Declutter Your Home in 2026: The Room-by-Room Selling Guide

The holiday decorations are down. The gift returns are done. Now you're staring at a home that somehow feels more cluttered than ever. Sound familiar?

January is the perfect time to declutter. You've got the motivation, buyers are actively searching, and ShopBroker makes selling painless. No awkward meetups. No cash exchanges. Just photograph, list, and let verified delivery handle the rest.

Here's your room-by-room guide to turning clutter into cash.

Before You Start: The Declutter Mindset

The hardest part isn't listing items. It's deciding what to let go. Here's a framework that works:

The One-Year Question

If you haven't used it in the past year, you probably won't use it in the next. Exceptions exist for seasonal items and emergency supplies, but most things collecting dust are ready to find new homes.

The Duplicate Test

Two blenders? Three sets of sheets? Multiple phone chargers scattered around? Keep your favorite and sell the extras.

The Upgrade Recognition

That old laptop you replaced. The phone sitting in a drawer. The furniture you upgraded from. Someone else can use these items while they still have value.

Living Room

Start where the clutter accumulates most visibly.

What Sells From Living Rooms

Electronics and media:

• Old gaming consoles and games
• DVD and Blu-ray collections
• Soundbars and speakers you upgraded from
• Universal remotes and streaming devices
• Cables and chargers (bundle similar ones)

Decor and furniture:

• Wall art and prints
• Lamps and lighting fixtures
• Side tables and accent pieces
• Throw pillows and blankets (like-new condition only)
• Storage ottomans and baskets

Pricing Quick Guide

• Gaming consoles: 50-70% of current retail for older generations
• DVD collections: $1-3 per disc, more for box sets
• Art and decor: Highly variable, check comparable listings
• Accent furniture: 30-50% of original retail depending on brand

Bedroom

Bedrooms hide more sellable items than most people realize.

What Sells From Bedrooms

Exercise equipment:

• Dumbbells and weights
• Yoga mats and accessories
• Resistance bands and fitness gear
• Smart fitness devices (watches, trackers)

Electronics:

• Old phones and tablets
• E-readers
• Bluetooth speakers
• Alarm clocks and sound machines

Furniture:

• Nightstands
• Dressers and storage
• Mirrors
• Desk chairs (especially ergonomic ones)

Clothing and accessories:

• Designer pieces in excellent condition
• Formal wear (suits, dresses, blazers)
• Quality outerwear
• Bags and accessories

What NOT to Sell

Some bedroom items don't do well on marketplaces:

• Used bedding and linens (hygiene concerns)
• Worn mattresses (same reason)
• Intimate apparel
• Items with significant stains or odors

Pricing Quick Guide

• Smartphones: 30-50% of original retail, drops quickly
• Fitness equipment: 50-70% for quality brands in good condition
• Clothing: Brand and condition dependent, research carefully
• Furniture: 30-50% of retail, more for designer pieces

Kitchen

Kitchens are goldmines for small appliance sellers.

What Sells From Kitchens

Small appliances (the "used once" category):

• Bread makers and pasta machines
• Specialty coffee equipment
• Food processors and blenders
• Air fryers and instant pots
• Juicers and mixers

Cookware:

• Cast iron skillets
• Quality knife sets
• Bakeware sets
• Specialty pans (woks, griddles, Dutch ovens)

Dishware and serving:

• Complete dish sets
• Crystal and fine china
• Serving platters and bowls
• Bar accessories and glassware

What NOT to Sell

• Food items of any kind
• Broken appliances (unless clearly listed for parts)
• Items with missing components
• Anything with significant rust or damage

Pricing Quick Guide

• Small appliances: 40-60% of retail for minimal use, less if used regularly
• Cast iron: Holds value well, 60-80% for quality brands
• Dish sets: Highly variable, complete sets command premium
• Specialty items: Research comparable listings carefully

Garage and Storage

Where the big-ticket items live.

What Sells From Garages

Sports equipment:

• Bicycles and bike accessories
• Golf clubs and bags
• Tennis rackets and gear
• Hockey equipment
• Skis and snowboards

Tools:

• Power tools (drills, saws, sanders)
• Hand tool sets
• Specialty tools
• Workbenches and storage

Outdoor items:

• Patio furniture (seasonal demand)
• Grills and BBQ equipment
• Lawn care tools
• Garden supplies

Kids' outgrown items:

• Bikes and scooters
• Sports equipment
• Outdoor toys
• Car seats (check expiration dates)

Pricing Quick Guide

• Bicycles: 40-70% of retail depending on brand and condition
• Power tools: 50-70% for quality brands in working condition
• Sports equipment: Varies widely, seasonal demand affects price
• Patio furniture: Best prices in spring, lower in winter

Home Office

The pandemic created home offices everywhere. Many are overdue for cleanup.

What Sells From Home Offices

Electronics:

• Monitors (especially large or ultrawide)
• Keyboards and mice
• Webcams and microphones
• Docking stations and hubs
• External drives and storage

Furniture:

• Office chairs (ergonomic chairs sell fast)
• Desks and standing desk converters
• Monitor stands and arms
• Filing cabinets and storage

Supplies:

• Unused printer cartridges
• Quality pens and organizers
• Planners and notebooks (sealed/unused)

Pricing Quick Guide

• Monitors: 40-60% of retail, size and resolution matter
• Ergonomic chairs: 50-70% for quality brands like Herman Miller
• Webcams: 30-50% of retail, pandemic demand has normalized
• Standing desks: 40-60% depending on brand and condition

The Declutter Workflow

Now that you know what to look for, here's how to move efficiently through your home.

Step 1: Sort (30-60 minutes per room)

Go through each space with four boxes or areas:

• Keep - Items you actively use and love
• Sell - Items with value that someone else will want
• Donate - Items too worn to sell but still usable
• Trash - Items beyond their useful life

Step 2: Photograph (2-3 minutes per item)

Set up a simple photo station near a window. Natural light makes everything look better. Take:

• One main photo (best angle)
• 2-3 supporting photos (other angles, details)
• Any labels or model numbers
• Any wear or damage (transparency builds trust)

Step 3: List (3-5 minutes per item)

Create listings while items are fresh in your mind. Write honest descriptions. Use Price Genius for quick pricing. Set your delivery availability.

Step 4: Stage and Store

Keep sold items accessible but out of your way. A dedicated "to ship" area prevents confusion and makes fulfillment easy when sales happen.

The Batch Listing Strategy

For serious declutterers, efficiency matters.

Photograph Everything First

Don't list items one at a time. Spend an afternoon photographing everything you plan to sell. Good light is limited, so batch your photo sessions.

List in Sessions

Set aside 30-60 minutes for listing sessions. Create 5-10 listings at a time. It's faster than context-switching between finding items and creating listings.

Consistent Availability

Set the same delivery windows across all your listings. It simplifies scheduling and makes you look like a responsive seller.

Make It Easy with ShopBroker

Traditional classifieds make selling feel like a part-time job. ShopBroker removes the friction.

No meetups: Verified drivers handle pickup and delivery

No cash: Secure payments through the platform

No hassle: Set your availability and wait for sales

Your decluttered items can become someone else's treasures. Your closet space comes back. Cash goes into your account.

Need pricing help? Price Genius analyzes your photos and suggests competitive prices instantly.

Looking for motivation? Join the Community Stars leaderboard and earn rewards while you declutter.