Declutter an OVERWHELMING spot

[@cmorrison5466]

I had to cut a pool noodle to put on the edge where I kept hitting my head on a crossbeam in the attic. Best decision I ever made!

[@MinimalistHome]

GENIUS!

[@jessandrew]

We cut pieces to slip over the legs of our bed! Much more friendly to the toes!

[@joannafoster3423]

So good to discern whether it's the time to deal with sentimentals or not. Seasons of grief or major change are not the time.

[@MinimalistHome]

Thanks Joanna!

[@marthakemmann3058]

Love your kitty❤. I adopted an all black male named Newman. Turned out he also had CH which was not told to us up front. The adoption center said we could return him, but there was no way I could let him go. He was the sweetest, funniest cat we’ve ever own. Newman had a short but loving life. 7 years later and we still miss him dearly. Hope you have many years with your cute Crumpet!

[@MinimalistHome]

I love CH cats, we have another one with a milder form too. They're the best!

[@tngirlz4622]

Nice job on the ‘closet under the stairs’.😁 Crumpet is adorable!🐈 My declutter monster is the ‘Other People’s stuff’ Ogopogo. My kids asked me to keep treasured toys and outgrown clothes in the basement when they wanted to declutter their rooms years ago, and my in-laws downsized several times, each time giving boxes of stuff to my husband because they couldn’t bear to part with it and none of their other kids would take it. Now this stuff is in our basement, and my teenaged kids would like to use the space. They’ve been very good at looking at things and saying ‘stay or go’. My husband would like a tidier basement, but rarely makes time to toss stuff. Going through it is so much work, but I will keep going because I would like it as living space rather than storage space.

[@MinimalistHome]

Keep going! 💪🏼

[@cmorrison5466]

It's been almost a year since I started decluttering. First I started in the garage. Got it cleaned enough to get a car in! Then I totally revamped an old office room and turned it into a beautiful bedroom. It was a major decluttering project. Unfortunately the garage ended up as a Staging Area. I finally got that batch of clutter out after a few weeks. Then I decided to empty the attics. That was a major project and the garage ended up cluttered again. But once it's in the garage, I know it's on its way out! After the attics were finished, I decided to completely empty out the retired homeschool room. Again, the garage became a dump! But the empty homeschool room looks great. Now I'm emptying the garage. I admit I'm a bit burned out, but I keep telling myself that this will be the last time it will be filled with clutter to process. My friend's daughter is trying to raise money and I'm giving everything to her to help. My goal is to have that garage completely emptied out before the end of the year. This is one of the hardest things I have ever done but I am so happy (and relieved) that I did! I've been to the dump so many times that the employees there recognize me! 😂 Before, I dreaded anyone coming by. Now I open my door and say "Welcome!" Decluttering is mentally exhausting ("Death by a Thousand Decisions") but it is definitely worth it. It's a gift to your whole family as well as yourself. I know one day my kids will thank me.💕

[@MinimalistHome]

Your kids will definitely thank you!

[@MsAmy-hy5ds]

My goodness! This is amazing! You should be so proud!!!

[@LibbyWithnall]

I had kept some special baby items but I've now let them go. I'd rather another kid get to use/wear them. I take photos of all the stuff to help keep the memories.

[@MinimalistHome]

Congratulations!

[@abbibrennen2549]

Thank you so much for this heart-felt and some sentimental moments. That is exactly the problem that I have felt overwhelmed and very fragile emotionally. Thank you for showing me how you manage it, WoW!

[@MinimalistHome]

Thanks Abbi

[@jenniferinher60s]

I love all of this 😊 and Crumpet is precious! ❤

[@MinimalistHome]

He's a sweet boy

[@jillychandler]

I love your beautiful wacky cat! I love the way you make de cluttering fun! xxx

[@MinimalistHome]

👍🏼👋🏼🎉

[@KareMom4]

Thanks for the reminder to give ourselves grace. I have all the feels.

[@MinimalistHome]

Feel them! I had a little cry today because we leave with my son tomorrow

[@jennyjenkins877]

Wow, school is right around the corner already! My daughter's first year was an emotional rollercoaster. I was actually very excited for her because she was not very far away but then C0V!D happened and she had to come back home and miss out on that experience. On top of all the uncertainty with that, our dog got very sick and died soon after from lymphoma but at least my daughter was able to spend more time with our beloved pet in those final months because of it.

[@MinimalistHome]

Silver lining… I hope thé Fall is going well for you all. ✨🙏🏼

[@lorettazaharias9692]

💙the tiny car shoes! I am rather sentimental about children's things too. Inspiring video. Thx for all the tips. Blessings.

