Designer-Led Swedish Death Cleaning Guide

Hi friend,

I’m so glad you’re here. This guide wasn’t born out of expertise—it was born out of real life. Out of messy closets, emotional boxes, and the deep desire to create a home that feels lighter, calmer, and more meaningful.

Swedish Death Cleaning might sound intense, but at its heart, it’s simply a mindful way of living with less so that the things you keep can mean more. I started this journey in my own home—not as a designer chasing perfection, but as a woman, wife, and mom craving clarity in the chaos.

This process is slow. It’s layered. It will stretch you. But I promise—it’s worth it.

Take your time. Go gently. And know that you're not behind—you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.

Let’s begin.

Warmly,
Paige Gray
Paige Gray Studios

1. Start With Your “Why” (Not a Closet)

✅ Checklist:

• ☐ Say out loud why you’re doing this

• ☐ Identify one emotional pain point in your home

• ☐ Choose one small place to start (a junk drawer, not the baby clothes)

• ☐ Set a 20-minute timer—no more

• ☐ Grab a “donate” bag and a “wtf is this” box

🔧 Tips:

• Don’t aim for perfection—aim for relief.

• You don’t need bins or a plan. Just willingness.

• Tidy spaces won’t fix your life, but they will make it easier to find your keys.

⚠️ Struggle Point:
“I feel too overwhelmed to even begin.”
💡 Start with one surface. One decision. That’s all. You’re not lazy—you’re emotionally overloaded.

2. Think in Categories, Not Rooms

✅ Checklist:

• ☐ Paperwork (mail, manuals, mystery receipts)

• ☐ Clothing (especially the “someday” jeans)

• ☐ Kitchen crap (single-use gadgets, Tupperware explosion)

• ☐ Decor (stuff you’re keeping out of guilt, not love)

• ☐ Toys (yes, even the broken ones you meant to fix in 2018)

🔧 Tips:

• Tackle a single category across the whole house

• You’ll notice how often the same clutter type repeats

• Keep a donation box in every major room

⚠️ Struggle Point:
“I decluttered the living room and now the hallway looks like a crime scene.”
💡 That’s because you shifted—not sorted. Categories solve this. Focus on type, not place.

3. Go Slower Than You Think You Should

✅ Checklist:

• ☐ Schedule 1–2 hours per week, not a whole weekend

• ☐ Break it into layers (easy stuff first, emotions later)

• ☐ Celebrate micro-wins (one drawer = gold star)

• ☐ Rest without guilt—burnout = clutter boomerang

🔧 Tips:

• Death cleaning is not a sprint.

• Track progress in a journal, wall calendar, or even sticky notes.

• Hide-and-declutter during screen time if you must. No shame.

⚠️ Struggle Point:
“I started strong, now I’ve stalled completely.”
💡 That’s a normal part of this. Revisit your “why,” text a friend for accountability, or just go clean one junk bowl. You know the one.

4. Expect the Feels (They’re Coming)

✅ Checklist:

• ☐ Allow space for tears, laughs, or total rage at past-you

• ☐ Take photos of sentimental items before letting go

• ☐ Keep 5 memory items from each kid/stage—not 500

• ☐ Journal anything that hits hard

🔧 Tips:

• Sentimental stuff = final boss. Don’t start here.

• A “maybe” bin is okay—but revisit it in 30 days.

• It’s not about dishonoring memories—it’s about keeping the ones that matter most.

⚠️ Struggle Point:
“I feel guilty getting rid of gifts or family items.”
💡 Reminder: You’re not a museum. You’re allowed to value peace over possessions.

5. Reset Your Space—And Your Story

✅ Checklist:

• ☐ Once a space is cleared, give it a new purpose

• ☐ Light a candle. Play music. Sit down and feel it

• ☐ Ask: “What belongs in here now?”

• ☐ Redirect energy: Start thinking design, not damage control

🔧 Tips:

• A decluttered room is a blank canvas

• You don’t need to buy anything—just breathe in the space you’ve reclaimed

• If you want help designing it to reflect you now? That’s where I come in 😉

⚠️ Struggle Point:
“Now what? It still doesn’t feel ‘done.’”
💡 Decluttering is phase one. Design is the fun part. I help clients across North America bring life back to their homes—with no markup, no pressure, just beauty built for real life. Learn more at paigegray.com.

✨ Final Word:

You are not behind. You’re not bad at this. You’re just carrying more than your house was designed to hold—physically and emotionally.

Letting go isn’t giving up. It’s making space for who you’re becoming.

Let’s begin.