182 | House Hushing for the Win with Myquillyn Smith

All links mentioned in the post can be found here: https://simplysquaredaway.com/182 What if decluttering didn’t start with deciding what to get rid of? What if, instead, you could simply *experience* your home with less stuff and THEN decide what deserves to come back? In this episode, I’m talking with Myquillyn Smith, also known as The Nester, about her new book, *House Hushing*, and I absolutely love her approach to creating a peaceful home without feeling like you have to become a hardcore minimalist. Myquillyn describes all the things in our homes as having a little “voice.” Over time, those voices add up. The books, plants, projects, pillows, dog toys, decor, papers, and all the other stuff sitting around can turn what was once a lovely melody into a visual roar. And sometimes you don’t even realize how loud it has gotten until you *experience your space without it.* That’s where House Hushing comes in. Myquillyn walks us through her brilliant concept of “backwards decluttering.” Instead of picking up every single item and immediately deciding whether to keep it, donate it, move it, or throw it away, you temporarily remove all the visible surface items from a room. Then you live with the quieter space for 24 to 48 hours before intentionally choosing what comes back. No giant pile of permanent decisions required. We also talk about cozy minimalism and the idea that you don’t have to choose between a peaceful home and a home that feels warm, beautiful, and full of personality. If traditional decluttering has felt overwhelming, or you’re craving a home that feels a little calmer, you’re going to want to try this. What You’ll Learn: - What House Hushing is and how it turns down the “visual volume” in your home - Why Myquillyn considers herself a cozy minimalist and what that actually means - How to use "backwards decluttering" when you’re overwhelmed by making decisions - Why temporarily removing things can help you experience your home completely differently - How to experiment with less before deciding what to permanently let go of - How to become protective of the peace you create in your home