Welcome to my collection of decluttering and feng shui examples and ideas!
To declutter is to "remove unnecessary items from (an untidy or overcrowded place)."
-Oxford Languages
"Proper feng shui is purposefully arranging the stuff around you to gain positive results."
-Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life (p.21) by Karen Rauch Carter
Karen Rauch Carter[1] is a professional feng shui consultant and author, and many of my ideas are based on her teachings.
I include law of attraction and manifestation references here and there since the two subjects seem to overlap.
Please see the Resources at the bottom of this page for links to Karen's and others' work.
My Intention:
To provide a few laughs and to inspire others to make their living space more supportive and pleasing.
Click to expand the menu you want, then click on a keyword or item name to go to that section. Or just scroll!
WHAT TO DO:
Discard, donate, recycle, or repair items that are faded, worn, chipped, peeling, etc.
EXAMPLE 1: THE SUNCATCHER
I painted this suncatcher who-knows-how-many years ago and had given it meaning in terms of finding a new partner. More recently, I noticed that it was looking a little worn. In terms of symbolism, my partner was supposed to be arriving, not fading away! (Or maybe it meant "Hurry up because we're both getting older," who knows.) I could have repainted it but opted to throw it out.
EXAMPLE 2: THE HAND TOWEL
This one felt hard to me. This towel had sentimental value aside from me liking the brand, design, and color. However, I had to admit it was faded and worn. Notice the pen showing a hole plus frayed areas that were holes-in-the-making. Plus a few loose threads that I could have trimmed, although they might have unraveled more. Lots of bad keywords here! I forgot to add "coming apart at the seams." I imagine this did not bode well for my mental health, as well as taking up space that a nice new towel could occupy. I lovingly but begrudgingly let this go.
WHAT NOT TO DO:
Keep (or keep using) things that are broken, dangerous, or in disrepair.
EXAMPLE 1: THE COLANDER
Broken, weak, unstable, sharp edges... Enough said?
"But it's Pampered Chef!"
"Get rid of it before someone gets hurt!"
Shiny new replacement ("I love it!").
EXAMPLE 2: THE DRAWER OF DEATH
This drawer was seemingly stuck shut and remained unused for the first 13 years of moving in.
My dad helped get it operating around 2019, but it would fall off the tracks if pulled out too far. Despite the fear of broken toes or worse, I named it the “Drawer of Death," and we continued to use it to hold kitchen utensils (really poor judgment, I admit).
M’s friends often came over to bake things, so I added a red “x” with tape to remind them to use the drawer with caution.
I added a smiley face to the tape at some point but can’t recall why... Probably denial or maybe just because I like smiley faces.
In late 2024, I finally tracked down our handyman who easily fixed the drawer. Thankfully, no one was hurt!
NOTES:
- Please fix or get rid of broken and dangerous things ASAP whenever possible, first for safety, and second to avoid amplifying the negative vibration.
- Notice how the tape started to peel... To me, that was more evidence of something not doing what it should.
- If you refer to something that has the word “death" in it, that’s probably a hint that something needs to change.
- Although the color red can be used as a feng shui "cure" (see the bathroom sink example), my intention with the tape was to warn versus to stop or start energy. Even if I tried using it as a cure, it wouldn't have stopped the drawer from falling.
WHAT NOT TO DO:
Keep things that you only "MIGHT" need or use someday, especially if in mass quantities.
Exceptions might be: Keeping a small amount or keeping individual items that are infrequently used but crucial when needed (e.g., special tools).
EXAMPLE 1: THE TWISTY BAG
Somehow I accumulated a ton of twisty ties. I'd see them and think: "What if I need that shape or size? They're only taking up a small bag! I like that color!" After having to untangle the clump every time I needed one, I decided to downsize. This was more about inconvenience and annoyance as opposed to the items taking up a lot of space. And consider the idea of being jumbled or "tangled up inside."
