Real Simple Lists Seven Items To Declutter For More Space

A home that feels cramped usually isn't short on square footage. It's short on empty surfaces. That's the premise behind a new list from Real Simple, which names seven categories of household items worth clearing out first for anyone trying to make a small or crowded home feel bigger, according to the outlet's report.

The piece lands at the same time two other decluttering stories have been making the rounds in HTT's Metro Desk coverage, suggesting the topic is drawing steady reader interest heading into fall.

What does Real Simple's new list cover?

Real Simple's headline frames the advice around a common complaint: a home that feels cramped, not necessarily a home that is small. The outlet's seven-item list is built around the idea of starting with specific categories rather than tackling an entire house at once, according to the original story. Readers looking for the full breakdown of all seven items should go directly to Real Simple's article, since the specific list belongs to that outlet's reporting.

Why is decluttering advice getting more attention this fall?

The Real Simple list is not the only decluttering story circulating. HTT News Metro Desk reported on seniors receiving guidance on decluttering their homes, and separately covered an elderly man who embraced minimalism by decluttering his own space. Both stories point to the same underlying trend: people across age groups are actively looking for a starting point when a home starts to feel crowded, rather than waiting for a single big cleanout.

That pattern matters for anyone planning a weekend project. A short, specific list, whether it's Real Simple's seven items or the categories covered in HTT's senior guidance story, gives people a place to begin instead of facing an entire house at once.

What has HTT Metro Desk reported on seniors and clutter?

HTT's Metro Desk coverage of seniors receiving decluttering guidance focused on the same basic goal described in the Real Simple piece: making a living space feel less crowded. The full report is available at Seniors Receive Guidance on Decluttering Their Homes. A separate HTT story followed one elderly man's move toward a simpler, less cluttered home, detailed in Elderly Man Embraces Minimalism by Decluttering.

Together, the two HTT stories and the Real Simple list show the same advice showing up in different settings: a national lifestyle outlet and local reporting on older residents, both pointing people toward starting with a defined list rather than an open-ended cleanout.

What changes for homeowners starting Monday?

Nothing about a home changes automatically. The shift is in approach. Instead of treating decluttering as a single weekend overhaul, the advice circulating this fall points toward working through a short, specific list, one category at a time, whether that list comes from Real Simple's seven items or the broader guidance referenced in HTT's senior coverage.

What to watch

• The full seven-item list from Real Simple, available in the original story
• Continued HTT Metro Desk coverage of decluttering among older residents
• Whether local organizations or senior centers reference the same category-based approach in upcoming guidance

Where can readers find more guidance?

For the complete seven-item list, Real Simple's story is the primary source. For a local angle on how seniors are approaching the same problem, HTT's coverage of senior decluttering guidance and one elderly man's minimalism shift offer two additional starting points. Readers weighing a full home reset, rather than a room-by-room list, may also find context in reporting on households that have moved toward simpler living arrangements altogether, as described in coverage of two families living off-grid.

None of the stories claim a cramped home can be fixed in a single afternoon. The common thread across all three is narrower: pick a short list, start with one category, and treat decluttering as a repeatable habit rather than a one-time project.