Decluttering as a way home to ourselves

Nicola Lewis, founder of This Girl Can Organise, is a professional organiser, decluttering expert and content creator dedicated to helping people simplify their homes and lives.

There’s a moment that always gets me when I’m helping someone declutter their home. I call it The Pause. It’s that instant when they pick up an object – a chipped mug, a ticket from a nostalgic concert or a photo tucked inside a frame that’s seen better days – and they just stop.

In that pause, everything shifts. It’s not about the item anymore, but the story behind it – the memory, the feeling. I love being there to support them through that moment. Decluttering isn’t about having less or lining your shelves with matching baskets. It’s about creating space for what really matters: the things you love, the memories you cherish, the stories that make you, you.

I grew up in a warm but very organised working-class home. Both my parents worked full-time, so I learned early on to take accountability for my actions. At weekends, I’d watch them “reset” the house, my dad polishing everyone’s shoes and vacuuming the sofas, my mum cleaning the kitchen and cooking dinners for the week ahead. Sundays were a day of getting everything in order: laundry done, meals planned and the house ready for the week – before we’d all sit down for a roast dinner and watch the telly together. Observing them taught me that structure isn’t about perfection; it’s about creating calm and confidence for what’s to come – and working together as a team.

That sense of order followed me into my first career on a busy trading floor in the city. It was fast-paced, demanding and full of noise, but I learned to listen carefully, stay composed and deliver what was expected. There was, of course, a lot of pressure in that environment, but I used to think of myself as a swan gliding gracefully on the surface while paddling like mad beneath the water (or the desk). Those years shaped my resilience and my belief that calm is something we create, not something that just happens.

When I started This Girl Can Organise, I realised that decluttering goes far deeper than tidying. It’s about understanding why we hold onto things and what we’re finally ready to release. We often think of clutter as a pile of stuff: papers stacked on the worktop, tangled chargers, overflowing photo albums or phone galleries crammed with images. But clutter is emotional, too. Every object, every photo is a tiny “maybe later” – a decision we’ve postponed. Over time, those little maybes build up, overwhelming our homes and our heads until we can’t quite see what matters most. Clearing your space – whether it’s your living room or your camera roll – can feel like a huge exhale after holding your breath for too long. It’s not about striving for perfection or minimalism; it’s about removing the noise and finding calm, clarity and connection in your own nest.

Some of my most powerful client moments have come when someone simply stops and exhales. One woman, sorting through years of paperwork after a difficult divorce, whispered to me, “I didn’t realise how rejuvenating this is – I feel like a brand new person.” Another smiled through tears as we cleared her late mother’s wardrobe. It was such an emotional task, but we made it comforting and calm. I’ll never forget her saying, “I feel lighter, and closer to her somehow.” Once we’d finished, she looked peaceful. It was one of my most memorable working days and a beautiful reminder of why I love what I do.

If you’re starting your own decluttering journey, begin small. I recommend choosing one area, lighting a candle, putting on music you love and making it a ritual. Let go of what no longer feels right, because when we do, we make space for an exciting new chapter. All that matters is keeping what still makes you smile – the moments that lift your heart. The rest? Let it go with gratitude, knowing it’s already played its part.

Popsa does something similar – turning the endless scroll of photos on your phone into something you can actually hold. There’s something so grounding about creating a photo book. It transforms digital clutter into a story you can flip through, share and smile about. It’s like giving your memories a proper home.

I always suggest creating image folders on your phone with simple headers. At the end of each month, sit down with a cuppa, scroll through your camera roll and choose the moments that really mean something. It’s such a joy to relive those memories, knowing you’ll bring them to life in a Popsa Photo Book – something tangible, beautiful and real. And if you ever feel guilty about letting go, don’t. Decluttering isn’t about getting rid of your past, it’s about honouring it. It’s about shaping your story so it feels like you again. Every time you clear a drawer, choose a photo or create a book, you’re saying: “This is who I am now.” And that’s where the magic truly happens.