As a psychotherapist, interior designer, and home organiser, I’ve spent over two decades noticing how closely our homes reflect our inner lives. In The Secret Life of Clutter, I explore a simple but often surprising truth: your home speaks your mind. Every pile and every drawer you avoid opening holds stories about your past, your identity, your hopes, and sometimes your pain. When we are willing to look at what has been put out of sight and out of mind, we gain a deeper understanding of ourselves.
This is why decluttering is never just about neatness. Clearing physical space helps release the mental load of postponed decisions and unfinished tasks, making it easier to focus on what truly matters. It can ease tension at home, soften daily friction, and create a sense of emotional spaciousness. As we move into 2026, many of us are longing for a fresh, grounded start. With a few intentional steps, it is possible to create both emotional and physical order, so you enter the new year feeling clearer, lighter, and more at ease with what lies ahead.
7 Simple Ways to Create Space for 2026
1. Begin with your why
Before you touch a drawer or open a cupboard, pause. Ask yourself: What do I want my life to feel like next year, and how could my home support that? Perhaps you long for calmer mornings, more creative space, or simply to stop feeling overwhelmed.
Holding a clear intention makes decisions easier. Instead of debating every object, you can ask a gentler, more useful question: Does this support the life I want to be living now? When you declutter with your why in mind, letting go stops feeling like loss and starts to feel like alignment.
Consider which parts of your home are reminiscent of an earlier version of you. Releasing what no longer fits creates room for your next chapter to unfold.
2. Allow stories to reveal themselves
Clutter is not random. It represents decisions you’ve not made and emotions yet to be processed. The dress that no longer fits but represents who you once were. The unopened craft kit is linked to a postponed dream or good intention.
As you sort, work quickly and trust your gut, but make a pile of those items that require more reflection and feeling. You don’t have to analyse or force change. Simply acknowledging the story softens the emotional charge and makes the next step easier.
3. Create space before you create order
Most people try to organise too soon, buying containers or attempting to reshuffle overcrowded shelves. Real order begins with letting go. Choose one manageable (and least sentimental) area and remove everything into a sorting space. This “empty room” moment is powerful because it resets your perspective. Seeing the available space clearly, you instinctively become more selective about what earns its place back in your life. Space is not the absence of things. It is a positive, supportive presence that lets you breathe.
4. Work in big, focused sessions
Trying to declutter in five-minute bursts rarely works. Momentum and focus matter, so set aside a dedicated block of time and get into the zone. Build emotional and practical rhythm, and you will start to see results, which in turn boosts motivation. This is often when the real change takes hold.
5. Use the “don’t know” pile
Pressure can shut down decision-making. When you are unsure about something, place it in a ‘don’t know’ pile instead of getting stuck. This removes emotional friction, saves energy, and keeps you moving. At the end of your session, revisit this pile with fresh eyes. Giving tricky things a little time creates distance, which brings clarity and makes decisions easier.
6. Simplify your home’s daily rhythms
Once you’ve created space, focus on systems that keep life flowing. Where do things naturally land when you walk through the door? Which surfaces attract piles? Being more mindful of how you are in your home will help you make small shifts that can have big effects: a consistent home for keys, a simple nightly reset. These micro-systems help your home become a partner in your wellbeing rather than the source of stress.
7. Treat yourself with compassion
Because your home speaks your mind, it stores past traumas and loss, and decluttering may stir up sadness, guilt, and frustration. This is normal, so seek support if you need it. Speak to yourself kindly, as you would to a close friend. Celebrate each small shift, and when resistance appears, remember it is often a sign you are touching something meaningful that needs your attention. Compassion turns the process from a punitive task into an act of deep self-care.
By approaching your home as a mirror of your inner self, you shape the emotional landscape you want to create and live in for the year ahead.