BEFORE
DURING
AFTER
EXAMPLE 2: THE VASES
Speaking of mass quantities, one of the projects on my decluttering list was "under the kitchen sink" where I store a few cleaning supplies plus my flower vases. One day, I decided to weed some out (no pun intended) and started removing them. As they kept adding up, I felt extremely overwhelmed and decided to deal with half of them at that time. I tackled the second half a week or so later. Final count was approximately 30 vases in that small cupboard! I kept my favorites and donated the rest. After that, I had space to better organize what was there, and I feel relieved every time I can easily find something without having to move or navigate around things that were precariously stuffed and stacked (and glass, at that). Not to mention that space = opportunity!
Note: I recall hearing about and reading in Karen's[1] work about the "law of use." My understanding is that not using things can lead to energy being stuck or stagnant. In this example, I wasn't heeding that law when I let over half of my vases sit unused for years. It wasn't hurting me but was probably blocking better energy from flowing properly.
EXAMPLES 3 and 5: THE STAPLES, THE RULERS
With these, I knew I would consistently use them but realized I don't need the overboard extras and duplicate. Will I be likely to use 5,000 staples in the course of my lifetime? No. Do I need two exact same rulers? Well, yes when M used to steal mine. But that stopped, so no, I don't need two rulers. I kept a portion of the staples plus one ruler and donated the rest. Granted, they didn't take up much space, but why keep them when they would sit unused? More basic principles here.
WHAT NOT TO DO:
Keep things that you don't like or love.
THE HALLOWEEN CROW (RAVEN??)
This little guy was a gift from a relative. He's pretty cute, but for some reason I didn't like him much. (Wait, now I'm doubting my choice, heh!). I wasn't tripped up by any sentimental value. Did I also mention his hat had separated from his head, and stuffing was coming out? I decided to repair the hat with hot glue (which worked), and I donated him. I liked the idea of someone else seeing him and being excited to take him home.
*Consider the literal and figurative meaning of "coming unglued!" See the cork board example below.
QUICK TIP: Our language can provide clues about how we make choices to keep or not keep things. For example, when I hear myself say, “I don’t HATE it…” or “I don’t NOT like it…” or “I don't mind it,” I’m probably talking myself into keeping something that is really a “no.”
EXAMPLE 1: THE CORKBOARD (SLIPPING)
Notice how the corkboard was sliding down out of its holders. The board would slip, and I'd push it back up. I tried tightening the holder screws a few times, but ultimately it would sink again (and again). A simple fix of putting a nail under it helped it stay in place.
Consider possible symbolism: To me, "slipping" suggests, "I'm gonna lose it!" which is a reminder to manage my stress better. It could also mean a behavior I'm trying to change but keep repeating. Or it could represent a feeling of unsteadiness or vulnerability about something.
The words that describe what's happening are personal, so someone else might see it as the corkboard is "sinking," or "coming loose," or "dropping," or "out of place," "wrong," or "off." You get to choose the words and to determine what they might mean for you.
EXAMPLES 2 and 3: THE RUG, THE SILVERWARE DRAWER
More things slipping... Both are now fixed!
EXAMPLE 4: THE SHOE RACK (DIRECTION, TRIPPING)
Karen Rauch Carter[1] sent a video today (10/30/2025) with suggestions regarding the placement of shoes. She noted that our shoes can be symbolic of direction, traction, organization, what path we're on, etc. I took a look at our shoe rack, which is in the Career bagua.[2] (Side Note: I'm in the process of building up my business.) All of the shoes were pointed in the same direction, but they were facing the wall. That made me think of roadblocks, "hitting the wall," being stuck, or going nowhere! Also, I had been putting my shoes on the floor near the rack and frequently kicked or tripped on them as I turned the corner. Oh, and M left her umbrella on the rack a few weeks ago (rainy days?). To better support my career aspirations, I put the umbrella in M's room, took the shoes off the rack, dusted it, and replaced them facing outward. I switched my tennis shoes to the top rack to help "speed up" my opportunities. I put my hazardously placed shoes on the rack and will do so moving forward. See, it's working already!
