Space Clearing Methods that Stick.

Raise your hand if you’ve ever gone on a wild purge- drawers, closets, pantries, only to wind up with the same spaces stuffed to the brim again a year later. Guilty as charged. It’s an ongoing practice for me, honestly.

We’re human. Whether we’re busy and distracted, mindlessly scroll shopping, throwing things we don’t want to deal into the junk drawer, or guilt-stashing gifts we didn’t ask for, we always seem to wind up with excess.

*Clearing space is an ongoing practice, not a one and done.*

I’m not trying to sell the idea that a minimalist, perfectly de-cluttered home will solve all your problems, but creating intentional elimination strategies can really help your long-term de-cluttering goals.

If you’re beginning a home design project or you just feel like you need a reset, here are a few intentional clearing practices that might actually stick. Try them out- keep what works and leave the rest.

Space Clearing Tips

Before you clear, define your values.

What matters to you when it comes to your home? Relaxation? Family time? Hobbies? Make a list and look around your home for what supports and what distracts.
Think about how you want to use your home and spend your time. You might find that it’s a bit easier to see what doesn’t belong or support your home’s function. From there you can release, and you’ll likely be more encouraged NOT to invite those same things back in.

Create pitch-it guidelines.

If you can replace it in less than 20 minutes for less than $20, pitch it. (your version)
This one is a little scarier, but if you haven’t touched or worn something in 6 months or a year, you might need to part with it.

Slow down and confront the feelings that come up

Things hold energy: guilt, shame and fear aren’t good reasons to hold onto things, but they’re very uncomfortable feelings to sit with – acknowledge without judgement.
Create a ritual practice to let these things go. Put on some quiet music, light a candle and take it slow- acknowledge what’s coming up and don’t try to change it.
Start small: choose just 1-3 items to work through at a time. It will get easier.

Pay attention to what you love and why. Let that inform your future purchases.

Those favorite pieces of clothes in your closet? Put them on and write down or make a mental note of WHY you love them- is it the shape, the color, the memories attached? Let these reasons inform future decisions. When you’re tempted to buy (especially helpful when being “influenced”), run through your checklist and see how many boxes that item really ticks.
This can be applied to furniture, décor, mementos and so on. By paying attention to what we love and WHY we love it, we’re creating an internal value system of what’s important to us, making us less susceptible to impulsive purchases.

Celebrate your no! Become a baddie!

Don’t compromise what matters to you. I haven’t shopped at Target since January of this year (2025), and I feel like a real bad B. Why? Because I defined a value and didn’t compromise.
This builds long-term feelings of self-efficacy and self-trust. Every time you stand on business, you WILL feel proud of yourself, and over time, saying no will get easier. This also eliminates huge amounts of spending guilt because you’ll know that your yes now holds so much more weight.

Clearly Connected

Clearing space isn’t about chasing minimalist perfection. It’s about connecting with yourself and what you truly value. I can’t think of a better foundation to build on.

I know this process can be tricky, so if you’re beginning a home transformation and you could use some support, you can book a consultation with me so we can work together. Fill out this form.

If you’re curious about the other 7 steps in The Foundry Formula, you can grab my free download, Alchemy 101 here, or read my blog post detailing The Foundry Formula here.