A long time ago I read tips including 1) decide in advance what a room is used for and what it looks like (empty surfaces, etc) and then maintain that vision and 2) create space for something new you want or need by first clearing out the same size/amount of stuff you already have.
10 item wardrobe. My husband and I share a very modest closet and no dressers or anything. Then moved to.toys. once you feel that freedom the decluttering doesn't stop and you move to other spaces in your home!
@@tcmomcoffey4028 .. i also suffer from back & hip pain and what has helped me most wasn't replacing my mattress but adding a 4" memory foam topper on top of it. It has been a life changer!
Good-looking couple. Women with husbands who are aware of their family duties, including cleaning and organizing really have big advantage. That's a big blessing!
A speech therapist once recommended to me to keep the toys up on the top shelf of the closet so that my kiddos have to ask for the toy they want, it’s definitely made a difference ❤️
I love this because I wasn’t told to do it but that’s exactly what happened my son out of nowhere started pointing and saying “look, blocks” that was the first step to him asking for things ❤️❤️
I do this naturally with some stuff like the other commenter, blocks & legos for example. But that is such a great idea to put all or most away! I have 4 kids under 9 so yes it will benefit ME and THEM 😂
You should be proud of the gift you gave your husband, and not embarrassed, the best gift is the one the receiver wants! We’ve always given each other practical and inexpensive gifts.
You're so right! Practical gifts are the best because it's actually nice to receive them and not have to worry about what to do with them later and it's also nice to give someone something they really wanted and will use in the future. I don't know if it's more of an american thing to do to just buy something fancy or fabulous and not think if the receiver will actually use the gift but for me that would actually feel more like a burden and a waste of money. I like when gift giving is actually done thoughtfully and not just as a gesture or something you just "have to do". Also a tip for gift giving: I have in my notes app a list of people I want to give gifts to and when I hear them say "I wish I had..." or "I really need to get some..." etc, I write them down and get them what they've actually been wishing for and not having to ask it directly because I still love the surprise of opening the gift and seeing what's inside. Everyone is always amazed of how I knew exactly what they wanted since they may not even remember saying their wish out loud 😄 Sneaky!
Same. I have to stop every so often because I get overwhelmed with anxiety then go back at it. I’ve found that taking a much needed ‘Pause & breath’ is the only way to get thru it
Whenever my husband came home with some gadget “for me” for the house, I would feel like I had to accept it.Then I finally developed some assertiveness and asked him to return these things. Having to return them quickly broke him of the habits of buying me things each time he brought one home. Having to return each silly item quickly broke him of the shopping “for me” habit.
Some people really love getting gifts for others, I am not like that (C’jon) 😂.. so I can definitely see how that might be a hard conversation to have with your husband!
HOw about replacing one habit with another, instead of stuff, how about a hug, or wash the car or clean the tub..? Or use that saved money for a dinner out? PUt that money saved into a jar called:"I almost bought this today" then a month later discuss what you like to use it for or roll over till next month.
I love Mr Armsteads peaceful voice & I love what you’re doing. Your kids are so cute. I love watching you and I’m a grandma. We’ve been married 52 years next month. I’ve always been a minimalist but mainly because I’m so frugal! Bless you.
Dang, y'all are beautiful. It is so refreshing to see a couple working together to make a lovely home. I applaud your efforts. One thing I noticed is the sticker on your garbage can and I was like "how do you have such a beautiful, minimal home and y'all got a big sticker on the garbage can, LOL". For me, price and brand stickers are visual clutter. I lake stickers off everything as soon as I get it home. You know it's always got to be someone with something negative to point out, Ha, It really is one of the first things I notice in people's homes, though. Enjoyed your video and thank you for sharing your story!
Aww thank you so much ❤️... and trust us, we have had plenty people tell us after watching the video 😂 oddly enough we never noticed it until we posted it. It has since been removed!!
I had to stop the flow of paper coming into our home. We started taking the mail straight to the trash can and throwing away everything we didn't absolutely need. I also cancelled all magazine subscriptions.
Yes us too! When we get the mail we don’t even bring it to the house now. We usually open it and throw what we don’t need away before it even gets in the home ❤️
@@TheArmsteadFamily my Husband is paranoid about security with this & keeps junk mail “to shred later” in boxes & bags😫help! He seriously gets upset if I get rid of it
@@JAH-iu3yh do you already have a shredder? If not, check a thrift store. My husband and I found a paper shredder at Habitat for Humanity Restore. You can still recycle the shredded paper later, too. PLUS, there's something satisfying about shredding things. :D
Mealplanning and only buying what we need for the week has been a gamechanger. We don’t need to hoard food, we still have enough for a month at home if we eat random things we have in our freezer, pantry and fridge. I really like to have my horizontal spaces empty or simply decorated as well. So easy to keep clean and soothing for my mind.
Omg I laughed so hard .... we made the mistake of having kids 😂🤣 I completely felt identified with this sentence . That’s the reason why I’ve started decluttering my house had become a jungle with the childproofs-tuff and baby gear. Thank you both for this video
I've been going through a little anxiety and people sometimes don't understand how clutter increases it. Thank you guys for these tips. I will definitely put this into practice❤
I am so grateful to have found you guys! My partner of 37 years passed away. I rent my 1500 square-foot home And moved into 900 ft.². I have just what I need, super easy to clean and more time for myself. You guys rock
This is awesome. I’m newly married and my husband and I are in the first throes of learning to live together. He’s a lot more sentimental than I so it’s been a journey decluttering but we were both continuing to learn. I’ve always wondered if and when we’re blessed with children how I’d maintain a minimalist lifestyle so THANK YOU for these videos!
