Clear the clutter and find your light – both mentally and at home. Anna Campbell-Jones talks living with intention this spring

I spent my childhood holidays sailing around the Mediterranean with my eccentric family on a tiny, slightly rickety catamaran – playing, eating, washing clothes and sometimes even sleeping on deck. There’s something about the light there in late spring that feels particularly special to me. That golden quality illuminates corners that have been dark all winter, rejuvenating the soul and revealing what’s been hibernating. It’s this spirit of warm revelation that makes late spring the perfect season for a both literal and metaphorical refresh.

A Mediterranean approach to spring isn’t about aggressive overhauls or punishing ourselves for winter’s accumulation. It’s about creating space for light to filter, for air to flow and for life to really get going again. Think of those whitewashed breezy homes with their uncluttered surfaces, carefully chosen objects and doors (or portholes in my case) tilted open to the breeze. There’s a lesson there about living with intention.

Start with your home, but approach it with that most important ingredient: love. This isn’t about ruthlessness for its own sake, it’s about curating what matters to you most. As you move through each room, ask yourself what truly deserves to be there. That nautical vintage jug you found at the Barras Market? Keep it, display it, let it tell its story because stories are what make home home. The pile of glossy interiors mags you’ve already read? Time to let them go – maybe give them to a local school for future interior designers to be inspired by.

Apply the same principle to your wardrobe with a simple one-in, one-out policy. Buy that secondhand delight on Vinted, but balance that acquisition by taking something you never wear to the charity shop, reselling it online or giving it to a friend. This isn’t deprivation, it’s circulation. Your unworn pieces get a second life with someone who’ll treasure them, while you make room for things that you’ll actually wear.

The process itself is transformative. As you clear surfaces, reorganise shelves, and rediscover forgotten corners, you’ll feel a curious lifting sensation. You’re not just moving stuff around; you’re shifting energy, and creating flow where there was stagnation. Open your windows as you work, even if it’s chilly. Let the spring air move through your space, carrying away the staleness of winter.

But here’s where the Mediterranean philosophy really shines: once you’ve created that space, fill it thoughtfully. A new home fragrance – perhaps something oceanic or herbal, evoking holidays past and future – can transform a room’s entire atmosphere. A cheerful cushion with pops of coral pink or azure blue breathes fresh life into that old armchair you thought you were bored of. These aren’t frivolous purchases; they’re intentional choices that show a bit of extra love to your home.

The same principle applies to spring-cleaning your mind. Winter has a way of accumulating mental clutter just as surely as our homes gather the physical kind. Old worries, abandoned plans, and half-formed ideas that no longer serve can all pile up, taking up residence in our consciousness. It’s time for a compassionate reckoning.

Set aside time to sit quietly and make some notes. Why not use one of those pristine notebooks that you’ve unearthed – I know I have loads all seeming to be too beautiful to spoil by using them! What thoughts are you carrying that you could let go? What objectives have you been clinging to that no longer align with who you’re becoming? Then consciously let them go. You’ll feel that same sensation of lightness that comes from sorting that kitchen drawer of doom.

In releasing what no longer serves you, you create space for what’s meant to come next. New ideas need room to form, new plans need space to stretch out and new chapters need blank pages. This isn’t about forcing anything, it’s about feeling ready. When your physical and mental spaces are clear and calm, you’re naturally positioned to move forward with vim and vigour.

As spring unfolds a wee bit later across Scotland, but no less transformative, you can let yourself be part of that unfolding. Clear the clutter, really cherish what you love, and make space for what’s next. You’ll find yourself standing in that balmy light, bones warmed, your soul brave yet calm – ready for whatever comes next. And whatever that is, decide to make it look intentional.

Find home fragrance and decor to enliven your home at annacampbelljones.com