Mindfully Declutter your home and create space to breathe

I've taken a little pause from sharing my Imperfect Year of Less journey — quietly tending to life behind the scenes, doing what I could with the energy I had.

Sometimes the greatest act of self-care is simply allowing ourselves to leave things unfinished, to honour the unexpected turns that life brings.
These past few months have been full of deep personal and family shifts, inviting me to slow down and focus on what truly matters.

In many ways, this slowing down is perfectly in tune with the heart of the Imperfect Year of Less — though I stepped away from documenting the process, the spirit of it lived on quietly in my days.

Now, as we move into May, I'm returning to share the next part of the journey: Mindful May, a practice centred around a gentle home declutter and conscious consumerism. 
It's not just about less for the sake of less — it's about moving items mindfully, giving them new life, new value, and keeping them out of landfill wherever possible.

A quieter, slower kind of less.
A deepening into what matters most.

May you find this helpful, wherever you are on your journey.

What is Mindful Decluttering?

Have you ever looked around and felt a little overwhelmed by all the "stuff" surrounding you?

Mindful decluttering is a gentle, thoughtful approach to creating space, keeping only the items you truly use and love, while thoughtfully passing on the rest to new homes (and keeping them out of landfill).

With the average American household holding close to 300,000 items, most of us could benefit from a little reset.

The rewards speak for themselves: less to clean, less to organise, less money spent, less stress, leaving more space, time, and energy for the things that truly matter most.

I’ll also share four simple methods to help you find a decluttering style that suits your time, energy, and pace so you can get started today easily.

How much do we own?

• Some studies suggest that our consumption of material goods has doubled compared to 50 years ago.
• The average American household contains about 300,000 items.
• Over the past 50 years, the average size of American homes has nearly tripled.
• One in ten Americans utilises off-site storage rental services.
• The U.S. boasts over 50,000 storage facilities, which is more than five times the number of Starbucks locations.
• Research from Britain reveals that the average 10-year-old owns 238 toys but only plays with 12 of them daily.
• Although only 3.1% of the world's children live in America, they possess 40% of the toys consumed globally.
• The average American has 30 outfits, compared to just nine in 1930.
• Each year, the average American family spends $1,700 on clothing and discards around 29.5 kilograms of apparel.
• Throughout our lives, we will spend approximately 3,680 hours, or 153 days, searching for lost items. Research indicates we misplace up to nine items daily, totalling 198,743 throughout a lifetime, with phones, keys, sunglasses, and paperwork being the most frequently lost.
• The home organisation industry, valued at $8 billion, has more than doubled since the early 2000s, expanding at an impressive rate of 10% annually.

Getting Started

Decluttering can feel overwhelming so here are some steps to make it more manageable.

Assess the Mess

• Which spots in your home seem to gather clutter the fastest?
• What area of your home feels the most stressful or overwhelming to be in?
• Is there a little spot you could clear today that would feel like a big, beautiful win?

Label your boxes

• Keep/store
• Sell/swap
• Donate
• Recycle
• Throw away

4 Questions to ask yourself

• Do I love and use this?
• If I was moving overseas, would I take this with me?
• Do I have more than one of these or something that does the same task?
• Would I purchase this again?

Enlist a friend

If you have trouble decluttering, it’s a good idea to have a trusted friend help.

 

4 Declutter Methods

To suit your style, time and energy

The Mini Declutter

A great starting point to get those decluttering juices following or if you have trouble decluttering or letting things go.

Keeping projects small will give you the confidence to tackle bigger jobs when you are ready.

• Clear your kitchen bench
• Clean up a junk drawer

 

30-Minute Reset

Perfect if you have small windows of time available that you want to make count.

Set a timer for 30 minutes, choose one small space, and work through it. That’s it.

You’re less likely to get overwhelmed, and you’re more likely to start!

• Clean out the fridge
• Clear a pantry shelf
• Clear out one bathroom cupboard
• A single clothing category, like tops or shoes

Small shifts done regularly create big change. 30 mindful minutes a day? That adds up and soon you will have worked through all of the spaces that needed attention.

One Room at a Time

This is a slower, more focused approach, perfect if you prefer working steadily without the overwhelm and a great method if you plan to do it over the month or season.

Start with an easy win, a room that won’t take too long, like the bathroom and build momentum from there.

Bathroom - Quick and easy! Most of us don’t hold sentimental feelings toward old shampoo bottles, so it’s a great confidence booster.

Bedroom - Tackle this early. It’s where you rest, so make it feel calm and clear. A clutter-free bedroom = better sleep.

Kitchen - Can often feel the most overwhelming, so start in one area like the cupboards & work your way around. Look at the bigger items like unused appliances first.

Remaining Rooms - Move through your home one space at a time. If a room feels big, break it down, just do one shelf, one drawer, one corner.

 

Weekend Declutter

When you’ve got the motivation, time and space to give your home a proper refresh.

Set aside a full weekend, make a rough plan of which rooms you’ll tackle and when, and go room by room.

