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How to Declutter Sentimental Items – 15 Tips for Guilt-Free Decluttering

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Decluttering Sentimental Items

I value the freedom of space that decluttering adds to my life. I don’t want my home to exist as a storage locker; I want my home to have the space for building a beautiful, fun-filled life with my family. Holding on to a lot of things makes me feel overwhelmed and like I can’t exist freely in my own space because it’s busy, it’s crowded, it’s too much. 

Decluttering your space can be a liberating experience, but when it comes to items that hold sentimental value, the process can become overwhelming and emotionally challenging. It can be hard to know how to declutter sentimental items. Physical objects can hold a lot of meaning for us – they may be things that have precious memories attached or items we received from a family member. 

When we want to declutter and make space, it can feel really difficult to let go of some of these special things. You may feel negative emotions like guilt or sadness when letting go of objects that you (or others) consider special or sentimental.

I was always (and still am!) a sentimental person, I would keep a small object or physical item to keep as memento or reminder for everything. I’d put some form of emotional attachment on a lot of physical objects – a rock I picked up from a beach on a daytrip somewhere, the notes hotel staff left in the room while I was on a trip, the 20-pack of candles my boyfriend (now husband) lit when he proposed. I needed to balance my desire for the freedom of space with my tendency to hold on to stuff.

photo for article on how to declutter sentimental items - vintage photos in a box
Collections of sentimental items will look different to everyone. But, if you feel like the burden of your possessions is becoming too great you can declutter your sentimental items and this article has all the tips for how to declutter sentimental items. Photo courtesy of Miray Bostanci via Pexels.

Decluttering and Happiness

At some point I started to realize a few things about my personal core values – that keeping all of these items was me living at odds with my core values. Living against my personal core values set me up for unhappiness because I wasn’t making decisions that aligned with what makes me feel truly happy and fulfilled. Check out this linked article for a how to in defining your personal core values.

I realized:

  1. It wasn’t the things I valued but the memories they reminded me of – I was seeking connection by keeping things instead of valuing the memories and relationships I had experienced.
  2. I valued the freedom in my home and space more than keeping the ‘sentimental things’ I had collected over the years – I was limiting the freedom, simplicity and tranquility of my space by keeping too much. 
  3. I was giving too much of my time and space to physical objects – I wasn’t being present or authentic by putting focus on the past and on objects instead of making memories and living life in the now.

I knew I needed to start to let go of sentimental items and continue with the decluttering process of my home. I knew I needed to do it, but I was struggling with how to declutter sentimental items. I was ready to continue and was eager to get back some physical space and mental space but I was still struggling with the negative emotions that came with getting rid of sentimental stuff.

Sadness, that I was letting go of things that took me down memory lane and reminded me of good things.

Guilt, that I was letting go of things that others thoughtfully gifted me.

Fear, that I would regret what I had decided to let go of.

Over years of letting go of the sentimental clutter I’ve found and developed some tips and tricks that helped me work out how to declutter sentimental items without (okay, not without… let’s say, ‘while minimizing’) sadness, guilt and fear. In the rest of this article, I’ll walk you through 15 practical tips on how to declutter sentimental items.

How to Declutter Sentimental Items

Keep on reading for 15 ideal strategies on how to declutter sentimental items while limiting the negative feelings of guilt, fear and regret that often accompanies the decluttering of meaningful or sentimental objects.

1. Don’t Start with Sentimental Items

If you’re looking for the first, most important tip on how to declutter sentimental items, this is it. If you haven’t decluttered before or haven’t completed many decluttering projects in your home yet I’d recommend starting somewhere else first than with your sentimental items. Try tackling ‘easier’ parts of your home like home office supplies or ‘junk drawer’ before starting with sentimental items. It’s a lot easier to declutter simple items where you only need to think about whether or not you’ll use an object.

It can be difficult to part with sentimental items because there can be so many emotions and memories attached to each item. Starting with other areas will help you develop your decluttering ‘skill’. The more decluttering you’ve already completed hones your ability to make quick, meaningful decisions about what to keep and what to let go.

Before asking yourself how to declutter sentimental items, build your decluttering confidence by starting with easier areas. By making quick decisions about what to keep and what to discard, you’ll develop a decluttering rhythm that’ll serve you well when dealing with sentimental items.

photo for article on how to declutter sentimental items - cluttered desk area with binders, open shelves, papers and equipment
Decluttering is a skill! Don’t start with difficult to part with your possessions that have sentimental meaning. Start somewhere easier on the heart and soul like your desk area where you’re likely less connected with your office materials and it’ll be much easier to declutter and start to get rid of things. Photo courtesy of Sander via Pexels.

2. Start Small

Embarking on the journey of decluttering sentimental items can understandably be overwhelming. I had storage boxes, shelves, drawers (and even whole rooms) dedicated to storing my sentimental belongings. Thinking about spending a day going through ALL of these items was completely overwhelming that I didn’t even want to think about doing it (let alone actually doing it). 

So, save yourself the stress – that feeling of being swamped and overwhelmed, by starting with only a small space. Start small and finish it completely, before moving on. You can start with a single closet, a drawer, or even a single shelf.

This gradual approach for how to declutter sentimental items not only prevents you from becoming inundated with sentimental objects and all of the emotions you have attached to them but also allows you to build momentum and a sense of accomplishment as you slowly witness space and freedom opening up in front of you.