[@MinimalistHome]

🙏🏼✨💕

[@lfuentes4098]

I think I just watched you declutter this same area in another video. I was thinking am I having flashback. 😂 But last time you did let go of a few childhood toys. It could be so difficult to go through things like these. But we have to do it. I have to do it. My container(my house) is full. 😂

[@MinimalistHome]

Yes! Keep the container contained. I did this a few years ago too.

[@raquels.]

Love the art spot at the end!! I had some art that was too sentimental to declutter but also not "nice" enough to display in any main areas of the house, so I hung a few up in places where they would still be seen but not too much (like in the laundry room, or inside the guest room closet). It was a great time-tester for those sentimental pieces, because the ones I chose to display I realized I actually liked! Whereas the ones I didn't even want to display (not even inside a closet) were ones I knew I probably needed to declutter.

[@MinimalistHome]

Absolutely agree! I have a painting of a robot in our bedroom closet too!

[@cherylkingsley6583]

Watching this while on an hour declutter break. Have been going through knitting and crochet stuff. Able to get rid of some of it and still have more crafting stuff to shed. Will donate to the Wednesday crafting group at the senior apartment where I live. Amazing how we accumulate stuff through our lifespans. Crumpets is adorable.

[@MinimalistHome]

Thanks ! 🐈❤️

[@anji5635]

I love Crumpet Kitty !!!!

[@MinimalistHome]

I love him, he's the best!

[@elisaangel9789]

Be happy you're growing older. The alternative is the pits. Hang in there.

[@MinimalistHome]

TOTALLY!! I have patients that say “don’t get old”, I always say “I hope i do!”

[@jessicaquiroz7178]

Keep the dolls for your future grandkids

[@jessandrew]

Our 4th (of 8) is about to leave home. I am also going through the sadness-both for the changing seasons with my child, and the growing older reality. Thank you for the reminder that it is ok to feel the feels. ❤

[@MinimalistHome]

Yes, I had a few cries today

[@CULady]

I feel your pain ❤ my baby graduated from high school and started college this week! My oldest starts her last fieldwork semester for OT Masters Degree!! 🎉 I still have my dolls and am trying to figure out what to do. But my great nieces play with my cabbage patch dolls!! 😂

[@MinimalistHome]

I did love my cabbage patches! Good for your oldest!

[@absinthemindedcat]

if your son is moving out i would go through the memory box with him before he leaves so you know what out of the box he might be interested in keeping so that if you are ever ready to declutter the box you know what to put aside for him.

[@MinimalistHome]

Eep! He moves tomorrow, I’ll chat with you

[@lfuentes4098]

That’s a good suggestion, but at 18 they often say throw it all away. I have two young men in college. They don’t want to keep anything. Honestly, the connection is with the parents. I had a connection as an adult to many childhood items because I often took out the items and relived a moment. I would love to go through photo books as a child and through my moms drawer of our childhood momentos. But my kids go through their phone and look at their old photos there. It’s a different world I guess. My friend who was about 48 when she had her first grandson, gave his father a box of momentos. She saved things like his favorite stuffy, his first overalls, shoes etc… He looked at her and said, why? She said I thought now that you have kids you could go through it and reminisce. He told her, “Have you met my wife? I’m just going to have to throw it all out anyways. I don’t want it.” 😢

[@absinthemindedcat]

@@lfuentes4098 i find men are far less sentimental about items than us women, my brother has kept nothing sentimental. part of going through thing is understanding your own expectations. if you are keeping an item just because you think a family member will want it someday is not a great reason to keep it. understanding who the items sentimental value belongs to can be very helpful in deciding what to do with it. its also helps to sit down with family and explain the sentimental value, if you are keeping the crystal vase that belonged your great grandmother because it always sat in her hallway and it reminds you of her does not automatically transfer that value to your kids if you dont tell the story of your great grandmother. digital is great for bulky items, i would rather a shoebox of items that i can easily bring out and shuffle through and enjoy than a giant tote i can barely move so rarely look into as the item looses value if it sits in the back of a closet untouched for years

[@pandapeek55]

Great video! Crumpet is adorable. 🐈 I found that a lot of schools have yearbooks online…even many years back. 😊

[@MinimalistHome]

Oooh, interesting!

[@simplegiftsandtruths8263]

Im thankful my motherin love kept my husband's things so our son has been able to wear some. and she did a little photo book of All my husband's birthdays until he was 18. So we have a snippet of how he changed through the years. We don't live near my parents but im trying to whittle away at the stuff left of mine at my parents. Each visit i do a bit more. We live overseas so i can't just take it with me. Its overwhelming.

