9 'negative' things you should declutter in 2025 to re-energise your home, according to Feng Shui experts

Start the new year as you mean to go on, feeling optimistic and energised. To enable your home to provide a happier environment to thrive a Feng Shui expert has revealed the nine things you should declutter in 2025 to help restore positive energy.

Tidy surroundings provide a tidy mind, so decluttering a home is key to creating a stress-free home environment. According to the principles of Feng Shui, certain objects around our homes unknowingly bring in negative energy. 

So, what are these dreaded items, and why are they disrupting the energy of our homes? Decluttering and certified Feng Shui experts reveal the key things we should all remove from our homes for a happier 2025. 

The 9 things you should never store in your home 

When trying to prepare our home for the new year and upcoming Pinterest trends for 2025, we may already be looking at ways to declutter and revamp. The first step is to look out for items that can affect the sense of calm and wellness of a home if you wish to ensure positive Feng Shui. 

1. Unused or Damaged Crockery

This may seem like an obvious first step in decluttering, but holding on to spare or chipped crockery is more common than you may think. If you're an especially sentimental person then you might be holding on to a relative's tea set or have a royal wedding plate or two, however, Denise warns against this. 

"Chipped, broken, or unused plates and cups all drain your personal Qi, or energy, and obstruct the positive energy within your space," she explains. Qi is known to be a type of energy that constantly flows around us and objects in our homes, it can be good or bad depending on the type of space it exists in. 

Cleaning out these broken items can make a huge difference in your home's energy, creating a more harmonious environment in the process. Not to mention that it helps enormously when organising kitchen cabinets or organising kitchen countertops to keep them tidy. 

Denise O'Dwyer

Working as a Feng Shui consiltant in London, Denise is qualified as an Imperial Chue Style Feng Shui practioner, certified by The Imperial School of Feng Shui. She is also certified by the Mastery Academy of Chinese Metaphysics, Malayasia where she studied with a world famous teacher. Denise is also an accredited consultant with the UK Feng Shui Society.

2. Painful Reminders

As we welcome the new year it can be a good time to look at what we have around us and decide whether or not to bring it with us into 2025, especially if we want to welcome positive energy into your home. 

Denise explains that negative or unresolved mementoes can significantly affect our space and the uplifting energy we bring into it. She says, "Holding onto items associated with negative memories or unresolved emotions can keep you anchored to the past, preventing personal growth and inviting negative Qi into your space." 

Instead of keeping pictures of old friends or souvenir t-shirts of bad holidays, ask to store them at a relative's house or if you do feel able then donating or discarding is an option too. Denise says it's important to let go of unhappy mementoes to create a fresh and positive energy flow and make space for happier ones.

3. Dried or Dead Plants

Whether you fancy yourself a green thumb or not, we've all seen a beloved plant perish due to underwatering or a mystery brown leaf disease. So if you've forgotten your houseplant watering routine or don't know how to clean your plant's leaves or perhaps just seem to have been cursed by Mother Nature herself then you may have one or two dead plants hanging around. 

"Dried or dead plants represent lifelessness and signify a lack of vitality. They can create stagnant energy and block the positive flow of Qi in your home," explains Denise. 

She says this is why it's important to keep your indoor plants healthy as they promote a sense of growth and vitality. And who doesn't want that? Also, remember that certain plants that help with condensation so it's all the more important to keep them well at this time of the year.

4. Unused or broken clocks

This one might belong with some of the most common interior design mistakes to avoid, as stopped or unused clocks can be a huge bearer of negative energy. 

Denise says that any clocks that aren't in use or are broken are, "believed to symbolise a stagnant concept of time and hinder progress." So if you're looking for a job promotion or perhaps a new personal best at the gym then it might be time to donate those spare clocks and throw out the broken ones. 

Denise explains, "They can create a sense of pressure, reminding us of time passing without purpose. Repair or replace broken clocks and remove unused ones to encourage a healthier relationship with time."

5. Broken Mirrors

Now you may be familiar with the reputation broken mirrors have, the tale does go that if you break one it's three years of bad luck, so having them in your home can't be any better for you. 

"In Feng Shui, mirrors are considered powerful tools for reflecting and enhancing energy. However, a broken mirror is believed to distort or reflect negative and fragmented energy, which can disrupt the harmony in your home," says Denise. 

So when you're looking at how to organise your small bedroom or perhaps trying out the new dopamine decor trend, start with removing any chipped or cracked mirrors. That way the good vibes are sure to stay. 

6. Electronics in sleep areas

When making your home cosy you might rely heavily on being able to watch the TV whilst snuggling up in bed. However, keeping electronics in your bedroom can be a terrible source of bad energy and not conducive to healthy sleep hygiene.

Melissa Denham, an interior design expert at Hammonds Fitted Furniture explains, "Having been told many times in sleep guides and mental health awareness posts, most of us know not to scroll through our phones, check the news or watch something thought-provoking on the TV before bedtime. However, feng shui takes this advice one step further by advising that no electronic devices are allowed into the bedroom apart from a basic alarm clock."

She also adds, “Not only will this reduce the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in your bedroom, but it will also optimise the space for good chi (life force) and help you to enjoy much better sleep with less disturbance or interruption from lights, sounds or notifications.”

Melissa Denham

With over two decades of experience designing and delivering interior projects, Melissa creates interiors for residential projects as well as events, workspaces and showroom staging. Aiding clients in creating their vision of a dream space through her interior design expertise and creative eye.

7. Spiky plants

Whilst most houseplants are considered to help with health and wellbeing, in the practice of Feng Shui there are some that can bring back energy to your home simply because of their shape.

"Yucca plants or palms with very sharp leaves trap feng shui energy in a space and are not recommended," says Amthal Karim, head of design at Furniture and Choice says, Instead, popular feng shui plants for good luck include the Chinese money plant, jade plant, and peace lily."

Whilst we certainly don't recommend throwing plants out, you can move them to less frequented rooms.

8. Gifts that you don't want or like

We've all been there, keeping hold of an unwanted present because of guilt or a neverending plan to regift. However, instead of piling them in a hidden drawer or your loft, it's best to finally commit to getting rid of them.

Ingrid Jansen and Lesley Spellman from The Declutter Hub, "Gifts you were given that you don’t love, a gift was given with the best of intentions but if it’s not enhancing your life and you’re never going to use or display it, give it to someone who will appreciate it."

Not only will this free up space but it'll also stop your guilty conscience of hanging onto something you don't really like in your home.

9. Clothes you no longer wear or like

There's nothing worse than opening up your wardrobe and it's filled with clothes that no longer serve you, whether they're outdated or don't fit. Not to mention the space they take up, there are only so many wardrobe organising techniques you can use when it's already overflowing.

Ingrid and Lesley explain, "You should always get rid of clothes that don’t make you feel good. When you open your wardrobe door each morning, you want to feel motivated rather than demotivated. Pare your wardrobe right down and only keep what you love."

That way you can start the new year feeling your best and have lots more room to go shopping – shopping sustainably is a great way to reduce further waste.

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So if you're looking to declutter this new year and your home needs a pick me up both aesthetically and energy-wise then ridding yourself of these items is a great way to start. That way you can immerse yourself in the season's interior colour trends and bring on the fun bit, decorating.