This week on What Are You Making Space For?, Cece does just that. 

Cece got her first storage unit during a downsize. A few years later, another life transition led to a second one.   

But after years of rising storage prices, trying to sort through her belongings awkwardly inside the storage units, and an AC leak that damaged some of what had been stored…Cece was done. 

She recently purchased her own home and was ready to get rid of the storage units and bring everything home. 

So, she did! 🎉 

There was just one problem. 

She moved everything into her backyard and covered it with a tarp. Life happened, eight months passed, and the tarp-covered pile was still there. 

With hurricane season in full swing, summer bugs are out, and the possibility of more things getting damaged, it was time to deal with what Cece affectionately calls… 

The Monster Under the Tarp 

In this episode, we explore: 

• What happened after she emptied the storage units 

• How an eight-month-old pile became the “monster under the tarp” 

• Why storage units aren’t inherently good or bad 

• What happens when you’ve already pared down a category, and the remaining decisions get harder 

• How Cece emptied one of the hardest boxes in less than 12 minutes 

 After years of keeping these belongings somewhere else, Cece is finally bringing the pieces of her life back home and deciding what belongs in this next chapter.  

The post Emptying Your Storage Units: Bringing It All Home 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.

Thank you all for sharing your summer plans with me last week. I loved hearing what you’re up to this summer! Travel is definitely in the air! ✈️

This system has seen me through short weekend trips (like my cousin’s wedding), as well as my 9-month digital nomad stint, including months exploring Europe. It’s not a perfect science, but it’s a far cry from doing the shuffle of shame at the airline check-in stands every trip.

If packing stresses you out, or if you somehow end up wearing the same three outfits every trip (despite bringing 15), I think you’ll really enjoy this one.

And if you feel inspired, hit reply and tell me your best travel tips. I swear, I learn more from you all than any travel blog could teach me. 🧳✈️

Are you an overpacker? What’s your just-in-case story? Comment below and tell me what makes it hard to leave things behind?

Happy Adventuring!

The post How to Pack Without Overpacking: A Professional Organizer’s Travel System 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.

I love receiving handwritten notes in the mail. It makes me so happy! 

But not all mail feels so exciting. Many times, mail can feel stressful, overwhelming, and irritating.  

Medical bills, reminders, charity requests, credit card offers, things we “should’ be handling… it can feel like a lot. 

In fact, mail is one of the main sources of paper clutter. 

I’ve worked with many clients who feel a wave of dread just looking at a pile of mail.

If this is an area where you struggle too, please know you’re not alone.

We don’t need to invent a way to eliminate all mail from the face of the Earth. Instead, what we need is to create a mail system that actually supports you. s

Step 1: Create a Place for Mail to Land

Most people don’t have a true “mail home,” so it ends up everywhere.  The counter, the chair, the floor, your bag…a random pile that seems to move around your house.

Instead, we want to create a very intentional landing spot. Think of this less like a “mail pile” and more like a landing zone.  A place where your mail can land without needing immediate action. 

Because the truth is, you’re not always going to have the energy to go through it the second you walk in the door. And that’s okay. 

Your system needs to support you on your hardest days, not just your best ones. 

So, give yourself a container that can hold at least a week’s worth of mail (larger if you need it).

If you have the energy to go through your mail as you bring it in, great! If you don’t, it has a place to go. 

Step 2: Make it Easy to Let Things Go 

You need a way to get things out as easily as they come in.

That means having a trash, recycling, or shred option right there at your mail station. 

Because if it’s not easy to throw something away, you won’t.

You’ll set it down and tell yourself that you’ll look at it again later. But then move it from one pile to another. 

We don’t want that. We want one-touch decisions whenever possible.

Get rid of anything you don’t need. 

It’s just as easy to put it in the recycling bin as it is to put it in your mail inbox. 

Step 3: Decide When You’ll Deal with It 

Mail doesn’t magically handle itself (Shocker, I know).

And it’s never going to feel “good” to sit down and go through it.

So, instead of waiting for the perfect moment, choose a rhythm.

Once a week is a great place to start. 

If this is something you tend to avoid, don’t rely on scheduling or willpower. Instead, pair it with something you already do: 

• Laundry day 

• Trash day 

• Sunday afternoon reset 

And if you need a little bit of extra support, try body doubling. Call a friend and go through your mail together. You don’t even have to talk about it…sometimes, just not being alone with a hard task can make a huge difference.

This is about more than just mail. It’s about creating a system that supports your life.  

A system that works when you’re tired. When you’re busy. When you don’t feel like being your most “on top of it” self.  

Because that’s when you actually need it.  

If your mail has been piling up or stressing you out, don’t try to overhaul everything at once. Start with three simple things: 

• Give your mail a place to land 

• Make it easy to let go of things you don’t need 

• Choose when you’ll deal with it 

That’s it. Three small steps will help you stop your paper clutter at the source. 

The post 3 Simple Steps to Create a Mail System That Actually Works appeared first on Star Hansen.

Your garage, attic, closets, and basement…how do they get used in a day-to-day way in your life? 

