I tried the guilt-free Great Over Good decluttering method and it easily streamlined my home without leaving me 'feeling wasteful'

If you have a lot of duplicate items, the 'Great Over Good' decluttering method may be just what you need to cut down without losing items of quality.

By focusing your decluttering efforts on removing things that serve the same purpose, but less efficiently than others you own, you will have a home that's more functional and less cluttered.

Here, professional organizers elaborate on what the Great Over Good decluttering tip is, and I gave it a go to see how well it works and can report, it's brilliant for banishing overwhelm and indecision.

What is the Great Over Good method of decluttering?

The Great Over Good decluttering method involves removing surplus items from your life that are merely just "good". These items may tick the box and do the job, but you already own something that fits the purpose or performs better, does the job more efficiently, or brings you more joy when you see it.

As Michelle Urban, owner of The Organized House, explains, 'I like to think of Great Over Good as one of the decluttering methods where you're choosing the best version of something and letting go of the rest – even if the rest is technically still “good.”

'So instead of keeping five okay black T-shirts, you keep the one or two that fit well, feel great, and you actually reach for. This parameter makes it easier to declutter your home when you feel overwhelmed, knowing you aren't expected to declutter what you love.'

Your focus isn't on getting rid of everything, but instead on optimizing what remains in your home through thoughtful, intentional subtraction.

Pros and cons of the method

The main pro of the Great Over Good decluttering method is how it simultaneously reduces clutter in your home and boosts functionality. If you only own the best of what you have, your life is going to become far more efficient and streamlined, without decision fatigue and clutter in the way of accessing your "bests".

C.Lee Cawley, certified professional organizer and founder of Simplify You – Professional Organizing, says, 'The best part is that you're not just decluttering, you're curating. It's an empowering edit of our possessions, where we keep those that reflect our actual use and taste (great), as opposed to our most tolerable backup options (good).'

Though the main decluttering roadblock people struggle with when undertaking the Great Over Good method is justifying decluttering perfectly good, usable stuff.

'It can be hard to let go of perfectly usable items,' says C.Lee. 'Try to set yourself up for a successful decluttering session. I do this in my work by encouraging people to remember that what they're experiencing now is only a short-term discomfort, and that by donating their "goods" they can become someone else's "greats"'.

This is also a core focus when using a method to streamline that personifies your possessions. Picture your item fulfilling its purpose somewhere else, and it makes it easier to let perfectly good items go for donation or sale.

How to follow the Great Over Good method

To follow the Great Over Good decluttering method, all you need to do is follow C.Lee's four steps:

1. Choose a category: This might be a cabinet full of coffee cups, or the multiple black cardigans in your closet.
2. Get everything out: Lay ALL of them out so you can see all of your choices at once.
3. Identify the best: Choose the top 33%, or the ones you'd save in a fire.
4. Compare: Compare everything in your category to the top third to fuel your motivation to declutter. If they are just “fine,” they are prime candidates to let go.

You could also try imagining you're moving across the world and can only bring one large suitcase. What would be worthy of taking up the space? Your initial gut feeling tells you more than you think.

Who is this decluttering method good for?

If you have a number of duplicate items in your home, the Great Over Good method is a helpful one to try.

Di Ter Avest, professional organizer, owner of Di Is Organized, and author of Organize Yourself Healthy, available on Amazon, says, 'This method is particularly good for people who are showing signs you have too much stuff, like moms or families who are drowning in "pretty good" stuff.

'This might include things like gifts, hand-me-downs, or clearance finds. It's also great for people who tend to keep things out of guilt or "just in case." It reduces the chance of 'declutter regret' by giving you permission to raise your standards without feeling wasteful.'

This decluttering method is also great if you're seeking to encourage minimalism at home as you're paring down the amount you own without depriving yourself of what you need in the process.

I tried it, and this was the result

I'm definitely someone who owns similar items they don't need, so I thought this method would be a great way to cull down my amount of "good" items with less guilt, and to keep my home clutter-free.

Clothing is my main culprit: If something still fits and suits me, it's hard to part with, even if I don't reach for it often, if at all.

I started my trial run of the Great Over Good decluttering method by taking out all of my clothing and sorting it into categories akin to the category consolidation approach: pajamas, long sleeves, and dresses, so I could see what I was working with. Then, from there, I pared the items down.

The first thing I did was take out all of my immediate favorites, leaving only the items I didn't reach for. From there, I began asking myself why these items were merely "good" and not used in my life. Did they fit weird? Were they something I wouldn't buy again? Did I own something similar that I loved more?

At first I struggled a bit with closet decluttering tips and making decisions as I knew many of the clothing items looked good on me, but the Great Over Good decluttering method effectively mitigates this struggle by presenting you with your favorite things which you love so much more in comparison.

It made me realize almost everything that wasn't an immediate yes, or a "great" I wouldn't miss if I let it go, and that felt incredibly liberating and made decluttering so much easier.

Verdict: 8/10.

It can definitely help with decision fatigue and enhance your gratitude towards what you have, but to improve it, pair it alongside the idea of personifying your possessions for a 10/10, guilt-free decluttering session.

Decluttering essentials

Meet the experts

Michelle Urban

Michelle Urban is the owner of The Organized House. After spending 17 years working in telemarketing, Michelle found her passion: helping to bring simplicity and ease to others' lives. Michelle is a big fan of the “Great Over Good” method and uses it often with her clients, especially when they are knee-deep in decluttering and paring down five versions of the same item.

C.Lee Cawley

C.Lee Cawley has over 20 years of experience helping women 50+ declutter paper, organize their homes, and simplify their lives. As a trusted voice in the organizing world, she frequently shares practical tips to help overwhelmed women worldwide clear their homes and calm their minds.

Di Ter Avest

Di Ter Avest has been a professional organizer for 12 years, helping 80-100 families per year through in-home organizing services. Di's extensive hands-on experience and the Organize Yourself Healthy method they specially created set them apart. This unique approach combines home organization with personal well-being, helping moms and families create systems that truly support their lifestyles.

If, after cutting down your possessions, you're left wondering what to do with the items you are decluttering, there are many options out there to give them a new purpose.