By Mary Marlowe Leverette | Published on 12/17/24

When you look at a disorganized room in your home, you may ask yourself, "Is this room too small?" or "Do I have too much clutter?" According to professional organizer, Danica Carson of The Uncluttered Life, the issue for most of her clients is not that they don’t have enough space.

"The real problem is that they have too much stuff. I would even go as far as to say that this is true for 70 percent of my clients and very few are willing to part with more than a couple of items," she adds.

To help you get started, we've pulled together eight tips to help you organize a room with too much clutter.

Meet the Expert

Danica Carson is an organizing expert at The Uncluttered Life and the creator of the Declutter Deck.

Make a Plan

Before you begin, take some time to think about the space and how you would like it to look. Does everything belong in this room? Are there items that can be donated or do you want to keep everything already in this space?

Do you have time to tackle the entire room or should you work on small tasks first? Be realistic about the amount of time needed to organize the space. Take measurements and "shop" your house before you head out to purchase any new storage or organizing products.

Of course, the easiest way to organize most rooms is to get rid of as much clutter as possible. If possible, remove everything from the space. It's messy and time-consuming but you'll have a better idea of what you have and what you want to keep.

Group similar items to decide what you want to keep, donate, recycle, toss, or sell. Keep boxes or bags handy as you sort and take action promptly when you fill a box to get it to the right spot.

Once you decide what you are keeping, you can organize similar items together and follow our tips for storage or display.

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Consolidate Products

When Carson is organizing a bathroom, she may find five bottles of the same soap with just a little left. She recommends combining all of the bottles into one.

Consolidate products and recycle the empties to free up space. This also applies to cleaning supplies but never mix brands because there can be toxic chemical reactions.

Create Technology Hubs

Create technology stations to both get rid of clutter and provide a place where it's easy to find and access electronic devices. There are multiple hub styles available that hide cords, have slots for multiple devices, and keep items charged and ready to go. Tech hubs free up counter and drawer space while also acting as storage.

Use Purses, Totes, and Luggage for Storage

To help hide clutter, organize items, and gain storage space, Carson recommends using empty handbags, tote bags, and luggage in your closet to store things. You can even stash smaller bags and wallets in larger purses. Make a list of what's inside for easy access when you're ready to use the items.

Go Vertical

Vertical storage is a game changer for small spaces. Investing in shelving, stacking storage pieces, and hanging storage pieces can double or even triple your usable space. When stacking storage bins or baskets, be sure that heavy items are on the bottom to prevent breakage and damage to lighter items.

Decant Products

Carson comments that the size of the packaging is often a bigger issue than the number of items. She recommends investing in labels and glass containers that can be reused to decant products and create uniformity and organization. Matching containers minimizes visual clutter while making it much easier to implement vertical storage on shelves or in drawers.

Opt for Hidden Storage Furniture

Furniture that doubles as storage, like platform beds with drawers, storage ottomans, and tables with drawers can both hide clutter and organize items.

"At The Uncluttered Life, we "Decorganize" or use decorative pieces such as baskets, boxes, or hollowed-out books to store remotes, keys, and other essentials," says Carson.

Store Items in Plain Sight

Show off your collection of hats, purses, or other collectibles on a wall. It will look like an art display and keep the items you use at your fingertips.

How to Organize Any Room That's Way Too Cluttered, According to a Decluttering Pro