BEFORE
AFTER
NOTE: Per my understanding, making feng shui changes will never bring us harm or cause bad things to happen. Shortly after rearranging my shoe rack, I went around the (other) corner and caught my shin on the top edge. I immediately thought, "What if I sped things up too much?!" After reassessing, I returned to what I know and chalked it up to me not paying attention.
WHAT NOT TO DO:
Allow your space to contain any of the following examples.
THE GARAGE
Hazardous Waste (2022)
Intimidating Signs
Rusty, Broken, Dirty Things
Thankfully I got a voucher to drop off these items for appropriate processing.
To the donation pile!
All of this had to be tossed. The previous owner left it when we bought our house in 2006.
Lots of random stuff
Sharp things, rusty things, broken things, tons of old papers, two empty birdfeeders, a rocker (as in "off my?"), a deflated volleyball, spilled cat litter (not used!), more hazardous waste, dull saws, three sprinklers, a bike that has only been ridden a few times, empty planters, lava rocks, surplus cookware, a chair that I have planned to reupholster since approximately 1998, new unused shelving that has been there since we moved in, a frayed electric cord ("worn out?"), two boxes of seashells, etc. Obviously a garage is used to store things, but this helped me re-analyze what should stay or go.
Just For Fun
The back right corner represents the feng shui bagua[2] called Relationships & Love. I cleared out the unused sharp and mystery items, plus I added a sign that reflected what I was starting to create with law of attraction (ex: finding a partner). But then I realized that the single, mostly unused bike, lone ladder, and unused pots & pans may not be giving off the right vibe. Nothing's cooking in my relationship corner?! And now there are empty shelves?? I still have some work to do.
December 2022
February 2023
September 2024
October 2025
THE FRONT DOOR
Somewhere along the way, we discovered that magnets will stick to the inside of our front door. Yay! When I started to declutter and to use feng shui, I realized how crammed and chaotic the door looked. It felt a bit stressful to look at even though I had hand-picked each item. The little green post-it note in the window reads, "Space = Opportunity." Ha! That's directly from Karen Rauch Carter,[1] and it's awesome advice when you actually use it. I gradually reduced the objects to an amount that still provide positivity but allow room to breathe, so to speak. Each item has specific meaning to me and was placed with deliberate intention to support what I want to maintain and to manifest.
Here are some things I removed and why:
- Chunky black magnets (21 total) that I grew tired of and that had developed a few negative associations
- Positive and "cute" magnets that I "liked all right" but wasn't attached to, also a few more negative vibes here
- Pictures of M when she was younger (not recommended per Karen as they symbolically keep M in a childlike state)*
- Some artwork by M, I kept a few that I loved and that had sentimental value
- A gift card with a zero balance... (hey, it had a happy bumblebee on it!) ... Seemed like an anti-wealth symbol
- An old birthday card that I liked less as time went on
- A few sticky notes that were flopped over even after being reinforced with Scotch tape
- Two dog bone-shaped dry erasers that I never liked (they were just convenient)
- Affirmation calendar pages that I no longer resonated with or that were bent or torn
- A temperature/humidity gauge that I appreciated but found ugly (also the magnet fell off and hot glue didn't fix it)
* I did keep one child picture of M as an exception. I figure if she refuses to grow up all the way, I can remove it then. ; )
Consider the cumulative "energetic signature" of all these neutral and negative things!
WHAT TO DO:
Add the color red to activate, redirect, or stop energy flow.
This is an example of a feng shui "cure."
FENG SHUI CURE
A feng shui cure is a specific remedy, object, or adjustment used to address and balance negative or stagnant energy, known as chi, in a space. Cures work by energizing, redirecting, or calming the chi to promote a more harmonious, supportive environment. [3]
EXAMPLE 1: THE BATHROOM SINK (BLOCKED, STUCK)
I decided to clean out a slow drain in our bathroom sink, which is an example of something not working properly and being clogged in a literal and figurative sense. First, I cleared out the hair, soap scum, and other gunk before giving it a good scrub. Sesame inspected it to make sure I was thorough.
