Overwhelmed by stuff? The ‘take away 10’ decluttering method is here to get you organised in 2026
Looking to get organised for the new year? Here’s why the way you’ve been approaching decluttering is wrong, and how you can fix it with the ‘take away 10’ method.
Here’s the thing about decluttering: even though we know how good the results can be, the way we approach it is often wrong from the outset.
Firstly, we wait until our homes are heaving with stuff before we start paring it back, turning it into a mammoth task that quickly leads to overwhelm and exhaustion. In reality, little and often is a much more sensible approach, and one that feels much more achievable than a giant, frenzied clear-out once a year. Then, there’s our tendency to take things too far – to overdeclutter. What starts with dumping the entire contents of your wardrobe on your bed can lead to discarding items rashly, leaving you with regrets later on.
So, while the 10% method, the move-out trick and the ski slope approach are all helpful frameworks to start tackling the mound of stuff you’re not quite sure what to do with, it’s important to prioritise regular and controlled decluttering. And what better way to do so than the ‘take away 10’ method? It’s quick, effective and more manageable than you might think.
What is the ‘take away 10’ decluttering method?
Once you’ve started to feel that itch to streamline your possessions, the take away 10 method involves tackling each room in your home one by one and selecting 10 items to get rid of from each area.
In the kitchen, this might be old utensils, food that is past its sell-by date or a gadget that is otherwise collecting dust. In your bedroom, it might be 10 pieces of clothing you no longer wear, odd socks or ancient bed linens that are looking a bit worse for wear. In the bathroom, it’s a great chance to go through your toiletries and assess how many of them you really use. You can even extend it to areas like your shed, garden, loft, car or handbag to maximise your organisation.
While 10 items per room might sound challenging at first, you’ll be surprised how quickly clutter can build up in high-traffic areas like hallways and under-stairs cupboards. The best part? You can repeat the process each month or quarterly, depending on how much you feel you need to sort through.
The result is a space that feels intentional, organised and curated, without leaving you with any regrets.
Images: Adobe
