The Complete Guide to Energetically Cleansing Your Newly Renovated Home
After months of dust, decisions, and construction chaos, your home renovation is finally complete. The contractors have packed up their tools, the new paint is dry, and that gorgeous lighting fixture you agonized over is perfectly installed. The physical transformation is complete, but there’s one final—and often overlooked—step to truly making your refreshed space feel like home: an energetic cleansing. Just as renovation removes outdated fixtures and repairs structural problems, an energy cleanse helps clear out any lingering staleness, construction stress, and old energy that may be hanging around your beautifully updated space. And while the idea of energy cleansing might sound esoteric, many of these practices are rooted in both ancient wisdom and modern science, and they require only simple household items you likely already have in your kitchen.You've already done the hard work of removing the old and bringing in the new. Now it's about ensuring that the transformation extends beyond the obvious changes. As a certified reiki practitioner and professional tarot reader with years of experience in folk magic traditions, I can attest that nothing beats the feeling of walking into a perfectly cleansed space, and I’m here to show you exactly how it’s done. Air Your Home OutStephen Kent JohnsonA simple, effective cleansing method? Open your doors and windows to let fresh air in and stale air out. We’re taking notes from Terrence Meck and Bret Alberti’s charming Provincetown home.Before beginning any spiritual cleansing, you’ll need to prepare your space physically. Open your windows and doors to create cross-ventilation, even if just for a few minutes if the weather is cold. This simple act literally and symbolically allows stagnant energy to flow out while inviting fresh air in. Sweep, vacuum, or mop your floors, working from the farthest corner of your home toward the front door. This traditional practice helps guide unwanted energy out of your space. Cleanse Your Entryway Your home’s entryway is crucial for filtering the energy that enters your space, making it the ideal place to begin your cleansing ritual. First, make a simple salt wash by dissolving a handful of salt in warm water—salt’s natural purifying properties help dissolve negative energy while physically cleaning the space. Then wipe down your threshold and doorframe with this solution while imagining that you’re creating an invisible barrier that welcomes positive energy and deflects negative influences. Daniel SchäferA small table or shelf next to the front door, as in Elad Yifrach’s Lisbon home, is the perfect spot to place a small bowl of lemon water for protection.For an extra layer of protection, place a small bowl of fresh lemon water near your entrance. Citrus has long been used in cleansing practices for its ability to cut through heavy energies, just as it cuts through grease in your kitchen. Leave this for 24 hours, then dispose of it outside, imagining it carrying away any lingering renovation stress or stagnant energy. If you have a welcome mat, take it outside and give it a good shake while visualizing the release of old energy and the welcoming of new beginnings. Cleanse Your Living SpacesYour living spaces, such as your living room or family room, have likely absorbed the most intense energy. Begin by creating a purifying spray that combines natural elements: in a glass spray bottle, mix water with white vinegar, fresh lemon juice, and a few sprigs of rosemary. As you mist and wipe surfaces, work in clockwise circles—this motion mirrors natural energy flows found in nature and helps activate positive movement in your space. Pay special attention to corners, where energy tends to stagnate, and any areas where walls were removed or modified. These architectural changes have created new energy pathways in your home, and they need special attention to be integrated harmoniously. In the evening place small bowls of salt in room corners, particularly in spaces that underwent major structural changes. Salt's natural absorption properties work overtime while you sleep, drawing out any residual heavy energy. Remember to dispose of this salt outside your home the next morning—never wash it down your drains, as it's now carrying the energy you're trying to remove.Cleanse Your KitchenWilliam Jess LairdNeed some motivation to cleanse your kitchen? Just look at this perfectly peaceful kitchen, designed by Silvia Furmanovich.The kitchen, traditionally the heart of the home, deserves particular attention in your cleansing ritual. This space nourishes both body and soul, and its energy directly affects the food prepared here and, by extension, your well-being. Fill your biggest pot with water and add generous slices of lemon, fresh rosemary sprigs (which have natural purifying properties), and a splash of white vinegar. Bring this to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, allowing the steam to purify the air and remove any lingering paint fumes or construction odors (the vinegar is excellent for this). As the mixture simmers, imagine the steam carrying away old energy and infusing your