I'm a professional organizer. I see clients make these 6 decluttering mistakes again and again.

As a professional organizer, I've noticed several mistakes people make when trying to declutter their homes.

Maria Korneeva/Getty Images As a professional organizer, I know the best ways to declutter a home — and what mistakes to avoid.

I often see clients keeping too many sentimental souvenirs, which hinders a successful organization.

Plus, I always see people trying to tackle their entire home at once.

I'm a professional organizer who has helped many people over the years with decluttering, home organization, and learning how to intentionally use their space.

No matter the type of house or lifestyle, I notice most people fall for the same decluttering pitfalls, preventing them from achieving the organized dwelling of their dreams.

Here are the six biggest mistakes I see inside almost every home I walk into.

Trying to organize before decluttering almost never works.

Lourdes Balduque/Getty Images Organizing and decluttering are two different things.

I think it's crucial to edit a home and eliminate any unnecessary items before even attempting to organize it.

Otherwise, there is no clarity, and everything is simply shifted around instead of serving an intentional purpose.

My favorite strategy is to first pull everything out of one space, then put back only the things I really need or love.

After getting rid of those excess items, I can actually organize the area effectively.

Holding onto things "just in case" is a big mistake.