The post Why The Last Pile Of Clutter Feels So Hard appeared first on Star Hansen.

On this week’s episode of What Are You Making Space For?, we meet Lanie.  

She’s tackling a bedroom-turned-storage-room that is overflowing with stuff. There’s no garage in her house, so this one room has slowly taken on the job of garage, storage space, craft area, donation center…and everything in between.  

It’s filled with household paper goods, party supplies, appliances, art supplies, sporting goods, toys, donations, cardboard to break down, bags of clothing to sell, and more. 

And when you have that many different kinds of things competing for your attention, even figuring out where to begin can feel overwhelming. 

As Lanie and I started working through the room, we realized that the best way to make progress wasn’t what either of us expected. 

In fact, we needed to pivot. 

And sometimes, that’s the most useful thing you can do when an organizing plan isn’t working. 

In this episode, we explore: 

• What to do when a room feels too overwhelming to start 

• How to triage a cluttered space before you organize it 

• Why not starting a new project can be a helpful organizing rule 

• How to make decisions when getting rid of something isn’t so simple 

• Why 70% accuracy can be enough to keep you moving 

• How to recognize when it’s time to rethink the plan

I hope this episode helps you look at your organizing projects a little differently this week.  

Sometimes progress isn’t about doing more.  

Sometimes, it’s about figuring out what actually needs your attention first.

The post When the Best Organizing Plan is to PIVOT appeared first on Star Hansen.

I’m not the kind of person who doles out organizing advice to friends and family…unless they ask.

Much like a doctor at a party who has a random rashy wrist thrust in their face asking for treatment advice, I occasionally get asked to “read” someone’s space when I’m out in the world.

I’ve had several dates with guys who wanted me to “get a read” on their house (No, you don’t, my guy, no you don’t…I shouldn’t know that much about you on our third date).

There have been dinner party hosts who are curious about their “room of doom.” And I’ve had many friends who solicited furniture placement advice when they moved into a new home.

I never mind these quick bids for insight. But honestly, I don’t go around “reading” your rooms…unless you ask me to.

It’s a gift I only activate when asked.

So, it’s not often that I get to do a deep dive into a friend’s house.

But this week on the podcast, I get to do just that.

I sit down with my dear friend Kelsey and dive into her office. Along the way, we explore:

• Why beautiful homes can still hide invisible overwhelm.
• The surprising importance of a “dumping ground”
• The missing systems that cause clutter to keep coming back
• Why some people need their house to feel beautiful in order to feel calm
• The pressure to get everything “done” before we let ourselves enjoy our life

Kelsey and I had more fun creating this episode than we probably should have.

But my favorite part might be what happened after our session.

She had such a strong reaction to our session that, within 24 hours, she ripped her entire house apart to put what she’d discovered into action.

Listen to Kelsey’s Office: Making Space for the Messy Middle wherever you get your podcasts.

The post What Happens When You Organize a Friend’s House? appeared first on Star Hansen.

I honestly thought a few people would respond and hopefully share some ideas for what they would be interested in listening to.  I figured I would make a note of suggestions and then maybe start the podcast in the new year.  

I did NOT expect the reaction I got.  

So many of you reached out wanting a different kind of conversation about clutter…one that was supportive, shame-free, and actually talked about what’s going on behind the stuff.   

Reading your emails inspired me. I cancelled everything on my schedule for the following week and dove in. (If you know me, you know this is very on brand for me. 😂) 

Five courageous people signed up to do an organizing session with me for the podcast.  

Together, we worked on their actual clutter and started untangling whatever was keeping them stuck. 

And what came out of those sessions was really special.  

It’s less of an “organizing podcast” and more like a series of mini documentaries about what happens when we start going through our stuff and discover what’s really going on behind it. 

We start with offices, garages, paper, dishes, shoes…and somehow end up talking about grief, identity, perfectionism, relationships, life transitions, and who we’re becoming.  

