Need Minimalism Help

I've been doing some serious housecleaning since we're hoping to move to a smaller house. Rather than just go room to room and take out extra stuff, I found it worked better to take everything out of the room, closet or cupboard and then put back only what you need. I got rid or much more that way, was able to clean and wipe down the empty spaces and put things back in an organized fashion. The mindset is: Instead of thinking about what you want to get rid of, you think about what's worth keeping. The great part is that we had a yard sale and posting on Craigslist and are making money on the stuff we're getting rid of.

I adore FlyLady ( google her) it is free, she has great tips on de-cluttering. One of her sayings is you cannot clean clutter and it is so so true!
Good luck, you will be so much happier.

Last summer, I got rid of 18 trash bags full of stuff.

This past weekend, I got rid of 8 bags.
I regularly go through things, and get rid of more.

"looking" minimalistic, also means, how your space is arranged.
ie: having shelves with doors on it. That way when it is closed, you don't 'see' all the stuff in it.
It is a 'visual' trick of the trade.
Storing things, so that is is not openly 'seen.'

Don't put things on counter-tops.
All of these things, creates 'visual clutter' to the eyes.

Making things organized, by categorizing things in one area or box or shelf. Putting all like things, together. And storing it so that it is not 'seen.'

So, it is about the visual aspects, as well as the actual getting rid of things that just accumulate or are no longer needed.

If anything, hire an organizer!

Tackle one room at a time. Pull everything from it. Put back only what you need/want/can't live without.

I am currently working on the "40 Bags in 40 Days" method. Each day, I remove one bag of belongings.....sometimes it's a big bag (or piece of furniture!).....& sometimes it's a brown lunch bag (the medicine cabinet).

This process came up during Lent.....but I'm just now getting around to it. My sis & I just did a whole-house purge for each of our homes. We had a yard sale, donating the leftovers to charity. & now I'm doing the 40 Bags system. It's liberating!

I think it's just easier for some people than others. For example, easy for me, hard for my DH. I think that's just because I don't really get too attached to much, and for DH things bring back memories for him so he does get sentimental and doesn't want to part with something. He still has the movie ticket stub from our 1st date, and the napkin I wrote my phone # on the night we met. He also has all the letters he got from his friends when he was away at college. I honestly think that if a tornado came and took everything away, I'd be ok so long as no one was hurt. I would only be upset about losing the photographs because they can't be replaced.

My mother has a hard time parting with things because she's afraid she might one day need it. Maybe because she grew up really poor. But she even saves things I can't for the life of me understand. She actually has every single bank statement neatly filed since 1969! I told her she doesn't need to save them, but it falls on deaf ears- oh well, if it makes her happy.

I hear the general rule of organizers is, if you haven't used it in a year, get rid of it. That's the rule I live by. DH?....he just says a house should look "lived in"- lol. Some of my kids are like me, one is like him (squared).
So, when they aren't home, I occasionally get rid of things that they can't bring themselves to get rid of, but never use, and have forgotten they even have- nothing truly important. My son would still have his baby toys, if it were left up to him- and he's almost TWELVE. I think he just can't SEE it go, but is fine so long as he doesn't witness it leaving the house.

I hear you about the toys. I have 4 kids, and sometimes I feel like the Grinch when he says "The toys, toys, TOYS!" in his grinchy way. I talk to them all the time about children who are poor, and don't have many toys. 2 of my boys eagerly go through their stuff, and throw toys they don't use into bags for donation. My oldest son... I can see he wants to, but he just can't do it- can't let things go- because he remembers all the fun times he had playing with EVERYTHING.

The problem most of us have is feeling overwhelmed at the monumentous task of decluttering the house. Where do you even begin? I once read in an organizing book to break it down into psychologically managable small tasks.

Plan, for example, that on Thursday you're going to tackle the hall closet that day. Don't just set things aside. All the coats that no longer fit- put them in a bag, and then put the bag in your car so it can go to Goodwill. Things that don't belong in there- put them wherever they belong. Take everything out. Ask yourself, "do I need this?" and "does it belong in the coat closet?" For example, maybe you've always kept the board games in there, but could go on a shelf in the family room or in a child's bedroom.

Anyway, once you've tackled the closet, you'll feel so good about the way it looks, you'll be inspired to organize other areas. If you know you'll have an hour or 2 one day, tackle a junk drawer or under the bathroom sink. Before long, the whole house will be done.

Good luck!! =o)

Redecorate each room using just the stuff you have. Clean a room out completely. Then put stuff back one piece at a time. Everything that is left in the hall or on the lawn gets donated.

Camping stuff - lay it all out. See what is damaged, moldy, etc. If you have two of something and only need one. Keep the newer one.

Pictures - Create photo boxes for each person (look like shoe boxes).

Okay, start with watching www.TheStoryofStuff.com. This will help get you in the right mindset.
Then make 3 piles/or sticker them if they are bigger items
1. I HAVE to keep you - essential things
2. I'd like to keep you
3. I could let you go.