kitchen with fresh, nurturing energy. Keep a small bowl of fresh herbs on your windowsill or counter—basil, mint, or rosemary are excellent choices—to maintain the positive energy flow you’ve created.Cleanse the BedroomsThe bedroom may be the most important space to cleanse, since its energy directly impacts your rest and rejuvenation. This intimate space needs to be completely free of the chaotic energy that accompanies a renovation, allowing you to fully rest and recharge. Joshua McHughYour bedroom is your sanctuary. This light and airy bedroom, designed by Eve Robinson, is giving us all the calm, peaceful vibes we need.Mix equal parts salt and baking soda. While salt absorbs negative energy, baking soda helps neutralize both odors and energetic imbalances. Sprinkle this mixture lightly over soft surfaces like rugs, carpets, and even mattresses (test a small area first). As you do this, visualize your bedroom being reset to a peaceful, calm state. For a deeper energy reset, work with the cycles of the moon. During the waning phase—when the moon is decreasing in size—place a glass of water mixed with white vinegar and three pinches of salt on your nightstand. This practice, rooted in folk traditions, helps draw out heavy energy just as the moon pulls at the tides. Each morning for three days dispose of the water outside your home and refresh it at night. Under your bed—a space that can trap stagnant energy—place small sachets of dried lavender and rosemary, or even a few bay leaves, which have been used for centuries as protective herbs.Cleanse Your BathroomsBathrooms present a unique challenge in energy work—they're spaces where we quite literally wash away what we don't need, making them natural energy drains. But with the right cleansing approach, your bathroom can become a place of renewal. Theo TennantAll you really need is some white vinegar and a bathtub or shower, but so much the better if your bathroom is like this one one designed by Maria Speake and Adam Hills of Retrouvius.Begin by adding a full cup of white vinegar to a warm bath or shower. As the steam rises, it carries vinegar's purifying properties throughout the space, neutralizing both physical and energy residue. Along windowsills and doorways, create a protective boundary using a line of sea salt. This ancient practice helps prevent energy from stagnating in these naturally damp places. Leave the salt in place for a full 24 hours before sweeping it away (again, dispose of it outside). To maintain positive energy flow, introduce living elements—a small potted plant like bamboo or aloe vera can thrive in bathroom humidity while actively purifying the energy.Do a Final Overall Home CleanseAfter tending to individual spaces, the final step in harmonizing your newly renovated home involves creating and working with blessed water—a practice that dates back centuries across various traditions, from Christianity to Hinduism, each of which recognizes water’s unique ability to both purify and carry intention. In the Christian tradition, particularly Catholicism, the practice of using blessed water dates back to the early church, with documentation from the 3rd century describing the blessing of water for sacred purposes. This ritual is particularly powerful, because water, like your home, is a conductor of energy capable of holding and transmitting the intentions you set for your space.In a large glass bowl (avoid plastic, which can hold on to old energies), combine filtered water with three pinches of sea salt and either three drops of rosemary essential oil or a fresh sprig of rosemary. Hold your hands over the bowl and take a moment to center yourself, imagining pure white light flowing from your hands into the water. Set your intentions for your newly renovated home—perhaps harmony, creativity, or joy, or whatever qualities you wish to invite into your space.Starting at your home’s main entrance and moving clockwise through each room, dip your fingers into the blessed water and scatter droplets around your space. When you’ve completed your circuit of the home, return to the front door. Take the remaining water and, starting at the top of the doorframe, trace a line of droplets down each side and across the threshold, sealing your home in protective, purified energy. The remaining water should be poured at the base of a tree or plant outside your home. Your home is now ready for its next chapter—beautifully renovated, energetically cleared, and harmoniously aligned with your intentions for the future. Welcome home.Julia CancillaEngagement EditorJulia Cancilla is the engagement editor (and resident witch) at ELLE Decor, where she manages the brand's social media presence and covers trends, lifestyle, and culture in the design world. Julia built her background at Inked magazine, where she grew their social media audiences by two million, conducted interviews with A-list celebrities, and penned feature articles focusing on pop culture, art and lifestyle. Over her five years of digital media experience, Julia has written about numerous topics, from fashion to astrology.
English
Arabic
Spanish
Portuguese
Deutsch
Turkish
Dutch
Italiano
Russian
Romaian
Portuguese (Brazil)
Greek