There’s no need to rush your decluttering process, it can take as long as it needs to take. So, start small, take your time and just do one little box at a time. 🙂 

photo for article on how to declutter sentimental items - tidy table top and drawer
Decluttering can take a LONG time, especially when it takes time to make decisions about keeping or tossing items. Ensure you get to your decluttering by targeting small areas at a time like a single drawer. Photo courtesy of Karolina Grabowska via Pexels.

3. Group Similar Items

Categorizing your sentimental belongings into distinct groups can be an effective strategy for how to declutter sentimental items and help with making decisions on what to keep. When you categorize your sentimental items into groups of the same or similar items – such as printed photos, heirlooms, or ‘knick-knacks’, you can very clearly see the quantity of each category of item. 

Seeing how much you really have of certain objects can help you appreciate the collection as a whole and then choose the most cherished items to keep. A simple example is that 20-pack of candles I mentioned from when my husband first proposed – I do want to keep a physical reminder of this memory. But, do I really need ALL 20 candles to remember? No, just 1 serves the purpose of bringing me back to that wonderful time. So, I keep 1 and let go of the rest. 🙂 

If you’re familiar with gardening… you know there are specified instructions for how far apart seeds and plants should be planted for the plant to grow the best it can and be healthy and beautiful. Keeping collections of objects is very similar… when you have too much (or ‘plant things too closely together’) it just takes away from each other’s importance and beauty.

Group similar items so you can get a comprehensive view of your collection as a whole so you can make informed decisions about the most treasured items that deserve a place in your life – collect all that you have and then keep your favourites.  Let go of anything else (they may become somebody else’s favourites!). 🙂

photo for article on how to declutter sentimental items - fridge door covered in fridge magnets
Collect all of your similar items together, like this collection of fridge magnets! Seeing all of your belongings together at the same time can help you decide which items you truly want to keep and which ones you’d rather do without. Photo courtesy of Melike Benli via Pexels.

4. Identify the Root of the Sentimentality

Delving deep and fully understanding the reasons behind your attachment to certain items is key for how to declutter sentimental items and helping you decide which items you can let go of when decluttering. Understanding the basis of the sentimental feelings of your objects will also allow you to let go of objects while limiting negative feelings like sadness, guilt or fear.

If you’re hesitating to let go of something even though you’d rather not keep it or have decided it’s something you can declutter – take the time to dissect the true underlying emotions behind the hesitation. Understanding ‘the why’ behind the items you keep just “to keep them” can allow you to work through those emotions and let go of material things guilt-free. 

For example, if the reluctance to part with a few objects that you may have received from your grandparents’ stems from regret about not spending ample time with them, remind yourself that their true legacy resides in the cherished memories you shared and not the material possessions they left behind. Of course, you don’t have to get rid of everything (or anything at all if you so choose!). But, you’d be surprised about the number of things you keep in your home because you’d feel “bad” about getting rid of them. 

Another place this comes up often is gifts – nobody wants to feel like they’re “getting rid” of something that someone they care about (and who cares about you!) had thoughtfully chose for them. But, I am reminded of the old saying, “it’s the thought that counts” and that is certainly true! Don’t feel guilt about letting go of these things, I’m sure the gifter would prefer it be donated or gifted to someone else who will use it and love it instead of burdenously taking up space in your life. Thank the person for their thoughtfulness and kindness and return their love and care – that’s what gifts are truly about, not the gift itself. 🙂 

photo for article on how to declutter sentimental items - closet area of antique items
If we can identify the underlying feelings and reasons why we’re holding on to a sentimental object (even when we’d prefer not to), then we can work through those emotions to make letting go a little easier. Photo courtesy of Burcu Koleli via Pexels.

5. Trust Your Decisions

Amidst the decluttering process – your intuition, your instinct, your gut – will be your most valuable resource. If you sense the urge to let go of a particular item, trust that feeling. It’s extremely easy to start overthinking when you’re looking at an object and deciding to keep it or not. 

I might need this in the future? Maybe X, Y, Z person will need or want this later on. I might change my style and want this then. I should store it for safe keeping or just in case. Thinking these thoughts is perfectly normal – but, once you start it’s a slippery slope to just keeping everything (which is sort of the opposite of our goal with this decluttering thing). 

Trust me, your first instinct is usually always right – so trust it, trust yourself. 😉 

Once you spend a lot of time decluttering, you’ll get a lot quicker at going with the first instinct (otherwise decluttering takes a reeeeally long time). A great system for how to declutter sentimental items and one I like to use is the 3 pile method – keep, donate, maybe. I pick up an item, take it in and then decide quickly to keep it, donate it and if I’m REALLY unsure it goes in the maybe pile. After I’ve finished going through each object I go back to the maybe pile and repeat the process. You’d be surprised how quick your “decluttering decision making” is when you go back to the maybe objects. 

Trust your first instinct to keep or let go and always keep in mind that releasing excess objects from your life frees up emotional space and mental space, allowing you to embrace new experiences and memories.

6. Ask Questions

If some of the items you’re reviewing during decluttering are challenging you or giving you a difficult time to determine if it’s a keeper or not, try asking yourself lots of questions about it. Challenge yourself to answer lots of questions about the item’s significance to you. 

Try all of the 5 W questions: who, what, where, why and hoW?

Who did you get it from? 

What is it? What does it remind you of? 

