Reclaiming My Basement (Declutter with me!)

[@tarynmaria_]

I've uncovered more clutter in my basement so today I'm going to be decluttering and organizing, as well as getting the basement a little more set up for guests. Grab your decluttering supplies and declutter along with me! #decluttering #minimalism #declutteringandorganizing Click here for a clean & tidy home! www.youtube.com/@tarynmaria_?sub_confirmation=1

[@livnsji]

I just helped a friend, age 72, who is moving into assisted living after a stroke, go thru 30+ years of memorabilia, art work, school projects, cards, photo albums, kids clothes and toys she saved for her now 30 something adult children. Her adult kids wanted absolutely nothing. In the end we used my smart phone to take pictures of key photos and art pieces to send pictures to her digital photo frame. The emotional labor of this exercise was brutal.

[@tarynmaria_]

You sound like an amazing friend! Thank you so much for sharing ❤️

[@tgayer1]

What a great idea to take pictures of the photos and put them on a digital picture frame!

[@janet9524]

That's a lot of work! The talk through of your plan and why you decide to declutter something is very helpful

[@tarynmaria_]

I'm so glad!

[@JoannaLouise200]

Your house is full of pleasant surprises...what a beautiful elegant basement! That was such an entertaining decluttering. With old photos you keep, always lightly pencil in the date on the back, and if there are people other than immediate family include their names too. Descendents are then more likely to keep them as they can relate to the lineage. With childrens' artwork/messages/cards give them a memory box each for their rooms and, as you say, they can discard them later on if they want. I say this as I have almost nothing from my childhood (long while ago) x

[@tarynmaria_]

Thank you so much for sharing, Joanna! ☺❤

[@ginagonzalez6547]

I like to see the before and afters of a deccluttering. When you are fully done with the basement you can make a video of the before and after section by section or as a whole whatever you prefer.

[@tarynmaria_]

I can definitely do that!

[@joannunemaker6332]

It's so easy to accumulate stuff. Congratulations for going through it. It's no easy job. I enjoyed this video. 😊❤

[@tarynmaria_]

Thank you so much! ☺

[@cherylkalsch5107]

Wow. I didn’t realize you had a basement. You have lots of fun decluttering to do 😁

[@tarynmaria_]

Right? Haha, lots more to go! ☺

[@CynthiaMiller-cc3qj]

We used to have that exact same bookcase unit that you have and it was filled with all the photo albums I had filled-spanning from 1946 (my birthdate) to 2014! Now my photos are on my phone or computer.

[@tarynmaria_]

Too funny! This bookcase was from my childhood (we had it in our living room)! :)

[@kathleenhill5838]

We were able to see Weird Al in Illinois years ago. You will have fun. He is VERY talented. Also it was fun to watch you get through some more of your basement. Have a great weekend.

[@tarynmaria_]

You have a great weekend too!

[@caroleenmanning456]

Please save the handprints of your children. So precious.

[@tarynmaria_]

Thank you! Good advice ☺

[@caroleenmanning456]

@@tarynmaria_ I prefer to keep things with their handprints over coloring sheet. 🥰 more personal. Thank you for your videos.

[@ginagonzalez6547]

I made previous suggestions, but if you don't have an office or library since you have so many books, if your basement is big enough to accommodate a library, you can make a room divider to separate the guest room from the library, and showcase the tapestry in your new library or office section.

[@tarynmaria_]

That’s a good idea!!

[@valeriehowden471]

Oh, your boxes of papers look exactly like my boxes i need to go through! Thanks for some morning motivation

[@tarynmaria_]

You are so welcome!

[@orysyaf8337]

If u have a gaming console. Like a ps4 u can watch the dvds with it

[@tarynmaria_]

Great point - we do have a PlayStation!

[@wannaduckfin]

I did half of our basement. Will do the 2nd half this winter. 👍❤

[@tarynmaria_]

Awesome!

[@lisaweston8575]

Great job Taryn 😄 I don't have a basement but u sure motivated me to get on with the decluttering projects I'm working on. U are so relatable & i appreciate all the inspiration i get from u. Take care & have a great rest of the week ✌🏽❤️

[@tarynmaria_]

Awww I’m so glad!! You have a great rest of the week too! 😊❤️

[@lindamusser7370]

This is normal decluttering. This is a good goal for me.

