How I Used the Brilliant Move-Out Method to Refresh My Home in 2025
You’d think avoiding clutter when living alone in an apartment would be easy. However, I can tell you firsthand that it’s much harder than you might expect. Sometimes, I don’t realize how much stuff I’ve accumulated, from a closet full of clothes to boxes of seasonal decorations. One of my biggest struggles is the lack of storage space.
Desperate to enhance comfort in my tiny home and refresh each room, I was willing to try anything. That’s when I stumbled upon the move-out method and quickly realized it would reset my approach to decluttering and living with less in 2025
In this blog, we’ll explore how the move-out method helped me declutter my home in a way that was stress free and also forced me to decide what truly mattered for my small home.
What Is The Move-Out Method?
The move-out method was coined by Katie Holdefehr, associate editorial director at RealSimple.com and author of Embrace Your Space. The idea behind this organization hack is to pretend you’re decluttering your home as if you’re moving.
Although straightforward, it forced me to ask myself whether I’d take certain things with me or throw them away. The biggest shock was how much I fit into my tight apartment in the first place. I was surprised by how much stuff I no longer needed and could get rid of.
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How I Used This Technique to Refresh My Home
At the start of 2025, I was more than ready to let go of unnecessary belongings. With each item I purged, it felt like a weight had been lifted, and the bigger my apartment seemed. Here are the steps I took to refresh my home with the move-out method.
1. Set a Pretend Moving Date
I’ve found that this decluttering technique only works if I create a deadline for myself. Therefore, the first step is setting a hypothetical move-out date. I pretended to give myself 30 days to sift through items in each room. This approach allowed me to plan what space I’d tackle each day and kept me on track.
2. Clear Everything Out and Assess
Some people prefer to empty each space individually, work cabinet by cabinet or empty everything they own at once. I decided to declutter one room at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. In the end, everyone must do what works best for them.
3. Prioritize the Essentials
With each item in front of me, I had to decide what the essentials were. I set aside all my non-negotiables — the things I use on a daily basis or knew I would definitely need.
I asked the hard questions. Did I need a set of 10 coffee mugs? A stack of sweatshirts that were all the same color? No.
After nailing down the essentials, I moved on to the items I wanted to bring with me on my pretend move. For example, my grandmother gave me her old jewelry box from when she was little, and there’s no way I’d ever part with it. There were a few other family heirlooms I wanted to hold onto.
I found that the easiest way to limit how many unessential personal pieces I was keeping was to consider whether they would come with me if I were downsizing.
4. Let Go of Everything Else
With my “keep” items off to the side, I could finally donate, sell or throw away what was left. I thought letting go of my stuff might leave me in a puddle of emotions, but I found it to be effortless. Creating piles in each room kept me organized.
As I began eliminating excess belongings, I could really see the space and visualize how I wanted to “move” back in. I also began rethinking my storage situation, including how I’d utilize wall space and group items differently for greater functionality than before.
5. Clean Your Home
I took advantage of the empty floors and surfaces and decided to clean my apartment before putting things back. After all, who knows when I’ll have furniture and decor pulled away from the walls like that again?
To avoid harmful chemicals, I made an all-purpose cleaner with 2 cups of distilled water, one-quarter cup of vinegar and a teaspoon of dish soap. It was less harsh and more eco-friendly.
6. Move Back In
By the time I reached my pretend move-in date, I felt ready to put my remaining items back in an organized fashion. This time, I made a floor plan of how I wanted to rearrange my furniture. I also carried items to different rooms for a more efficient, functional space.
Is the Move-Out Method Worth It? Yes!
Overall, I found the move-out method for decluttering to be a huge success. It made this overwhelming task much more manageable and kept me honest about what I really needed and wanted.
I feel more comfortable and relaxed in my space without so much weighing me down, and I will likely continue with this technique again.
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