What’s Your Clutter Personality Type? (And How Knowing It Can Help You Declutter!)
Hey there, and welcome back to the Motherhood Simplified podcast! If you’re new here—grab a cup of coffee, tea, or water (because, let’s be honest, most of us are chronically dehydrated) and settle in! I’m so glad you’re joining us today because we’re diving into something super interesting: clutter personality types.
I’m Krista Lockwood, mom of five and your go-to girl for decluttering without going full-blown minimalist. Let’s face it—if you have kids, minimalist living isn’t always realistic. But there’s a sweet spot where you can have enough stuff without it taking over your life. And that’s what I’m here to help you with!
Today, I’m really excited to share an episode where I talk with Lori Palau, the creator of Simply B Organized. Lori has combined her knowledge of the Enneagram (a personality framework) with her work in helping people declutter. The result? She’s uncovered how understanding your Enneagram personality type can help you understand your relationship with clutter—and why you might be holding on to things longer than you should!
What is the Enneagram, and How Does It Relate to Clutter?
So, what’s the Enneagram? If you haven’t heard of it before, it’s a personality framework that digs into your core motivations—why you do what you do. Instead of just looking at what you do, the Enneagram helps explain why certain patterns exist.
When I first discovered Lori’s work on the Enneagram and clutter, I had to bring her on the podcast because I kept hearing the same struggles from moms:
- “I don’t know where to start.”
- “I can’t get my family on board.”
- “I’m worried about letting go of things just in case I need them later.”
Sound familiar? If you’re nodding along, stay with me. The reason you might feel stuck could have everything to do with your inner motivations—your Enneagram type!
Personal Example: The Clutter Enthusiast (Type 7)
Okay, I’ll be the first to admit, I relate big time to Type 7 (the Enthusiast). Sevens are driven by fun, adventure, and the desire to experience it all. Before decluttering, I used to buy everything because it was shiny, new, and exciting. Sound familiar?
I still remember thinking, “Ooh, I need this cute new planner,” only to find myself buying another one two weeks later because I’d already moved on. Sevens have what Lori calls “shiny object syndrome,” and it totally used to fuel my clutter. I didn’t realize that my need to feel joy and adventure was pushing me to accumulate piles of stuff.
Now that I’ve redefined my relationship with things, I still prioritize fun—but instead of chasing after all the stuff, I’ve decluttered to make space for the life I want. I can finally drop everything to go play outside with my kids when the weather’s nice. And that’s a huge win for me!
But enough about me—let’s break down each type and how your Enneagram personality might be affecting your clutter habits.
Clutter Personality Types: Which One Are You?
The Perfectionist (Type 1)
If you’re a Type 1, you probably like things to be just right. You love lists, and you can spend a lot of time planning how to organize. But here’s the catch: you might struggle with actually getting started because you’re stuck trying to make it perfect.
I’ve seen this with some moms who won’t begin decluttering until they have the perfect bins, labels, or systems in place. Spoiler alert: it’s not about perfection!
Decluttering Tip for Type 1s: Done is better than perfect! Focus on making progress, not perfecting every single detail.
The Helper (Type 2)
Type 2s are all about helping others. You might hold onto items “just in case” someone else could use them. I’ve worked with moms who keep old baby gear, thinking, “What if a friend needs this?” or “What if someone visits with kids?” While it’s sweet to want to be prepared, it can lead to a lot of unnecessary clutter.
Decluttering Tip for Type 2s: It’s okay to let go. You’re still an amazing helper, even without a stockpile of extra stuff.
The Achiever (Type 3)
Threes are doers. You’re efficient, love crossing things off your to-do list, and you’re great at making decisions. The downside? Sometimes you might declutter just to get it done, without really thinking about whether your system works long-term. My husband is a Type 3, and he’s known for quickly putting things away, but then we have no idea where they ended up!
Decluttering Tip for Type 3s: Slow down just a bit! Be sure your decluttering decisions are intentional, not just about getting things off your list.
The Individualist (Type 4)
Type 4s are deeply connected to their emotions, which makes decluttering challenging because everything has sentimental value. My daughter is a Type 4, and when she was little, she used to get attached to every little thing—books, toys, even rocks from the backyard! She had to tell a whole story about each item before letting it go.
Decluttering Tip for Type 4s: Keep only what truly resonates with who you are now. Let go of items that represent past versions of yourself.
The Investigator (Type 5)
Type 5s love information. You want to be fully prepared, and you’ll hold onto items because they might be useful one day. You might also delay decluttering because you feel like you need to do more research first. Sound familiar?
Decluttering Tip for Type 5s: Trust that if you need something later, you can find it or replace it. Keeping everything “just in case” only clutters your space.
The Loyalist (Type 6)
Type 6s are the planners and the worriers. You might struggle to declutter because you’re always thinking, “What if I need this later?” or “What if I make the wrong decision?” I’ve worked with a lot of Sixes who feel paralyzed by the fear of making a mistake, so they don’t make any decisions at all.
Decluttering Tip for Type 6s: Set boundaries for yourself. Decide ahead of time how long you’ll keep something or how much space you’ll allow it to take up, and then trust your decision.
The Enthusiast (Type 7)
Ah, my fellow Type 7s! You’re all about adventure and avoiding anything that feels boring or routine—like decluttering. I totally get it. But here’s the thing: the less clutter you have, the more freedom you create for the fun stuff!
Decluttering Tip for Type 7s: Decluttering equals freedom. The less stuff you have, the more time you’ll have for the adventures you crave.
The Challenger (Type 8)
If you’re an 8, you’re decisive, action-oriented, and you don’t struggle with emotional clutter. However, you can sometimes take on too much and lack patience for others who don’t move at your pace. My Type 8 friends are quick decision-makers, but they can struggle to delegate tasks, preferring to do it themselves because they’ll do it right (and fast!).
Decluttering Tip for Type 8s: Practice delegating and allowing others to take part, even if it’s not done your way. It will free you up for bigger tasks.
The Peacemaker (Type 9)
Nines love harmony and avoiding conflict. You might procrastinate on decluttering because it feels overwhelming or you don’t want to rock the boat. My daughter is a Type 9, and when she was younger, she was what Lori calls “clutter-blind.” She could walk right past piles of dishes and laundry without noticing!
Decluttering Tip for Type 9s: Start small and give yourself permission to move at your own pace. Take it one step at a time and avoid overwhelm.
How Knowing Your Enneagram Type Can Help You Declutter
Now that you have an idea of your clutter personality type, you can start to see why you might be getting stuck. The good news is, once you understand why you’re stuck, you can start taking steps to fix it.
Lori offers personalized courses that dive deep into each Enneagram type, helping you understand how your personality impacts the way you approach clutter. Whether you’re holding onto things for sentimental reasons or struggling with indecision, understanding your type can be the first step toward real progress.
Feeling stuck? Here’s your next step:
Head over to Lori’s site and check out her Enneagram and Clutter course. You’ll get personalized strategies based on your type. Plus, as a special offer for our Motherhood Simplified community, you can use the code MS10 for 10% off any course!
