10 Key Areas to Declutter Before a Move

Want to pack less and start fresh? Here are 10 key areas to declutter before a move to save time, money, and energy as you settle into your new space.

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We’re in the middle of a move right now, and let me tell you, nothing makes you confront your stuff like having to pack it all into boxes. We’ve been slowly decluttering our belongings over the past few months—closets, cabinets, bookshelves, the basement—and already we’ve let go of a lot: too-small ski gear, books we couldn’t finish, toys the kids haven’t touched in over a year. 

I’m not going to say decluttering for a move is fun—because it’s not, even for someone who gets immense joy from letting go and writes about all things decluttering for a living (Hi, that’s me!). 

But, I can promise you it is worth it. Not only will it make the actual move easier, but it will give you a lighter start in your new home and save you time, money, and energy in the future.

If you’re preparing for a move, this post will walk you through 10 key areas to declutter—some obvious, some easy to overlook or ignore. No matter where you are in the process, this list will help you lighten the load and give yourself a little more breathing room in your next home.

Start from the top, or click around for room-by-room decluttering tips:

Benefits of Decluttering for a Move

Decluttering before a move isn’t just about having fewer possessions to pack and unpack. It’s about having less to store, clean, and organize—fewer decisions to make, and fewer things demanding your time, energy, and money later on. 

Here are some of the key benefits of decluttering your home before moving:

• Less to pack, unpack, organize, and maintain: Every item you let go of now is one less thing to deal with later.
• Lower moving costs: Especially if you’re hiring professional movers who charge by the hour, box, or square foot.
• A little extra cash: Selling things you no longer need can help cover some of those new-home purchases.
• Everything (finally) has a place: By keeping only what you truly need, use, and love now, it will be easier to find a place for everything in your new home.
• A fresh start: With fewer things, your new home will be simpler to set up—and easier to manage moving forward.

1. Kitchen

The kitchen tends to collect a lot of extras—duplicate tools, rarely-used gadgets, condiment packets from last year’s takeout, coffee mugs for every mood, and those aspirational pantry items you bought but never used (anyone need an unopened bag of farro?). Editing these things now means fewer fragile items to pack and more room in your cabinets and drawers for the tools and ingredients you do use.

Focus on decluttering:

• Duplicate utensils and kitchen tools
• Unnecessary gadgets (looking at you, avocado slicer!)
• Small appliances you rarely use
• Extra mugs, travel cups, and water bottles
• Food storage containers without matching lids
• Expired pantry items, spices, or baking supplies
• Cookbooks you haven’t opened in years

Need a deeper dive? I’ve got a full guide on how to declutter your kitchen with more tips and a printable checklist.

2. Living room or family room

This space often ends up being a catchall for cozy clutter—throw pillows, stacks of magazines, baskets of toys, and decor you stopped noticing years ago. If you don’t love it, use it, or it doesn’t fit your current style or your new layout, now’s the time to let it go.

Focus on decluttering:

• Books, magazines, and DVDs you don’t plan to revisit
• Decor, knick-knacks, and wall art that no longer fit your style or your new space
• Stained or worn-out rugs, throw blankets, and pillows that can’t be saved or repurposed elsewhere
• Extra furniture that won’t work in your new home
• Toys and games that are missing pieces or rarely get played with (more toy decluttering tips below, and in my guide on how to declutter toys)

Decluttering Tip: If you’re on the fence, ask yourself: Would I bring this into a room I was decorating from scratch? Also, toss stray toy pieces into a designated basket or bin as you go. When it’s time to declutter the rest of the toys, you’ll have a head start reuniting sets or letting go of incomplete ones.

3. Closets

Closets are magnets for all the “maybes”—things that used to fit, might be worn someday, or were too good to pass up but never quite worked. Decluttering these items before you move means fewer boxes filled with clothes you won’t actually wear—and more space in your new closet for the pieces you truly love.

Focus on decluttering:

• Clothes that don’t fit, flatter, or reflect your current style or lifestyle
• Items that are stained or damaged beyond repair
• Shoes you haven’t worn in over a year
• Accessories you never reach for (think: scarves, belts, bags, costume jewelry)
• Out-of-season items you skipped last year
• Formalwear, outerwear, or “backup” pieces you’re keeping out of guilt

Decluttering Tip: If you wouldn’t pack it for a two-week trip, consider whether it’s really worth taking to your new home.

Curious about capsule wardrobes? Check out my guide, How to Build Your First Capsule Wardrobe, and learn how to create a capsule using the clothes you already own.