I’m so excited to share that the What Are You Making Space For? podcast is officially live!!! 🎙️ 

Each episode, someone invites me into the room they’ve been avoiding most. Together we sort through the clutter. We make big decisions. We fill donation bags… 

But what we’re really uncovering is the story behind the stuff. Because clutter is almost never just clutter.  

Our stuff is tangled up with who we’ve been, what we’ve been through, what matters to us, and where we’re going. 

Today, the show is launching with three full episodes, because I know some of you are going to want to binge. 😊 

You’ll meet: 

🗒️ Erin, who is ready for her office to catch up with the life she’s living now. 

🎨 Susan, who is digging herself out of generations of family clutter. 

🚘 Anya, whose garage raises a bigger question: How much space am I allowed to take up?  

These three people trusted me with their homes and their stories, and I hope you’ll love them as much as I do.

This podcast has been one of the most creatively fulfilling things I’ve ever made. It’s also one of the most vulnerable. 

Thanks for being here, for encouraging me all these years, and for reminding me that this was something worth creating. 

The post A Different Kind of Podcast About Clutter appeared first on Star Hansen.

…only to get back together a week later? 🤣

We have a surprisingly complicated relationship with our stuff.

Clutter is tricky because we hate it, but we also love it. We want it, but we also never want to see it again. We want some of it, but we really don’t want to suffer through the hard work and emotional pain it takes to let the rest of it go.

So, the question becomes…

Do you need to make peace with your clutter, or break up for good?

Sometimes we don’t need to break up with all of our stuff…

We just need to break up with the unhealthy relationship we’ve developed with it.

Most people were never taught how to face their clutter head on in the most practical ways. And almost no one was taught how to de-code the deeper meaning of their clutter.

If you don’t know how to decode the deeper layers of your clutter, all the organizing bins and systems in the world won’t get you organized.

The real question isn’t, “How do I get organized?”

It’s:

Why is my clutter still here?  

In this week’s video, I’m sharing one of my favorite classes on understanding the deeper meaning of clutter:

Together, we’ll explore why clutter sticks around, the practical questions that help get you unstuck, and how to decide whether it’s time to make peace with your stuff, or finally break up with your clutter for good.

The post How to Break Up with Your Clutter (Without Regretting It) appeared first on Star Hansen.

Last week, I asked you a question…

What percentage of your stuff would you have to let go of before you would feel good in your space? 

A lot of you answered…thank you so much for taking the time to reach out and share.   

Some of you named percentages, some of you wrote me paragraphs…and a few of you even told me you haven’t been able to sleep in your own bed in years.  

The percentages were all over the place. From 0% all the way up to 98%. But the most common answer, by far, was 

50%

The post What % Would You Have To Let Go Of Before You Would Feel Good In Your Space? appeared first on Star Hansen.

It’s everywhere. It’s in our homes, our oceans, our food. And while the organizing industry loves a good plastic bin, it’s never really been my thing. 

But, in spite of my strong feelings about plastic, there’s something I’ve said to clients for years:

Plastic is precious. 

Not because plastic itself is precious.  

But because when something is still in its original wrapping, it suddenly feels elevated. Untouched. Like it needs to be preserved.  

And without even realizing it, that thin layer of plastic becomes a barrier. 

It separates you from actually using the thing. 

I see it all the time…  

• Beautiful bars of soap that never get used
• Candles that never get lit
• Stationery that never gets written on
• Nice items quietly waiting to be used at the “right moment.” 

But that perfect moment you’re saving it for? It usually never comes.  

The item gets forgotten. Or the materials break down. Or it just loses its “specialness” because it was sitting so long.  

And in the meantime, you didn’t get to enjoy it.  

If something is in your home, I want you to use it. 

I don’t want there to be a barrier between you and the things you chose to bring into your life.  

Because those things were meant for you to enjoy, use, and have as part of your day-to-day experience.  

So today, I want you to do one thing for me… 

Pick one thing you’ve been saving for “someday”. And use it.

Draw yourself a bath and use those fancy bath salts. Make dinner feel a little more special by lighting some of the taper candles that have been gathering dust in the drawer. Use the “good dishes” for a regular Tuesday lunch. Write a note to your best friend on the pretty stationary in your desk (it will make their day).

