Perhaps it’s my very Virgo tendencies, but thinking about spring cleaning always makes my heart skip a beat. The rush that comes with a clean, organized space, paired with wide-open windows and sunlight streaming through, is second to none. The rush and anticipation can be short-lived, however, especially as you dive into the actual work of cleaning and organizing. Before spring cleaning can begin, there needs to be a spring-cleaning declutter. But the question of what to declutter in spring can be overwhelming.

What to declutter first? Do I need a spring decluttering checklist before diving into my cleaning? Before you know it, you may throw your hands up and abandon the whole project altogether. That’s exactly why I asked the pros for all of their spring decluttering tips. 

What to Declutter This Spring: 6 High-Impact Areas to Start With

Ahead, cleaning and organizing professionals weigh in on the items you should declutter first. Tackle these spaces before you reach for the mop to get the most bang for your buck this spring. 

Drop Zones

First things first, it’s helpful to check in on the spaces where you and your loved ones place items every day. Nick Friedman, Co-Founder & CEO of College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving, calls these spaces drop zones. “The fastest win in any home is clearing the drop zones: entryways, kitchen counters, and coffee tables,” he shares. “These spaces collect mail, bags, random gadgets, and everyday clutter. When these surfaces are cleared, the entire home immediately feels more organized. It’s a small project with a huge visual impact.” 

To tackle the clutter efficiently, keep a recycling bag nearby to toss bits of paper in as you go, and a trash bag for items to discard.

Kids’ Belongings 

If you have kids, you already know how much they can accumulate. Vanessa Garcia, a cleaning and organizing expert and a Tasker for Taskrabbit, encourages parents to start setting aside kids’ belongings before diving into a spring clean. “One of the biggest things that I find to be a great clean-out to-do is going through kids’ belongings—old markers, broken crayons, and old toys that could be donated,” she says. “It’s always a great time to start pulling them up and putting them to the side, because most of the time they won’t notice.”

Garcia recommends involving your kids in the decluttering process. “It can be a great learning opportunity for children to do something good with what they have,” Garcia continues. 

The Fridge and Pantry

As they say, the kitchen is the heart of the home. Just like your wardrobe lightens up for spring, so does your food, especially as more fresh fruit and veggies come into season. But before you can do a deep clean of your kitchen, Cathy Orr, co-founder of The Uncluttered Life, recommends doing a fridge and pantry clean-out. 

“Time to toss expired pantry goods, give the refrigerator and freezer shelves a thorough cleaning, take out food from the freezer that you never ate during the winter, and clear and clean the countertops,” she instructs. Once you create more space on the shelves, you can wipe everything down, but that initial clean-out is essential. 

Closets

Going from winter to spring means your closet will need to switch with the seasons. You might as well declutter while you do it, and reap the rewards of a refreshed space. “Closets are one of the highest-impact decluttering projects,” Friedman says. “Instead of overthinking it, I encourage people to do a quick pass: if you didn’t wear it last season or it doesn’t fit your lifestyle anymore, it’s time to donate it. Most people are surprised by how much space they gain with just a 20-minute edit.” 

Hidden Clutter

It can be easy to toss clutter behind closed doors. Out of sight, out of mind, right? But as you prep your home for spring cleaning, you’ll want to make room for the items you actually want to store. “Clear out the hidden clutter zones such as garages, junk drawers, and storage closets where clutter accumulates,” Friedman recommends. “These spaces may be out of sight, but they often create the most stress because they make it hard to find what you actually need. Once these areas are pared down, it becomes much easier to keep the rest of the home organized.” 

I personally love tackling junk drawers—they’re small spaces that only take a few minutes to organize, tops. You can’t wipe down the drawers until they’re clean anyway!

Duplicates

As you go looking for spring cleaning supplies, be on the lookout for any duplicates. “One of the most common things we see when helping clients declutter is an overabundance of duplicates,” Friedman shares. He mentions clients often have duplicates of cleaning supplies, as well as extra kitchen tools or boxes of items labeled just in case. He encourages you to discard or donate these items. “Keeping excess often just becomes clutter. Simplifying these categories can free up a surprising amount of space,” he explains. 

As you start your decluttering process, Friedman recommends embracing the excitement that comes with starting something new.  “My biggest piece of advice is to focus on momentum over perfection,” he shares. “Start with the areas that will make your home feel better immediately. When you declutter the high-impact zones first, spring cleaning stops feeling like a huge project and starts feeling like a refresh.” 