Where did it come from? Where will I keep it? 

Why do you love it? Why should I keep this? 

How will I keep this? How do I know I should keep it?

You get the idea 😉 The challenge of all of these questions is a great method for how to declutter sentimental items. Challenge yourself to answer all of these questions about the item’s origin and the reasons why you love it so much and why you should definitely keep it. 

If you’re struggling to come up with answers to these questions, it might be an indicator that the item’s importance has lessened over time or it’s not as important to you as you may have originally thought. It might be a sign that this is an object you could let go of without regrets. 

Assess your items by answering lots of questions about it – if you can’t it might not be that important of a sentimental item for you to keep. 🙂

photo for article on how to declutter sentimental items - neutral coloured question marks on top of an open notebook
Challenging yourself to answer as many questions about the origins of your sentimental items may shed some light on if its truly a sentimental item or not, allowing you to let go a little easier. Photo courtesy of Leeloo the First via Pexels.

7. Take a Photo

This is a great tip for how to declutter sentimental items and help limit the negative feelings of sadness, guilt and regret when decluttering sentimental items. 

You can take a photo of the item before you let it go from your space. That way you don’t need to feel guilty about letting go because you can always look back on the photo if you really need to. You can maintain the memory without the physical clutter. 

I give you this tip with a WARNING: don’t just snap a pic of everything you’re letting go because you can. This creates digital clutter in your life which can weigh you down just as much as physical clutter. So, just keep in mind to only take a photo if you REALLY need to preserve the memory but DON’T NEED the physical object.  

A great example of this one, for me, is school accolades – I had various trophies and medals from my years in school. I always felt they were important and I was proud to have earned them. But, I didn’t really need to physically keep them (I wasn’t going to display them and they don’t really serve any other purpose).  I took photos of each one so I can remember what things I had earned but physically let them go. 

For items you want the memories of but not the physical object, snap a pic! You can preserve the sentiment while reclaiming physical space.  

photo for article on how to declutter sentimental items - camera and plant next to a polaroid frame with the text your memories here inside of it
Snapping a photo of an object you’re getting rid of can help assuage some feelings of guilt or regret because you can always refer back to the photo later if you feel the urge to. Photo courtesy of Tirachard Kumtanom via Pexels (polaroid detail and text added).

8. Keep One

This is a great tip for when you’re really getting into the specifics of how to declutter sentimental items. It is great for helping to limit the heavy feeling of guilt when it comes to ‘getting rid’ of items that feel really meaningful or important. 

This is the tip you need if you have a collection of items or a group of very similar items – like a collection of hundreds of stamps or a large number of items all from the same person or a full set of sentimental dishes. Out of your collection or group consider keeping one of the bunch, keep only the most meaningful piece. This way, you honour and maintain the sentimental connection without being burdened by excessive possessions.

photo for article on how to declutter sentimental items - collection of antique keys, hardware and handles
Do you really want and/or need every single part of a sentimental collection of items to keep the memories alive? Or can you keep just one instead? Photo courtesy of Madison Inouye via Pexels.

9. Share with Family

Family heirlooms carry a shared history, they can hold meaning across generations, across every person in the family. If you have family heirlooms that don’t bring joy and lightness to your life and you want to let go of them but are burdened by the guilt of doing so try reaching out to your family members and offer them the chance to inherit these treasures. 

Sharing cherished items with family is an ideal practice for how to declutter sentimental items – it keeps the sentimental connection alive within your family, limiting those negative feelings of guilt because you still have a connection and access to them or of regret because you can still see them or even take them back if you wanted.

If you have sentimental heirlooms, share them amongst family members – it will keep the connection with the heirlooms alive among your family and you might ignite new stories or new relationships with distant family members. Talk about a win in every way!

photo for article on how to declutter sentimental items - photo of hands holding a small gift box with a white bow
Share your sentimental items with family members. It’s a great way to ignite connection over shared family history. Photo courtesy of Kim Stiver via Pexels.

10. Place Physical Limits

Incorporating designated storage spaces exclusively for sentimental items can be a strategic move to prevent clutter from spiraling out of control. You could consider assigning a shelf, box, or dedicated closet area for these items. This approach compels you to make deliberate decisions about the items that genuinely hold significance. 

A designated space encourages you to limit the amount you keep so that it fits within your decided, designated space. It encourages you to make the tough decisions on what to hold dear and what to let go of. It helps limit the guilt in decluttering sentimental items because you have a valid excuse to not keep the items because you just can’t hold the space (physically or mentally) for them and that’s okay. 🙂

I like to keep cards, from birthdays, anniversaries and every event in between – I have a shoebox full of them! But, inevitably the box starts to overflow and I’ve decided I will only keep my one shoebox of cards instead of adding and adding more boxes of cards. Physical limits works for me on how to declutter sentimental items. When it gets full I get to go through all my cards and keep my favourites to maintain the physical boundary I’ve placed for myself with my cards.

It seems sad and limiting that I’ve chosen to limit the amount I keep! But, in actuality it’s the opposite. It forces me to regularly revisit what I do have, cherishing each memory the card brings and then keeping what makes me most joyful – what a way to inject positivity and happiness into your life! 🙂 

photo for article on how to declutter sentimental items - book shelf with plant and luggage on top, filled with books and antique cameras
Place a physical limit for the storage of your sentimental belongings like a single bookcase. It helps you keep your things organized and help clutter from building back up. Photo courtesy of Taryn Elliott via Pexels.

