Decluttering vs. Organizing: Why Your Cupboard Needs Both

Have you ever spent hours arranging everything in your cupboard, standing back proudly… only to have it turn into a chaotic disaster a week later? It’s frustrating, right? It makes you feel like you just don’t have the “organizing gene” or that maybe you’re doomed to live in a mess forever. But here’s the real reason it keeps happening: organizing alone won’t fix the problem. And if you only declutter without an actual system in place, things will creep back in just as fast as they left.

That’s why decluttering and organizing go hand in hand. One without the other is like washing the dishes but never putting them away—you’re stuck in an endless cycle of frustration. If you’re tired of your cupboard feeling like a black hole of lost snacks and expired cans, let’s break this down into four simple steps that will actually stick.

Step 1: Triage – What’s Actually Going On Here?

Before you start yanking everything out, take a second to just look at your cupboard. What’s the real issue? Is it stuffed to the brim? Do you have things falling over every time you reach for something? Are you holding onto expired items just because they “might be useful someday”? Or maybe the problem isn’t clutter—it’s that you don’t have a system that actually works for how you live.

Take a deep breath and remind yourself: this is fixable. The mess in your cupboard isn’t a reflection of your worth or your abilities—it’s just a sign that your space needs a reset. And you’re about to give it one.

Step 2: Clean – A Fresh Start Feels Good

Now comes the part that nobody really loves, but it makes such a difference—taking everything out and giving your cupboard a clean slate. Yep, everything. Because let’s be honest, there’s probably some mystery crumbs, a sticky spill from who-knows-when, and at least one item that expired five years ago.

Once the shelves are wiped down and everything is out in the open, you’ll start to see your stuff differently. That jar of sauce you swore you’d use? That random appliance you forgot you had? Sometimes, we don’t even realize how much we’re holding onto until we physically see it all in front of us.

Step 3: Declutter – Do You Really Need That?

This is where things get real. A lot of people think decluttering is just about getting rid of stuff, but that’s not entirely true. Sometimes, it’s just about putting things where they actually belong. If you’re holding onto a giant serving dish in your kitchen cupboard but only use it for Thanksgiving, maybe it belongs with your holiday items instead. Re-homing something counts as decluttering too. The goal isn’t to throw everything away—it’s to make sure what’s left is in a place that makes sense.

And let’s talk about that little voice in your head that tells you to keep things “just in case.” Deep down, you already know if you actually use something or if it’s just taking up space. If you have to convince yourself to keep it, that’s usually a sign you don’t need it. Let yourself be honest here. Imagine how much easier your life would be if everything in your cupboard was something you actually used, loved, or needed. That’s the goal—not minimalism, not perfection, just clarity.

Step 4: Organize – Make It Make Sense

Now that you’re left with only the things that deserve a spot in your cupboard, it’s time to put them back in a way that actually works for you. Notice I didn’t say “in perfect, Pinterest-worthy bins with labels.” If that helps you, amazing. But if you’re someone who needs to see everything at a glance, you don’t need bins at all. The real point of organizing isn’t about making your space look a certain way—it’s about making it function in a way that saves you time and stress.

If you’re always scrambling to find everyday items, put them front and center. If you have deep shelves where things get lost, try grouping similar items together so you always know where to look. Think about how you naturally reach for things and build a system that fits that, not some unrealistic version of what organization is “supposed” to look like.

And most importantly? Make sure whatever you do is easy to maintain. If putting something away feels like a chore, you won’t keep up with it. The best organization system isn’t the prettiest one—it’s the one that works for you long-term.

Decluttering vs. Organizing: Why Both Matter

Here’s the thing: Decluttering is about making choices. Organizing is about making habits. If you only declutter, you’ll have a cleaner space for now—but without a system, it’ll get messy again. And if you only organize, you’re just shifting clutter around without solving the real issue.

When you combine the two? That’s when the magic happens. You create a space that actually supports your daily life instead of working against you.

And the best part? Once you get this right, it gets easier and easier to keep up with. You’ll spend less time rummaging through cupboards, less time cleaning up messes, and more time just living. And isn’t that the whole point?

So go ahead—tackle that cupboard. Not to be perfect, not to impress anyone, but to make your life just a little bit easier. Future you will thank you.

Final Thoughts: A Mindset Shift That Changes Everything

If there’s one thing to take away from this, it’s that decluttering and organizing aren’t just about your space—they’re about your habits, your mindset, and the way you interact with your home. Every time you let go of something that doesn’t serve you, you’re making a choice to prioritize what does—and that’s powerful.

This isn’t about following rules or achieving some aesthetic ideal. It’s about creating a space that feels good to live in. And that starts with you deciding that you deserve it.