The “Chaos Method” Is the Fastest (and Most Unhinged) Way to Declutter—Here’s How to Try It

I live in New York City, which means my apartment is… compact. Charming, sure. Cozy, definitely. But also a few impulsive online orders away from total chaos. In recent months, every surface somehow became a landing zone for stacks of beauty products I swore I needed, clothes I forgot I owned, random knick-knacks that didn’t have a home but I just couldn’t get rid of (I’m looking at you, Sonny Angels). It got to the point where I wasn’t even enjoying my space anymore. I felt overwhelmed just looking at it.

So naturally, instead of tackling it in a calm, organized, Marie Kondo–approved way, I did the exact opposite. I discovered the chaos decluttering method, the internet’s latest cleaning obsession, and it immediately spoke to me. The concept, popularized by organizer Kim Jones of Lock & Key Home, is pretty straightforward. Basically, you take everything out—like, everything—and throw it into one big pile. No gentle sorting, no “I’ll deal with this later.” And because of that, you’re forced to see how much you actually own and make quick decisions in real time. Keep it, donate it, toss it. It’s all about moving fast and not overthinking it.

It’s messy, a little unhinged, and weirdly satisfying. I decided to lean all the way in—and along the way, I picked up a few tricks that made the process less overwhelming (and way more effective). Read on for everything you need to know about the chaos method of decluttering, and whether it actually works.

What is the chaos method of decluttering?

At its core, the chaos method is about speeding up the decision-making process. Created by professional organizer Kim Jones of Lock & Key Home, this strategy encourages you to gather everything from a specific space and sort it all at once rather than tackling items slowly over time. Put everything from that area—whether it’s your closet, junk drawer, or bathroom cabinets—into one big pile. This forces you to see all the clutter in one spot and deal with it, creating a sense of urgency and making you decide what actually deserves a place in your home.

The process is simple—you’ve probably done it before in some capacity, even. Once you’ve got your clutter in one big pile, just sort items into smaller piles to keep, donate, or toss, and then actually move them out. Donations should be bagged and dropped off at a local center, resale items can be set aside for consignment or apps, and anything beyond saving should be properly discarded or recycled. The follow-through is key here. Without it, the clutter just finds its way back.

How to try the chaos method

The best way to approach chaos decluttering is to give yourself a clear starting point and a time boundary. Pick one area—I like to break it up to focus on one room at a time—set a timer if needed, and commit to finishing it in one go. Once everything is out, begin sorting quickly and intuitively.

Create designated piles or bags as you go, and actually commit to them. Whatever categories make sense for you—such as keep, donate, sell, toss—just make sure each item lands somewhere with intention. And once something is in a pile, it stays there. If you hesitate too long on an item, that’s usually your answer. And if you haven’t used it in 6 months? Don’t fool yourself into thinking you’ll suddenly start reaching for it again. Act fast, and let it go. No backtracking, no second-guessing five minutes later. The more decisive you are in the moment, the smoother the whole process feels.

As for what you’re keeping, be just as intentional. Don’t undo all your hard work by shoving things back where they came from. Put items away neatly, give them a real home, and take a second to notice how much lighter everything already feels. That contrast is kind of the whole point. You’re not just aiming for less clutter—you’re creating a space that feels calmer, more functional, and honestly just easier to live in day-to-day.

Does it work? My experience with chaos decluttering

What actually made this method click for me was adding a little structure to the chaos. I gave myself a time limit so I couldn’t spiral, kept my “maybe” pile to an absolute minimum, and made sure every item had a clear next step before I moved on. If I paused too long on something, I took it as a sign to let it go. I also found it helpful to sort by category within the chaos—beauty, clothing, random stuff that never really had a home—so I wasn’t bouncing between totally different decisions every second.

The biggest game-changer, though, was what I did after. I didn’t let anything sit around. Items in good condition went straight into a “sell” pile for apps like Poshmark and OfferUp, while the rest were bagged up for donation that same day. Anything unusable got tossed or recycled immediately. That follow-through made the whole process feel way more rewarding—and way more final. It ended up being weirdly cathartic, and as someone who accumulates a lot (occupational hazard of a beauty and fashion writer), it made me way more aware of what I’m bringing into my space moving forward.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alyssa Rotunno, Contributing Writer

Alyssa Rotunno is a NYC-based writer with a focus on beauty, fashion, shopping, travel, and culture. Her work has appeared in Real Simple, InStyle, Travel+Leisure, Parade, and other national outlets, where she brings a sharp, timely lens to the products, places, and trends worth knowing. She’s endlessly curious about what people are talking about—and loves connecting the dots between trends, products, and real life.

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