I then used red nail polish to paint the bottom of the stopper (heh) to symbolically prevent positive energy from "draining away" and leaving our house.* In other words, I set an intention to go with my action. I also put red tape around the outgoing pipes under the sink for extra protection.
QUICK TIP: A cure does not have to be in plain sight to work.
EXAMPLE 2: THE FILE CABINET
I have a tall, four-drawer file in my Fame and Reputation bagua.[2] Karen Rauch Carter[1] describes the color black as hazardous here; she adds that the color black symbolizes water which is also hazardous. Double whammy! I hope this is a cure she might suggest: I put a piece of red duck tape on the inside of each drawer with the intention of offsetting the black-water combo. I also realized I had two black surge protectors, a black printer, plus Sesame's black auto feeder in the room, so I put tape on those as well (also out of sight). Fame and reputation should come rolling in any time now!
Our thoughts and feelings can tell us what changes to make in regards to our physical space. For example, if I walk into a room and see something that makes me feel hate, anxiety, sadness, or guilt, it would make sense to change, move, or remove it. Conversely, if I see something that makes me feel love, comfort, happiness, or peace of mind, it would make sense to enhance it or leave it alone. The following are some examples of using thoughts and feelings as a guide.
EXAMPLE 1: THE HOKEY POKEY CANVAS
This canvas is hanging in my Prosperity bagua,[2] and originally (2022) it was white and black. A year or two later, I decided to add the red dots to make it more interesting and to “activate” positive energy. This year (2025) I added MORE dots because more is always better, right? But then after walking in and out of the room a few times, I realized the canvas looked like it had a rash. And the effect was doubled due to it being reflected in our large vanity mirror. This really irritated me (just like a rash would!), so I removed the extra dots. I knew it was a good decision because I immediately felt calmer.
EXAMPLE 2: THE "MOLDY" BOX
Whenever I saw the boxes (previously) stacked in my back room closet, I noticed one that looked like it was molding, especially in low light. It grossed me out! Upon closer inspection, I realized it was just wear on the cardboard, and the box was a little beaten up. Since it was an older style box that was sturdier than the new ones I had bought, I thought: "Maybe I should keep it!" But if I saw "mold" and damage every time I looked at it, that would create a negative vibe which I don't want in general or particularly in that spot (which happens to be in my Prosperity bagua).[2] To the recycle bin it went, and I transferred the contents to a brand new box.
WHAT TO DO:
Watch for things that contradict your desires, intentions, or general state of well-being.
EXAMPLE 1: THE QUARTERS
M made money after selling her baked goods and gave it to me as reimbursement for some online purchases. We put the coins and cash into a little gift bag, and it sat on our dining room window ledge for a good month or more. I was waiting until I had time and energy to organize it all (it actually wasn't that hard once I did it). I also wanted to coordinate with M to let her see how coins are rolled. As I kept putting it off, I realized that letting money "sit" didn't match my vibrational request for improved finances. I wanted money to flow, not stop or pause! I got it all sorted and made a quick trip to the bank.
EXAMPLE 2: THE PINK POTS
When using feng shui to help attract a new relationship, I noticed that I had two empty pink pots sitting in my Fame and Reputation bagua[2] (which is next to the Relationships & Love bagua). The lonely little pots made me think of an Amazon box I saw that read, "Without you, I'm empty inside." Other words came to mind, like void, and absence, and un(ful)filled. In terms of the bagua they were in, I realized it would be difficult to be famous in the eyes of my new partner if he never showed up.
Although I liked the ceramic pot, it didn't have drain holes which caused root problems (!) due to water pooling on the bottom. Did I also mention that water is a hazardous element in this bagua? So that one needed to go. I was able to create drain holes for the other pot and planted a new Christmas cactus. With it, I focused on an intention for "new love" and growth.
NOTE: Karen Rauch Carter[1] advises against having cactus plants in any bagua with the exception of Fame and Reputation. To me, a cactus symbolizes having healthy boundaries.
