Have you ever walked into someone's home and immediately sensed that the space was intentional—that the people living there knew exactly who they were and what they wanted their home to be? And then walked back into your own home feeling like something was... off?

Here's the truth most of us don't want to admit: if you don't decide on a purpose for your home, your home will decide for you. And your wallet will follow that unintentional path, leaving you with a space full of "almost right" purchases that never quite work together.

In this episode, Kathi Lipp sits down with brand manager and home organization expert Tenneil Register to explore a concept that might surprise you: your home already has a brand. The question is—did you choose it, or did it happen by accident?

What You'll Discover in This Episode

• Why that cute pillow from Target doesn't work in your living room (and what to do about it)
• The five "default brands" homes accidentally adopt—and how to tell which one is yours
• How to stop panic buying before parties and events
• A simple 3-word exercise to clarify how you want your home to look and feel
• Why removing things often works better than adding more
• The difference between living in fantasy and building toward realistic goals

The Default Brands You Might Be Living With

Tenneil shares five accidental home brands that many families fall into:

• The Storage Unit: You're holding everyone else's stuff
• The Almost Ready for Company House: You'll invite people over "after" something that never comes
• The Last Minute Scramble House: You tear the place apart just trying to get out the door
• The Good Intentions House: Full of started-but-not-finished projects

The 3-Word Exercise That Changes Everything

Kathi shares her simple but powerful approach: choose three words that describe how you want your home to feel in this season. Her words? Cozy, clean, and restorative. These words become a filter for every decision—from furniture purchases to party prep to daily routines.

Some words to consider: calm, welcoming, practical, simple, flexible, bright, playful, uncluttered, fancy, sleek, or minimalist. The key is choosing words that are both realistic for your current season and aspirational enough to guide your decisions.

Key Takeaways

• A home brand isn't just an aesthetic—it's a set of decisions you make in advance about how you want your space to look and feel
• When you panic buy, it's either the best purchase ever or the worst—90% of the time, it's the worst
• Planning for the long run of how you'll actually live prevents reactive, emotional decisions
• You're always building toward your brand—you never fully "arrive"
• Embracing your home's physical and emotional limits helps you create realistic goals

Stay tuned for next week's episode where Kathi and Tenneil turn those three words into pre-decisions about color, style, spending, and a yes/no filter for every home decision.

Do you start every new year with big decluttering goals only to feel defeated by February? What if there was a gentler, more sustainable approach to creating a clutter-free home—one that doesn't rely on shame or all-or-nothing thinking?

In this powerful episode, Kathi Lipp continues her workshop on making 2026 your most clutter-free year ever. But here's the twist: it's not about dramatic resolutions or punishing yourself into organization. It's about understanding your relationship with your home and aligning your space with the life you're actually living right now.

What You'll Discover in This Episode

Kathi dives deep into a mindset shift that changes everything: your home is not a museum, and it's not a punishment—it's a tool. Like a Swiss Army knife, your home serves multiple functions, and when you start treating it as a support system rather than a storage locker, everything shifts.

You'll learn why your home needs boundaries, not heroics—and what that looks like practically. From containers that define limits (using only what you already have!) to making decisions that prevent "stuff creep," Kathi offers actionable wisdom that meets you where you are.

The Procrastination-Clutter Connection

One of the most eye-opening moments in this episode? Kathi's revelation that procrastination is just perfectionism leaking out in an annoying way. If you've ever felt paralyzed looking at a cluttered space, unable to start because you can't do it "right," this insight will set you free. Kathi shares her one-minute technique for breaking through that paralysis with kindness.

Reframing Your Resolutions

Instead of "I'm never shopping again," try "I'm learning to delight in what I already have." Instead of "No more craft stores," try "I'm scheduling time to actually use my crafts." Kathi walks through practical reframes that honor your desires while creating sustainable change.

Key Takeaways

• Your house is always talking to you—clutter is just saying "this is too much"
• Aim for 85% organized, not perfection (even Kathi doesn't expect 100%!)
• Shopping takes time—reclaim that time for things you truly want to do
• Don't declutter alone—community support makes all the difference
• Be gentle with yourself: your body's procrastination is trying to protect you

Whether you're just starting your decluttering journey or you've been at it for years, this episode offers a fresh perspective that honors both your home and your humanity. Because you deserve to live in a space that matches the life you're actually living—not the life you think you should be living.

