DeclutteringEmpty Nest Before Downsizing Achieved through Purposeful 'Tidying Festivals'
Decluttering an empty nest can be a bittersweet experience, filled with waves of sadness, guilt, and joy as parents navigate through the transition. April, a 64-year-old mother from Oregon, embarked on this journey with the help of professional organizer Rebecca Jo-Rushdy of Spark Joy and Flow.
To make the process more manageable, April adopted the KonMari Method, combined with expert decluttering tips. This approach, which emphasizes tidying by category rather than room-by-room, proved to be a tested way to declutter an empty nest effectively.
The Decluttering Process
April started by streamlining her decluttering into four categories: plastic kitchenware, photos and memorabilia, sentimental clutter, and items that belonged to her fantasy self. She tackled each category one at a time, using mindful, heart-led decision-making.
For instance, April replaced her plastic kitchenware with stainless steel, glass, and eco-friendly food storage ideas. When it came to her children's belongings, she invited them to be involved in decluttering their childhood milestones and achievements. However, when her son chose not to keep the trophies, she respected his decision and let them go.
Decluttering the sentimental items was emotional for April. She read through diaries to connect and memorialize the contents before saying goodbye. To preserve memories while freeing up space, she designated one or two bins for her adult children’s most meaningful keepsakes, choosing bins that were both attractive and easy to access.
Emotional Support and Guidance
To help April manage her emotions, Rebecca conducted live 'Tidying Festivals' via video call. These sessions allowed April to declutter week by week, category by category, providing emotional and practical support. Participating in expert-guided sessions like these can be incredibly helpful, as they help move through sentimental clutter without guilt.
Downsizing Strategies
As April was moving to a smaller home, she eliminated duplicates, measured spaces, and prioritized space-saving furniture after decluttering. Renting self-storage was a temporary solution for things she was undecided on.
A New Chapter
Throughout the decluttering process, Rebecca emphasized respect and permission as guiding values, following the KonMari Method. April found treasures hidden among the paperwork, like love letters and travel notes. She curated family photo books to organize family photos without adding clutter.
One of April's most poignant moments came when she created a framed collage of her mother's life, featuring backstage passes, casino chips, and memorabilia from her time as Frank Sinatra’s secretary. She also found boxes of important paperwork that belonged to her late mother, adding another layer of sentimentality to her decluttering journey.
In the end, April's empty nest was transformed into a space that reflected her current life and honoured the memories from her children’s lives. This blend of the KonMari Method and expert organizational advice helped April declutter her empty nest thoughtfully and intentionally, supporting her emotional wellbeing through the transition.
Taking a thoughtful approach, April organized the decluttering process into four categories: plastic kitchenware, photos and memorabilia, sentimental clutter, and items that belonged to her fantasy self. Upon downsizing, she measured spaces and prioritized space-saving furniture to accommodate her new home-and-garden lifestyle.