4. Bedrooms

Bedrooms can easily become drop zones for personal things that don’t have a home, extra furniture, piles of laundry, and clothes you’ve been meaning to alter or repair. Moving is the perfect excuse to reset these spaces so they feel calm and functional from day one.

Focus on decluttering: 

• Overstuffed dressers filled with clothes you don’t wear
• Worn-out, mismatched, or duplicate linens (aim for two sets per bed, max)
• Extra pillows or throw blankets you don’t actually use
• Nightstand drawers filled with mysterious clutter—old cords, abandoned books, maybe a receipt from 2017. A true time capsule.
• Unnecessary furniture or decor you’ve stopped noticing, don’t love, or no longer need

Kids’ bedrooms

Between growth spurts, evolving interests, and generous grandparents, kids’ bedrooms tend to fill up faster than most. Moving is the perfect time to clear out what they’ve outgrown—physically or developmentally—to create a calmer, more functional space for them in your next home.

Focus on decluttering:

• Clothes and shoes they’ve outgrown or worn out
• Toys, books, and games they’ve lost interest in
• Broken toys or sets with missing pieces
• Furniture they’ve outgrown (like toddler beds or changing tables)

Decluttering Tip: If your kids are old enough, involve them in the process! Our 7- and 9-year-olds each tackled one small (15–20 minute) project every weekend leading up to our last move, with a small but motivating reward following each one. Allowing your kids to declutter builds autonomy, strengthens their decision-making skills, and makes them more aware of what they truly enjoy playing with. Oh, and keep a bin handy for stray toy pieces—it’ll make the full toy sort easier later!

5. Bathrooms

Bathrooms can be another sneaky source of clutter—half-used products, expired meds, backup supplies you forgot you had… and, of course, those mini hotel toiletries. A quick edit now can save you from packing, moving, and unpacking things you’ll likely just toss later.

I recently challenged myself to use up the bag of hotel shampoos, conditioners, and lotions we’d collected. I’m happy to report they’re all gone, and we now bring our own when we travel, so we don’t keep accumulating more.

Focus on decluttering:

• Expired medications, vitamins, and old first aid supplies
• Beauty products you tried but didn’t like (see if a friend might want them!)
• Dried-out nail polish, makeup, or skincare
• Hair products, tools, or accessories you haven’t used in over a year
• Worn-out towels or washcloths 
• Extra travel-size items and hotel toiletries
• Duplicates of products you don’t need in every bathroom

Decluttering Tip: Designate one small basket or bin for products you’re currently using or trying to finish before the move. Keep extras together elsewhere, and hold off on buying more unless you’re truly out.

6. Garage, attic, basement, or storage areas

These are the easy-to-ignore spaces that tend to fill with “someday” stuff—tools you haven’t used in years, bins you forgot about, and gear for hobbies you’re no longer into. Decluttering these areas early can greatly reduce your overall moving load. 

If you get stuck on something, ask yourself: Would I buy this again today? If not (or if you forgot it even existed until five minutes ago), it’s probably not worth packing.

Focus on decluttering:

• Tools you haven’t used (or didn’t even remember you had)
• Seasonal decorations you no longer put out
• Old paint cans, cleaning supplies, and DIY project leftovers
• Sports gear, camping equipment, or hobby supplies you no longer use

Decluttering Tip: These spaces can feel overwhelming, so break them into smaller, more manageable sessions. Set a goal to tackle one or two boxes or bins each week until the move. Get through what you can—anything you can let go of now is time, money, and energy saved later. 

7. Paperwork and documents

Paper clutter collects quietly, but those old bills, expired warranties, school papers, manuals, and receipts can occupy a surprising amount of physical and mental space. Moving is the perfect opportunity to part with non-essential papers and start fresh.

Focus on decluttering:

• Outdated tax records, bills, and pay stubs you no longer need
• Old paperwork, insurance documents, or medical bills
• Old receipts, coupons, or loyalty/rewards cards
• Instruction manuals for items you no longer own, or that you can easily look up online (which are most things these days!)
• Schoolwork and artwork (just keep the highlights—your kids will thank you later)

Decluttering Tip: Recycle or shred what you don’t need, and digitize anything you might want to reference later. A scanner app can help you digitize important documents so you don’t have to hold onto them.

8. Kids’ items and toys

From toys to gear, kids come with a lot of stuff. Moving is the perfect time to reset and clear out the broken, the outgrown, and the toys you thought they’d love but didn’t.