Do you ever walk into your home and feel your chest tighten? That overwhelming sense of "what is wrong with me?" when you look around at the clutter? You're not alone—and it turns out, there's a powerful connection between what's happening in our homes and what's happening in our hearts.

In this honest and hope-filled episode, Kathi sits down with her dear friend Becky Keife, author of A Verse a Day for the Anxious Soul, to explore how anxiety and clutter are like twin sisters—different personalities, but showing up in remarkably similar ways.

What You'll Discover in This Episode

Both Kathi and Becky have walked through their own struggles—Kathi with clutter and Becky with a generalized anxiety disorder. Together, they unpack the lies we tell ourselves: "If I just tried harder," "If I wasn't so lazy," "If I could just be normal." Sound familiar?

The truth is, there's never just one cause for our struggles, and there's never just one solution. But there IS hope, and there ARE small, doable steps that can make a real difference.

Practical Tips Shared

For Anxiety:

• Go on a walk (you won't feel like it, but you'll feel better)
• Journal for just 3-5 minutes to untangle what's in your head
• Practice breath prayer—inhale "The Lord is my shepherd," exhale "I have all that I need"

For Clutter:

• Start with just 3 minutes (not 15!) and reward yourself
• Practice containment—you don't have to declutter, just corral items together
• When overwhelmed, focus only on dishes and laundry as self-care

A Word for the Woman Who Feels Ashamed

Becky offers this powerful truth: "Your anxiety, your clutter is not an indictment on your character. The state of your home has no reflection of the value of your soul." Whether you're struggling with a messy house or a messy mind, you are beloved. You are not alone. And today is not the end of your story.

Key Takeaways

• Anxiety and clutter share common roots: control issues, fear, trauma, shame, and unhealthy patterns
• Both can be hidden for a long time until we reach a breaking point
• There's a vast, livable space between "cured" and "why bother"
• Small, doable steps truly make a difference—you don't have to fix everything today
• You are worthy of support and don't have to climb out of the pit alone

If you've ever made a dramatic New Year's resolution about decluttering—only to feel defeated by mid-January—you're not alone. In this special workshop episode of Clutter Free Academy, Kathi Lipp and her husband Roger tackle the mindset traps that keep so many people stuck in the clutter cycle.

The All-or-Nothing Trap

That familiar pressure to make sweeping declarations like "I'm not shopping for an entire year" or "I'm decluttering my whole house this month" might feel empowering on January 1st, but these brittle systems are designed to break. When life happens—and it always does—one slip feels like total failure, leading most people to simply quit.

A Better Way Forward

The truth is, clutter-free isn't a finish line. It's a skill set. Instead of intensity, listeners learn to build consistency through small, repeated decisions that compound over time. The episode introduces the 15-minute decluttering method and explains why tackling spaces smaller than 2 feet by 2 feet creates the identity shifts needed for lasting change.

Understanding Right-Sized Consumption

Kathi explores the spectrum between overconsumption (fear-based stockpiling, comfort buying, and "fantasy self" purchases) and underconsumption (punishment-based deprivation). The goal isn't to never buy anything again—it's to buy and keep what supports your real life with the space, energy, and money you actually have.

Key Takeaways

• If your plan only works when you're at 100%, it won't work at all
• Small spaces create big identity shifts—start with one drawer, not an entire room
• Decision fatigue sets in after about 15 minutes, so work in short bursts
• Shift from being a "collector" to being a "curator"—keep the best, release the rest
• The goal isn't January intensity; it's building a rhythm you can maintain in October

This is part one of a two-part series designed to help listeners make 2026 their most clutter-free year yet—without the shame, without the all-or-nothing thinking, and with a plan that actually fits real life.

With Christmas just around the corner, the pressure to have everything perfect can feel overwhelming. But what if peace—not perfection—was the goal this holiday season?

In this quick but powerful episode, Kathi and Roger Lipp offer a lifeline for anyone feeling the holiday crunch. Whether you're hosting family, juggling last-minute preparations, or simply trying to enjoy the season without burning out, this episode delivers exactly what you need: practical, doable tasks that will transform your Christmas experience.

What You'll Discover in This Episode

Kathi and Roger share their top 10 tasks for December 23rd that will pay off big on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. These aren't deep-cleaning projects or Pinterest-worthy overhauls—they're real, achievable actions designed for busy people who want to actually enjoy their holiday.

