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Homes & Gardens
Homes & Gardens
Andy van Terheyden

12 things that feel illegal to declutter, and why it's OK to let them go

Neutral living room with large white mantelpiece, circular mirror, white rug, and grey sofa. In the centre is a striped footrest. There are large bay windows looking over a street behind in the back.

Letting go of clutter is hard enough, but it gets even harder when the items in question are sentimental, expensive, or tied to your family. Some belongings carry emotional weight, while others come with guilt, so much so, that parting with them can feel almost illegal.

But professional organizers agree: just because something was once meaningful doesn’t mean it needs to live in your home forever.

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