So, you have finally done it. You have cleared out your closets and drawers, rearranged your shelves, and let go of the things you no longer use. When you step back and look around, your home feels different. There is more space, more air, and a sense of lightness that is hard to describe. It feels as if sunshine has found its way into places it never reached before.
There is also a quiet sense of freedom. All that unnecessary stuff was not just taking up physical space. It was keeping you tied to the past and preventing you from fully moving forward. Letting it go creates room for something new, even if that something is simply calm.
Decluttering is one thing. Keeping clutter from returning is another. It requires awareness, because clutter has a way of finding its way back. It shows up in moments of nostalgia, impulse, and emotion.
The next time you step into a shop, you will almost certainly see something that reminds you of a special person, a favourite city, or a meaningful event. Before you know it, you are buying something that feels comforting and familiar. Something you absolutely don’t need.
Does this mean you should restrict yourself to groceries and basic necessities? This does not sound realistic.
Unfortunately, it is easy to fall right back into the habit of accumulating. Keeping clutter out is harder than clearing it away.
When Clutter Almost Won
Last summer, I spent three days downsizing my home. I sorted through drawers, shelves, and cupboards, keeping only what I used and loved. I donated what I could, recycled what made sense, and let go of the rest. When I finished, I felt lighter, calmer, and proud of myself.
To celebrate, I went to lunch with a friend. We visited a new cat café we had both been curious about. We are both cat lovers, and she is always open to adding another rescue to her impressive household of six. “One more,” she says, “hardly makes a difference to me, but it makes a world of difference to the cat.”
Lunch was wonderful, and the cats wandering around made it even better. My friend was considering adopting an older cat with one eye, so we wandered into the small shop to speak with the manager.
This is when I entered the ‘danger zone’ and began to wobble.
There was a white cat vase that looked exactly like my beloved Phi, who crossed the rainbow bridge a few years ago. Nearby were linen tea towels covered in cheerful cat faces. Then I spotted glossy black mugs that were the spitting image of my Poh, who I lost earlier that summer. The prices were reasonable, and the memories were powerful. I brought it all to the cash.
“What are you doing?” my friend called out. “We’re celebrating your downsizing success, and here you are cluttering up again.”
She was right.
Standing there, holding items that tugged at my heart, I realised how quickly clutter can return. I needed a way to pause, reflect, and choose more carefully.
That moment led me to develop four simple habits, that now guide my purchasing decisions.
Four Ways to Keep Clutter from Returning, That Changed How I Buy
1. Pause Before Buying
Before I buy anything, I stop and ask myself why I want it. If I need it because I do not own one, or what I have is broken, then buying it makes sense. But if I am drawn to it because it reminds me of a person, a memory, or a place, I pause longer.
2. One In, One Out
If I am buying something that is not essential, I decide what will leave my home before I make the purchase. This allows me to enjoy something new without accumulating. It also makes the decision more thoughtful. Is the new item truly worth replacing something I already own?
3. Decide Where It Will Go
Before buying anything, I decide exactly where it will live. If I cannot picture its place in my home, I need to walk away. Sometimes I leave the shop and realise I no longer want it. If I do still want it later and have a place for it, I can always return.
4. Ask One Honest Question
I ask myself how this item will improve my life. Not emotionally in the moment, but practically, day to day. If the answer is unclear, the item stays behind.
Back to the Cat Café
Standing in that small shop, after careful thought, I bought the black cat mug. The chipped mug I had been using needed replacing, and this one made me smile. One in; one out.
The tea towels stayed behind. I already had plenty. The white cat vase, lovely as it was, would likely have ended up forgotten in a cupboard.
When I walked out, I felt calm rather than guilty. I had not deprived myself, nor had I bought things I didn’t need.
Why This Matters More as We Age
At this stage of life, living with intention is important. We need certain things. We can enjoy others. But we no longer need to surround ourselves with reminders of every person, place or event that has touched us.
Clutter does not preserve meaning. More often, it weighs it down. Memories do not need objects to survive. They live inside us – not in objects. The things we choose to keep around us should lift us up, not anchor us in what has already passed.
A calm and spacious home allows room for breathing, thinking, creating, and resting. It supports the life we are living now, not the one we have already lived.
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Let’s Have a Conversation:
Have you diligently decluttered, only to find yourself having to do it all over again? What’s lacking in your strategy? How can you improve it?