The Benefits of Empty Space in Your Home: Why Empty Shelves and Drawers Bring Peace
- Nathalie Jones
- Jan 16
- 4 min read
Recently, during a casual conversation, I mentioned something that caught someone off guard.
I shared that I have empty shelves in my kitchen cabinets, empty drawers in my bedroom, and intentional open space throughout my home.
There was a brief pause.
Then came the question:
“Doesn’t that bother you?”
They weren’t being judgmental — they were genuinely curious. For many people, empty space feels uncomfortable. Almost unfinished. Like something is missing.
But my answer came easily.
No. It doesn’t bother me at all.
It actually makes me feel happy.
And deeply at peace.
The Benefits of Empty Space in Your Home Go Beyond Organization
For me, the benefits of empty space in your home have very little to do with minimalism or aesthetics.
They have everything to do with how your home makes you feel.
Empty shelves and drawers don’t represent lack. They represent room for growth.
When I open a cabinet or a drawer and see space, my nervous system relaxes. My mind feels quieter. My inner self feels supported instead of overwhelmed.
There’s no pressure to manage excess. No visual noise demanding attention.
Just openness. Ease. Clarity.
That is one of the most powerful benefits of empty space in your home — it creates calm without effort.
My Kitchen Isn’t Big — and That’s Exactly Why Empty Space Matters
This part surprises most people.
My kitchen isn’t large.It’s not a grand kitchen with endless cabinets or oversized storage.
And that’s exactly why understanding the benefits of empty space in your home, especially in a small kitchen, matters so much.
In small kitchen organization, packed cabinets often lead to:
Items stacked on top of each other
Things getting forgotten or hard to reach
Daily routines feeling frustrating instead of smooth
By intentionally leaving empty shelves in my kitchen cabinets, everything functions better. Items are easy to access, cleaning is quicker, and resetting the space doesn’t feel like work.
The space allows my kitchen to support my life — not compete with it.
This is a very real example of the benefits of empty space in your home at work.
Empty Space Allows What You Love to Stand Out
One of the most overlooked benefits of empty space in your home is how it changes your relationship with your belongings.
When unnecessary items leave, the items you truly love don’t get lost in the clutter.
My favorite mugs aren’t buried behind extras.The cookware I reach for daily isn’t hidden under items I rarely use. The clothes I enjoy wearing aren’t crammed into overfilled drawers.
Instead, the things I love are visible, accessible, and appreciated.
Less clutter doesn’t mean less enjoyment. It means more appreciation for what remains.
Empty Shelves and Drawers Support Peace, Not Perfection
We’re often taught that an organized home should look full:
Every shelf filled
Every drawer packed
Every inch maximized
But fullness doesn’t equal function.
One of the greatest benefits of empty space in your home is margin:
Margin for daily life
Margin for change
Margin for growth
That margin often shows up as empty shelves and drawers — and that’s a good thing.
This isn’t about deprivation.It’s about alignment and ease.
The Feng Shui Perspective on Empty Space
From a Feng Shui perspective, empty space allows energy to circulate instead of stagnate.
But even without knowing Feng Shui, most people can feel the difference.
Your body relaxes when space is open. Your mind responds when drawers aren’t crammed. Your mornings feel smoother when cabinets aren’t shouting at you.
This is why the benefits of empty space in your home are felt so deeply — especially in kitchens and bedrooms, where daily routines begin and end.
This Philosophy Is at the Heart of My Book
This understanding of the benefits of empty space in your home is woven throughout my book, The A.C.E. Method.
In it, I explain why true organization isn’t about stuffing things neatly into containers.
It’s about:
Aligning your home with how you want to feel
Clearing what no longer supports you
Creating space — physically and emotionally — for what’s next
Empty shelves and drawers aren’t a flaw in the system.
They are the system.
Grab a copy of my book here
What Empty Space Gives Me
Empty space gives me:
Calm when I open my cabinets
Ease in my daily routines
Flexibility as life changes
Greater appreciation for what I own
A home that feels supportive, not demanding
These are lived, everyday benefits of empty space in your home, not design rules or trends.
Final Thought
So no — seeing empty shelves and drawers doesn’t make me uncomfortable.
They remind me that I’ve created a home with:
Room to breathe
Room to grow
Room for peace
And those are some of the greatest benefits of empty space in your home.
Nathalie xoxo
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