Declutter Your Home Fast: The Domino Effect Strategy That Actually Works
We all know the feeling of walking into a room filled with books, papers, toys, picture frames, abandoned projects, remotes, chargers, and that one thing you’re supposed to return to your friend…and simply shutting down.
Where do I even start?
Big decluttering projects feel overwhelming because our brains try to tackle them as one giant task.
But decluttering the house isn’t one giant task.
Our house is actually a chain of small little dominos. All we need to focus on is that first, tiny, easily-tippable little domino.
That’s the magic of dominos! Knocking over the first one takes the most minuscule effort, but the momentum that follows is unstoppable.
Why the Domino Effect Works in Decluttering
In 1983, physicist Lorne Whitehead demonstrated something fascinating: a single domino can knock over another domino that’s 50% larger. Keep the sequence going, and by the 18th domino, you could theoretically topple something as tall as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
That example feels entirely ridiculous, but that’s how momentum works—small actions compound until you’re accomplishing something that once seemed impossible.
Psychologists see the same principle in behavior change. It’s called the success spiral—each win builds your belief that you can do more, and that confidence fuels the next win. A Harvard Business School study found that tracking and celebrating small daily progress can significantly improve motivation, performance, and overall satisfaction.1
When you apply this to decluttering, it’s not about cleaning your entire house in one go—it’s about creating a ripple effect. We need to be focusing and celebrating zones, not entire rooms!
“I’m going to focus on the side table today!”
“All I need to do is clear out this junk drawer.”
“I’m going to go through our water bottle collection this afternoon.”
The success spiral will make you want to keep going, but you can’t take advantage of that spiral if you don’t first focus on just one, small zone.
Start Small: How to Find Your First Domino
The trick is to choose something so small it feels silly. That way, you remove the mental resistance and can quickly enjoy a visible win.
Here are a few great “first domino” ideas:
Clear off one kitchen counter (not even all of them!)
Declutter just the left cabinet under the sink
Pick five pieces of clothing to donate
Choose 10 books to donate to your local bookstore
Clean out your purse, backpack, or diaper bag
Once you finish one of these, you’ll likely find yourself moving naturally into the next small space. That’s momentum in action.
A Real-Life Domino Effect Story
Last spring, a friend of mine texted me a picture of her kitchen because she knows I get stoked to see decluttering wins. (This makes me either the world’s most boring friend, or the world’s most dedicated friend. Your call.)
She said she’d decided to “just” clean out the junk drawer in her kitchen. Fifteen minutes later, she was so energized by her newly-organized drawer that she moved on to the counter above it, then to the mail pile on the kitchen table, and by dinner, she had reset her entire kitchen.
She didn’t plan to do the whole kitchen—but the domino effect carried her there. She was like, “I don’t even know what came over me, but this is the best feeling in the world!!”
The feeling is addictive in the best way.
Why Small Wins Beat Big Goals Every Time
Big goals are inspiring, but they can be paralyzing if we don’t know where to start. Small wins, on the other hand, are tangible and quick. And they do more than just make you feel good—they rewire your brain.
Science‑backed benefits of small wins:
Builds confidence: Small wins enhance a sense of psychological competence—a key psychological need to seek satisfaction through completion of tasks.2
Boosts dopamine: Even modest accomplishments trigger dopamine release in the brain’s reward system, which is highly motivating.3
Creates momentum: Micro‑achievements set off positive feedback loops that reinforce progress, making it easier to keep going.4
Reduces decision fatigue: By breaking goals into actionable steps, small wins lower our cognitive load—a strategy that prevents us from shutting down.5
Take the First Step to a Clutter-Free Home
By the end of the day, you could look around and see progress you didn’t think was possible this morning. And your future self—the one walking through a calmer, clearer home—will thank you for tipping that first domino today.
So don’t wait for the perfect time or the perfect plan. Pick the smallest, easiest thing you can do right now. Push that first domino over, and let the chain reaction take care of the rest!
REFERENCES
1Amabile, T. M., & Kramer, S. J. (2011, May). The Power of Small Wins. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2011/05/the-power-of-small-wins
2Health Designs – The Science of Goal Setting
3Unscripted Vani – Small Wins Psychology | Psychology Today – Celebrating Small Wins | UpSkillist – Why Celebrating Small Wins Boosts Motivation
4UpSkillist – Why Celebrating Small Wins Boosts Motivation | Unscripted Vani – Small Wins Psychology | LinkedIn – Momentum Mindset