How to declutter when too much sparks joy
There are many items we keep in our homes that, deep down, we know are unnecessary. The challenge for decor lovers is that a lot of these things don’t look like clutter because they “spark joy.” If you enjoy home style and design, you may find yourself holding onto pieces that make you happy now or that you hope will be useful later.
Some of us struggle with disorganization or outright hoarding, but there’s also a common, subtler problem: keeping too many things that genuinely bring pleasure. I used to keep everything. I’m working on letting go, even when an item has sentimental or aesthetic appeal.
Often we hold onto objects because we aren’t sure what truly sparks joy for us yet, or because we worry we might need them in the future. That uncertainty makes letting go harder.
For those who love decorating, there’s a particular pattern I call DESIGN CHAOS SYNDROME (DCS). It isn’t a clinical diagnosis, but it does describe a real, common experience among people who adore beautiful things.
What exactly is DESIGN CHAOS SYNDROME?
DCS often shows up in people who:
- love many beautiful items
- are indecisive or lack a clear focus
- haven’t settled on a design direction
- appreciate a wide range of styles, colors, and patterns
- don’t have a defined plan or purpose for their home
- recently moved or are remodeling
- hope to remodel or move sometime in the future
- are in a life transition
- have lived in different styles or sizes of homes
- own excess decorative pillows and accessories
- shop yard sales and stockpile potential projects
- buy craft supplies “just in case”
- have many unfinished projects that need paint or slipcovers
- prefer decorating to mundane tasks like filing or shredding
- pin organizing ideas more than they actually follow through
- are perfectionists who procrastinate
- start multiple projects and keep several in progress at once
- live in a small home but own a lot of cherished items
- live in a large home and still accumulate things that spark joy
- have so much that even joyful items become overwhelming
If any of these sound familiar, you likely have more than typical clutter—you might simply have too many things you love, or not enough time and space to manage them.
These tendencies and the resulting piles of stuff can leave you feeling overwhelmed. I struggle with ordinary clutter too—papers pile up for me as well—but design-related clutter has a particular impact. If that resonates, your home may be experiencing DCS.
The good news is your belongings don’t have to control you. My turning point came when I realized the issue wasn’t a lack of joy but a lack of focus. The idea of keeping only what sparks joy is useful, but without direction you can end up with joyful items everywhere and no way to manage or maintain them.
Realizing I needed a focused approach changed everything. I started prioritizing what truly matters to me and creating systems that help me keep only what fits my current life and style.
I wrote Make Room for What You Love to help people wrestling with all kinds of clutter—the obvious, everyday mess as well as the design-related overflow. The book is for anyone feeling overwhelmed who wants to simplify and refocus their home and life.
This guide isn’t just about design or the concept of sparking joy; it offers practical steps and encouragement to create lasting change. My hope is that the book will inspire you with realistic strategies and give you a clear path forward.
Today is the book’s release day, and I’m excited for you to read it!
Order Make Room for What You Love at Barnes & Noble or Amazon.
While I still don’t have it all together, at least I know where I’m going and have a plan to get me there. It feels good to have strategies that actually work for me and my home, rather than habits that work against me. Whatever your challenges, this book offers encouragement, practical tips, and hope for real results.
* The giveaway is now closed and winners have been contacted. *
My friends at DaySpring generously offered The Inspired Room readers a giveaway to celebrate the launch.
This gift bundle reflects how I feel about sharing a book: I’m offering my heart, stories, and solutions to readers who understand the joys and challenges of making a home a sanctuary. Thank you for encouraging me to keep sharing.
DaySpring provided five sets of the items pictured below. Five winners were contacted and asked to provide a U.S. shipping address for the prize packs.
Home is where you are welcome pennant // Good friend good book mug // Journal set
If you’re ready to simplify, find more information on the Make Room for What You Love book page.
Order Make Room for What You Love at Barnes & Noble or Amazon.