11. Get Creative

I think this is an important tip for how to declutter sentimental items! When we think of how our sentimental items are stored, what comes to mind? An old box in the most inaccessible closet spot in your house? A storage unit that isn’t even part of your home? A dusty case in the garage? I’ll be the first to admit that I kept a lot of my sentimental items stored up and away – saving them for ‘special occasions’, storing them until I had ‘more room’ to display them, just to get them out of the way because I didn’t really need them. These are all terrible tributes to my beloved sentimental items!

Enter creativity and repurposing – you can give your old sentimental items a new life that transforms them into something you WANT to keep, WANT to display, WANT to hold on to. Transform old concert band t-shirts that are never worn in the back of your drawer into a quilt that tells the story of your live music journey and keeps you warm. Turn vintage silverware that was kept in the box and never used into unique jewelry that you get to wear and look at all of the time!

You can limit the guilt and regret around getting rid of sentimental items that you don’t want to keep or even use by fully repurposing them! Now you get to keep the sentimental connection (the reason why you held on to these items in the first place) BUT let go of the burden of storing them or not using them. (I always use this cliche, but what a win-win 🙂).

photo for article on how to declutter sentimental items - patchwork quilt on a bed
Repurposing items creatively can give them a new lease on life that will be joyful and useful to you. Photo courtesy of Erik McLean via Pexels.

12. Donate to a Museum

A great way to loosen the grip that guilt has on you when you’re considering getting rid of items that are sentimental or family heirlooms is connecting with a greater purpose. A purpose like education and appreciation of history. 

If you have historically significant items (vintage collectibles, wartime medals, artifacts related to your local community’s heritage) consider donating them to a local museum. Most towns have local museums that would love to display these items. My local museum has all sorts of fun things from the town’s history that families have donated (population records/books, old farming equipment).

This method of how to declutter sentimental items is a great mindset exercise – if you can connect your items with having a greater purpose than being stored (and what greater purpose than offering an enriching experience for others through shared history) it can help limit the guilt of letting go of items that don’t serve you. Plus!! You can always visit your items at the museum. 🙂

photo for article on how to declutter sentimental items - photo of vintage objects, shield, antlers and tools
Donate historical items to a local museum – give your objects a greater purpose of an enriching experience for all. Photo courtesy of Erik McLean via Pexels.

13. Revisit Your Items Regularly

As time passes, our attachment to items can evolve. We are always growing and changing so it makes perfect sense that our attachment to our possessions also grows and changes. With the idea that our ‘relationship’ with our belongings is always changing it becomes important to revisit our belongings, especially the sentimental ones, and re-evaluate how those items impact our life. Maybe it’s time to let go, maybe it’s time to repurpose, maybe it’s time to appreciate even more.

Revisit your sentimental items regularly to evaluate if you still want or need them. This process on how to declutter sentimental items by constantly revisiting helps to make sure your sentimental items don’t become clutter in your life. The revisit also helps you limit the negative feelings of sadness, guilt and fear in letting go of sentimental items.

As you come back to the same items again and again you can start to evaluate your true feelings on objects (since you can start to establish a pattern if your attachment is growing or dwindling for certain objects). Identifying this helps you be more confident in the decisions you make about keeping or letting go of objects. This confidence can help limit the other negative emotions.

14. Let Go with Purpose and Intention

Anyone who has considered massive decluttering and home tidying has likely come across Marie Kondo, and her tidying method in getting rid of clutter and settling into a more peaceful and tranquil home. Her method translates well for how to declutter sentimental items. An important part of her method is thanking the items you choose to let go of for serving their purpose and being a part of your life. 

The idea of being grateful and appreciative of the belongings you are choosing to let go of is ESPECIALLY important for items that hold sentimental value. It is hard work to let go of items that are or seem meaningful and sentimental. But, we are in pursuit of a greater purpose, giving your life more room to fill with peace, calm and happiness.

Acknowledging an object’s role in your life and recognizing the joy it used to bring you can help release guilt of letting it go now. Limit the negative feelings around letting go of objects by releasing them with purpose and intention, thank the object for the purpose it has served until now and recognize the joy it may bring to someone else.

photo for article on how to declutter sentimental items - person sitting on the beach watching a sunset
Let go of your objects with purpose and intention. Let them go with a thank you and an eye on the purpose it will have after you, this will help with feelings of guilt, fear and regret in letting go of your things. Photo courtesy of Pixabay via Pexels.

15. Enjoy What You Do Keep

The items you choose to keep are a reflection of your most cherished memories. Embrace these items and relish the happiness they bring. Surround yourself with the things that truly matter. Surrounding yourself with items of genuine importance amplifies your emotional well-being and reinforces the connections that matter most. 

Decluttering doesn’t have to mean getting rid of everything!! It means getting rid of everything that doesn’t add value to your life. When things in life feel heavy and busy and chaotic, it is best to simplify. Strip things back until only lightness and calm and peace remain. I get a huge relief when my surroundings are decluttered and filled with only the objects that reflect the most valued and happy parts of my life. 