[@tarynmaria_]

Thank you! 😊

[@laurawood4476]

Very inspiring video . Thank you

[@tarynmaria_]

You are so welcome!

[@ginagonzalez6547]

Hi Taryn, the tapestry will display beautifully in the office if you have one, attic where you video your vlogs, hallway if you have a long hallway, even entryway to name a few. You can also showcase it in the basement somewhere if you decorate in the future, pulling out colors from the tapestry. Just a few suggestions.

[@tarynmaria_]

You know, I hadn’t even thought of putting it in my attic as a backdrop for videos - I might try that! Thank you so much!

[@GretaWardFireFly]

Wall hanging is for a den or wood-paneled room. My late husband wood paneled his den himself, with 2x4s at a diagonal and it is still a hit.

[@whobeyou5342]

Our basement is a Lot like yours... i have been working on it for a few years When I am off of work (school breaks), i try to take out at least 2- 3 bags to thrift stores and make about 4 trips to the dump. Getting rid of our kids'old toys has me hung up though.

[@tarynmaria_]

Yes - toys are hard! My youngest is 8 and I only recently donated a large amount of baby toys. I have way more to go. I did keep a couple that I feel attached to but the rest went to the donation center :)

[@valerie718]

Since you asked… I think you should donate the deer tapestry. Before you do, take a photo of it so you can look at it from time to time.

[@tarynmaria_]

Thank you!

[@laurastorandt-yehle199]

Just just went through boxes in my basement and found pictures that surely needed to be decluttered long ago🤣

[@tarynmaria_]

Haha, I know what you mean!! 😂

[@dlcarbonneau3750]

Miss Havisham's house. lol. I'm going to use that one.

[@tarynmaria_]

😂 it’s all I could think with the dust!!

[@marliesk9920]

Therefore, one should buy only carpets made of natural fibers. Then you can just compost them, use as cleaning rugs, or the like, once they are done. Most of mine are natural, but not all though. Will have that in mind for the future.

[@tarynmaria_]

Yep - natural fiber is for sure the best!

[@julietannOsfan1972]

Just a friendly tip, if you can remove the pictures from the self-adhesive albums, as they can seriously damage your pictures. If possible, only use archival/acid free products.

[@tarynmaria_]

Thank you for the info!

[@johannathorisdottir2456]

Hey there wow that´s alot of stuff LoL hehe i´m a minimalist and i have gotten rid of 80% to 90% of all of my decor and stuff!!!! Ahhhh now i can breathe in my home ... Just get a huge box and bags and just get rid of this stuff. You will be happier i promise

[@tarynmaria_]

Thank you!

[@debrawilden1971]

(Remember to check with your husband about that box of 'his' papers.)

[@tarynmaria_]

He went through it and agreed there wasn't anything to keep in there :)

[@debrawilden1971]

@@tarynmaria_ ❤

[@willsx2]

People shelters will take clean comforters even if they are patched or stained.

[@tarynmaria_]

Good to know!

[@sherryhudson9075]

No. I would not put that deer anywhere except the basement

[@C.C_Creations]

I would put the albums higher up encase the basement floods. I wouldn't get rid of the oven, it will be a bone of contention between you and her. She thinks it's hers and even if you don't think it is important, she does. You have to respect her feelings and property she'll always remember that you didn't and use that as an excuse for not trusting you in the future. Those are side tables not dressers where I live. I do like that you are a realist not a minimalist lol

[@krisnyhan2212]

I came here to say the same thing about the albums on the bottom shelf. I’ve learned from experience about unexpected and unprecedented basement flooding. 😢 Please move them to a higher shelf or out of the basement all together. 😊

[@MaCookie7]

I agree with you. Basements can flood from broken pipes or nature. Please put precious albums up as high as you can but still accessible. Wish I had a basement. Great job!!

[@tarynmaria_]

Good call about the albums! I did donate the oven but she went with me and was totally ok with it!

[@jennyjenkins877]

That decluttering session left you with a pretty long To Do list!

[@tarynmaria_]

It really did!