The post 6 Areas to Declutter This Spring—According to Organizing Experts appeared first on Camille Styles.

In uncertain, often overwhelming times, I’ve found solace in my houseplants. There’s a joy in tending to them—the ritual of watering, the slow unfurl of a new leaf, and the way a room softens in their presence. Over time, my home has filled with them.

But somewhere along the way, I realized: more plants didn’t necessarily mean a more beautiful space. Too many, placed without intention, and suddenly a living room starts to feel less like a sanctuary and more like a roadside nursery. What I was craving wasn’t more greenery—it was a sense of cohesion. A way to make my plants feel like part of the design, not an afterthought.

So I set out to understand how designers actually style plants at home. What I found, through conversations with San Francisco-based Little Trees owner Kathy Ho and Lindsay Pangborn, formerly a gardening expert at Bloomscape, is that the difference comes down to perspective. Plants aren’t just décor—they’re a design layer. And when you start to think about them that way, everything shifts: where you place them, how you group them, and how they shape the feeling of a room.

How to Design With Plants (By Thinking Like a Designer)

When you start to see plants as a design element—not just something to care for—the way you use them begins to change. It’s easy to slip into collecting mode. You find a plant you love, then another, then another—and before long, they’re scattered throughout your home with little thought for how they relate to one another.

Designers approach plants differently. Instead of asking Where can I fit this? they ask, What does this room need?

That shift—from accumulation to intention—creates a space that feels considered.

“Plants should complement your space and your lifestyle, not compete with it,” Pangborn says. In practice, that means thinking about plants the same way you would any other design element: in terms of scale, balance, and placement.

A single, well-placed plant can anchor a corner. A small grouping can create a focal point on a surface. Even negative space—what you choose not to fill—plays a role in how your plants are experienced.

1. Create Visual Moments (Not Plant Clutter)

Once you start thinking like a designer, the next step is editing—then arranging with intention. Instead of dispersing plants evenly throughout a room, focus on creating a few defined moments. Designers often group plants in twos or threes, treating them less like standalone objects and more like part of a vignette. The result feels grounded and cohesive, rather than scattered.

“Grouping plants can make a space feel more calm and considered,” says Ho. “It also makes care easier when plants with similar needs are placed together.”

Think of a cluster on a coffee table, a styled corner of a console, or a small trio anchoring a shelf. What matters isn’t the number of plants—it’s how they relate to one another and to the space around them.

Just as important: what you leave out. Giving each grouping room to breathe allows the eye to land, rather than constantly move.

The Sill

Olive Tree

From $69 at The Sill

West Elm

Wavy Ceramic Planters

From $49 at West Elm

The Floral Society

Stainless Steel Watering Cans

$98 at The Floral Society

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2. Use Height and Movement to Shape the Room

One of the simplest ways to elevate your plant styling is to think vertically. When every plant sits at the same level—lined up on a windowsill or clustered at eye height—the effect can feel flat. Designers, instead, use plants to create movement throughout a space, guiding the eye up, down, and across the room.

Trailing plants are especially effective here. Placed on a high shelf, bookshelf, or cabinet, they soften hard lines and draw the eye upward as they grow. Hanging planters offer a similar effect, making use of often-overlooked ceiling space while adding a sense of lightness.

“Using vertical space is key, especially in smaller homes,” Pangborn notes. “It allows you to incorporate more greenery without sacrificing surface area.”

The goal isn’t to fill every level, but to create a sense of rhythm—something that feels layered and lived-in, rather than static. A taller plant on the floor, a cluster at mid-level, and something trailing above can be enough to shift the entire energy of a room.

3. Let Plants Fill the Space—Not Overwhelm It

One of the most common mistakes when decorating with plants is treating every empty spot as an opportunity to add one. But designers tend to approach it the opposite way. Instead of filling space, they use plants to resolve it.

That might look like placing a taller plant in an empty corner to soften a hard edge, or using a single, sculptural plant to anchor a blank wall. On the floor, especially, plants can create a sense of weight and presence—grounding the room in a way smaller accents can’t.

“Larger plants can make an immediate impact,” Pangborn says. “They help define a space and can bring balance to areas that feel unfinished.”

Just as important is what surrounds them. Giving a plant enough space—away from furniture, walls, or artwork—allows it to stand on its own without competing for attention.

A room doesn’t feel lush when every inch is filled. It feels lush when there’s contrast—between fullness and openness, presence and pause.