Your life doesn’t have to be empty to be decluttered or calm or peaceful, it just has to be filled with the things that fill you with joy. So, always enjoy what you do keep. 🙂 

photo for article on how to declutter sentimental items - decorated living room with displayed records, plants, cushions and fun lamps
Display your sentimental items proudly! Incorporate them into your home’s decor, enjoy your things on a regular basis, you’ve chosen to keep them for a reason! Photo courtesy of Charlotte May via Pexels.

Guilt-Free Decluttering

WELL. You made it to the end of the 15 tips – you are now equipped with practical strategies to declutter your sentimental items while maintaining a sense of purpose and emotional well-being. You are ready to tackle the decluttering of your sentimental items with strategies and ideas that outline how to declutter sentimental items while limiting sadness and guilt and fear. 

Remember that decluttering is not just about minimizing physical possessions, but also about creating space for new experiences and memories in your life. It is hard work but we started decluttering for a reason, don’t lose sight of the reason you started. Add simplicity back into your life and we will all live simply ever after… 

If you have more ideas for how to declutter sentimental items, I’d love to hear them! Any decluttering tip is always appreciated. 🙂

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How to Reduce Clutter – 5 Easy Ways to Keep Clutter Free

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THE PROBLEMS I HAD WITH REDUCING CLUTTER

Over the years I had read all about the benefits of reducing clutter in my life. Every time I read a new article or book about the profound benefits it can have I would delve deep and purge as much as I could! And just as those books promised – putting focus in my life on ways to reduce clutter – felt great! Life always felt lighter and I felt refreshed and happier.

When I assessed my personal core values (something I’d highly recommend, by the way, if you want to get clear on what makes you happiest and how to be fulfilled in life), one of them was simplicity. A clutter free life lends itself to making me feel fulfilled and joyful in life. I wanted to keep the clutter at bay…

But, inevitably the clutter always crept back in. Pockets of too much stuff would slowly build back up and I’d start feeling smothered and overwhelmed just as I did before. I was fighting a losing battle of purging stuff then letting it build up again until I couldn’t take it anymore and would have to purge… again… and then repeat, repeat, repeat. 

I wanted to break free of the clutter collection cycle and reduce clutter once and for all! But, clearly what I was doing wasn’t working. I didn’t have a problem letting go of items and doing the big ‘purge’ so that I finally had a clear clutter free space. Once my space was clutter free and clear – I had a problem maintaining my clutter free space. 

I needed a method for the madness to ensure I didn’t allow clutter to just keep collecting once I was rid of it! After a few years of trying to reduce clutter and maintain clutter free, a few ‘systems’ emerged for me and I’m happy to share them with you.

I hope you can skip the clutter ‘build back’ and just be peaceful in your clear space! Going through your home and getting rid of clutter ONCE is hard enough work – let’s avoid having to do it multiple times.

HOW TO REDUCE CLUTTER – MAINTAIN IT WITH SYSTEMS

Living in a clutter-free environment can bring a sense of peace and harmony to our lives. Once you’ve done the initial purge of unwanted items, it’s essential to establish systems that help you maintain a clutter-free lifestyle. Otherwise, the clutter will be back sooner than you think (unfortunately!!). I have five effective ways to help reduce clutter and keep your surroundings clutter free. By implementing these systems, you’ll enjoy a more serene living space and help kick the clutter for good!

#1 – HAVE A ONE IN, ONE OUT POLICY

To prevent clutter from accumulating, embrace the “one in, one out” policy. Whenever you want to bring a new item into your home, ensure you let go of a similar item you already have. For example, if you desire a new mug, make a conscious effort to part ways with one from your existing collection. This approach maintains balance and prevents unnecessary accumulation.

The simple question of asking yourself which item will you get rid of to make room for a new one, helps you more thoroughly evaluate if you need the new item in the first place which helps reduce clutter. Sometimes, you definitely need the ‘new thing’ but, having the ‘one out’ part of the policy ensures clutter isn’t building back up and balance is maintained. 

I apply this to almost every type of good I have in my home and you can to, to help reduce clutter:

  • Dishes – mugs is a classic collecting area and an easy place to start with the one in, one out idea
  • Linens – do you really need 5 sets of bedsheets? You can only use one set at a time anyway!
  • Home decor – I am a notorious collector of pots for plants… so much so that some of them don’t even have a plant in them! I see a cute one at the thrift store and can’t resist! But, now I try to be more conscious – which pot will I let go of if I want to have this one? If I can’t really think of one, I’ll pass on getting a new one, clearly I like all my pots much better anyway 🙂 
  • Clothing, kitchen appliances, tools – do you already have something similar or something that can do the same job?

#2 – HAVE A DESIGNATED DONATION SPACE AND DONATE OFTEN

You can make donating a regular part of your routine to help maintain a clutter free environment. Even when we do our darnest to not collect it still somehow comes back, so having a regular time you clear out items will help reduce clutter. My family and I make a nice little outing of bringing in our donations to our local charity shop – we drop off our items and go for a nice walk through the park that is nearby (and with my sweet tooth, we usually stop for a cookie at the little neighbouring coffee shop too. 🙂 )

Have a designated area with a bin, bag, etc in your home where you can collect items you no longer need. As you come across such items during your daily life, immediately place them in the donation space. When the container is full, take it to a local charity or organization. This practice not only keeps your home clutter-free but also allows you to give back to the community.

I keep a donation bin in our spare room. See something in the closet I never wear anymore – into the bin. See a stack of stickers I won’t have another use for – into the bin. Every time you spot something extra you don’t need it’s easy to pop into your ‘donation area’ and that way you’re always clearing a little bit to keep on top of clutter.

