If you’ve ever actually moved houses, you know that nothing inspires a deep, ruthlessly honest evaluation of your belongings quite like packing tape and cardboard boxes.
When you have to pack, suddenly you look at that half-broken lamp or the sweater you haven’t worn in forever and ask: “Do I really want to carry this to a brand-new space?”
The trouble is, we usually wait until we’re actually moving to tap into that clarity. But what if you applied that same high-clarity mindset to the home you’re actually living in?
Enter The “Fake Move” Method—the ultimate strategy for clearing out visual chaos and staging your life for you to enjoy.
How the “Fake Move” Method Works
Instead of going through your closets item by item while everything stays in place, you are going to simulate a move, room by room.
1. Pack the Room (The Reset)
Pick one room. Pretend you’ve sold the house and you have to pack up every non-essential item into boxes. Clear off the surfaces, empty the open shelves, and box up the decor, extra linens, or knick-knacks. Label the boxes with the room name and today’s date.
2. Stage the Room for “Potential Buyers”
Look at the newly emptied, clean space. Feel how spacious and calm it feels. Your goal now is to “stage” the room so it looks incredible—meaning you only bring back the absolute best items that serve a real purpose or bring genuine joy.
3. Unpack Only the “Keepers”
Open your packed boxes and pull out only the items you actively miss, need, or love. Place them back in their new, designated homes with intention.
4. Put the Remaining Boxes in “Escrow”
Here is where the magic happens: whatever is left in those boxes after you’ve unpacked your favorites is your “clutter zone.” Seal those boxes up and give yourself a 30-day countdown. If you don’t go digging into those boxes for an item over the next month, you didn’t actually need it. Donate the entire box without even opening it again.
Move through your house quickly with these 3 “Moving Day” Rules:
- Apply the “Moving Truck Tax”: Every time you go to unpack an item, ask yourself: “If I were paying a moving crew by the pound, would this item be worth the fee?” If the answer is no, let it go.
- Clear the Counters First: Real estate agents always say clear counters sell homes. Treat your kitchen and bathroom counters like high-value real estate. Only items used daily deserve to live out in the open.
- Set a “Closing Date”: Give yourself a realistic timeline—like two weeks—to complete your fake move. A hard deadline stops the process from dragging on forever.
You don’t have to put a “For Sale” sign in your front yard to enjoy a home that feels fresh, spacious, and beautifully staged. Treat yourself like the new owner of your space, open the front door, and only invite back in what you truly love!
If you had to pretend you were moving tomorrow, what is the first room you would pack up? Let me know in the comments below.
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