I love a good quote; they have a unique way of motivating us to live better.
When we have a lot of clutter, the first step is to find the motivation, and then tackling our homes step by step doesn’t feel as overwhelming.
Here are some of the most popular decluttering quotes I have found from renowned authors, famous influencers, celebrities, and even the Bible to give you that much-needed motivation to tackle your clutter today.
Marie Kondo Quotes About Decluttering
We are kicking things off with one of the most renowned authors in the organisation and decluttering space. Her book, ‘The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying Up’ has sold millions of copies around the world.
Best known for her KonMari method, Kondo believes in keeping only items that spark joy. Here are some of her most remarkable quotes on tidying and decluttering.
1. The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life.
2. Tidying is a dialogue with oneself. Cleaning the house is essentially a spiritual practice, because as you clean, you are confronted with the essence of your being.
3. The best way to find out what we really need is to get rid of what we don’t.
4. To truly cherish the things that are important to you, you must first discard those that have outlived their purpose. And if you no longer need them, then that is neither wasteful nor shameful.
5. The space in which we live should be for the person we are becoming now—not for the person we were in the past.
6. When you come across something that you cannot part with, think carefully about its true purpose in your life. You’ll be surprised at how many of the things you possess have already fulfilled their role.
7. Tidying is just a tool, not the final destination. The true goal is to establish the lifestyle you want most.
8. The key to successful tidying is to tackle your home in the correct order, to keep only the things you really love and to do it all at once, quickly and completely.
9. The objective of cleaning is not just to clean, but to feel happiness living within that environment.
10. Storage experts are hoarders.
Key Learning
Decluttering is not only about our physical space but also about the person we want to become. Kondo also emphasises how our storage space can reveal our habits, and how decluttering can bring us more peace and inner calm.
Joshua Becker Quotes About Decluttering
Another popular writer and speaker, Joshua Becker, has written five books on the subject of minimalism and decluttering. Here are some of his most famous nuggets of wisdom.
11. The first step in crafting the life you want is to get rid of everything you don’t.
12. Our excessive possessions are not making us happy. Even worse, they are taking us away from the things that do.
13. We don’t need more space, we need less stuff.
14. Decluttering is not about perfection; it’s about simplicity.
15. The things you own end up owning you. It’s only after you lose everything that you’re free to do anything.
16. When we remove the things that don’t matter to us, we are able to focus on the things that do.
17. The things we own have value only as long as they are useful, beautiful, or truly sentimental. Everything else is just clutter, and it’s weighing us down.
18. We own too much, we consume too much, and we desire too much. It’s time to break the cycle.
19. Decluttering is not a one-time project, it’s a way of life.
20. The easiest way to organise your stuff is to get rid of most of it.
Key Learning
Joshua Becker helps us see why it’s so important to declutter and what the process actually does for us. He also emphasises how our excessive possessions can be a source of unhappiness and can distract us from the things that truly matter.
Quotes About Decluttering From The Bible
There is no better place to find inspiration than the Bible. Here are some Bible verses that relate to living a simpler life and decluttering.
21. Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. – Proverbs 15:16
22. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. – Luke 12:33
23. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. – Matthew 6:19-20
24. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you. – Hebrews 13:5
25. But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. – 1 Timothy 6:6-7
Key Learning
The Bible highlights what is truly important and how living with less helps us see the value of the things that truly matter and clear clutter from our lives.
Francine Jay Quotes About Decluttering
Also known as Miss Minimalist, ay shares a holistic approach to decluttering. She believes in decluttering not just our spaces but our days, minds, and hearts. She is a minimalism advocate and the author of the books ‘The Joy of Less’, ‘Lightly’, and ‘Frugillionaire’.
26. Remember you are not what you own. Storing all those books doesn’t make you any smarter; it just makes your life more cluttered.
27. Decluttering is not about perfection; it’s about simplicity.
28. Less stuff = more joy
29. We are not what we own; we are what we do, what we think and who we love.
30. Remember, the things with which we choose to surround ourselves tell our story. Let’s hope it’s not “I choose to live in the past,” or “I can’t finish the projects I start.” Instead, let’s aim for something like, “I live lightly and gracefully, with only the objects I find functional or beautiful.
Key Learning
Francine Jay helps us see the link between our happiness and owning less. Jay lets us see that our worth is not defined by what we own.
Quotes About Physical Clutter
Physical clutter can make us feel very overwhelmed. Here are some popular quotes from decluttering experts to motivate you to get rid of clutter to create a more peaceful and organised living space.
31. A cluttered room is a cluttered mind. – Anonymous
32. Clutter is nothing more than postponed decisions- Barbara Hemphill
33. Later is the best friend of clutter – Barbara Hemphill
34. Clutter smothers simplicity breathes. – Terri Guillemets
35. Clutter isn’t just the stuff on the floor. It’s anything that gets between you and the life you want to be living – Peter Walsh
36. Clutter is not just physical stuff. It’s old ideas, toxic relationships, and bad habits. Clutter is anything that does not support your better self. – Eleanor Brown
37. Clutter may rob us of the life we imagined or prevent us from creating a new vision for our future – Lisa j. shultz
Key Learning
Clutter can often be a physical manifestation of our emotional state. It affects our mental state and hinders us from making decisions in our lives.
Decluttering Quotes by Benjamin Franklin
Although better known for inventing the postal system in the United States, Benjamin Franklin also believed in the value of simplicity and order. His quotes on decluttering reflect his belief that a clutter-free environment promotes a clearer mind and a more productive life.
