Decluttering Your Space in 2026

How ‘tidying up’ creates opportunities for realignment in the Year of the Fire Horse

With the coming of the Lunar New Year on February 17, you may feel the need for a deep refresh. Cleaning in preparation for the new year is both tradition and superstition in some cultures and a practice that has also gained global popularity. It’s an act of sweeping out misfortune, negativity, and bad luck in order to welcome fortune, prosperity, and more.

Decluttering is an important part of the cleaning process. When we declutter, we not only lighten our material load but also create space for re-alignment with our goals and values.

As we clean out the old to welcome in the new, we have an opportunity to examine ourselves and the things around us. When you open your closet, what are the pieces you reach for and what are the ones that stay tucked away, tags still attached? Looking around your space, what things light you up and what no longer belongs?

As we gallop towards the Year of the Fire Horse, set your intentions for a year of alignment and self-discovery through decluttering.

Realigning Through Decluttering: Clarity on ‘Why’

The inspiration to clean up during the New Year can come from many places: influencers sharing their favorite decluttering tips, seeing your loved ones start to re-organize their rooms, or friends updating their Depop and Poshmark closets. In some cases, the inspiration can come from something as simple as the realization: “I have too many things and need to get rid of them now.”

So what do we do? We grab cardboard boxes and plastic bags that we’ve saved over the years, march over to our closets and drawers, and declutter accordingly. That dress you bought two summers ago with the intention of wearing it but you never did? Donation bin. The handful of blind box trinkets you opened but haven’t had the chance to show off? Resell (maybe – they still look so cute!). The broken desk clock you swore you’d fix but haven’t gotten around to it? Into the trash bin it goes.

While successfully downsizing and seeing our rooms clean and less “stuffed” is an achievement in and of itself, the act of decluttering can open up much more than just our living spaces. It can present an opportunity to sit with ourselves and live authentically in alignment with our morals, values, and goals.

Image courtesy of Kailanianna (Kai) Ablog

Environmental Psychology: A Mirror into Ourselves (and What We May Need to Change)

One’s physical environment often reflects one’s inner world. Environmental psychology explores how the natural and built places we find ourselves in can both influence and echo our emotional and mental state. According to the Institute for Environmental Research and Education, environmental psychology is an “intricate web connecting human thought, feeling, and action with the spaces we inhabit,” and how “humans are not passive recipients of their environment, but active agents who shape and are shaped by it.”

When we find ourselves surrounded by clutter, it does not inherently mean we are disorganized or “too lazy to clean.” The pile of books, laundry, and stack of impulse purchases still in their shipping boxes could be an indicator of other things, such as burnout, stress, or a plate that is too full with not enough time to self-regulate.

When the New Year comes around, these feelings of “needing to clear things” may come up more frequently because, let’s face it, in a world that tends to prioritize progress over rest, a “clean slate” will always sound refreshing if we’re stuck in cycles we’re struggling to break.

Acknowledging Our Place in Our Space: The First Step at Realignment

“New Year, New Me” is a common phrase we hear around this time; however, what if the “New Me” isn’t actually a “New You”? What if, instead, this “New You” was always “You,” but this time, more connected with your authentic expression?

Recognizing and trusting our ability to know what is beneficial and in alignment with who we are and what we want can reframe the action of “tidying up” in a way that can accurately reflect our vision for the new year. With this approach, one can tackle their “Declutter Pile(s)” through an intentional lens that provides an opportunity for us to remove what no longer serves us, inform our habits (as they pertain to physical possessions) moving forward, and remind us of our autonomy in maintaining the places we keep.

Image courtesy of Jacky Nozuka

Should you declutter? The benefits of letting go

It’s the Stanley cup that’s still sitting in the back of the cupboard and the remnants of your BuJo era, which includes far too much washi tape. 

Unless you’re an extreme minimalist, you likely own a lot of things (dare we say, too much?). When our things go from enrichment to clutter, we’ve crossed the threshold into a world where, in the words of George Carlin, “the meaning of life is…trying to find a place for our stuff.”

