Creating good vibes in your home is critical for feeling at peace in your own space. Especially when you’re going through a major life transition, from weathering a bad breakup to starting an exciting new career path, you may find yourself wondering, How can I declutter my home and mind?
In times of change or struggle, you may need more than some plastic bins to clear the energy in your space. While performing traditional home organization techniques can be super satisfying, arranging your books by rainbow colors and chucking items that don’t spark joy may not truly feed your soul.
Whether you’re looking to cleanse away bad vibes or bring in more abundance, the following tips will help you better align your home with your spirit.
1. Cleanse Your Home With Sage
When you need to change the energy of your space, perform a cleansing ritual. “It’s empowering to combine an affirmation with that physical cleansing act,” holistic coach Meg Burton Tudman tells DailyOM. “Write down what you’d like to release, what you’d like to make space for and what you’d like to amplify. Use your writing as a guide to state positive affirmations.” (For example, if you want to make space for a new relationship, then your affirmation could be “I am open to receive new romantic connections.”)
Tudman suggests burning sage or palo santo, lighting a candle, or ringing tuning forks or meditation bowls, then repeating your affirmation as you move the energy throughout your space.
Interested in learning more? Check out Clear Your Home, Clear Your Life
2. Do a Sensory Energy Audit
Consider how you’d like to feel in your space and use all five of your senses to explore what you’d like more or less of. “For instance, you may seek joy, energy, peace, or something else that strongly resonates for you,” Tudman explains. “By using all your senses, you’ll be able to create a fully immersive experience in your home.” After all, the energy of your space is impacted by what you hear and listen to, as well as the scents and tactile sensations that are present.
Some simple, impactful examples: Place a wind chime on your porch or a scented candle in your kitchen to bring all of the senses in.
3. Remove Clutter From Your Visual Field
Clearing a cluttered space feels rewarding for many reasons. What cleaning your house does to your brain is tell you that you’re no longer under duress. “The visual reminder of clutter adds subconscious stress to our lives and can make us feel pressure without noticing why,” psychiatrist Sam Zand, co-founder and chief medical officer of Better U, tells DailyOM. Research confirms that clutter can make us more irritable and negatively impact self-esteem.
Even if you only have time to place clutter in a basket to be dealt with at a later time, getting it out of your field of view can be calming, Dr. Zand says. He also recommends identifying triggering items, like old photos or clothing that no longer fits, and removing them from your daily view as well.
4. Create Symmetry in Your Space
According to Zand, the human brain feels more relaxed with symmetry. “In times of chaos, soothing living spaces can help clean the tension from our spirit,” he says. Following an organizing practice like feng shui, which is rooted in harmony and balance, can help you create symmetry and feel more even-keeled in your space.
If you’ve just moved to a new city, moved out of a house you used to share with a romantic partner, or had someone move from your home (like an ex or an adult child, for instance), reorganizing with feng shui in mind can help you bring balance back in your home. Even something simple like placing your bed against a solid wall rather than a window can help you feel more supported in your space.
5. Bring in Nature
To boost feelings of peace and calm, Zand suggests evoking the outdoors inside your home.
“House plants, water features, and rock formations can enhance feelings of tranquility and connectivity to the earth,” he says. “With so many electronics and devices, there is benefit in grounding with the natural elements.”
6. Set Up an Altar or a Meditative Space
Find a place in your home that you can dedicate to finding peace, even if it’s just a chair in the corner of a room or a special cushion you can pull out as needed. “Especially after a loss, setting up a space to grieve can help the healing,” Zand says.
No matter what you’re going through, you can place mementos of gratitude and love in this place to serve as visual reminders. Creating a sacred place to just breathe and be still can also cultivate peace in your home.
7. Add Some Crystals
Crystals have been used for centuries for their purported healing properties. Jenelle Kim, doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine and the author of Myung Sung: The Korean Art of Living Meditation, suggests incorporating rose quartz and jade crystals into your home to help with cleansing the overall energy.
“Rose quartz emits wavelengths, or chi, that are known to help support balanced emotions and relationships. If you charge rose quartz under the moonlight and keep it in your living space, it can help promote self-love and self-care,” she tells DailyOM. “Jade is another great stone that will absorb negative energy coming your way, helping keep your home free from bad vibes and empowering you to live your best life.”
Consider how your home represents what you enjoy and what makes you feel good in order to cultivate a positive environment.
8. Clear the Air, Literally
Take stock of the last time you changed your air filters, cleaned your HVAC, or otherwise cleaned out the spaces where air flows within your space. “In times of change, celebratory moments, or gatherings, consider cleansing the air and dispelling stagnant energy,” Zand says. “Our lung health and mental health will benefit from fresh air in the home.”
If these tasks are already done (or aren’t possible to perform), open your windows, and add a humidifier or salt lamp, he suggests.
9. Surround Yourself With What You Love
Consider how your home represents what you enjoy and what makes you feel good, advises success and manifestation coach Kathleen Cameron, in order to cultivate a positive environment. “For example, I love light, neutral tones — whites, creams, light browns — as these help me feel calm and relaxed,” she tells DailyOM. “I also love candles, crystals, and aromatherapy, so I have them scattered throughout my house.”
Focus less on choosing items you feel you should showcase (or that follow a certain aesthetic that may not be yours) and focus more on what you truly love.
10. Take Care of Yourself in Your Space
Don’t just break out the good stuff for guests. Be sure that the items you use in your space every day help you physically feel cared for, as this practice will energetically remind you of your worth. “I don't drink coffee out of paper or plastic cups. I put it in a really nice mug — I even drink water from a wine glass,” Cameron says. Something as simple as placing a soft blanket on your bed, for instance, can help you feel taken care of, creating a warm and inviting environment in your home.
11. Honor Each Life Transformation
Finally, when you go through a profound life moment, like having a milestone birthday or suffering a loss, find a way to mark this transformative time in your life, Tudman suggests. “This could be a posted quote, piece of art, photograph, or something else that speaks to your heart,” she explains. “The purpose of displaying this, whether in a public or more private space in your home, is to remind you of your inner strength and to support you in celebrating your growth.”
The Bottom Line
No matter why you need to clear your home’s energy, it’s important to know that you can change the vibes in your space anytime you’re feeling stagnant, celebratory, or sad. When your home needs a lift or a shift, revisit these practices to make your peace, and yourself, a priority.