38. For every minute spent in organising, an hour is earned.
39. A place for everything, everything in its place.
Key Learning
We often think we have less time but we gain extra time and efficiency when our homes are organised.
Quotes About The Decluttering Process
40. The first step in crafting the life you want is to get rid of everything you don’t.” – Joshua Becker
41. Letting go of stuff can be hard, but it’s a lot easier than letting go of the life you want to live.- Joshua Becker
42. Decluttering is like peeling an onion. There are always more layers to uncover. – Unknown
43. When we clear the physical clutter from our lives, we literally make way for inspiration and ‘good, orderly direction’ to enter. – Julia Cameron
44. The things you own end up owning you. It’s only after you lose everything that you’re free to do anything – Chuck Palahniuk
45. Decluttering is a chance to take inventory of your possessions, and to keep only the things that are useful and beautiful.- Francine Jay
Key Learning
Decluttering can be hard and may require some initial effort but it frees us up for a happier life.
The Home Edit’s Quotes on Decluttering and Organising
Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, also known as “The Home Edit,” gained popularity through their Netflix show that showcases their unique approach to organisation. They have become known for creating both tidy and visually appealing spaces using their signature rainbow colour-coded system.
46. Edit, edit, edit! It’s the key to an organised space.
47. An organised space is a happy space.
48. Contain, contain, contain! Everything needs a home.
49. Start small and work your way up to larger projects.
Key Learning
Editing and containing our possessions can help us create an organised space that brings us joy and happiness.
Minimalist Quotes on Embracing Simplicity
The minimalist lifestyle promotes simplicity and a lighter way of living by prioritising what truly matters, leading to a simpler life. Below are some quotes from experts on the benefits of minimalism.
50. Minimalism is not a lack of something. It’s simply the perfect amount of something. – Nicholas Burroughs
51. The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less. – Socrates
52. Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it. – Joshua Becker
53. Minimalism is not about having less. It’s about making room for more of what matters. – Brian Gardner
54. The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak. – Hans Hofmann
55. Minimalism is the constant art of editing your life. – Danny Dover
Key Learning
Minimalism helps us get rid of much clutter and frees up our lives for important things.
Minimalist Quotes by Fumio Sasaki
Popular Japanese author Fumio Sasaki advocates for minimalism as a way of life. His book, “Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism” has inspired many people around the world to get rid of clutter and embrace a simpler, more intentional lifestyle. Here are some of Sasaki’s most inspirational quotes.
56. Minimalism is not about giving up everything and living in a white box, it’s about giving yourself the freedom to identify what is important to you.
57. If it’s not a “hell, yes!” it’s a “no.
58. Minimalism is just the beginning. It’s a tool. Once you’ve gone ahead and minimized, it’s time to find out what those important things are.
59. Minimalism is not a radical lifestyle where you reject everything and live in a bare room with a single chair, it’s about cherishing the things that are truly important to you.
60. Minimalism is not a competition to see who can own the least, it’s about finding the balance that works for you and helps you live a more meaningful life.
Key Learning
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to minimalism, as it is a personal journey of simplifying your life and finding what level of simplicity works best for you, and it doesn’t necessarily mean getting rid of everything.
Celebrity Quotes on Decluttering
It’s interesting to see that celebrities who have amassed a lot of wealth and fame understand the power of owning less.
Here are some motivational quotes from stars such as Oprah, Victoria Beckham, and Leonardo DiCaprio on the value of simplicity.
61. I’m constantly editing my closet and my home. I really believe that living with less gives you a lot more freedom and flexibility. – Lauren Conrad
62. I love living with less. It makes life so much easier. When you’re not surrounded by clutter, everything becomes clearer. – Jamie Oliver, chef and television personality
62. I have a rule: if I haven’t worn it in six months, it has to go. I give it to charity so that somebody else can enjoy it. – Victoria Beckham
64. I’ve always said that less is more. The less clutter you have, the clearer your mind becomes. – Victoria Beckham
65. I think that the simpler we can make things, the more enriched our lives become. – Leonardo DiCaprio
66. I’m not a minimalist. I love stuff, but I also love simplicity. If I don’t need something, I don’t have it. – Oprah Winfrey
67. It is not daily increase but daily decrease, hack away the unessential.- Bruce Lee
68. Clear out things that no longer serve a purpose or make you happy. Just keep things that truly speak to your heart. Purge and live with less, it’s so worth it. – Laura Dern, actress
69. I’m not a fan of having a lot of stuff. I think it’s really important to have your space to breathe and to have some of that Zen in your life.” – Emma Stone
70. I’ve learned that the less stuff I have, the less stressed I am. The less you have to worry about, the easier it is to focus on the things that really matter.” – Jennifer Lawrence
Key Learning
Celebrities have a real understanding about the influence of clutter and how living with less can give your more freedom and peace of mind.
Final Thoughts on Decluttering
Many of us believe that having everything we want will make us happier, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Happiness can often be found in small things and owning fewer possessions.
I hope these inspiring quotes will motivate you to begin your decluttering journey, take charge of clutter, and adopt a minimalist mindset that leads to genuine happiness.
Remember that clutter is not limited to our physical space; let these quotes inspire you to let go of all the mental clutter that has been holding you back. Start small, take it one step at a time, and pace yourself.
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