You don’t need a special occasion. Today is the occasion. You’re the reason it’s special. 

Just for today, let yourself enjoy something you’ve been holding onto.  No waiting. No saving. Just living.  

You’re worth it! 

The post Why You Don’t Use the Things You Own (And How to Stop Saving Them for Later) appeared first on Star Hansen.

As I’ve been packing and planning, I’ve been thinking about how much my relationship with packing has changed.

I used to be a chronic overpacker.

Not a little extra, I mean, truly deeply committed to the idea that I might need absolutely everything.

And many of my clients are the same way.

Packing brings up a lot…

Will I have what I need? What if the weather changes? What if my body feels different that day? What if I want more options? What if I get there and wish I had brought the other thing?

It’s easy to act like packing should be simple, but it’s not. It’s actually a pretty complex project.

You’re trying to plan for future weather, future moods, future activities, laundry access, location changes, and, for a lot of women, a body that may not feel exactly the same from one day to the next.

That’s a lot to account for.

Which is why I think one of the biggest mistakes people make is skipping the planning part of packing and going straight to the suitcase.

If you do that, it’s hard to stay focused…

The clothes start talking. Your shoes start talking. Your anxiety starts talking. The size (and weight) of your suitcase is talking…

And suddenly you’re no longer making choices from a clear space. Instead, you’re reacting to whatever feels loudest at the moment.

That rarely ends well.

There’s a quote I love (often attributed to Abraham Lincoln):

“If I had four hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend the first three sharpening the axe.”

The post The Stress-Free And Strategic Way to Pack For Your Next Trip appeared first on Star Hansen.

I grab my fuzzy blanket, open the door, sit down, and watch light dance around the city.

And as I’m sitting there, I catch the smell of blossoms from my lemon tree. Every time I notice it, something in me softens.

The smell of citrus makes me feel safe and happy. There’s just something about it I find so magical. I know there’s actual science around how the smell of citrus can lift our mood, but for me, it’s also deeply personal.

It reminds me of my great grandmother’s backyard and fun Easter days running around with my cousins in the Arizona heat. It smells like so many simple, yet happy moments from my childhood.

And now, it’s part of my morning routine.

What’s interesting is that when I first moved into my apartment, my patio was empty. I would still go out there, but I never really felt connected to the space. It didn’t feel like it was mine.

Adding the lemon tree changed that.

Now, when I go outside, I feel more in rhythm with the seasons. I feel more like myself. I actually want to be there.

And this is something I think about a lot when it comes to organizing.

We tend to focus so much on what to remove from our homes. What to get rid of. What to declutter. What’s too much.

But just as often, big shifts come from what we add.

Your home should feel like you.

Not just look organized. Not just be functional. But feel like a place where you recognize yourself. Where something in the space reflects who you are, what you love, what you remember, and what matters to you.

When people don’t feel good in their homes, it’s not only because there’s too much stuff.

Sometimes it’s because there’s nothing in the space that’s really speaking to them.

And if you’re in a season where clutter feels like too much to take on, or you don’t have the energy to take it on right now, you don’t have to start there.

You can start by adding something.

Add something that makes you feel good in a real, personal, and sensory way. It could be a:

• Plant
• Scent
• Color
• Texture
• Piece of art
• New set of sheets…

Something that shifts how the space feels when you walk into it.

Once your home starts to feel good to you, the rest begins to follow.

It becomes easier to let clutter go. Not because you’re forcing yourself to. But because you’ve created something you want to protect and nurture.

If you were going to add one thing to your space right now that would make it feel more like you, what would it be?

Start there. Add it and see how it changes the way you feel in your home. And if you feel like it, hit reply and tell me about it.

Small changes create big shifts.

The post What Would Make Your Home Feel Like You? appeared first on Star Hansen.

Where do you go to catch your breath?

And the shame ends up taking more energy than the actual action would have.

The post Building A Village: You’re Allowed To Need Support Sometimes appeared first on Star Hansen.