#3 – HAVE A HOME FOR EVERYTHING

Assign a specific home for each item you have. This simple yet powerful habit prevents objects from piling up on surfaces or getting lost. It also encourages you to only keep items that you have room for. For example, if the area I hang my dresses in my closet gets too full I know it’s time to donate a few (and to remember to keep using rule #1 – one in, one out!).

This was a habit that my husband always had (and I very much so, did not…), I am very thankful for the opportunity of learning this from him. 🙂 I noticed it was especially bad for me in my ‘toiletries/bathroom’ area – I would get a new moisturizer or beauty product and it would just go into the abyss of the ‘under the counter cabinet area’ – nothing really had a specific home in there so it was easy to collect up too much and lose things. 

Make sure each item has a specific and designated spot that you return it to when you’re finished using it. This will keep your space organized and help you reduce clutter – if you can’t find a home for it, perhaps you don’t need it. 🙂

#4 – ADAPT YOUR HABITS

After my baby was born – I tended to shop a lot… at the time, it felt like one of the only activities I could easily do with a baby in tow. It was fun, we’d go to cute little markets or thrifting but it caused me to build up stuff. Stuff I didn’t need and just bought because it was something to do. I was able to adjust my habits and focus more on activities we can do as a family as opposed to shopping… and got more mindful about purchasing. 

Ask yourself a few questions before ringing up at the cash to help reduce clutter you might be bringing back on shopping trips:

  1. Do I need this? (but, really do I need it?)
  2. What will I get rid of if I do get this? (See #1 – ONE IN, ONE OUT POLICY) 🙂
  3. Does this add value (joy, happiness) to my life? 
  4. What purpose does it serve?

If you tend to indulge in frequent shopping or have a habit of acquiring new things, consider adjusting your habits. Be mindful of the objects entering your home and evaluate if they truly add value to your life and serve a purpose. By being more selective and intentional with your purchases, you can minimize the inflow of new items, thus reducing the potential for clutter (your wallet will also thank you). 🙂

#5 – CELEBRATE YOUR WINS

Time and time again I remind myself that mindset is everything! Always choose to maintain a positive attitude on your decluttering ‘journey’ – anything else will be demotivating and make it hard to continue or maintain. If clutter does build back, don’t worry about it too much (it’s happened to me over and over and over again…), I pay it no mind and just declutter again. All good. 🙂

Maintaining a clutter-free environment is a journey (really, a lifelong one), things will always come and go in your life so I think it’s essential to celebrate your successes along the way. Don’t be too hard on yourself if clutter builds up or if your home isn’t always perfectly organized. Instead, focus on the progress you’ve made. Celebrate even the smallest victories, whether it’s tidying up a room, organizing a single drawer, having a clear surface for a whole week or letting go of a significant amount of clutter. Acknowledging your achievements will motivate you to continue your clutter-free journey.

A NOTE ABOUT REDUCING CLUTTER…

Reducing clutter and maintaining a clutter-free environment is an ongoing process. You will have many things come and go in a lifetime but by implementing these five systems – the “one in, one out” policy, regular donations, having a home for everything, adapting your habits, and celebrating your wins – you’ll hopefully be able to stay on top of your things and help yourself reduce clutter.

I hope you get the chance to try out these practices and integrate them into your daily life and enjoy all of the benefits of a clutter-free lifestyle, where you can truly thrive and find peace amidst your surroundings. Let me know in the comments if you tried one of these systems and if it helped OR if you have another idea for me – I’m always looking for new ways to reduce clutter so I can focus on the things that are more important than things. 🙂

…and they all lived simply ever after.

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How to Make House Cleaning Easier – 1 Simple Tip!

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I know I can’t be the only one that feels like the house cleaning chores seem to never end. Life became an endless cycle of work, house-tidying, sleep, repeat – it’s exhausting and I was always wishing for more free time! I suppose I could just give up on chores completely but a messy home weighs more heavily on me than doing chores does. So, I haven’t eliminated chores completely, BUT I have made them more manageable for myself to make house cleaning easier. I now feel proud and productive doing the housework AND still have plenty of time off from chores to enjoy life and do the things that make me the most happy. 

If you feel trapped in an endless cycle of chores – I hope I can help!

I have one simple tip (yep, really! Only one!) to make house cleaning easier once and for all! And here it is…

*drumroll, please* 

Own less stuff.

Easier said than done – I know. BUT, it really can be that easy and I’ll let you in on all the details.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO OWN LESS?

Owning less doesn’t have to mean owning as little as possible. It just means trying your best not to own ‘too much’. ‘Too much’ will look different for everyone and that’s okay. 

What we’re aiming for is to try and only own what is necessary to live and what brings us happiness. To make house cleaning easier it is best to keep clutter down and focusing on only ‘necessary and happiness’ items will help us reach this goal!

3 CRITERIA FOR KEEPING AN ITEM IN YOUR HOME

I have essentially 3 rules for keeping something in my home. If it doesn’t meet one of the 3 criteria I give that item the chance to be useful or bring happiness to someone else. 🙂

Keeping these questions in mind when going through your things or when deciding to bring something into your home will help you keep less stuff and ultimately, make house cleaning easier.