Key Takeaways:

• Cook three dishes ahead of time - One side, one breakfast item, one dessert to free up oven and fridge space when guests arrive

• Focus only on main areas - Living room, kitchen, and guest bath get priority; skip the deep clean

• Put away 90% of wrapping supplies - Keep one roll of paper, a few bags, tape, scissors, and a Sharpie accessible

• Think through the needs of the day - Extra toilet paper, trash bag liners, paper towels positioned and ready

• Pick your outfit starting with shoes - Comfort is key when you're hosting and running around

• Clean out the fridge - Make room for dishes, platters, and leftovers

• Do all the dishes you can - Run that dishwasher even if it's only three-quarters full

• Guest bathroom two-minute rescue - Quick wipe, clean mirror, fresh towel, restock supplies

• Send a "here's the plan" text - Arrival times, parking, what to bring—predecisions equal peace

• Five-minute joy setup - Turn on the tree, light candles, play Christmas music

Night-Before Quick Wins

The episode also covers essential night-before tasks: setting up your coffee station, doing a 10-minute surface sweep, laying out serving dishes with post-it labels, and charging all devices. Roger's pro tip about running the dishwasher even when it's not full is a game-changer for keeping your kitchen under control.

As Kathi reminds listeners: "Today is not a day for perfection. Today is a day for peaceful triage." This episode gives you permission to let go of the overwhelming to-do list and focus on what actually matters—creating a peaceful, joy-filled Christmas for you and your loved ones.

Remember: Peace is an act of resistance. Let's resist the overwhelm together this Christmas season.

If your people are saying, “Please—no more stuff,” this episode is your new holiday playbook. Kathi Lipp and Roger Lipp share 10 consumable gift ideas that show big love without adding to anyone’s storage, from treat boxes and breakfast baskets to dinner kits, coffee/tea samplers, and even the tricky categories—candles, body care, and yes, cleaning supplies (only for the right person!). Listeners will learn Kathi Lipp’s simple 3–6 month test for choosing truly clutter‑free gifts, how to tailor consumables to minimalists, caregivers, and folks in transition, and how to make gift‑giving personal with paper-and-pen “use it up” favorites, baking kits in a bowl, and thoughtful frozen‑food gifts. Plus, Kathi Lipp shares exactly how to ask for consumables this year: “We’d love things we can eat, burn or use up.” Tune in for practical, joy‑filled ideas you can give—or add to your own wish list—so you can love your people well without creating one more thing to declutter.

In this tender episode, Kathi Lipp welcomes friend and author Cheri Fletcher to walk with listeners who are facing a holiday table that’s forever changed. After losing her 29-year-old daughter, Annie, to undiagnosed colorectal cancer, Cheri offers compassionate, practical ideas for navigating Christmas when your capacity is low and your heart is heavy. Listeners will learn:

• Simple ways to honor someone who is missing—think favorite movies, small touchstones, or wearing a gift—without turning Christmas into a full memorial
• Giving yourself permission to scale back decor, modify or skip traditions, and ask the most important question: Why am I doing this—comfort or compulsion?
• How to host kindly when one person wants to talk and another doesn’t
• Plus what actually helps a grieving friend (hint: do the small things without asking).

Cheri introduces her tool, Beyond “I Don’t Know What to Say” grief communication cards—conversation starters that help families find words when grief makes everyone go quiet. If you need a gentle plan for a hard holiday, this conversation will help you find both comfort and doable next steps.

Use the code "clutterfree" or "redhouse" on Cheri's website for 10% off.

In this solo, right-on-time episode, Kathi Lipp shares 10 tiny, high-impact tasks to lower your holiday stress—perfect for the Tuesday before Thanksgiving (and just as helpful for Christmas). Instead of chasing a magazine-perfect home, she helps you remove friction in the exact places that cause chaos. Listeners will hear details of the following 10 small tasks:

1. Clear the "turkey triangle" (sink, oven, main counter)

2. Do a 10-minute fridge edit that saves sanity on Thursday

3. Pre-assign serving dishes so helpers don’t need to ask what goes where

4. Set up a drink and appetizer station away from the kitchen

5. Prep trash/recycling/compost in advance

6. Post a simple Help List so guests can actually help

7. Guest bathroom reset

8. Create a landing zone for coats and bags

9. Decide on a dishes-and-cleanup plan now, and...

10. Doing one kind thing for "Friday you"—like setting aside leftovers containers and pre-loading the coffee maker.

If you’re feeling behind, this episode meets you with grace and gives you a clear, doable path to a calmer holiday—without the perfection pressure.