The Hygge Way to Clean and Declutter

When I returned home from a weekend trip recently, I immediately unpacked my suitcase, washed a load of dirty clothes, and put everything away.  It made me feel settled and at home.  It was comfortable.

A few days later, I felt a bit restless, so I set my writing aside and started cleaning.  I cleaned the refrigerator door and wiped the kitchen counters.  I swept the porch and mopped the floor in our small entry hall.  I decluttered a few old papers from my file box.  It felt good.

Self-soothing with home care

For me, cleaning, organizing, and decluttering are a form of self-care.  Tidying gives me satisfaction.  It makes me feel that I'm managing my life and ready for what's next.

A hygge home isn't dirty.  It's not cluttered with garbage, dirty dishes, or things we never use or put away.  It's not covered in a thick layer of dust.  So don't decide that pouring a glass of wine, lighting a candle, and snuggling under a blanket is hygge, but running the vacuum is not.

I know that cleaning can feel overwhelming at times, so we avoid it.  The feeling of not knowing where to start, or that there's just so much mess, can make us feel like failures.  But if we can just begin in one small area, we start to feel a measure of control, and the task becomes easier.

Yes, there's always more to do.  Cleaned areas don't stay clean.  Organized spaces can get disorganized with use.  Order doesn't develop by itself the way clutter does.

But that's the wrong way to look at it.  Instead of feeling that home care never ends (which is discouraging), think of it as new opportunities to fix things up and arrange them just the way you like them.  There's always more self-care available.

Decluttering is the beginning

The Danes are known for their clean and tidy homes, and believe that reducing clutter is the secret to creating space for a hygge life.

"Our homes radiate care," says Danish author and designer Lena Bentsen.

We nurse our homes because they are a part of our personality.  The home is a place to find peace, to relax and recover.  It's a nest, a safe cave, and a personal frame surrounding our lives.

What picture of me would I like to project?  I'm not talking about keeping up with the latest trends so I look financially successful and up-to-date.  I mean, do I want to look like someone who doesn't care?  Someone who never pays attention to details?  Someone who can't be counted on to finish what I've started?  A cluttered, dirty home might be the frame for that picture.

But I can change that, and so can you.  Try these tips for decluttering and cleaning your home:

• Get rid of what doesn't suit your picture of your ideal self.

• Remember that almost everything has an expiration date.  When something is no longer used or loved, it should be moved on to someone else.

• Instead of hanging on to too much "just in case," ask whether the items in your home serve a function and support you in a positive way right now.

• All of your possessions must have a place to belong.  Ask, "Where does this live?"

• Spend a few minutes now to save hours later.  Clutter attracts clutter, and a small mess becomes bigger and harder to clean when you ignore it.  So use my dad's one-minute cleaning rule:  "If it only takes a minute (or two), do it now."

• Close the loop.  Every task, large or small, has a beginning and an end.  If you don't finish the job and close the loop, you're creating a trail of clutter.

• Set limits.  Trust me, you can survive (and even thrive) with less.

Adding serenity, one task at a time

As you declutter and organize, notice how everything fits so nicely.  Realize how much easier it will be to find the tools and supplies you need.  Enjoy the small feeling of liberation as you get rid of things you don't need.

As you clean, pay attention to the difference your efforts are making.  Notice the beauty of the wood on the table you just dusted.  See how comfortable and inviting the couch looks when the cushions are plumped and straightened.  Discover that your entire bedroom looks peaceful and welcoming when the bed is made.

We can extend this self-care into other areas of our lives.  For example:

• I keep paperwork organized for the purpose of preparing our annual tax return.  It's not a job I look forward to, but it can be a nightmare of confusing piles of paper to frantically search through, or it can be less of a chore because I regularly pruned the useless and organized the rest.

• Once a month or so, I delete "not so great" photos from my phone, and organize others into the folders I've already established (one for each grandson and so on).  They'll be easier to find and enjoy when I want them.

One item at a time, I'm taking care of my life.

Home care can be overwhelming and dreaded, or pleasant and nourishing.  It's my choice, and I choose to feel the satisfaction that comes from every sweep of my broom, every polish of my cleaning cloth, every piece of clean clothing I hang in my closet, and every unneeded thing I declutter.  It's a great way to add hygge to my life.

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As we move deeper into this beautiful season of autumn, I want to share the work of my friend Kathie Lapcevic.  Her website, Homespun Seasonal Living, is a treasure trove of seasonal recipes, crafts, gardening ideas, and more to inspire your slower, simpler life with a love of the natural and handmade.  Please visit and enjoy!  

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Hygge is a mindset that insures you live your life in a way that brings deep contentment.  It isn't money, power, or achievements that bring us lasting happiness, but those simple daily joys.

Want to know more about hygge?  You know you want my newest book, Minimalist Hygge,* available now on Amazon.

* This blog is reader-supported.  If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.