4. Balance Scale, Shape, and Texture

If you’re drawn to a home filled with plants, the key is to create contrast. A room full of greenery can feel rich and layered, but only when there’s variation. When every plant is similar in size, shape, or tone, the effect flattens. What designers do instead is mix elements deliberately: pairing something tall with something low, something structured with something soft, something bold with something more delicate.

“Combining plants with different leaf shapes and sizes keeps a space visually interesting,” Pangborn says. “It creates depth rather than repetition.”

Think of a broad-leaf plant set against something more airy, or a sculptural silhouette next to a trailing vine. These contrasts give the eye somewhere to move and a reason to linger.

The effect is what people often describe as a “lush” space, but what it really comes down to is composition. Not more plants, but better balance.

Design for Real Life, Not Just Aesthetics

Even the most beautifully styled plants should support the way you actually live in your space. It’s easy to get caught up in how something looks—especially when it comes to plants, which can instantly transform a room. But if they’re difficult to care for, constantly in the way, or require more attention than you can realistically give, that sense of ease starts to disappear.

“Plants should complement your space and your lifestyle,” Pangborn notes. “They should never feel like a burden.”

That might mean grouping plants with similar care needs so your routine feels intuitive. Or choosing fewer, more impactful pieces that you can tend to consistently. It might even mean moving things around as your space (or your energy) shifts.

When you start to see plants as part of your home’s design, the entire approach softens. You edit more. You place with intention, and you let the space breathe.

In turn, your home begins to feel the way you wanted it to all along: lush, yes—but also calm, cohesive, and entirely your own.

This post was last updated on April 17, 2026, to include new insights.

The post Why Your Plants Make Your Home Feel Cluttered (and How to Fix It) appeared first on Camille Styles.

My biggest issue with the term junk drawer is the word junk. If something truly has no purpose, why are we storing it in valuable space in our kitchen, mudroom, or office? Now don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying everything in your junk drawer needs to be high quality or particularly valuable. What it does need to do, however, is serve a purpose.

When organizing any space in your home—from your fridge to your closet—every item should earn its keep. If you don’t wear those black pumps, donate them. If you keep buying that bag of spinach but never finish it, it might be time to re-evaluate. The items in your junk drawer should follow the same rule.

Once you stop thinking of it as a catch-all space and start thinking of it as a utility drawer with a purpose, it becomes much easier to keep organized. Below is my step-by-step system for organizing a junk drawer so it actually stays that way.

Rachel Rosenthal

Rachel Rosenthal is an organizing expert and founder of Rachel and Company, a Washington, DC-based professional organizing firm. Since 2007, Rachel’s firm has worked with 3000+ clients and teamed up with prominent brands, including West Elm, Pottery Barn, The Container Store, and Four Seasons. Rachel’s expertise has been featured in 100+ publications, including Real Simple, Martha Stewart, House Beautiful, The Rachael Ray Show, and local NBC, ABC, and Fox morning shows. Rooted in the belief that organization can be achieved by all, Rachel emphasizes solutions that are easy to use and enhance a home’s existing aesthetic.

How to Organize a Junk Drawer (Quick Steps)

If you want the quick version, here’s the simple system I use:

1. Empty the drawer completely
2. Declutter broken or unused items
3. Relocate items that belong elsewhere
4. Create categories for what remains
5. Add drawer organizers or dividers
6. Return items thoughtfully—and prep them for use

Now let’s break down each step.

Why Junk Drawers Get Out of Control

The biggest problem with a junk drawer is the catch-all mentality. We’ve been conditioned to toss items we don’t know what to do with into one drawer and deal with them later. That’s how you end up with drawers bursting at the seams and never being able to find the battery you know you have, or the matchbook you need when the power goes out.

Just like every other space in your home, your junk drawer should contain intentional categories. When every item has a place, the drawer becomes useful instead of chaotic. Changing your mindset from “junk drawer” to a drawer that holds categorized items with purpose is the first step in organizing it.

Step-by-Step Guide to Organizing a Junk Drawer

Step 1: Empty the Junk Drawer Completely

Yes, everything. I know the thought of it can make most of us wince, but the first step to organizing your junk drawer is to dump it all out. It’s the only way to see exactly what you’re working with. Once the drawer is empty, wipe it down so you’re starting with a clean slate.

