10 Things You Should Remove to Instantly Make Your Home Feel Better

Sometimes it’s not about what you add to your home—it’s what you take away. A space can look decorated and still feel heavy or cluttered if there’s too much going on. Whether it’s things you’ve outgrown or items that never really worked, certain pieces weigh a space down more than they help.

Clearing the right things makes your home feel fresher, calmer, and easier to live in without needing to do a full makeover. Here’s what to get rid of to help your space breathe.

Old Throw Pillows That Lost Their Shape

Throw pillows can cozy up a room, but once they get lumpy or flat, they stop adding anything. Misshapen cushions drag the whole space down and make your furniture look tired.

If you haven’t fluffed them in weeks or they never bounce back, it’s time to let them go. Keep a few that actually hold their shape and fit your style—less is often more when it comes to pillows.

Wall Decor You Don’t Like Anymore

Art and signs that don’t feel like “you” anymore make a space feel off, even if you don’t notice it right away. If you’re constantly walking past something and thinking “eh,” that’s your sign.

It doesn’t matter if it was trendy five years ago or if it came as part of a set—if it no longer fits your style, it’s okay to take it down. Bare walls can feel better than ones filled with stuff that doesn’t mean anything to you.

Worn-Out Rugs

Area rugs take a beating—spills, foot traffic, pet hair—and over time they stop anchoring the room and start making it look messy. If the pattern is faded, the edges are curling, or it won’t stay in place, it’s doing more harm than good.

Even a bare floor can look cleaner than a rug that’s past its prime. If it’s not helping the space feel pulled together, it might be time to roll it up and move on.

Stacks of Mail or Papers

That pile on the counter or corner of the desk? It might seem small, but visual clutter like that adds up. Even if it’s organized, seeing stacks of paperwork keeps your brain in “unfinished business” mode.

A simple bin or drawer can hide it while you deal with it weekly. Getting it out of sight makes the whole room feel calmer—and gives your surfaces some breathing room again.

Clunky Furniture That Doesn’t Fit

If you’ve got a piece of furniture that blocks a walkway or never really worked in the room, it’s probably making things feel more cramped than they are. Oversized chairs, too-wide dressers, or odd end tables all add visual weight.

You don’t need to replace it right away—but moving it out or finding it a better spot can instantly open up the space. Sometimes removing one bulky item makes everything else feel more balanced.

Decor That Doubles as Clutter

A shelf full of tiny knickknacks or trays overflowing with “decorative” objects can make a room feel busy. When everything’s competing for attention, nothing stands out—and dusting becomes a whole ordeal.

Try clearing off one surface completely and see how the space feels. When you give your favorite items space to breathe, they stand out more. You don’t need to display everything all at once.

Old or Unused Cords and Chargers

Tangled cords stuffed in drawers or trailing behind furniture are one of those things you stop seeing—but once they’re gone, it’s like a breath of fresh air. If you’re not using them, they’re just taking up space.

Sort through your stash and get rid of duplicates, broken chargers, or ones for devices you don’t even own anymore. Fewer cords means fewer tangles and less stress when you’re trying to find the one you actually need.

Window Treatments That Block Light

Heavy curtains or outdated blinds can make a room feel darker and more closed-in than it needs to be. If your window treatments are thick, discolored, or always drawn, they might be dragging the whole space down.

Try removing them altogether or swapping them for something lighter. Even pulling them all the way open during the day can make your home feel fresher and more inviting without changing anything else.

Excess Kitchen Gadgets on the Counter

It’s easy to let appliances and tools live on the counter “for convenience,” but when every inch is covered, it starts to feel cluttered instead of functional. If you don’t use something daily, it doesn’t need to be out.

Clearing just one or two things—like that air fryer or blender that’s only used on weekends—can make your kitchen feel bigger and less chaotic right away. Out of sight really can mean peace of mind.

Storage Bins That Don’t Actually Store Anything Useful

Empty baskets, unused drawer organizers, or random bins full of who-knows-what aren’t doing you any favors. If it’s labeled and stored but never used, it’s still clutter—just hidden a little better.

Take a look inside those bins and be honest: are you really going to use what’s in there? If not, toss or donate what you can and reclaim the space. Organized clutter is still clutter.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.