My Sister’s Visual Decluttering Trick Is So Brilliant

For the majority of my life I’ve known my sister, Chessie Domrongchai, as a beauty and lifestyle maximalist. As a former beauty influencer, she taught me — and thousands of others — how to apply makeup, find the perfect body lotion, and keep up with the latest beauty trends. Her home was a maximalist reflection of the newest blushes, perfumes, and personal care products, each carefully and proudly displayed in branded packaging. But recently, something shifted. She began visually decluttering her home (and sharing her process on social media) and removing labels from everyday items, and this seemingly quiet change has led to a meaningful impact on her space and self.

According to my sister, visually decluttering is a process of reducing “visual noise”  in your environment by simplifying or removing distracting elements, which means branding and unnecessary packaging. This can include removing labels from dish soap bottles, face washes, and lotions. She originally learned about the trend from another TikTok creator, @Figfeelings, but has since taken that message and used it to both reflect and work on her long-term shopping addiction.

“At its core, visual decluttering is about shifting attention from what the product looks like to what the product does,” says Chessie. Though it isn’t necessarily about having fewer items, she admits that no one needs “five lotions or six different shampoos.” It’s about what the product does for you, not being a “brand ambassador” or “walking advertisement” in your own home. Visual decluttering, to Chessie, is about presenting the items in your home in a more cohesive, intentional way that supports mental clarity and an aesthetic that is hers, not those of a bunch of brands.

For my sister, visual decluttering has been psychologically and emotionally beneficial, has helped her save hundreds of dollars (since she’s not purchasing just name-brand items), and has improved her physical space. Here’s why visual decluttering is so great. 

Chessie shared with me that removing competing labels (and the colors, fonts, and logos they have on them) creates a more serene space. “When your eyes aren’t darting between visual stimuli, your mind feels calmer and more focused,” she explains. The first thing she decluttered was her soap and other bathroom items, and she found this small shift to significantly reduce the mental noise in her bathroom. “Even when you aren’t actively reading the labels on bottles, your mind still passively comprehends and internalizes them. Removing the labels removes the stimuli, and creates a really relaxing environment.” 

She has found that this small shift can significantly reduce stress in high-traffic areas like the kitchen, bathroom, or office.

When the labels disappear, the urge to over-consume often follows. My sister explained that within the first few days of visually decluttering parts of her home, she started “using products for their function rather than their branding,” which led to less waste and making thoughtful purchases for things she needs rather than what she wants. 

Because she is viewing items for their purpose rather than their branding and meaning, she isn’t buying nearly as much for her home. “Instead of constantly chasing the next best thing, I’ve developed a longer-term relationship with the items I already own,” she says. It’s been a subtle but powerful way to shift from consumerism to intentional living and interacting with her things. 

“The visual clarity is nice, but I’ve also saved hundreds of dollars from what I’d normally spend on the newest house products and beauty items that catch my eye,” she told me. And, she’s only been doing this for a month — think of the yearly savings! 

“There’s a quiet beauty in unbranded items,” Chessie says. When products are stripped of marketing messages, she explained to me, you’ll notice the texture of a glass jar, the color of a liquid, or the simplicity of a wooden brush. This form of minimalism, she feels, has enhanced her home’s visual appeal without the need for time-consuming renovations or expensive decor upgrades.

As with anything, practicality and safety are key. While removing labels can be beneficial, there are items where keeping original packaging is essential:

• Medication and Vitamins: Always keep original labels for dosage instructions, expiration dates, and safety information.
• Harsh Cleaners and Chemicals: Labels often contain warnings and first-aid instructions that could be critical in emergencies.
• Allergy-Prone or Special-Use Products: If a product is used for sensitive skin, food allergies, or other medical concerns, its original packaging should be preserved for clarity and safety.

Additionally, sentimental items or objects that bring joy in their original form don’t need to be decluttered. Visual decluttering isn’t about stripping personality from your space. Instead, it’s about making room for the right kind of visual stimulation.

This post originally appeared on Apartment Therapy. See it there: My Sister’s Visual Decluttering Trick Is So Brilliant