Step 2: Declutter and Remove Broken Items

Next, declutter the items you pulled out of the drawer. Some things will be obvious—like tossing trash or recycling old receipts. But don’t stop there. Write with each pen to make sure it works. Test batteries. Turn on flashlights. Check tape rolls. You might be surprised how many items in a junk drawer are actually broken or unusable. Think through which items you truly need in your home and which ones can be discarded or donated.

Step 3: Relocate Items That Belong Elsewhere

After decluttering, look at what remains and decide whether it actually belongs in this drawer.

For example:

• Does your screwdriver need to live in the kitchen, or should it go in the garage or toolbox?
• Is that ruler better suited for the kids’ homework area?
• Should extra charging cables live in an office drawer instead?

Relocating items helps prevent your junk drawer from becoming a storage space for things that belong elsewhere.

Step 4: Create Categories for What’s Left

Once you’ve decluttered and relocated items, you’ll be left with the things that truly belong in the drawer. Now it’s time to create categories.

For example:

• Scissors
• Tape
• Batteries
• Pens and pencils
• Rubber bands
• Small tools
• Chargers

Grouping items into categories makes it much easier to find what you need—and maintain the system over time.

Step 5: Add Drawer Organizers or Dividers

Once you’ve identified your categories, measure your drawer so you can add organizers that fit. Some type of bins or drawer dividers is essential for junk drawer organization. Because these drawers often contain multiple categories, organizers prevent everything from sliding together into one big pile.

Measure the width, depth, and height of the drawer, then find organizers that fit your space and categories. Adjustable dividers, small bins, or modular trays all work well. Think of it like playing a little Tetris until everything fits perfectly.

Step 6: Put Everything Back (and Prep It for Use)

Now comes the satisfying part—putting everything back. Place each category into its designated organizer or section. But before you close the drawer, take it one step further.

This step will be unique to your junk drawer, but consider sharpening pencils, folding the end of the tape over so it’s easy to grab, refilling a lighter, or pairing batteries by size. These small finishing touches make a big difference. Now everything in your junk drawer is ready to be used at a moment’s notice.

What Should Actually Go in a Junk Drawer?

A well-organized junk drawer typically holds small, frequently used household items that don’t have another obvious home.

Some common items include:

• Batteries
• Scissors
• Tape
• Rubber bands
• Pens and pencils
• Flashlight
• Matches or lighters
• Phone chargers
• Small tools like a screwdriver

The key is that every item serves a purpose and belongs to a category within the drawer.

Common Junk Drawer Organization Mistakes

If your junk drawer never seems to stay organized, one of these habits might be the reason.

Treating it like a catch-all.
A junk drawer should not be where random items go to disappear.

Keeping broken items.
Dead batteries, dried-out pens, and tangled cords create clutter quickly.

Not using drawer dividers.
Without organizers, everything slides into one chaotic pile.

Mixing too many categories.
Limiting the drawer to a few simple categories helps keep it functional.

Never editing the drawer.
A quick reset every few months keeps clutter from building up again.

How to Keep Your Junk Drawer Organized

Once your drawer is organized, a little maintenance will go a long way toward keeping it that way. A quick five-minute reset once a month can help prevent clutter from building up—use that time to toss broken items, test pens, or remove anything that’s found its way into the drawer without a real purpose. Try to return items to their designated sections after using them so categories stay intact, and be mindful about what you add back in. If something doesn’t serve a clear purpose, it likely doesn’t need to live there.

A junk drawer doesn’t need to be perfect, but with a simple system in place, it can stay functional, tidy, and easy to use.

Organize Your Junk Drawer With the Help of These Hard-Working Products

Once your drawer is decluttered and categorized, the right organizers make all the difference. Drawer dividers, small bins, and modular trays keep items from shifting around and turning back into one big pile.

The right tools help ensure that every item in your drawer has a home—and stays there.

Junk Drawer Organizers

Neat Method

Acacia Expandable Drawer insert

$40 at Lulu and Georgia

Luxe Acrylic

Luxe Acrylic Drawer Organizer Set

$30 at The Container Store

Line Arc Design

Hand-Painted Metal Nesting Trays

$45 at Etsy

Dial

Multi-Battery Storage Box

$13 at The Container Store

Wrap It

Wrap-It Cinch Straps Set of 4

$9 at The Container Store

Rowan

Acacia Stacking Drawer Organizer

Starting at $5 at The Container Store

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This post was last updated on March 22, 2026, to include new insights.

The post The Secret to Organizing a Junk Drawer (Hint: Stop Treating It Like One) appeared first on Camille Styles.