A few things to keep in mind

• Keep it realistic - start and finish one area/room at a time so you don’t end up with piles everywhere.
• Set up clearly labelled boxes or bags for donating, recycling, etc
• Put on a great playlist or podcast to motivate you
• Celebrate the small wins as you go - it’s not about perfection; it’s about making space to breathe.

You’ll be amazed at how light and clear your home (and head) will feel by Monday!

 

Other People’s Belongings

Kids left home? Schedule some time for them to come over and go through their belongings. 

Make a day of it, prepare some snacks, a nourishing meal or a takeaway treat to celebrate your success.

 

Sentimental Items

These can be the hardest items to declutter, so finish with these. ‘

Emotional attachment makes letting go harder, so start with your simpler spaces to build confidence and momentum. It can make it easier to tackle the more sentimental later on.

Another way to look at some of these items, especially if they belonged to a family member, is that they are being loved and used by someone else.

Of course, there is no pressure to do this if it doesn’t feel right.

 

The Mindful 4 R’s

Now you've addressed the clutter, how do you redirect it mindfully? Here are my 4 R’s (and one sneaky S) of moving things on to add extra value, life to keep things out of landfill as long as possible.

Keep

Only you can determine what you will keep or move on, but here are some of the parameters I give myself.

• Keep good quality items
• Things I love and use often
• Classics and basics - clothing
• Special or sentimental items

Store seasonal clothing items

Storing seasonal clothing helps ease the visual clutter load.

• Place them in a tub or use a space-saving vacuum bag to protect them from moths etc.
• I recommend adding a moth deterrent to avoid any unwanted guests.

 

Swap or Gift

Charity stores are overwhelmed. We have become such mass consumers that charity stores are now inundated with items, mostly clothing, namely mass-produced fast fashion. We have too much.

Consider having a clothing swap with friends or approach your local council to host/help host one. Offering items to others is a lovely way to connect with your community and see your items get the wear they deserve.

You could also offer items to friends or family members or local freebie pages.

 

Sell

Reselling items on second-hand platforms or locally is another great way to see them have new owners and get a little extra cash. Adding them to the second-hand marketplace also takes the focus off the fast fashion/items marketplace.

Facebook Marketplace

Local market stalls

Clothing resellers

• Depop
• Reluv
• Venla
• Recycled Threads
• Reloved Clothing Co
• Good as New
• Pre Loved Clothing Co
• The PLC
• The Closet

 

Donate

Items should be in good condition before donating. Assess the quality of the item before donating and if it’s damaged in any way it’s unlikely it will be accepted. Charities in Australia spend $13 million on waste management each year sending 60000 tonnes of waste to landfill each year.

Ensure items have been washed or in a good state of repair before donating. Clothing that has been stored for long periods especially baby clothes may have stains that appear during storage. 

• Op shop, charity or thrift stores
• Bras – Support the Girls
• Corporate clothing - Dress for Success – Professional attire for unemployed and underemployed women
• Local women’s shelters

“Charities divert over 500,000 tonnes of waste away from landfill every year with their reuse and recycling programs. Australians donate over 285 million products to charities, giving them a second chance and generating over $500 mill in revenue towards social welfare programs.”

 

Recycle

Repurpose damaged or well-worn clothing around the home. Could they be used for cleaning rags, in the garden or the garage to mop up spills to give them another use.

• Recycle Smart
• Underwear - Underwear for Humanity
• Blankets and towels to local animal shelters
• Create - Turn sentimental cloths into a quilt or photograph
• Avoid places/retailers where donation programs lack transparency.

 

Repair

Take the time to repair or get items repaired that may be damaged. 

• Repair café Sydney North in Lane Cove
• Clothing can be darned, repurposed or repaired using the Japanese technique of Sashiko

Keeping the Clutter Away

Once your space feels calm and decluttered, the next step is keeping it that way. It’s all about being more intentional with what comes into your home, from clothes to kitchen gear, and everything in between. Here are a few slow-living tips to help you shop (and live) more mindfully:

Buy less, choose well

• Invest in quality pieces that last. Whether it’s storage jars, bed linen or scissors. The cheap and cheerful option often ends up in landfill way too soon.
• Opt for natural, low-tox materials
• Choose wood, glass, metal, or natural fabrics over plastic where you can. They’re usually better for your health and the planet.

Skip trends and focus on function

• If it’s just for aesthetics or a fleeting trend, give it a second thought. Function-first means less clutter and calmer.
• Shop second-hand first - Op shops, community swaps, Facebook Marketplace — there’s so much treasure already out there.

Borrow

• Could items you would only use once or twice a year be borrowed? Friends, family or the Sydney Library of Things or
• Kids toys - Sign up to your local Toy Library for kids' toys and have an endless supply of variety

Pause

• Before you buy and ask yourself: Do I really need this? Do I already own something that will do the job?

I would love to know how your declutter goes in the comments below or if you have any questions about how or where to send items I may not have mentioned.

Yours in nourishment

Sarah xx

 

Buy less.

Choose well.

Make it last

- Vivienne Westwood

 

 

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