EXAMPLE 3: THE FRAME
During an office move, the glass frame displaying my professional license got cracked. I let it sit in an unsorted box of things for many months before I finally took it back out. In terms of (not) supporting my career intentions, the frame made me think of words like broken, damaged, ruined, and dangerous. Not to mention there was an implication that my career needed to be "fixed" or had been put on hold. I thought about replacing the glass but decided to let the whole thing go.
EXAMPLE 4: THE LADYBUG LIGHTS
This one is illustrates a contradiction in intention, incongruency, and possible barrier to what I wanted (manifestation). These ladybug solar lights were a gift, and I put them near my front porch to symbolize having a new partner. At some point, they stopped working, and the stem broke on one of them. So, in the spirit of "I'll fix them," they got stuffed into the cabinet (see example below), on top of my feng shui supply box at that, and there they sat for at least a year until I threw them out. So I had "not working," broken, lack of a stable base, no leg to stand on, etc. etc. Oh, and here's that broken, sharp-edged flower dish too. No wonder I'm still single! Well, at that time anyway.
WHAT NOT TO DO:
Cram tons of things in/on to a cabinet, cupboard, closet, drawer, surface, etc.
EXAMPLE 1: THE CABINET
Let me list some of the contents:
Old hand mixer with rusty beaters, bag of "things to be fixed," my green feng shui supply box, two broken flower dishes with sharp edges, several empty wood trays from old craft kits, the magnetic thermometer from the front door (magnet fell off), a huge bottle of glue last used around 2019, an unopened package of index cards from several year ago that M didn't need, taped-up papers that belong elsewhere (such as file cabinet or recycle bin), a cookbook we borrowed and needed to give back, old spare Sharpie markers, an electric kettle that I don't want taking up space on our tiny countertop, an old phone + boxes + charger, a cardboard box with old paint and other unused art supplies, random food coloring bottles, various stacks of newspaper for painting, two mini bubble bottles with missing sticks, and an overflowing plastic shoebox with batteries. The orange shirt protects my beloved glass snow globe I bought from Hudson's about 30 years ago, and the yellow cup is for spider and other insect rescue.
My intention is to point out all of the stagnant, chaotic, and otherwise negative energy that was going on in this cabinet as well as it being completely packed. Like the shoe rack, the red cabinet falls in my Career bagua.[2] If space equals opportunity, then I'm in trouble! Currently (2025), it's still more full than I would like (small home), but it's more organized than before.
Before
After
EXAMPLE 2: THE REFRIGERATOR
I seem to have a thing for magnets (see Front Door)... Hence, the front of the refrigerator. Words come to mind, such as crammed, packed, chaotic, disorganized, and scattered. I'm sensing a pattern here! I decided to remove things that I didn't really like, had no particular personal meaning, and had just been stuck up for no apparent reason. Now there's more room to breathe.
WHAT NOT TO DO:
Keep things that confuse you as to why they exist or remain in your space.
THE ROCKS
Why is this basket of rocks under my dresser, you ask? Beats me! Why are you keeping these random and seemingly unappealing rocks? Because I MIGHT want or need them someday?? Not likely. (See examples of this above.) There was a pretty Petoskey stone, but other than that, all of the rocks were ordinary. I think they may have been found on nature walks over the years. It's hard to be sentimental about things that have no memories associated with them. Also, I like the purple bag, but it has a negative vibe due to who gave it to me (sorry, unnamed person!). I put the rocks back outside,donated the bag, and gave away the Petoskey. *I wish I had weighed this one to see how many more pounds of stuff I had sitting around (See "The Weight of Things" below.) Oh, and by the way, I love love love the basket, so it got relocated to a place where it could serve a better purpose.
WHAT TO DO:
Be kind, loving, and compassionate toward yourself despite dirt and messes.
