108: Avoid Clutter by Developing Personal Preferences with Courtney Florey

108: Avoid Clutter by Developing Personal Preferences with Courtney Florey

Author: Cloud10 October 28, 2025 Duration: 44:25
Do we even realize that we're creating a life based on what other people like, instead of our own preferences? I loved this casual, relatable conversation with Courtney Florey of Declutter & Dwell to explore a surprisingly powerful way to prevent clutter before it starts: Getting clear on your personal preferences. Together, we unpack: Why developing contentment is key to simplifying your home and your habits Practical actions to uncover what you truly love (beyond trends or what others say you “should” like) How knowing your preferences helps you make confident decisions when shopping or decorating My somewhat embarrassing story of subconsciously making purchases to impress the internet—and how cutting back on sharing my family revealed this underlying motivation This episode is a reminder that a clutter-free home doesn’t just come from organizing better—it starts with knowing yourself better. Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@paring_down⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Paring Down Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The L.E.S.S. Express⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paring Down Blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paring Down YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ COURTNEY FLOREY Instagram:⁠⁠ ⁠@declutteranddwell ⁠⁠ PARING DOWN RESOURCES: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Decluttering Checklist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠10 Life-Changing Decluttering Hacks (free)⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Treasures of the Heart: A 7-Day Bible Study on Breaking Free from Material Attachments (free)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Gift Request Email Template⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SPONSORS: 20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AquaTru.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use promo code PARING Convenient therapy that’s covered by insurance: ⁠⁠Rula.com/PARING⁠⁠ 20% off Longevity Mitopure Gummies for Urolithin A at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠timeline.com/PARING ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 15% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to Prolon’s 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet. *remember this is for metabolic health, not simply a weight loss hack*: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠prolonlife.com/paring⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ethical, luxury women's clothing at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quince.com/paring⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! High-quality, eco-friendly activewear at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fabletics.com/PARING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - sign up as a VIP and get 80% off everything. 10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.hellofresh.com/paring10fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ $300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://airdoctorpro.com/ -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use code PARING Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living is for anyone who feels overwhelmed by their possessions but finds the idea of an empty, stark home equally daunting. Host Shannon Leyko approaches these conversations with the warmth and directness of a close friend, focusing on the mental shifts needed to let go of clutter without adopting an all-or-nothing philosophy. Each episode feels like a supportive chat that acknowledges the emotional weight of our things, whether it's a crowded garage, an overstuffed closet, or a schedule packed with obligations. The discussions move beyond simple organizing tricks to explore a more intentional way of living that can create space-both physically and mentally. Leyko brings in a range of voices, from well-known authors to people navigating everyday challenges, all sharing actionable advice and perspective. This podcast digs into the real reasons we hold on to stuff and how to cultivate a home environment that genuinely serves you. It’s a practical guide for making incremental, sustainable changes that reduce stress, not a rigid doctrine to follow. You’ll find a balanced, compassionate take on creating calm in your living space and your daily routines through realistic steps.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 144

Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
Podcast Episodes
22: Doom Piles & Mail [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:53
Piles are the enemy's favorite weapon. (Is that too dramatic? It is. But let's go with it.) The enemy: Stress caused by a cluttered, messy home. Piles are a sneaky weapon because they're the bad guy *undercover.* Most pi…
21: Influencer Culture & Finding Contentment with Yeli Heidecker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:52
With raw honesty, Yeli Heidecker shares her personal story that led to her decision to fully declutter her home today on the podcast. This is one of those episodes that will feel deeply relatable. It's so easy to start s…
20: Kid Stuff: Sentimental, Educational, Practical, & Private [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:52
This is your sign to DM me and let me know if there's ever a topic you want me to cover on the podcast! I love it! Today's episode is a compilation of requests that all revolved around kid stuff in some form or fashion.…
19: Decluttering as a Couple with my husband, Aaron Leyko [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:14
It's about to get REAL, y'all!! My husband, Aaron, is on the show with me today. Coming at you from my side of the closet, we share things we've done well and things we've learned the hard way when it comes to declutteri…
18: Seven Things I've Learned About Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:20
Am I the only one who loves a good love story? Well, I hope not, because that's what I'm dishing up on the podcast today...sort of. More like, I'm sharing some love stories gone wrong while I was dating in my 20s. Specif…
16: Permission to Declutter with Jane Conroy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:16
Have you ever felt stuck, then heard someone say "It's okay to do what you need to do"... and you feel this big weight lifted from your chest? Sometimes, all we need is for someone to gently offer us permission to take t…
15: Does Minimalism Deprive Our Kids? with Elisabeth Beam [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:45
As parents, we're often concerned that our choices will negatively affect our kids, and decluttering feels like such an "adult" choice. So what does this mean for the kiddos? Elisabeth from @balancingbeams and I dive int…
14: Emotions We Feel When Decluttering [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:11
I was SO inspired after listening to Brene Brown's book, Atlas of the Heart, that I had to do a podcast episode that draws inspiration from the different emotions she defines through her qualitative research. Because par…
13: Making Sustainable Living Less Complicated with Shila Wattamwar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:52
Do you ever feel like "What's the point of going green? What difference is my one little choice going to make?" Or maybe you think "It's too complicated. I just don't have the bandwidth to add sustainability to my list o…