But this doesn’t have to be a permanent season of life. The benefits of decluttering are many, from a clean space to a clear mind. Here are some of our favorites:

Reduce stress and overwhelm

Stress and clutter can seem like a chicken and egg situation. Regardless of which came first, reducing both can be beneficial for our physical and mental health. 

Clutter exacerbates stress in numerous ways. Visual clutter can lead to anxiety, overwhelm, and decreased focus. We might avoid vacuuming because there’s too much stuff on the floor. We experience inertia when it comes to getting out of the house or pursuing our hobbies, leading to a deficit in social interaction and personal fulfillment. Clutter can also lead to conflict with our cohabitants. 

A solid round of decluttering can reduce much of that stress. Your space can become reinvigorating, a place to focus, spend time with loved ones, and tap into your creativity, rather than just another problem to avoid. Taking the time to shape your environment with intention can help you realign with yourself.

Reclaim your time and energy

Most people recognize Steve Jobs and his iconic black Issey Miyake turtleneck or Mark Zuckerberg’s grey t-shirt and jeans. Fashion designers, including Vera Wang, often dress in all black. 

Having a personal uniform or monochrome wardrobe eliminates the time and energy spent figuring out what to wear in the morning. If you’ve spent hours browsing streaming platforms just to turn off the TV or a whole day shopping online without ordering a single thing, then you know that more options doesn’t always make life easier. We can’t underestimate the drain of decision fatigue either.

You don’t have to give up the colors in your wardrobe, but starting in one place, like decluttering your closet, can be a high impact and low effort way to help you reclaim your time and energy.

Vera Wang, often dressed in all black
Image courtesy of Frazer Harrison and Dimitrios Kambouris for Getty Images

Build a practice of healing and self-compassion

Many of us hold on to keepsakes from people who are no longer in our lives. Maybe a box of letters that we’ve held on to for years, moving from one place to another. We grow so used to having it that it becomes a part of our identity, an embodiment of our memories. Even if it causes us pain, we’d rather hold on than lose a piece of ourselves.

It’s important to remember that our memories don’t live in our things. We don’t need to hold on to the object, especially if it unnecessarily triggers us. Even if you feel like you “should” keep this thing, know that you are allowed to set it down. When you let go, you make space for healing and self-compassion.

Decluttering isn’t a panacea that will cure our deep wounds, triggers, or core beliefs. But like the ritual of burning an unsent letter, decluttering can serve as a catalyst for deeper emotional work. We have the autonomy to choose what we continue carrying forward.

Image courtesy of Nong

Diving Deeper: Additional Resources

Humans are always evolving, so who we are and what we stand for may shift over time. Decluttering, especially during the New Year, is one of many ways in which we can organize our lives in a way that promotes our growth and well-being while also inviting new energy in. If you or someone you know may be interested in decluttering their spaces with intention and attention, some of the following resources may be helpful.

Social Media

Multi-platform creators such as Kallie Branciforte (That Practical Mom), Vera (Simple Happy Zen), and Shelby Orme ( Shelbizleee) have a portfolio full of videos and blog posts regarding intentional, sustainable living, de-cluttering, minimalism, and tips and tricks on utilizing what is already within your space to promote a life that feels best for you. This type of content may be especially helpful for those seeking ways to simplify their lives and have their decisions reflect those intentions.

Community

Support systems contribute immensely to mental health and well-being. If you want to approach de-cluttering in a reflective way, speaking with your “safe person” and/or trusted individuals can help make the task of de-cluttering less daunting and intimidating, as well as be a chance to learn practical tips from someone who has already been de-cluttering or plans to do so. Plus, you may also learn that someone has a need for the very thing(s) you are looking to discard, which can further deepen communal bonds and reduce waste.

Another option when de-cluttering is to utilize a “Take Back Bag” (as shown) to recycle fabrics and clothing.
Image courtesy of Kailanianna (Kai) Ablog

Regardless of which avenue(s) you choose to take with your de-cluttering journey, it is important to acknowledge how this process plants the seed for a healthier, productive environment so that you can gallop toward and achieve what you seek to achieve in this New Year of the Fire Horse.