THE DUST
I hesitated to include this example due to embarrassment... But then I realized that my message is to treat ourselves kindly without assigning blame, shame, or guilt. Regarding this dust, it got that way due to me being extremely tired and stressed, as well as being really good at ignoring things that I don't want to deal with. Would it have taken more than 5 minutes to clean? No, but at the time it felt like "too much" and "not a priority." So while the dust waited, I decided to add some hearts to symbolize love for myself even during times when I let things go. As a bonus, I'm including the particularly yucky dust on tall our file cabinet (both of these are tucked in a back room, btw)... How does cat hair get up that high when Sesame can't get to it? (But seriously Lexi, get that cleaned up ASAP for feng shui purposes.)
WHAT TO DO:
Find quick and easy fixes.
THE HINGES
One suggestion from Karen Rauch Carter[1] is to make sure doors are not squeaky, creaky, or stuck. I used a small bottle of WD-40 on several hinges that screeched every time they were used. A few quick sprays did the trick (with some paper towels for wiping away drips, it's a thin and oily liquid). Not only are the doors now quiet; they also open and close more smoothly.
Side Note: While fixing my hinges, I came across what was probably the previous owner's attempts at the same thing but using a strange black substance. It had always bugged me, but I didn't do anything about it (mostly because I assumed it would be hard to clean). Turns out it was easily removed with a few alcohol swabs.
THE WEIGHT OF THINGS
While continuing to declutter (a feng shui staple), I decided to sort through several boxes and baskets that I knew had unused and no-longer-wanted things in them. Much of it had been with me for years and had been moved from place to place. I eventually reduced most of the stuff to a small number of boxes that I'm proud to say were neatly stacked and labeled. For fun, I weighed the contents before I started sorting to see how many pounds I've been lugging around and holding onto.
TOTAL BEFORE SORTING: 167 lbs
Misc. papers: 21.6 lbs
File cabinet drawer: 30.6 lbs
Cookbook basket: 16.6 lbs
Piano book basket: 22.8 lbs
Books: 19.6 lbs and 18.2 lbs
CD's: 37.6 lbs
TOTAL AFTER SORTING: 26.8 lbs
Cookbook: 6.4 lbs File cabinet: 13.8 lbs Piano basket: 6.6 lbs
I donated, recycled, or discarded nearly all of the items from the remaining three boxes with the exception of a few keepsakes.
DONATIONS
Who knew so much stuff could fit into a 949-square-foot home with no basement?? A few outgoing examples.
MOVE YOUR STUFF, CHANGE YOUR LIFE
(Eventually!)
While going through the mass of stuff in my house, I came across some feng shui notes I had made in 2016 based on Karen Rauch Carter's book: "Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life" which I believe was originally published in 2000. So back then I was at least considering putting these things into action! If From memory, I think I started doing some symbolic selection and placement of things around 2021 while preparing for a new love relatinoship. If I find photos of some of my earlier efforts, I'll add them here.
RESOURCES
[1] I am so thankful to Karen Rauch Carter, professional feng shui consultant, healthy-lifestyle designer, educator, and best-selling author, whose teachings have helped me improve my life in amazing ways. Nearly 100% of my knowledge of basic feng shui principles and strategies is derived from Karen's work. I particularly love her recommendation to customize changes to best support the person or people involved, her stance of "leaving things alone" that are already working, and her suggestion to follow our own guidance if something feels off. Any mistakes in describing or implementing feng shui are mine alone.
Karen's methods, publications, and more can be viewed on her website at:
[2] Karen Rauch Carter explains baguas and enhancement tips here: karenrauchcarter.com/the-feng-shui-bagua-map
[3] Definition obtained online 10/12/2025 via Google search engine AI Overview.
[4] I first listened to a recording of Esther Hicks over 20 years ago and immediately thought it was too weird for me. Upon revisiting Abraham-Hicks' teachings several years later, their information began to make more sense and to resonate with me. I recommend all of their work. You can see their Daily Law of Attraction Quotations (scroll down on the home page) for quick soundbites.
Abraham-Hicks' teachings, publications, workshops, and more can be viewed on their website at: