Part 3
Moving To Nashville Series: How To Declutter Before Your Move
Welcome to Part 3 of our Moving To Nashville Series where we help you move to Nashville in the most stress-free and organized way possible!
Be sure to check out Part 1 (How To Plan & Prep For A Stress Free Move) & Part 2 (How To Create The Ultimate Moving Checklist) of the Moving To Nashville series!
A Fresh Space's Expert Tips
How To Declutter Before Your Move
Are you relocating to Nashville (or moving within Nashville) and feeling overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done before the big day? Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, the process always goes more smoothly when you declutter first. At A Fresh Space, we specialize in helping individuals and families in the Nashville area with decluttering, move management, packing, and unpacking — so your move feels effortless and organized from start to finish.
This pre-move decluttering guide will help you pare down your belongings with purpose, making packing easier and ensuring you start fresh in your new home with only the things you love and need.
Moving to Nashville
How To Declutter Before Your Move
Why Decluttering Before You Move Matters
Before we dive into the steps, here’s why decluttering before a move is so important:
- Save time and money: You’ll have fewer boxes to pack and transport.
- Avoid clutter in your new home: Start fresh in a space that feels clean and intentional.
- Streamline unpacking: Everything that arrives is something you actually want.
- Eliminate stress: Moving is easier when you’re not dealing with unnecessary items.
Now let’s get started with a step-by-step plan to declutter your home, room by room.
Moving to Nashville
How To Declutter Before Your Move
Step 1: Start With a Plan
Give yourself time: Ideally, start decluttering as soon as 2-4 months before moving day or as soon as you know you are moving!
- Gather supplies: trash (black) & donate bags (clear), boxes for heavy or breakable items, Sharpies, Post It notes, and folding tables
- Set up labeled zones, boxes or bins: Keep, Donate, Sell, Trash, Recycle.
- Work in categories or rooms: Go one room at a time to avoid overwhelm or one category at a time (like books or toys)
- Ask yourself: “Do I use this? Do I love this? Do I need this? Do I want to pack, move, and unpack this?”
💡 Check out our Ultimate Guide on How To Declutter For A Move!
Moving to Nashville
How To Declutter Before Your Move
Step 2: Declutter Room by Room
Kitchen/Pantry/Laundry
- Toss expired pantry items, spices, and freezer food – though note that most food pantries will accept unopened items up to a year out of date
- Donate or sell gadgets you haven’t used in a year (or ever)
- Recycle or toss mismatched or damaged items, duplicates that never get used, or those weird Tik Tok purchases that didn’t really work as well as they looked online
- Be ruthless about your small appliances, gadgets, etc. based on actual usage and function – as in, do they have dust collected on them?
- Consider the style and layout of your new kitchen and whether you plan to replace any of your dishes, cutlery, glassware, or other items – it doesn’t make sense to pack & move items that will get donated on the other end
- Don’t forget about the fridge or freezer in the garage or basement – be sure to empty & defrost them before you move
- Don’t forget the laundry room – it’s often a hot spot for clutter!
🗑 Movers typically won’t transport perishables or open containers—use up what you can before the move.
Living Room & Family Room
- Declutter DVDs, old remote controls or gaming systems, unused media players
- Purge books you don’t plan to read or display
- Sort through decor — will it suit your new space or is it just not your style anymore?
- Minimize throw pillows, rugs, and blankets
📦 Pro Tip: Label sentimental items clearly to revisit after the move if you’re not sure.
Primary Bedroom & Closet
- Donate clothes or shoes that don’t fit or aren’t your style anymore
- Purge mismatched hangers, damaged accessories, unused bedding or towels
- Go through all of your bathroom cabinets and clear out all the old stuff that you know is under there somewhere
- Sort nightstand drawers (you’ll be surprised what’s in there!).
👕 Seasonal Tip: Pack off-season clothing first and label by category.
Kids Rooms/Playroom
- Tackle the playroom first so you can see what’s going on in there by editing out all toys/books/games that the kids have outgrown
- Go through each kids room binning up memories, editing outgrown clothing, and determining if the furniture & decor is going to the new house
- If you have hand me downs, store items in clear bins and label by season and age range (like ‘winter clothes 2T’)
Home Office & Paperwork
- Shred documents you no longer need (especially before packing!).
- Digitize where possible to reduce paper clutter.
- Donate or responsibly recycle old tech, cables, or gadgets – drop at your nearest e-waste (like City E-Waste here in Nashville)
Garage, Attic & Storage Areas
- These often get forgotten until the last minute — start here early to clear space for storage if you are listing your home
- Donate duplicate tools or unused or outdated sports equipment
- Safely dispose of paint, chemicals, propane tanks, etc. (Movers can’t take them!)
- Don’t move broken or outdated holiday décor or furniture.
🛠 Hazardous waste must be disposed of properly in Nashville — see Metro Waste Services for dates & guidelines.
Moving to Nashville
How To Declutter Before Your Move
Step 3: Special Considerations
Kids & Pets
- Pack an “essentials box” with comfort items, snacks, and supplies.
- Prepare kids emotionally by involving them in decisions.
- Make a plan for pets on move day to avoid stress – our Guide To Moving With Pets has amazing tips!
Sentimental Items
- These can slow you down — so gathering up all memories and emotionally laden items together can be helpful.
- Once these are gathered, you can sort by era or memory or where it came from – then edit out those that don’t really have much meaning any more or if you’ve got duplicates or multiple items that evoke the same memory.
- Gather some weathertight totes and give yourself a limit on space – whatever fits in the totes is what is kept.
“Just in Case” Items
- If you haven’t used it in the last year, chances are you won’t. Be honest with yourself and evaluate whether it’s worth paying to have it moved….
Step 4: Schedule Donation Pickups & Disposal
Take advantage of local donation centers and specialty recycling services in the Nashville area. Scheduling pickups early can help you stay on track.
🧾 Check our guide to Nashville donation centers, e-waste disposal, and shredding options.
Step 5: Let A Fresh Space Help
At A Fresh Space, we specialize in helping Nashville families and individuals declutter with confidence, then manage every detail of the move — including move & listing prep, coordination, and unpacking. If the idea of doing all this on your own feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. We are the most experienced professional organizers and move concierge team in the Nashville area (20 years!) so you can work with us with confidence.
Whether you’re looking for hands-on decluttering help, move concierge services, or a beautifully organized new home, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Moving to Nashville
Ready to Move to Nashville the Stress-Free Way?
Let’s turn chaos into calm — together.
👉 Contact A Fresh Space to schedule a consultation for decluttering before your move, or explore our full range of move concierge and organizing services in Nashville, Brentwood, and Franklin, TN.