Then just DECIDE what to do with the piles. Recycle them, donate them get them out of your house.

We traveled for 12 months in a mini van and a tent trailer, my husband and my 2 daughters then aged 12 and 9. Since we got back we have maintained our "no stuff" rule.

You just have to decide.

B.
Family Success Coach

I'm trying to do this too. I know things will be amazing once I get it under control. I knew one lady who hired an estate sale team to comb through her stuff and sell it off. I'm kind of considering that myself!

One thing i do, is I have about 3 boxes of knick-knacks. I change them throughout the year b/c I like to redecorate. If something hasn't been put out for a while, and i see it and it doesn't strike me, then it goes in the donate box.

As for clothes, if you haven't worn it in a year, if it doesn't fit, if it's faded/worn, if it doesn't flatter your figure, if you don't have anything to wear it with... then donate it.

One blog I read has some good ideas on how to help with this:
http://www.thenester.com/2010/10/31-days-how-i-decluttere...

When I scaled back my material possessions several years ago, I used hotel rooms as my inspiration. Hotel rooms are beautifully decorated, yet they are still minimal in that they are specifically designed so that the maids can get in and out of there quickly. Minamalist doesn't have to mean plain. For example, in a hotel room, the decor and aethstetics come from functional items - the color of the walls, the draperies, the paintings, and the necessary furnishings themselves. In hotel rooms, nightstands are commonly legless shelves attached directly to the walls - all the easier to vacuum under! There are no knick knack room dandruff items scattered around, and instead, any accent pieces in the room are large and substancial, and make one, bold, rich, statement. In bathrooms, essential items are arranged on trays and valets - easy to slide out of the way in one fell swoop for quick-cleaning. Start studying hotel roms and see what you can observe. I learned quite a bit this way.

I watch a show called "Hoarders". It is amazing how much you feel like getting rid of after watching one episode!!

I heard someone ask once, If your house was on fire and you only had five minutes to run in and rescue what you could (posessions, not family) what would you save? It really makes you think about what you can and cannot live without.

I have a one year rule. If I haven't used it, worn it, needed it in the last year, chances are I'm not going to so out it goes! Donate what you don't need and don't think of it in terms of "getting rid" of your beloved belongings, think of it as someone who really needs or could use the item is going to get to have it and use it. Don't you feel really great when you give someone something that they really could use and appreciate the gesture? Also, it helps to have a tiny house like I do. I just don't have room for too much stuff.

When I recently went through a big purge I realized how few toys were really necessary to entertain a wide range of ages. My kids are 18-20 but I still have young nieces and nephews so I wanted to have fun stuff around. The toys I have now are balls, bubbles, dress up clothes and a couple of board games and some coloring and crafty stuff. The dress up clothes are great fun and with all the digital cameras we end up with great pictures!

If it is not useful or beautiful, it goes.

We live in a farmhouse that is just the right size for us, but we don't have any extra rooms - no extra storage space. That has taught us to be very organized and minimalistic. My husband, oldest son, and I are naturally that way. My youngest has to work at it.

I don't like clutter of any kind, anywhere, so I don't have knick knacks.

Toys that aren't played with get donated.

Dishes and small appliances that I don't use get donated.

Nothing gets stored in the attic "just in case we might want it." We know that we'll forget about anything in the attic, so we skip that step and donate anything that may have gone to the attic in a previous house.

I love pictures, but don't want to have too many frames that start to look cluttered, so I rotate pictures in and out of frames. I also have a few picture boxes for favorite pictures like someone else suggested.

The garage stays super organized so that cars will fit into it. I don't want it to become a dumping ground. We have pets, and their food is in stacked bins in the garage so it stays fresh and neat.

I'm sure there are tons of other things we do, but this is what I can think of right now. Good luck!

Love all the answers! I'd concur about not buying stuff but add that when you do, use this motto: Buy one new; donate one old. This goes for everything for everyone -- toys (everyone's), clothes (everyone's), knick knacks, books, jewelry, beauty products, cosmetics, linens, handbags/backpacks, shoes. (Think of all the stuff that gets stuffed into closets/storage in your home.) Also, rotate photos/frames and keep nice old photos in albums or photo boxes. Gosh, now all I want to do is go home and organize :) Best of luck!

www.Flylady.net Give it a try!!!

As Ophrah once said, Everything has a place and if it doesn't get rid of it. Put the Knick Knacks etc. into Plastic Bins and se them in the Garage. If you don't go into that box for 3-6 months get rid of it. The best thing to do is just start with a Plain Ole Garage sale. You would be surprised at how people love your Junk. Organize the other stuff that you want to keep but put it in boxes, label it and stack it neatly in the Garage, on a rafter, whatever. The toys, let the kids know that if they give the can get one item. Make their toys really cheap or people wont' buy them. also if you are not collecting all of your books get rid of the ones you won't read again or do not want in your kid collection. Make them cheap too or donate to a school. Once you start cleaning the clutter, you will feel so much better. Act as if you are preparing to move and you need to make the house a little more presentable. You will feel as if you just did a 20 mile Hike when finished. If you need boxes go to UHaul and pack as if you are moving. Like I said, if you don't go in the misc. boxes after 6 months toss!

