1820 Settlers' Association
Wellness Month
Room to Breathe
From chaos to calm. The stories behind the stuff.
Robyn ClarkeTuesday 13 October 2026
Who is Robyn?
Hello, I'm Robyn.
  • Decluttering homes across Gqeberha since January 2023
  • Inspired years ago by Peter Walsh's TV show
  • A practising minimalist
  • Never a job. More a vocation.
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“
I'd really like to focus on what clutter and chaos can do to one's mental health. That's truly my main concern and why I do this job.
Why I do this
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What I've learnt
Every home has a story.
You see boxes and cupboards.
I see someone's life.
The wedding chinaThe school booksThe photographsMum's furniture
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The things people say
The Room to Breathe dictionary.

"I might need it one day."

If one day hasn't come in 17 years, it may not be on its way.

"I paid a fortune for it."

The money is already spent. Keeping it won't bring it back.

"My children might want it."

Ask them.

"It's too good to throw away."

Good. Then we donate it, or sell it.

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Be honest
How much stuff do we actually need?
I haven't looked in that cupboard for 15 years!
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Hands up
Which one are you?
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The stories
Real people. Real homes. Real stories.
35

years in one home

12

full crates for donation

30

years, then a retirement village

People don't always need to be told what to throw away. Sometimes they need permission to let go.
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The emotional side
You are not just sorting stuff.

A cupboard is a memory.

A chair is a husband.

A box is a childhood.

A photograph is a whole lifetime.

It's not the physical. It's the memory.
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No judgement. Just a lending hand.

There is no shame in a room or a garage that looks like an absolute nightmare.

Sometimes you've simply lived a very full life.

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Five questions
The Room to Breathe test.
  1. 1Do I use it?
  2. 2Do I love it?
  3. 3Do I have a place for it?
  4. 4Would somebody else benefit from it?
  5. 5Am I keeping it out of guilt?
The one I really like

If I saw this in a shop today, would I buy it again?

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After the decision
Where does it all go?

Every item deserves a home. You might not need it, but somebody else does.

Keep
Sell
Donate
Store
Let go
I sell your furniture for you, for a 10% commission, or finder's fee.
Donations have gone to
Missionvale Care CentreLeonard Cheshire DisabilitySt Francis HospiceAnimal WelfareWagtailsMaranatha Siyakatala
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Paying it forward
Best part of my job.
Maranatha Siyakatala
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A real job
A two-day cottage clear-out.
BEFORE
AFTER
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The same cottage
Room by room, cleared.
The lounge
The bedroom
The dining room
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The bathroom
From chaos to calm.
BEFORE
AFTER
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The dressing table
Some room to breathe.
BEFORE
AFTER
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The craft room
Such a wonderful feeling.
BEFORE
AFTER
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How Room to Breathe works
Where do I even start?

You don't have to do it alone.

1

Consultation

I visit your home. A paid in-home consultation, R300.

2

Quotation

A clear quote. 50% upfront to book, then we start when it suits you.

3

Sort

You decide what stays. I never tell you what to throw away.

4

Pack & label

Everything you keep is packed, labelled and given a home.

5

Pay it forward

Donations go to the charity of your choice.

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Start small
Make room
to breathe.
One drawer. One cupboard.
One box. One decision.
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A heartwarming story
Meet Oupa Steve

Letting go of a home filled with decades of memories is no small thing.

My role became more than just organizing. It was about gently easing that burden, bringing calm to what can feel like chaos, and walking alongside him through the transition.

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Oupa Steve

He asked me, with such sincerity, to pass that surfboard on to someone who couldn’t afford one but would cherish it.

If I had an Oupa, I would choose him.

It’s never just about clearing spaces. It’s about honouring people, their stories, and their transitions.

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Have I given you room to breathe?
Thank you. Questions are welcome.
What I do
DeclutteringReorganisingDownsizingPacking upEstate & late clear-outsStorage solutionsDonationsSelling furniture
No judgement. Just a lending hand.

Robyn Clarke

Room to Breathe PE
  • Phone083 777 5701
  • Emailroomtobreathepe@gmail.com
  • Websiteroomtobreathe.pages.dev
  • FacebookRoom to Breathe
  • Instagram@roomtobreathepe