I totally agree about getting rid of unnecessary items and having a home for everything. Clear floors and clear surfaces make cleaning so much easier. Lack of clutter helps create a less chaotic environment, which promotes peace of mind. It's so much easier to relax when you don't have to push stuff off the couch before you sit down. :)

I think also, that a lot of people think that you have to declutter an entire house in one day. That can be an impossible task for some people. If you have room, I recommend putting a donate box in a closet or place that the whole family can access. Say you're cleaning your son's room and you find a pair of pants that are now above his ankles due to a growth spurt--throw them in the donate box. A coffee mug you never use any more? Put it in the donate box. Maybe once a week run it by your local goodwill, and you'll find that the clutter becomes less and less.

For those who have young children, toy clutter can be a real problem. It helps so much to have a home for every toy, but for me it also helps to occasionally put toys that are not used very often up in a spare closet. Out of sight, out of mind, so to speak. If my daughter doesn't ask about a certain toy for a while (at least a couple of months), I know it's okay to toss it or donate it.