Our clutter doesn’t necessarily reflect messy habits. In many cases, it stems from the stories we tell ourselves.

Think about the items you hold on to not because you truly want or need them, but because of hypothetical or future-focused narratives. “I’d use that if I had more time.” Or “I’d want to wear that because it looks great, but it’s not as comfortable as I’d like.”

That mindset is at the heart of what organisers call the “ifs and buts” rule of decluttering. And by recognising this kind of thinking, people can make meaningful progress when it comes to tidying and organising their homes.

What is the “ifs and buts” rule of decluttering?

“The ‘ifs and buts’ approach focuses on noticing the conditional language people use when they hold on to items – such as ‘if I lose weight,’ ‘but I might need it someday,’ or ‘if we ever have guests,’” said professional organiser Regina Lark. “These phrases often signal that clutter is being kept for a future version of life rather than the one currently being lived.”

Think about that episode of Friends when Monica buys extremely uncomfortable boots, but she feels the need to justify keeping them because they were so expensive.

Ask yourself if the reason you’re holding on to something is because of an “if” or “but” condition. That fancy pizza oven you’ve never even used? Maybe you know you should get rid of it, “but it was expensive”. That “but” is probably not a great justification for letting it take up so much room in your kitchen.

“When you hear yourself making statements like ‘I’d like this sweater if it was a different colour’ or ‘I like the sweater but it doesn’t fit me,’ you know we are leaning more towards letting it go,” said Julie Naylon of No Wire Hangers Professional Organizing.

She added that these statements are usually accompanied by a “yucky” face that indicates how they really feel about the item. Maybe you love those cool accent pillows in your closet – but they don’t actually work with your home’s decor. Instead,........

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