I thought I was just rearranging my office, but it ended up rearranging me.

I moved a chair. Then a rug. Then the entire room. I thought I was just rearranging my office, but it ended up rearranging me. It’s funny how some of the biggest realizations come from the most unexpected places.

Confessions of a Serial Furniture Rearranger

Today I made a decision: I completely rearranged the furniture in my office.

The urge hit me after spending days with my kids, cleaning out their rooms. We got rid of so much—bags and bags of stuff. Every drawer, every closet. Decluttered, reorganized, fresh. It felt incredible.

My 12-year-old even has a code word for it. She’ll say, “Mom, can we calamari my room today?” (Our family’s nickname for KonMari.) And after “calamari-ing” her space, I thought: Yes. Now it’s my turn.

The Power of Rearranging

Decluttering is one thing. But I’d underestimated the mental lift of rearranging furniture.

When our physical world feels stagnant, our mental world often does too. Shifting the room—literally—creates a fresh perspective. It’s a powerful reset.

So if you’re feeling stuck, try it. Move the couch. Clear a drawer. Reorganize your closet. Sometimes it’s not about why you’re stuck but what you can do to shift it.

Creating a Space That’s Only Yours

I’m lucky to have my own office. Unlike the rest of my house—shared with my husband and five kids—this room is just mine. My books. My objects. My choices. My little she-cave.

And I’ve realized how important it is to carve out a space like this. If not a whole room, maybe a corner of a closet or a small altar in your bedroom. A spot that’s just yours, filled only with things that delight you.

I remember visiting a friend who had recently divorced and set up her new apartment. Her bedroom was unapologetically her—bohemian, ruffly, textured, totally feminine. Not a room a man could inhabit. And I thought, If my bedroom were only mine, how would I set it up?

It would probably be a little different. And that’s okay. I share it with my husband, and I love that it works for both of us. But that visit reminded me how essential it is to have at least one space that reflects only you.

Why “Stuff” Matters

I’ve been thinking a lot about how people say, “Stuff is just stuff.” Especially after hearing it in response to tragedies like the LA fires.

I don’t agree.

To dismiss someone’s grief over losing their home and possessions is cruel. There’s no conflict between gratitude for survival and devastation over loss. Both can be true.

The objects we surround ourselves with are not meaningless. They’re choices—intentional or not—that shape how we feel and how we live. Decluttering, curating, rearranging—it all matters.

My Invitation

So here’s what I’ll leave you with:

• If you’re feeling stuck, try moving something in your environment.
• If you don’t have a space that’s fully yours, create one—no matter how small.
• And when you choose what to keep around you, do it with care. Stuff isn’t just stuff. It can support you, lift you, and make you feel at home in your own life.

Here’s to feeling joyful, light, and supported in the spaces we create for ourselves.

Thanks for being here with me, friend.

It’s okay to tell your teenagers—and anyone in your life—I’m not endlessly available. My time matters.

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