The 10 Most Overstuffed Areas in Every Mom’s Home (and How to Declutter Them Fast)
- mothermademb
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
If you’ve ever looked around your house at the end of the day and thought,
“How is there so much stuff everywhere… again?”
You’re not alone.
As stay-at-home moms, our homes work hard. They’re not just homes — they’re classrooms, snack bars, play zones, laundry centers, and sometimes offices too.
Clutter doesn’t mean you’re messy or lazy.
It usually just means --> life is happening here.
But when our space feels overstuffed, it’s exhausting, mentally and physically.
The good news? You don’t need a weekend purge or a Pinterest-perfect system.
Most overwhelm comes from just a few problem spots.
Let’s tackle the 10 most overstuffed areas in every mom’s home — and exactly how to simplify each one quickly.
1. Declutter The Kitchen Counters
Why it gets cluttered: Mail, snack containers, water bottles, school papers, small appliances… everything lands here.
Quick declutter fix:
Remove everything from the counters
Only put back daily-use items, find homes for the frequent but not daily use items
Sell or donate the items that you don't us or have duplicates of
Create a small basket for “randoms” that need homes
Mom rule: If you don’t use it every day, it doesn’t live on the counter.
2. The Toy Explosion Zone
Why it gets cluttered: Too many toys = kids dump everything out.
Quick declutter fix:
Reduce by 30–50%
Donate, or dispose of broken or rarely played-with toys
Try toy rotation (keep some stored away)
Use simple bins, or an open shelf that is not cluttered, you do not need complicated systems
Truth: Fewer toys actually mean kids play longer, engage in deeper play and actually clean up because its EASY and they know where things actually go .
3. Kids’ Closets
Why it gets cluttered: Outgrown clothes + hand-me-downs + “just in case” outfits.
Quick declutter fix:
Remove everything that doesn’t currently fit, anything that is ripped or heavily stained
Keep only favorite, often worn, comfy pieces
Aim for 7–10 everyday outfits per season
Hand Down or donate the rest
Less laundry, fewer decisions, less stress. Win-win-win.
4. The Entryway (Shoes, Bags, Chaos)
Why it gets cluttered: Everyone drops everything the second they walk in.
Quick declutter fix:
Limit each person to 1–2 pairs of daily shoes
Add hooks for bags/jackets, a small dish or hook for keys
Keep one small basket per child for mitts, hats, lunch kits, etc
Do a 2-minute reset nightly
Think: functional, not fancy - everyone will have a home for their daily drivers, it will keep it organized and accessible to reduce stress of always searching for kids things
5. The Paper Pile/ Mail Holder
Why it gets cluttered: School forms, artwork, receipts, mail… endless, endless paper.
Quick declutter fix:
Immediately trash junk mail, open mail and file appropriately
Digitize what you can
Keep one “action folder”
Limit keepsakes to one memory bin per child
You don’t need to keep every worksheet. (Promise.)
6. The Bathroom Cabinets
Why it gets cluttered: Half-used products, expired meds, travel samples.
Quick declutter fix:
Toss expired items
Keep only products you actually use routinely
Combine duplicates
Stop saving hotel minis, and rando sample packs “just in case”
Clear counters = calmer mornings.
7. The Pantry
Why it gets cluttered: Bulk buys + snacks + mystery items in the back.
Quick declutter fix:
Toss expired food
Group like items together
Keep only snack items your kids actually, regularly eat
Don’t overstock “just because it’s on sale”
Less food clutter saves money, reduces food waste and clears brain space. It also makes meal planning ALOT easier.
8. Moms Bedroom
Why it gets cluttered: Laundry piles, random storage, no time to reset.
Quick declutter fix:
Remove anything that doesn’t belong in a bedroom
Keep nightstands simple, not cluttered (Water, Book, Lamp)
Create a laundry basket system for dirty laundry, and CLOSE the closets doors
Make your bed daily (instant calm) - It is the first thing I do in the morning
You deserve a peaceful space too — not just everyone else.
9. The Linen Closet
Why it gets cluttered: Extra sheets, old towels, “backup” everything.
Quick declutter fix:
2 sheet sets per bed max
2 towels per person
Donate the rest
Fold vertically for visibility
Most families need way less than they think - when we decluttered our linen closet we literally didn't use 90% of what was in there!
10. The “Catch-All” Drawer (or Room 😅)
Why it gets cluttered: No home = it goes here. (Ours was the basement spare room)
Quick declutter fix:
Take(& Dump) everything out
Toss trash immediately
Create small piles or containers for categories - things that need homes, donate, hand down, return to owner, etc
Be ruthless with duplicates, You really don't need a back up for most things - its just clutter.
If you don’t even remember owning it, you probably don’t need it. You do need the mental space it creates getting rid of it though - trust me.
A Gentle Reminder for Moms
It is mind bending the way we accumulate clutter in our homes, especially when you're raising little ones. Decluttering isn’t about having a perfect, minimalist house.
It’s about:
less cleaning
less stress
more mental calm, and clarity
fewer decisions in a day
more quality time with your family
Start small. One drawer. One shelf. One 10-minute pocket of time.
Progress beats perfection — every time.
Your Turn
If you could declutter just one area this week, which would it be?
Start there. You’ll feel the difference fast.
And remember — you’re not behind. You’re just living real life.
With Love,
Katie
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