Look Around the Rest of Your Home
Once you've tackled the obvious clutter, start paying attention to the things scattered throughout the rest of your home. Decorations are a good place to begin. Our tastes change, but our belongings often don't. Something that looked perfect five years ago may no longer fit your home, yet it remains on a shelf simply because you've become accustomed to seeing it there.
Holiday decorations can be even worse. If you haven't used something during the last couple of holiday seasons, ask yourself whether you're really going to use it again. Then check the linen closet. You need towels, sheets and blankets, but you probably don't need an enormous collection of them. Damaged, stained or completely unused linens can often be reduced.
The same goes for games, backpacks and old hobby equipment. That piece of sporting equipment you haven't touched in years may be taking up more space than it's worth. A good question to ask is: “If I didn't already own this, would I buy it today?” If the answer is no, you may have just found your next decluttering candidate.