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Empty Nest Decluttering Inspiration: 15 Items You Can Finally Let Go Of

Over the years, I’ve helped numerous clients over the age of 50 declutter their empty nests. And now, I fit into the category of “empty nester” as well. While this stage in life can be emotional, it also opens up new freedoms and opportunities that we didn’t have before. 

We now have the opportunity to make adjustments to our lifestyle and home, enabling us to curate a simpler life for ourselves.  

We can also let go of some things we needed to hold on to before. While adjusting to an empty nest is indeed a bittersweet time in our lives, we have come to a place where we can be inspired to make our home the cozy sanctuary we have always wanted.

Empty Nest Decluttering is About Making Room for Your Next Chapter:

We can finally let go of all that responsibility we have been carrying around for so many years and lighten our load. In that space that we open up, we can make time to do things that we enjoy and that matter to us.

Often, these are things that we have put off for many years because we’re always too busy with other responsibilities and with taking care of others.   

Let’s face it, adulting comes with a lot of responsibility. One day, we wake up and find ourselves with a job to manage, children to raise, a home to maintain, parents to care for, and a pooch that needs to be walked.

In fact, for many of us, the “American Dream” can feel more like the American Treadmill. At least that is the way it was for me. Don’t get me wrong, I loved being a mom, and I loved my busy life, but it was a crazy, whirlwind of a busy time for me.

Many days, I would fall into bed exhausted, not even knowing what I did all day.

Becoming an empty nester is a profound transition. But it is also a rare opportunity to reclaim your space, your time, and your identity. Letting go isn’t just about throwing things away; it is about making room for the next chapter of your life.

Your perspective during this time of your life can make all the difference. You can focus on the empty house, or you can choose to focus on your newfound freedom and opportunity to simplify your life and pursue new desires.

10 Physical items in your home that you can declutter now that you have an empty nest.

1. Duplicate Small Appliances: If you have two blenders or a giant crockpot you only used for family dinners, keep the one that serves your current lifestyle and donate the rest.

2. Mismatched Plastic Containers and Old Lunchboxes: The “Tupperware graveyard” grows when kids are home. Keep a few high-quality matching sets and recycle the stained or lidless ones. It might even be time to upgrade to glass food storage containers since you no longer have to worry about them getting broken.

3. Toys and Board Games: Dedicate a small area, part of a hall closet, or a cabinet to store a few favorite toys, picture books, and games. Now, if a child (or future grandchild) comes to visit, they’ll have a play area to keep them busy. Be selective about what you keep, and let go of the rest.

4. Instruments No One Plays: That keyboard or violin from middle school is better off in the hands of a student who will actually use it.

5. Excessive Coffee Mugs and Water Bottles: Honestly, this one is for everyone, not just empty nesters. We all have “our favorite mug” and then 15 others we never touch. Go through and get rid of the extras.

6. The “School Paper” Mountain and Other Keepsakes. Use a plastic tote to create one or two“Memory Boxes” for each child, containing only the absolute highlights. With your adult child’s permission, clear out all the other forgotten things left behind in their rooms. Send them texts with photos for any items in question. If they say they don’t know, don’t agree to keep it all for an undetermined amount of time; instead, give them a deadline to decide by.

7. Kid-Proof Furniture and Dishes. You can now get rid of old, beat-up kids’ furniture and mixed-matched plastic dishes and cups. Now you can use the good set of dishes, and maybe even upgrade to that white sofa you have always wanted.

8. Abandoned Hobbies and Equipment. Do you still have shin guards, dance costumes, or camping gear that haven’t been touched since middle school? Ask your adult children if they want these items. If they say no, you can pitch them.

9. Old Craft Supplies and The “Back-to-School” Stockpile. The drawer full of glitter glue, protractors, 500 pencils, and index cards. Keep a simplified office supply stash and donate the rest. Lunch boxes and thermoses can also go.

10. High-Maintenance Yard Features. Trampolines, swing sets, and above-ground pools that require maintenance but get zero use. Reclaim your backyard for a garden or a patio.

A Tip For Your Newly Decluttered Spaces:

As you remove these items, try not to immediately fill the empty space. Allow the room to “breathe” for a week. You’ll find that the visual silence helps you decide how you really want to use that space—perhaps as a reading nook, a yoga corner, or a hobby station.

Some Non-Physical Things that you can let go of as an empty nester:

11. The “Bulk Buyer” Mentality. For years, you likely shopped to feed a small army. Now, you can let go of that habit and enjoy the luxury of buying higher-quality ingredients in smaller portions.  Let go of the “Costco mentality” and enjoy an organized pantry that is not overstuffed with kids’ snacks.

12. The Role of “Daily Manager”. You are used to knowing where your children are, what they are eating, and if they finished their tasks. You can now retire from the role of General Manager of their lives.

13. Putting Your Marriage Second. In the chaos of raising children, the relationship with your partner often takes a backseat. You can now take the time to put your relationship first, reconnect, and even start dating again.

14. The “Laundry Mountain” Routine. You can let go of the habit of doing laundry every single day. You can now likely get away with doing one or two loads a week.

15. The Fear of Being “Selfish” For years, you put yourself last. You can let go of the guilt associated with spending money, time, and energy solely on yourself.

Having an empty nest can be the perfect time for a fresh new start. An opportunity to create for yourself a lifestyle that is simpler and more carefree. Decide how you want to spend your time. Make time to do things that you enjoy and that are important to you. There are so many possibilities; here are just a few:

1. Plan a trip and do some traveling.

2. Work on a craft or begin a new hobby.

3. Join a book, dinner, or travel club.

4. Take a yoga class or an educational workshop.

5. Start a home remodeling project.

6. Join a pickleball team.

7. Volunteer at a favorite charity.

8. Learn a new language or how to play an instrument.

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