Focus on decluttering:

• Broken toys or games with missing pieces
• Duplicates (how did we end up with three shape sorters?)
• Toys they’ve outgrown or never really loved
• Outgrown gear like baby tubs, booster seats, or bulky strollers
• Books, puzzles, or crafts, they’ve lost interest in

Decluttering Tip: Grab your bin of loose toy pieces and match up as many sets as you can. Toss any games or puzzles with missing pieces, and donate anything complete that your kids have outgrown or lost interest in.

Not sure which toys are worth keeping or how to sort through them all? I’ve got a full guide on how to declutter toys that walks you through the process, one category at a time.

9. Sentimental items

Sentimental items are often the hardest to declutter—and the easiest to avoid. Keepsakes, gifts, and family heirlooms carry stories, memories, and meaning, which is exactly what makes them so tough to let go of. But not everything meaningful needs to be held onto. Sometimes, a photo or written memory itself is enough.

Focus on decluttering:

• Gifts you’ve kept out of guilt, not love
• Items from past life stages that no longer reflect who you are
• Duplicates of sentimental belongings (how many baby blankets do you really need?)
• Items you can photograph to preserve the memory without keeping the object
• Things you’ve inherited but don’t use, display, or truly enjoy

Decluttering Tip: Enlist a friend or family member to help. Having someone by your side can make the process feel lighter and less overwhelming.

Want more help? I’ve got a full guide on how to let go of sentimental items with step-by-step prompts, helpful questions, and gentle strategies to make the process feel a little easier.

10. Digital clutter

Digital clutter might not take up space in a box, but it can definitely slow you down during a move. Taking a little time to get digitally organized can make everything run more smoothly—from collecting quotes and coordinating repairs to tracking purchases and keeping important info handy.

Focus on getting digitally organized for your move:

• Recycle old electronics, cords, or devices you no longer use
  Create a “Move” folder in your email and cloud storage and label subfolders for quotes, receipts, new home details, and documents—things like floor plans, paint colors, utility info, and appliance manuals
• Digitize any paperwork you might need to reference or don’t want to lose in the shuffle
• Set up a shared calendar or to-do list for move-related appointments, tasks, and deadlines
• Clear out downloads and desktop clutter weekly, so key info doesn’t get buried during the move

Organizing Tip: Setting up a few simple digital systems now—like a designated “Move” folder for documents and emails, or a shared calendar or to-do list—can make it easier to stay organized when everything around you is not!

What to Do With Unwanted Items

Don’t let the stuff you’re not taking with you become a burden. Here are a few easy ways to pass things on responsibly:

• Sell: For items with decent resale value (such as baby gear, furniture, sports gear, or designer clothing), consider selling them through a yard sale, Facebook Marketplace, or local consignment shops. It’s a great way to lighten your load and earn a little extra cash for the move.
• Donate: Drop off gently used clothing, furniture, and household items at local shelters, donation centers, or share them in a local Buy Nothing group. Just double-check what they’re currently accepting so you don’t end up bringing things back home.
• Recycle: Items such as electronics, batteries, paint, and mattresses often require specialized disposal. Check with your city or local recycling center for guidelines before tossing them in the trash.

Tips to Help You Declutter Before Moving

Start early. Create a decluttering timeline, ideally beginning 3–6 months in advance. Just 10–20 minutes a few days each week will add up. If you’re short on time, focus on the big stuff first: furniture, sporting equipment, baby gear, toys, and other large items you know you won’t need or don’t want to take with you.

Focus on one room or category at a time. Your progress will feel slower if you bounce between spaces. Start and finish one area before moving on. For bigger spaces, break things into small zones or bite-sized 10–20 minute projects.

Use a clear sorting system. Keep, donate, toss, sell, recycle. Make quick, honest decisions—and keep the momentum going.

Keep your new home in mind. Think about your layout, storage, and lifestyle. Where will this item live in your next space? If you can’t picture it, it might not need to come with you.

Let go of the guilt. What you keep should be useful, loved, or meaningful to you now. Not just something you feel bad about letting go.

Was this helpful?

If you’re feeling inspired to keep going, here are a few more articles and decluttering tips that might be helpful as you declutter and prep for your move (or if you simply want less stuff to deal with):

• How to Declutter Your Kitchen 
• How to Declutter Toys: What to keep & what to get rid of, one category at a time
• How to Declutter Sentimental Items & my tips for letting go
• How to Declutter Kids’ Books

And from my short, weekly newsletter: One Question That Makes Decluttering Easier