This has been on my mind recently. We moved from a 1400sf home to a 2900 sf home and, believe it or not, we had to get rid of tons of stuff. At our smaller house we had a huge storage shed and since we had the storage we kept stuff for "when we moved into a bigger house". So we moved into the bigger house and I found myself unable to store everything. So I began to purge. I gave away most of the serving trays that I got when we got married because I realized that I didn't like the style and I never used them. I gave away my grandmother's antique sewing machine because I realized that I would never use it. I went through books, momentos, purses that cost alot but I no longer liked. The more I did it the easier it got. Though, recently I was at a store and I saw an ice cream maker and I thought, "wouldn't it be fun to make ice cream" but I'd given an ice cream maker away already. However, I hadn't used the ice cream maker in at least 2 years.

What started this, was when we cleared out our house to get ready to sell it and we moved about 50% of our "stuff" to a storage locker. After a month we realized that we like having less stuff and we didn't miss what was in storage. We found that we liked knowing what we had and didn't simply have piles of items that we might use "one day". The other day I got rid of picture frames - I removed the pictures and stored them - but I realized that I didn't like the frames. So they are gone.

My husband and I do have a deal that if we find that we need something we gave away we can buy it again...the idea being that we might go overboard in the purging but we can usually replace an item. That said, I'm very careful about heirlooms, and items that can't be easy replace. The weird thing is, after giving away in excess of 50-70 boxes I feel as if it has become easier. I feel less attached to stuff. In fact, the "stuff" has started to feel burdensome. I was purging my daughters' art and school stuff and picked the best examples. They each have a plastic bin and in it are loose art work as well as art that is in portfolios. They are ages 9 and 12 and I found that the bulk of the "art" is produced in preschool.

So basic guidelines are: have I used this in the past year? Do I love it? If I love it do I use it? Am I saving it for a future event/time, etc? Is this item nice - would someone else want it?

While we were at the storage locker and there a storage locker "yard sale" and people had booth set-up outside their lockers. Most of the stuff was junk...no one was buying anything. And I wondered, why are you paying to store this stuff?

Good-luck. It's amazing how hard it can be to get rid of stuff.

Check out flylady.com. She has a whole program to help you de-clutter. One thing I really liked about her was the structure, and the constant reminder that you didn't get this way overnight, so it will take a while to get it all done. She divides the house into five zones, and each week you focus on a different zone, committing to 15 minutes a day of de-cluttering. She really helped me get my house more organized!

We have four kids. We have a lot of stuff. I'm sick of the stuff just like you. One of our favorite pastimes is to watch movies together as a family and we have quite a DVD collection (200-300). Up until recently they took up a lot of shelf space. Now they take up 1 1/2 shelves because we put the great majority of them into binders. I've left the Disney movies and sets (Trilogies and the like) in their original cases but everything else went into a binder. The movies are organized alphabetically and we made an index so any given movie is easy to find.
As I'm getting older clutter annoys me more. To help combat it I no longer buy my kids new backpacks, jackets, lunchboxes every year. They get replaced when they are either outgrown or worn out. Actually I no longer buy a lot of stuff that I used to just because I realized that I don't need most of it. I like my home to feel warm and welcoming and I've never understood homes that look like showrooms where there are no "personal" touches but to each their own. I read an article a while back where the family was trying to live a lifestyle that left little to no environmental footprint. They had nothing on their walls. Maybe one decorative element per room, no appliances on their kitchen counters, etc. And the entire home was painted white. That is just too stark for my tastes.

I love technology! All of my kids nicer projects get photographed and stored digitally. This way we don't have to keep them for posterity's sake. Only the best of the best of the best do we keep for any length of time. Some (art projects) I've gone so far as to get nicely framed.

It was easiest for me to get rid of stuff when I had a fundraising yard sale to donate items too. Just knowing that the money was going to a great cause made it so much easier to get rid of stuff. I agree with others though. It's definitely easier to remove everything from a room and put it back one piece at a time. You can stop putting things back when you like the way the room looks. Everything else goes away. Good luck figuring out your way to simplify. Once you get started it really does get easier.

Just on the light side look up George Carlin-stuff. Good luck.

Isn't stuff overwhelming? I like my stuff, but sometimes I long for the days when I could fit everything that was precious to me in the trunk of my car.
My summer goal is to weed through everything we own.

Get rid of it unless you really use it, it is beautiful or has an important memory attached to it.

I don't have a magical answer, but I try to avoid buying new things if I can. I usually borrow stuff if I need it only briefly (say, for camping or traveling) so I can get rid of it quickly. We buy our books from the library book sales in town and then give them back to the library when we've read them so they can be resold. Before you purchase anything, just think about whether you just want it or whether it's something you really need to make things easier for you. Good luck!