  1. Is this necessary?

    This one is relatively straightforward – it’s all of the items you need to live day-to-day. If you use an item around once per week it’s probably necessary and a good item to keep.

    I try not to keep ‘duplicates’ of items if I don’t really need them like ‘special china/plates’ or multiple of the same item, for me, it’s not necessary.
  1. Does this make me happy? 

    If an item brings you happiness then it’s worth keeping in your home no ifs, ands or buts! I want to keep less BUT I want to keep less of what I don’t need and happiness or joy isn’t one of those things. If an item is merely around or something I’ve just had for ‘so long’, I’ll graciously pass it on. It’s not currently bringing me happiness but maybe it can for someone else. 🙂
  1. Will I need this in the near future?

    This is a loose rule so you can adapt it for your personal situation. I specifically don’t give a timeframe like 3 months, 1 year, etc and use ‘near’ because each item you have may serve a unique purpose in your life that you might have a continued need for and there’s just no strict set timeline that fits.

    So, do what you feel is right. If you feel you need to keep it for the future – do that. If you feel you can let it go or repurchase it later – do that too.

    Some examples: Seasonal clothing – you obviously won’t use it in the off season but you will again soon. Baby gear – this stuff can be expensive ($!$!$!) and maybe, you want to keep it for your next baby. 

WHY DOES OWNING LESS MAKE HOUSE CLEANING EASIER?

  1. IT REDUCES STRESS

    Owning less stuff brings many mental benefits that can make house cleaning easier. One of the best advantages is the reduced stress on the mind that comes with managing fewer items. When you have less possessions, there’s no need for constant reorganization and rearranging. This frees your mind from the never-ending task of keeping things in order and makes house cleaning easier.

    I had a flow of stuff in my house, I’d bring the item in, it would hang out in my main living space for a while and then get shuffled upstairs and then get lost in my ‘stuff collection areas’ – my work desk, a forgotten shelf, the back of a closet. I was in a constant state of shuffling items around – what a waste of time!

  2. IT CREATES CALM

    When you own less you have a much more simplified environment which creates a sense of calm and mental clarity – it creates visual ease by reducing clutter. Easing this burden on your mind allows you to focus on more important aspects of your life. With fewer items and distractions, you can enjoy a more peaceful home which makes the cleaning process less overwhelming.

  3. IT SAVES TIME

    Owning less also has physical advantages when it comes to cleaning your house. With fewer possessions, you have less items to clean overall, saving you time and effort. Instead of navigating through cluttered spaces and dealing with piles of objects, you can focus on cleaning essential items and spaces in your home. 

  4. IT STAYS CLEANER

    Dust tends to accumulate on surfaces and objects which typically requires regular cleaning to maintain a tidy environment. By reducing the number of belongings in your home, you can minimize the surfaces that gather dust, resulting in a home that stays cleaner with less effort.

    After a while of living in my home, every object I brought into it gave me a bit of stress – every item started to feel like just another ‘dust collector’ which is not the feeling your possessions should give you! So, I figured why keep a lot of these things if they don’t hold a purpose or special meaning to me and are just another thing that gets dirty AND that I have to clean. I’d much rather make house cleaning easier and have more time doing something I love.

  5. IT CLEANS EASIER

    With fewer items around, there are a lot less obstacles to get in the way of your cleaning routine. You don’t have to shuffle all of the items off of every surface to wipe it down or move so many objects around to sweep or mop. You can easily access the areas of your home for cleaning without (well, at least less) moving or rearranging. This streamlines the cleaning process to make house cleaning easier. 

I hope you can see some of the ways ‘owning less’ makes house cleaning easier – more and more people are truly seeing the value of their time and their relationships over the value of material things. We are letting go of needless items to make room for what we see as the most important – truly loved items, free time, etc – it’s unique to you! Always remember, the ‘journey’ of owning less is a personal one and you should find a balance that works for you. Start small, getting rid of only a few items at a time if you need to. Over time you can gradually embrace the freedom that comes with owning only what you truly need to. 

Give yourself the gift of more time and make house cleaning easier for yourself by simply owning less! Let me know in the comments if you found this helpful or if you have other tips to save some time on those dreaded house cleaning chores! I’ll happily trade time spent cleaning the home for time spent searching for bugs with my son. 

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How to Create a Calm Space at Home (8 Tips for a Relaxing Room)

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Home is where I’ve always felt the most comfortable – perhaps that’s my little introverted self manifesting but there’s something wonderful about coming home and leaving the stress of the day at the door. For me, home is a calm space, a cozy space where I am my most authentic self. I am very thankful for the blessing I call home.

I think everyone deserves (and needs!) a space where they can feel relaxed, at peace and happy. A calm space where you can plop down at the end of a busy, frenzied day and just breathe a sigh of relief and relaxation. If this isn’t how you feel when you come home – these tips are for you. It is so easy to create a calm space at home, I did it and you can too!

I have 8 tips (+ one bonus tip!) to help you create a space in your home that is calming, cozy and a place to relax:

TIP #1 – START SMALL

There’s no need to make your entire home a calming space all at once, the overwhelm of overhauling your whole home at once will just make you less likely to start making yourself a calm space. Even for me, there are really only a few places of my home I consider my clear, calm spaces – the little corner nook of my living room couch where I spend hours crocheting, the corner of my bedroom where I read or my office space where I like to write or do other creative wor​​k. 

