What are we letting go of when we declutter?
In our attempt to declutter, are we unintentionally erasing our history?
A recent visit to a friend’s home in High Point made me pause. Her rooms were alive with curated collections, treasures from travel, and pieces layered with memories, a living, breathing story of her life. It left me wondering: In the pursuit of clean lines and minimal spaces, are we whitewashing our past? What is the quiet cost of decluttering our lives?
Why is this a subject I am writing about? During a morning walk, I was listening to the Business of Home podcast and a discussion about ‘the china cabinet”. This piece of furniture was a design fixture in homes for decades, displaying cherished heirlooms and telling a story about the occupants. I made me wonder, if design is storytelling, is decluttering acting as a signal to purge?
The Rise of Decluttering
“Clear it up and get it out” has become a mantra after the pandemic. Clients still echo this: “I just want to get rid of everything.” While a decluttered space feels fresh, I ask at what cost? By purging objects tied to our stories, are we also purging pieces of ourselves?
What’s Driving the Urge to Purge?
There’s no denying that modern life is overstimulated. The chaos of clutter can feel overwhelming. And I believe in the power of good design to bring calm, rhythm, and balance. But I also believe in listening before letting go.
I wonder what’s driving this need to declutter so drastically?
Is it consumerism, encouraging constant cycles of buying and discarding?
Is it boredom, where newness masquerades as progress?
Or is it the influence of design TV, fast content, and viral before-and-afters, where the past is swept clean to make room for a trendier version of “now”?
Interior design is more than furniture and finishes; it’s storytelling.
The Emotional Layering of Home
The layers we collect over time, the textures of a well-loved bowl, or the patina of an antique mirror connect us to our roots. When we remove them all, we risk losing that emotional connection to home.
Walking through someone’s home should feel like reading a beautiful, intimate book. Not the cover version we present to the world, but the real story. The messy chapters. The surprising plot twists. The history.
When we purge too much, we may not just be decluttering; we may be removing parts of ourselves.
My Own Collections
I hold dear my yellowware—beautiful, sun-kissed pottery I can’t serve food in but proudly display for its warmth and history. My French enamelware, too, carries meaning beyond aesthetics. These objects spark memories, and I see this reflected in others’ homes: curated corners that tell their unique stories.
My friend, designer Debbe Daley, says this about antiques: “Antique pieces tell a story that no modern item can replicate. They bring soul and history into a space. Thoughtfully layered into a room, they create a timeless design that feels both curated and deeply personal. Revivinv loves stories, memories, and moments of celebration and individuality.”
Antiquing: Photo by Thyme and Place Design
The Struggle between Decluttering and Storytelling
I believe that too much stuff can create chaos.
But the answer isn’t always casting things off; it’s about discernment. What we choose to keep matters. What we choose to let go of matters even more.
Minimalism without memory becomes emptiness.
And design without soul becomes performance.
Beyond Nostalgia: The Future of Design
So here’s the invitation I offer, not as a designer, but as someone who deeply loves the soul of a home:
Before you get rid of the cabinet, ask what it held.
Before you throw out the dishes, remember who you shared them with.
Before you chase the next trend, ask what still holds value for you.
Design is not about discarding the past.
It’s about deciding what deserves to remain.
What’s the story you want your home to tell? Are we designing spaces to impress—or to truly reflect who we are? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Sharon L. Sherman, ASID, NCIDQ, CID, CKD
About Sharon:
Sharon founded Thyme and Place Design, headquartered in Wyckoff, New Jersey. Sharon has been practicing kitchen and bath design for over 20 years across New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the Eastern Seaboard. Sharon is Past President of the American Society of Interior Designers – New Jersey chapter, a professional member of ASID, a Certified Interior Designer in New Jersey, and a Certified Kitchen Designer.
She is a current member of the editorial board of KBB Magazine, the official magazine of the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Sharon received the Kitchen Bath Design News 2022 Innovator of the Year Award. Her award-winning designs and editorial comments have been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, Design Milk, Furniture Lighting and Decor, Designers Today, Bergen NJ magazine, Kitchen & Bath Design News, Woman’s Day, Country Decorating, Design NJ, New Jersey Home Magazine, 201 Magazine, as well as several books. She has authored the Interior Designers Guide to Kitchen and Bath Business Success, available through the website. Sharon is a sought-after conference speaker and CEU provider. You can contact her through the website www.thymeandplacedesign.com.
