The Chaotic Decluttering Method That Works Every Time

Woman pondering, wearing a striped shirt and cardigan amidst the gentle chaos of her thoughts. A wicker basket on the table holds an eclectic mix of books, a jar, and kitchen utensils—perhaps in need of decluttering to bring harmony.

There are a lot of useful decluttering strategies and methods out there, and one of the most intuitive is the so-called “Chaos Method.” In fact, you’ve probably already used it, even if you didn’t have a name for it at the time.

Using this decluttering method, you take everything out of the area you’re working on — every drawer, basket, and shelf — and lay it all out so you can see what you’re working with. It’s a drastic approach, but the Chaos Method can help you overhaul “problem areas” that you struggle to keep organized.

Jillee’s Take:

One of the biggest benefits of the Chaos Method is that you can see everything you’ve stored in the closet, dresser, or bookcase you’re working on. This makes it much easier to identify duplicates, expired products, and junk you don’t need than it would be otherwise.

How To Declutter With The Chaos Method

1. Empty Everything Out

Whether you’re decluttering your pantry, a closet, the garage, or a dresser, the first step is to empty all the contents and put them on the floor. (This step gives this method its name, so try not to let the initial mess distract or discourage you!)

Once you’ve taken everything out of the area, take a moment to clean the area. Get rid of any dust bunnies or debris while it’s easy to do so!

2. Sort Things Into Piles

Next up: sorting. Once you have everything out on the floor, you can start sorting them into piles according to type, size, or any other measure you find useful. You could make a pile for office supplies, momentos, bedding, hygiene items, etc.

As you sort through everything, take note of any items that don’t seem to fit into any of your piles. You might find a more suitable place for them elsewhere.

woman putting rice maker in donation box

3. Decide What To Trash, Recycle, Or Donate

The last time I used the Chaos Method to declutter a closet, it quickly became apparent during the sorting stage that I had way too many duplicate items and things I hadn’t used in a long, long time. I set out a few boxes nearby for trash, items to recycle, and stuff to donate, and that helped me stay on task and keep things organized while I worked.

Deciding what to get rid of can be tough, but some of the decluttering strategies I’ve written about previously can help make the process easier. Once you’ve sorted everything you’re keeping into piles and everything you’re getting rid of into trash, recycle, and donate boxes, you’ll be ready to move onto the next step!

4. Put Things Away

Next, take those piles of things you’re keeping and start putting them away in an organized manner. You may find strategies like Urgency Zones helpful here, but any system that makes sense to you should be just fine!

Cozy living room with a tan sectional sofa, blue armchair, and decorative pillows. A sign reading

5. Enjoy Your Decluttered Space

My favorite step of the Chaos Method is the last one — standing back and appreciating my newly decluttered, clean, and organized space! Having survived the journey from chaos to order makes the results even more satisfying.

Conclusion

Make no mistake, the Chaos Method isn’t the quickest way to declutter. Even if you’re working on a single closet or dresser, it’s going to take time to take everything out and sort through it all. But when an area is in serious need of decluttering and reorganizing, this tried-and-true method can make a huge difference!