Decluttering Chaos! One Shelf Sunday Episode 1

One Shelf Sunday! Tackling the Chaos One Surface at a Time

Welcome to the very first episode of One Shelf Sunday! I am so excited to start this new series with you all. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know my name is Erica Lucas, and I’m passionate about decluttering, cleaning, and organizing.

The idea behind One Shelf Sunday is simple: by setting a small, manageable goal—like one shelf, one drawer, or one cabinet—you can make slow, steady improvements to your home without feeling completely overwhelmed. Today, I’m tackling a storage cabinet in my hallway that had become a major "clutter magnet."

Before Decluttering

This cabinet sits right at the top of the stairs before you enter the kitchen. It’s on the most traveled path in our house, which makes it a temporary dumping ground for everything we drop as we walk in the door.

Inside, it’s actually quite organized! It holds all our dog supplies—towels, grooming tools, and extra toys—plus some cleaning supplies at the bottom. But the top? The top was a different story. It was layered with stuff on top of stuff: mail, kids' artwork, charger cords, and a random deck of 58 cards that didn't even make a full set.

My Process: The Transfer Method

Sometimes, to clear a small surface, you need a bigger one to work on. I moved everything from the cabinet top onto my kitchen table.

I do this for a specific reason: forced accountability. We use our kitchen table every single day. By moving the clutter there, I force myself to deal with it immediately because I can’t just leave it there for dinner!

Making the Hard Decisions

As I sorted through the pile, I asked myself my favorite decluttering question: "Can I live without this?" It’s much more effective than asking "Do I need this?"

Here’s how I broke it down:

• Trash: Into the bin it goes (including those 58 random playing cards!).

• Husband’s Stuff: I have a designated red bag for my husband’s things. These aren't my decisions to make, so I collect them in one spot for him to go through when he's ready.

• Keepsakes: Kids' artwork and special ornaments were set aside to be filed into their proper memory boxes.

• Items with Homes: Everything else—from dog collars to Girl Scout beads—just needed to be walked to its actual home in the house.

The Reveal

After a quick wipe down with my favorite cleaner, I was able to put back only what I truly wanted on that surface.

I’m so happy with the result! I even found a permanent home for a wandering toy in a basket by our shoe cabinet. Now, the hallway cabinet is clean, minimalist, and holds our Skylight calendar where the kids can easily reach it.

Your Turn!

This entire project took me under 30 minutes. What’s one shelf in your house that needs some love today? Join me in the One Shelf Sunday challenge and let’s reclaim our spaces together!

Watch the full process here: DECLUTTER and CLEAN with Me! | ONE SHELF SUNDAY Episode 1