Start small and pick one space of your home for now, try a space that…

  1. You already use to relax in, or
  2. You associate with happy and calm feelings, or
  3. You never, ever use – start fresh and make an unused space into your new calm space! 

TIP #2 – CLEAR THE CLUTTER

This is an extremely popular tip, I see again and again, and for good reason! Clutter is the enemy of calm – there’s a popular quote from Chuck Palahniuk I think of often, 

“The more things you own, the more they own you.”

– Chuck Palahniuk

The more things that pile up in your home that you don’t necessarily use or find beautiful – your home transitions from a living space to a storage space. Our homes were meant for us to live free – do the activities and spend the time with people we love most. Allowing clutter to build up reduces our free time because we’re busy managing stuff – organizing, sorting, moving items from here to there, it never ends unless you ditch it for good! 

Make more free space (and free time!) for yourself and clear out any clutter from your calm space. 

TIP #3 – DON’T USE AND USE COLOUR

I’m sure you read the tip and were confused – allow me to explain: I LOVE colour, it makes me happy. But, lots of loud, bold colour usually has the opposite effect to calm and serene. Even if colour makes you smile (like me!), it can be harsh to look at for long periods of time or can feel stressful and claustrophobic when many colours are competing or there’s lots for your eyes to look at. You want to be calm and relaxed, not buzzing around looking at everything. 

Start with your space by not using colour – make the basics of your room (like the wall colour) or space mainly neutral coloured. Before you get up in arms about the ‘all white’ trend – there are lots of fun neutral colours other than white! You can try beige, grey or even the pastel version of your favourite colours. Keep the basic colour of your room soft, light and consistent for a calm, serene energy.

NOW, add the punch of colour! As much as neutrals are calming, I need a bit of fun too. Add colour back into your space in clusters so it doesn’t become overpowering. Add a colourful vase with a nice plant or some fun wall art in your favourite colour. It will keep your space calm, but still fun and still you!

TIP #4 – MAKE IT COZY

One of the easiest ways to calm yourself and relax is to get comfortable. Make sure your space is extra comfy by adding cozy elements. 

Add comfortable furniture with somewhere you can kick back and raise your feet up – a chair with an ottoman, a chaise lounge, or even a comfy nook with a mountain of pillows on the floor.

Add other cozy elements like a warm and fluffy blanket or a lamp that emits a warm coloured glow. Anything that makes you feel embraced by a warm hug on a cold day – that’s cozy!

cozy calm space couch corner with warm blanket, pillow, warm glow lamp, plant and crochet materials.
My calm space couch corner. I cozy in here and crochet or read.

TIP #5 – CLEANSE THE NEGATIVITY

Sometimes it can be hard to relax – many of lead busy lives with big stressors and it can be hard to turn off the noise in our brains of the stress. This is especially difficult if we have things in our calm space that continually remind us of these stresses.

Consciously remove anything with bad memories attached or that remind you of your stresses to make it a bit easier for you to relax when you come into your calm space. For example, don’t have work materials (binders, laptops, phones, etc) in your space or get rid of ‘sentimental’ items that remind you of memories that don’t make you happy.

TIP #6 – BRING NATURE IN

Research shows there are many physiological benefits, including relaxation and stress recovery, to simply viewing nature (even simply as photos!). Benefits are strongest when exposed to the real thing so bring some natural elements into your calming space. Try adding any of the following:

  1. Flowers or house plants – even the faux (fake!) kind can spruce up the relaxation benefits of your space + they’re easy to take care of.
  2. Wooden elements – add wooden candle holders (with candles for extra cozy factor), wooden decor or wooden picture frames.
  3. Nature inspired wall art – try wooden framed photos of your favourite nature spaces!

TIP #7 – CONSIDER YOUR SENSES

There is interesting research that shows a strong like between scents and our emotions or memories. I’m sure its happened to you before – you smell something and you’re instantly reminded of some distant memory you haven’t thought of in ages! Scent has power to evoke certain memories or emotions so put this to use in your clear calm space. 

Choose a scent you know makes you relaxed or a scent you associate with a very happy and positive memory and use it in your space! Diffuse essential oils or burn candles in your chosen scent.

TIP #8 – AVOID TECHNOLOGY

Nothing crushes my zen quite like the ‘beep – beep’ of an incoming work email or call. Protect your calm space and implement a no technology policy. No phones, tvs, laptops, etc! If you feel drawn to check your notifications – take a last look before entering your space and then give yourself time to take a break. Your phone will still be there after you’ve taken some time for yourself.

I do have some exceptions because I sometimes like to read on my tablet – I will allow this in my space BUT I don’t link it to anything work related or I use it in airplane mode. Try this out if you have the need for some tech in your space.

BONUS TIP #9 – MAKE IT YOURS

An easy way to make any space feel better for you – a place that evokes calm, relaxation and happiness is to emulate places you already love! Think of any place in the world that makes you feel comfortable and at ease and try to bring a little bit of it into your space. 

If you had the time of your life on your latest trip to Italy – include some framed photos of your time there. If you love the walking trail near your home – collect some wildflowers to display in a vase. If you miss your childhood home – display some of the items you had in your room when you lived there. 

Add a little bit of your favourite places to your new calm space and it just might become a new favourite place too! 

I hope you can try out some of these tips and bring a little peace and calm right to your very own home! Share with a friend or let me know some other ways you create a calm space for yourself in the comments.

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