Not how you wish they were used, or how they could be used. But how are they being used right now? 

For most people, these spaces end up being pretty unintentional. And that makes total sense.

When you moved into your home, you probably weren’t sitting there thinking, “Okay, what’s my long-term vision for this storage closet?”

You were probably just trying to get your boxes unpacked. Or trying to hide the things you didn’t have time to unpack. 

You were just trying to get through the move and make your space livable. So, your storage areas quietly took on a job… 

They became the place where things go when there isn’t a clear decision yet. 

The overflow. The “I’ll deal with this later.” The catch-all. 

And to be honest, they’ve been doing a great job at that. (Seriously, we all need a safe space to shove things from time to time.) 

But a few years go by, and you walk into the space and think, “Wait…how did it get like this?” 

A cluttered storage area doesn’t happen randomly. It happens for many reasons, one of the biggest being that the space was never given a clear intention. 

And when we don’t set an intention, the space creates one for us.   

Storage spaces aren’t separate from your life. They’re extensions of it. 

In the most functional and clutter-free homes, the items that are kept in storage areas connect to something that is active for you. 

The extra paper goods and pantry items? They support your day-to-day living. 

The sports equipment? That connects to your health, energy, and body. 

The memorabilia? That connects you to your people, your memories, and your story.  

These storage items have the opportunity to support your life, your goals…even your loved ones.  

So instead of looking at storage spaces as somewhere to shove things that you don’t want to look at, what if you started looking at them through this lens: 

How is this space supporting my life right now? Is there anything I can do so that this room is even more supportive to my life and peace of mind? 

Because this summer, when you’re tackling your storage organizing projects, you’re not just organizing a room… 

You’re shaping a space that actually has the potential to support you.  

And this doesn’t have to be a big, overwhelming project. You don’t need to solve your whole garage in one day. Just start here: 

• Pick one storage area
• Pause before you touch anything
• Ask yourself, “What are the 3-5 things I want to use this space for that would be most supportive to me?” 
• Take one action that makes this space more functional and supportive to you today (not yesterday you or future you, but today you) 

You’re not just moving things around or making it look better for the moment. You’re building something that supports you and your life today.  

And that becomes the foundation of a space that will not just get organized more easily, but stay organized too. 

The post How to Organize Storage Spaces (So They Actually Support Your Life) appeared first on Star Hansen.

She said, “I cleared off my dining room table. It was driving me crazy.”

I said, “That’s great. I love it! What did you do with everything?”

She said, “I put it in bags.”

I asked, “Did you sort or categorize it?”

She looked at me with wide eyes, like she was about to be in big trouble, and said, “No.”

Was she in trouble? Nope. Did she accomplish her goal of clearing the table? Yes. Did she accidentally just give herself another frustrating clutter project in the meantime? Also, yes.

Here’s the thing…she got exactly what she wanted. The table was clear. She experienced immediate relief and visual calm.

That’s a big win.

But now, she has two giant bags of completely random stuff sitting somewhere else in the house, waiting for her to deal with them. And we all know how that goes…

We tell ourselves we’ll get to it later, but later never comes. And then one day, we happen upon that bag and can’t remember where or when it’s from, and what we should do with it.

Different spot, same problem.

So often, we feel stressed or overwhelmed by a space, so we jump into action. We just want it to feel better. So, we clear it, move it, bag it, hide it, or try to do something (literally anything) to get that immediate sense of relief.

And it works…for a minute.

But the goal is a little incomplete. Because what we want isn’t just a clear table.

We want strong systems that support our daily life. We want to be able to use that space easily. We want to know where things go. We want paperwork to be manageable in real-time, rather than turning into a pile that stresses us out.

We want the space to support us, not just look better for a moment.

When we act from that, “I need this gone right now” feeling, we tend to just shuffle things around the house.

We don’t actually solve anything…we just shift the chaos to a new container. And then wonder why it keeps coming back.

So, here’s a different approach to consider.

Instead of going big, go small…like teeny tiny. Smaller than you even think you should.

Choose something so easy it almost feels like it doesn’t count.

You could:

• Grab a handful of unwanted items and take them to be donated
• Clear dishes from the living room
• Run one load of laundry
• Make a phone call you’ve been putting off
• Throw away old bread ties in your junk drawer

That’s it.

I know that doesn’t sound like a big transformation, but it is.

Because if you do a handful of these small actions consistently, you’ll start to see real change.

And more importantly, you start to trust yourself. You start to have the experience of “I can actually follow through on this,” or “I was able to finish that,” instead of “I tried and it didn’t work” or “things always end up worse than when I started.”

Organizing isn’t just about getting your home in order. It’s about learning how to move through your space in a way that works for you, so you don’t end up burned out or overwhelmed.

If you’re feeling the urge to do a big reset right now, take a quick pause instead.

What’s the smallest thing you could do that would actually move things forward?

Start there.

It may not feel like much, but it’s a start. And that’s all you truly need.

The post When “Cleaning Up” Actually Makes the Clutter Worse appeared first on Star Hansen.