Nate Berkus’ 3 commandments for decluttering are the secret to an intentional but easily streamlined space

It is one thing to get rid of stuff without prejudice, tossing out anything that you have touched in a few months, but intentionally decluttering is a whole other ball game.

Luckily, being more intentional with the items you choose to let go doesn't have to be overwhelming, and Nate Berkus, designer extraordinaire, has broken his successful streamlining process into three simple commandments.

These are his decluttering golden rules for creating a more intentional home, and why they work so well to bring things back to basics.

Nate Berkus' simple decluttering commandments

Much like Nate Berkus' three-step organizing routine, his three rules for intentional decluttering strip things back to the core principles to better set yourself up for a successful decluttering session.

1. Start with big pieces

Although most professional organizers suggest starting small and working up when deciding where to start when decluttering, Nate instead recommends you 'start with big pieces and keep only what fits your space and lifestyle.'

As a '#triplevirgo', Nate tidies according to his zodiac, leading with his natural affinity for organization and practicality to start the process of decluttering with the biggest and most energy-consuming pieces while he has the most energy to make letting go of stuff easier.

Head of Solved, Punteha van Terheyden explains, 'Starting with larger items or areas of your home will have you diving in at the deep end, but it can be a great way to tackle a lot of stuff quickly if you are already highly motivated to declutter.

'Tackling those biggies at the start of your decluttering project is perfect, as this is the time when you have the most energy, both physically and mentally, to ask yourself the big questions and lug the items out and to the trash or donation sites.'

If decluttering very large items such as furniture, be careful when moving heavy furniture by yourself. Consider investing in a small moving trolley, from Walmart, to help cart pieces or heavy boxes back and forth.

You can also sell items that are in good shape and in high demand such as bookcases, desks, dining chairs, sofas, bed frames and mattresses locally using Facebook Marketplace and eBay.

No matter what the item, however, there are some things you should never declutter first, such as sentimental items, to avoid decluttering regret.

2. Invest in craftsmanship

It is not often that expert decluttering tips tell you to buy more big-ticket items, but Nate reckons swapping poor-quality items for high-quality investments is a wise move. He writes, 'Choose fewer pieces with personality and craftsmanship. Invest in things that tell a story.'

While it might not sound like a smart move, investing in craftsmanship can help to stop clutter before it starts by reducing the risk of items wearing out, breaking, or falling out of style.

Be it furniture, artwork, or clothing, stopping to question the quality of an item and how long you see yourself loving it can break the stages of clutter, and reduce how often you need to clear out mess in the future.

A great way to avoid items eventually becoming clutter in your home is to work through the ETC method before you spend any money. I use this editing trick all the time to weed out the low-quality items and impulse purchases, helping me save time, money, and energy.

Plus, it reduces over-consumption and excess waste, making it a smart trick for being more sustainable at home.

3. Assign homes to belongings

Nate's final tip is to 'Assign a home for everything. Use baskets and trays to keep smaller items tidy and accessible.'

It is a decluttering method we have heard time and time again, but for good reason – it works!

Professional home organizer Meghan Cocchiaro, founder of Organized by Meg, explains, 'Assign a home within your home and/or within a space you are reorganizing, such as choosing a shelf or drawer in the closet for each category of items you are keeping to "live."

'Once you can determine the proper placement for that category according to its frequency of use and weight, only then will you know if you need something to actually contain it. Ask yourself: Is it loose? Is it bulky? Is it fine to sit on a shelf alone? Will it collect dust? What would help it stay in its place?

'If it's a category of goods such as memories or seasonal items that you don't need easy access to, you can contain those in clear bins with latches [available at The Container Store] and labels and store them away. However, I do encourage clients to display memories and mementos whenever possible so the item is actually seen and appreciated.

'The key is to consciously choose what you are storing away. This avoids buying containers for which you then have to find a purpose for or mindlessly boxing up everything you own without taking care to let go of items.'

Meet the expert

Meghan Cocchiaro

Since being set up five years ago, Organized by Meg, an in-home full-service professional home organizing company, has helped busy women and families quit tidying habits that hinder their happiness.

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