[@MinimalistHome]

A little bit at a time might be best anyway… keep it up! ✨💪🏼🙏🏼

[@crybebebunny]

Very Beautiful Video ❣️

[@MinimalistHome]

Thanks 🤗

[@rachellyddon78]

We need to see more of Crumpet! 😍

[@MinimalistHome]

Sweet Crumpet

[@diaphanouswaffle]

Maybe tack a bright color Post It note or ribbon on the low ceiling spot where you keep hitting your head, so it's easier to see (and avoid colliding with) ? I feel bad for you, bc I have spots in my apt. where the same thing happens. Ouch !

[@MinimalistHome]

Thanks 🙏🏼😬

[@jmsl_910]

"would i take this back to chicago?" that's my decluttering question. we moved to NC just before the pandemic and i'm not a big fan. i want to be "chicago ready" when my getaway car shows up to take me back home!!! i travel lightly

[@MinimalistHome]

That's a good one!

[@SpeakTruthBeKind]

Suggestion: If you can scan the photos (and important papers) to your laptop and then have them stored in “The Cloud” you’d never lose them if there was a fire. Yes, it is ALOT of work. 🥴 Of course it is important to “feel the feel” when Decluttering but to your viewers - remember if it brings up bad memories it may be better to discard - only keep what brings up good/happy memories.❤

[@MinimalistHome]

Oh yes, I always say to declutter things with bad feels. Also a big fan of scanning papers, one day i’ll have the time to focus on scanning photos too!

[@podcastbard]

Idea: for memories of the past, the artwork and paper, put them into a designers portfolio binder. You can find those at Dick Blick and other art stores.

[@MinimalistHome]

Nice idea! Thanks!

[@SusanneGeert]

Great video - thanks for sharing ☺ A bit off topic, but may I ask which Dyson model you have (is is the V12 Detect Slim)? How do you like your model? Does it have enough power to cover your house? Did you have/try other Dyson models? Hope it's okay I ask about this since I am about to decide on a Dyson model and when they are such an investment I like to ask around for a while before buying ;-)

[@MinimalistHome]

Sorry I never replied! Did you buy one yet? Do you like it so far?

[@jmsl_910]

i store off season stuff in my luggage. (don't get out much, apparently!)

[@MinimalistHome]

My mom does too

[@hookedbydonean]

Thank you❤🇨🇦

[@MinimalistHome]

Thanks Donean!

[@BB-bx4dp]

Actually it's extremely dangerous to spend time saving anything (except another person) during a house fire. Something could explode and kill you instantly, you could pass out from the smoke, carrying something will slow you down and make you more prone to injury.

[@rebeccam1027]

Sadly got all the way through your quiz and there was no keyboard to type in my info. Very frustrating. 😢

[@MinimalistHome]

What? That's weird! How frustrating for you. I'm sorry, I'll check my end. Maybe also try restarting your browser on your end?

[@rebeccam1027]

@@MinimalistHome could be my old home. I’ll go to ur website. 😁

[@elisaangel9789]

Today it's the Indecision Imp. Some days it's another.

[@MinimalistHome]

Totally!

[@denisecarter5117]

Boy your hair is getting long and looks great.Decluttering is addictive and now I have nothing in my home to feed the addiction.

[@MinimalistHome]

Oooh, you need a new, healthy one!

[@carolynbice7972]

Sorry I keep photo in camera in phone

[@MinimalistHome]

These are from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s

[@PhoebesWorldProductions]

😊👍🏻

[@MinimalistHome]

That’s Phoebe!

[@PhoebesWorldProductions]

yup. 😉

[@deborahberkey4294]

Maybe make a photo album for each child and one for you and your husband. That way you don’t have so many pictures.

[@MinimalistHome]

It's actually just photos from my younger years. I will go through and do an album on year. Good suggestion

[@justsayin3647]

You should put a strip of the yellow duct tape along the areas where you are tending to bump your head.

[@MinimalistHome]

Good idea!

[@lacisummers8672]

Halloween is NOT a holiday. Halloween is a LIFESTYLE!!!! ❤ Skulls, skeletons, gothic items are everyday decor in my home. 💀☠️👻🧛‍♀️🧛🏻

[@MinimalistHome]

I hope it went well! Or, rather, I hope it’s still going well!

[@sandradisclafani6725]

♥️👍

[@MinimalistHome]

☺️

[@patriciagalanakis4540]

Trash the water 💦 bottle - not suitable for donation.