I know I write a lot about decluttering methods, and while the majority focus on cutting clutter fast and clearing as much space as possible, this isn’t always the only purpose behind decluttering. Sometimes, you want to cut some clutter – or rather, need to – in order to shake off the shadows of an old self, to make room for the new and improved version of ‘you’ or to transition into a new stage.
Sometimes, when it comes to our homes, or even our sense of self, we can feel stuck in the past, clinging on to items that no longer represent us. When you take a moment to stop and realise which items no longer serve you and your new tastes, you’ll discover how much space can be freed up once you let them go.
So I decided to try just that, taking a more thoughtful and emotional approach to cutting clutter, and I did so by using the alluringly named dissolving caterpillar decluttering method. If that name sounds strange, that’s because it is, but I’ll explain what it means and how its ethos helped me cut clutter all over my bedroom.
What is the dissolving caterpillar decluttering method?
The dissolving caterpillar decluttering method is a reflective approach that focuses on understanding your relationship with clutter before getting rid of it. Coined by interior designer and author of Spatial Alchemy, Olga Naiman, it encourages you to let go of items that no longer align with who you are now. The aim is to create a home that feels more intentional and in tune with your current lifestyle, rather than just tidier.
The way I went about approaching this method was to start small. Focusing on smaller areas of a room that naturally led into one another. For instance, starting with the wardrobe, then the chest of drawers, then what’s on top of the chest of drawers, then the dressing table and so on.
Others who tried the method online have cited using a similar approach, thinking about it like working down the segments of a caterpillar. As you complete an area that segment dissolves, and eventually so too does the caterpillar, leaving behind a beautiful butterfly (the butterfly in this case being a clean and organised home).
How I used the dissolving caterpillar decluttering method on my bedroom
I’ve had a lot of changes over the last few years. New jobs, new friends and, most notably, plenty of new flats. So when I properly thought about this method, I realised just how much stuff I’d been carting around from place to place, new chapter to new chapter with me, slowly weighing me down without serving any real purpose. Things that no longer reflected who I am now, my taste, my lifestyle, even my day-to-day reality – and, if anything, they were tethering me to an older version of myself I don’t identify with anymore. Not to say that every item in this decluttering process was deeply sentimental – a fair chunk of it was just skinny jeans and some really ugly shoes.
I started with my wardrobe, but in the spirit of the method, I kept things small and intentional. Rather than diving into everything at once, I began with the storage space above my hanging rail, a catch-all area for things I clearly didn’t use very often. Inside, I found a whole bag of clothes I’d forgotten about. As I went through it, I kept asking myself: ‘Would I actually wear this now, or am I just holding on to it because of what it represents?’ For some pieces, particularly from a less-than-stellar fashion phase, letting go was easy. Others were more emotional. There’s something quite powerful about recognising what a piece once meant to you but also accepting that it no longer fits who you are today. It felt surprisingly cathartic. It wasn’t the quickest clear-out I’ve ever done, but it was one of the most impactful. I freed up space and let go of things I’d probably have otherwise kept out of guilt or nostalgia.
From there, I moved logically on to my bookshelf, which sits next to the wardrobe. If anywhere is primed for clutter tied to past versions of yourself, it’s a bookshelf. I found books I’d already read and loved but could admit their role in my life was complete, so I passed them on, hoping they might do the same for someone else. I also parted with a few very well-intentioned healthy eating and fitness books. Despite my aspirations, I never made it past page 10.
A slightly more niche category – but one that surprisingly really benefited from this method – was my perfume collection. I used to be a beauty writer, and I’m a pretty indecisive and picky person a lot of the time, so I’ve built up quite a stash over the years. And if anything transports you back to a former version of yourself, it’s scent. Using the caterpillar method, I managed to cut my collection down by about half, keeping only the scents that still felt like ‘me’ and passing the old ‘what could have been’ versions of myself on to some very grateful flatmates.
My verdict
Overall, this is one of the most restorative and genuinely satisfying decluttering methods I’ve tried. It’s definitely not a quick fix – it took me the best part of an afternoon to work through just my (fairly small) bedroom – but the results felt far more meaningful than a speedier clear-out. It ended up being a bit of a trip down memory lane, but one that left me with clean shelves and that slightly smug, warm, fuzzy feeling of successfully moving on.
I’d recommend it to anyone going through a transitional phase, or honestly, anyone who feels a bit stuck with their space. It gives you that extra nudge to shake things up and let go of the cobwebs of the past, making room for a version of your home – and your tastes – that actually reflects who you are now.
