12 STEPS TO A DECLUTTERED HOME | minimalist home

I love your comment about NOT keeping things that are a reminder of a sad time !

I just had a random thought pop in my head, but for anyone decluttering trial sized (or full sized) toiletries and makeup samples that are new but you’re not going to use yourself, please donate them to women’s shelters or homeless shelters. Those makeup samples especially, that you might otherwise throw away can go a long way to help women in shelters to have a little bit of confidence and maybe pamper themselves a bit or to get ready for a job interview etc. Someone mentioned this to me a few years ago when I had tons of hotel shampoos and soaps, free toothbrushes from my dentist, makeup samples from the mall, etc. so I thought I’d share it with all of you.❤️

I thought I had condensed and minimized our last apartment. Until we moved to a smaller space. I put my minimalism mindset to work. What a surprise to me that I learned how keeping items in a very organized but out of sight, is out of mind thinking, hurt me in the long run. Evidently, I was not ready to part with these things. So I stored them knowing I had them but did not see them. Ugh! I did not need them or ever used them for years. I was holding on to maybe or what if or the memories. The move was made harder because it was all heavy glassware. A lot of it. After the move, I had to contend with it. I realized that my memories are in my heart, yes, they are good reminders, but I don't live like that anymore, I had to remind myself, use things, love ppl. Time and life has moved on. I let them all go. I got all the use I was going to get out of them. Its cumbersome now and too hard and heavy to lug around with me. I want someone else to have it and enjoy it. Being able to accept, and to recognize and to let go is an exercise in generosity. Aquisition and keeping way too much than is a need is greed. When I thought I was a minimalist before, I now realize I still have ways to go. However, I have a map and the understanding. There is nothing like a move into a new space that will expose the excess you have. I like how you get a new perspective, a fresh set of eyes. And you can see where you were blind to other aspects. Its growth. The journey continues.

Cardboard boxes attract roaches and silverfish...use totes with tops

The baskets for storage idea is a fantastic way to corral stuff! I use baskets for most of my stuff to limit how much I own. However I do something different for my shoes. I live in a very rainy climate. My shoes get wet, muddy etc. so throwing all my shoes in one basket ruins the other pairs. What I’ve found that works well for me is an open back 5-shelf bookshelf with shoe/boot mud trays to catch the water & debris. When the trays get dirty just rinse them off, dry with an old rag, place them back on the shelf. Viola! No dirt on the floor and no dirt or mud inside my shoes! Hope this idea helps.

I am so tired of stuff. Including all the organizing bins to have a place to put all the stuff. It all exhausts me. Love your videos!!

You are right about those sentimental items. I saved way too much kid stuff, because I had it in my head that they would want all of it when they got older. They don't. LOL! Just keeping things for ourselves is a great solution. I was keeping everything for everyone else.  Just an FYI, frustrational isn't actually a word. Frustrating, is the word to use. And, yes, living with clutter is very frustrating. I have to remember to use hooks and get things up off the floor. Two simple solutions that make a big impact. "Make it easier to put things away, than to drop them on the floor." Brilliant! And the shoe baskets are, too!

One thing I love about your videos is that besides just talking you show pictures in between. It breaks it up. 👍😊❤️ love all of your videos. Would love to see some pics of before for comparison. I know you have included before

I really love how YouTube allows everyone to play videos at a speed that works for them. You mentioned you speak fast, but I actually play everything at 1.5 speed 😅 the faster the better for me.

Super handy tips, thank you! Our daughter is 4 now, so we are adapting our systems to include her stuff and allow her to be more independent.

❤ a gazillion times "yes" to the label maker. 😊

Creating the “drawer” within the bigger baskets with smaller ones- love it! So much nicer. Also- clear lazy Susan’s-yes!!! These have been over of the best organizational ideas I’ve seen lately!!

0:25 Only 30 seconds in,but came here to say, enjoy your youth. If I even tried sitting down like that I’m pretty sure I would have sprained or broke something

I previously labelled everything in my home! I liked knowing that everything had a home and it helped my Daughter know where to put things back where they belong too. I am a lot more minimal now though so have less use for them. I enjoy the style of your videos 🩷

♥ I've never had to label anything, even when I had a lot of excess stuff. I guess I have a good memory for where everything is but even my partner with ADHD gets along just fine. I guess establishing clear homes for everything in the most convenient spot works well enough for us.

With keeping children’s art, creations, etc I have a box for each child, not too big. Every year we go through it and they choose their favorites. I have kept 1-2 things that I love like about me papers they filled out. So far my kids keep downsizing until it’s just a few from each year of school. My mom had kept totes for me and put it in binders and I felt so bad when I got them at 25 years old and threw almost everything away. I could tell she felt a little bad too because of all the time and money she had spent to do it.

This is totally my organizing style, I do all of these! Love!

Love your reasoning for declutter ing. You are right on about keeping things. The older children do not want our old things these days. Whites yellow over time. Things are not trendy anymore. It’s clutter! Take a picture and look at the stuff on the phone! Declutter g is so liberating!

💜 Great idea about a basket or other container in rooms where clutter is! Yes, my kitchen- it’s getting a basket! Thank you so much

Thanks for more great tips! My major decluttering project is starting next Saturday. I’m so excited to put your tips into use and take my house back. I especially love your tip about not holding onto things just because it was gifted or given to you. I did this for years because I felt guilty giving it away, but I’ve learned I’d rather gift ior donate it to someone else who truly would enjoy it rather than being shoved in a box and collecting dust in my house. Happy Memorial Day😊.