morning. A simplified home screen helps you start (and continue) the day with more intention and less distraction.
Progress Doesn’t Have to Be Huge to Be Meaningful
Decluttering doesn’t always mean tackling a full room. These bite-sized projects are a powerful way to reset your space, build momentum, and give yourself a sense of accomplishment—without the overwhelm.
Set a timer. Pick one small area. Give yourself permission to stop after 15 minutes… or keep going if it feels good.
And if you're feeling stuck, Simplify Life is here to help you take those next steps—big or small.