That "Aha" moment you learn that getting something as simple as a food scale meant more to him regardless of the cost or lameness.....meant more because it showed you were thinking about what was truly important to him....awesome!!!!!
Excellent and real. I am a minimalist too, been for several years. I have my own method that works for me. It is not one size fits all. You do have to be honest with yourself, and it has to be right or comfortable for you and how you live. Never going back. It has opened my eyes to the real.
It's so true it's about your preference. I decluttered then decorated my room, but then still felt so cluttered. I removed pictures and paired it right back and it feels so much better now.
You both r such a inspiration. 6 months ago our garage was a hoarding mess I told my husband that I would work with him to organize. We bought a dumpster bag from depot. We filled that then hubbies made 7 trips to dump. I hired my contractor to redesign our garage so that 2 cars fit. My hubbie was crying after this project. It's so efficient. Next was my office. My plan is to tackle room to room. We have been married 28 years...we have alot of stuff rage
I’ve been decluttering as a way to reduce the anxiety I feel when all I can see is ‘stuff’. My husband always comments positively on the changes, but he’s not on board. We’ve compromised in a way as we have baskets and containers he can dump stuff in, but he still leaves stuff all over and keeps buying more. It must be so much easier to be in it together.
Hey Lisa ❤️.. it wasn’t always this easy, but over time when we were both on board we saw great progress. Keep up what you are doing and he will see the peace you are creating 😊
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I was almost a border line hoarder. But after getting rid of a lot of "stuff" My life has become so much better. I still haven't reached my goal but I'm continually working on it. Bless the both of you.
I love his "boring gifts". I recently got a small food scale and cute gold metal measuring cups for my travel bag for a big upcoming trip. I love them! Anything to make meal prep easier and more exciting. 😅❤️
One of my favorite tips is to get all black towels and washcloths. They last forever, look modern, and you don’t see the stains. I also set up three bins in my little one’s closet. They are: - donate - save - nicer clothes to give to others / sell This gets the out grown clothes out of rotation and out of ending up back in the dirty clothes basket. It’s been so helpful. When it gets full I take it out and disperse as needed.
I love that they love the balance they found. On a personal note I find the house beyond minimal, it looks empty to me but that's just personal taste. Glad they're happy with it :) Love their vibes and positivity
Going low carb or carnivore really reduces the clutter in your kitchen. You won’t need so many of the products that fill the shelves of grocery stores.
This is one of the most realistic minimalist videos I’ve seen! Great work and great advise. Very good motivation for someone like me and my family looking to reduce stress in our lives.
I'm not a minimalist, but I will tell you, having less is sooooooo much better for all the reasons you already mentioned.! I'm taking a space at a time. Last Saturday I did the kitchen drawer, why did I need 5 spatulas? when I can only use one at a time, why did I have several sets of measuring cups? You know where I'm going with this. So this is my journey also. Nice videos.
I love your comment. Starting right where we are is key. I have 2 spatulas in my kitchen and I was just thinking today that I will get rid of the one that I never use anymore. It’s not always a whole house purge right away. Sometimes, it’s just a drawer at a time
I don't have any share-worthy good min habits. But I'm learning a lot from you two. I like that you are down to earth. Thanks for producing these excellent videos.
When I give a gift, I study the person, and listen carefully when they talk. So I only give what a person mentions or can use and the person always loves it!! If anything, I go off with the wrapping, which the person loves so much they don't want to open the gift!!! The moment you give a person a gift you want them to have is the moment you set them up for disappointment and your feelings being hurt. Ask the person, be specific and accept what they say as an honest answer. I would rather see the gift in use than to hear the person say it's in the closet or worse they gave it away. I once gave a friend a box of 24 smooth writing inexpensive pens that she actually wanted. To this day, 9 months later she uses and treasures them. Remember, the gift is not about you but the receiver of the gift
Great motivation here! I have been working on trying to declutter for the past few years, but now I'm totally going in because the clutter and mess has gotten to crazy. I have two boys and their room has become unmanageable so I'm decluttering alot more. My husband is on board with me in the process but since he works a landscaping job all week 6 days a week, I'm alone in the cleaning 😅 so just taking it one day at a time. Yesterday he was so impressed at how much bags i have for donations in the car. 😂 I know the end result will be everything! 🙏
I shop my own house before buying ie shampoo, I have more then enough maybe til summer time! Clothes I bought a nice pair of pants for spring/ summer have not been shopping since COVID, Thank you for your input , you guys are the best
Recap: How the get your house in order: - declutter - purge - have a dedicated place in the wardrobes for every item 12 minimalist habits to keep the order: 1. Keep counters clear of stuff 2. Gifts: prefer experiences to stuff (be mindful with purchases or buy very necessary stuff) 3. Pick a magic number of clothing/pantry etc. items to own. (Even if no such thing exists). This will serve you as a guideline and help you keep the number down. The number needs to work for you. Rule: If it's hard to maintain, then your number is either to big or too small. 4. Modify Costco hauls: Also, keep in mind, that buying in bulk requires storage space in your home. (Reduce the bulk to essentials) 5. Don't purchase items immediately. (Avoid being a victim of marketing) Research, decide if you really like it or need it. Give yourself at least a week prior to deciding. Don't buy on impulse. 6. Listen to your gut (decide quickly) when purging and it's overwhelming. Ask yourself: - will you use this item? - if yes, how often will you use it? 7. Less furniture, more space: go for good quality furniture. When you have kids, you need to rethink for safety hazards (tv, glass tables, coffee tables etc). Go for fewer items and less decor. Keep the essentials. Go for multi-purpose items to save time and space. Using the kitchen and eating at home will save you money and putting on weight. 8. Rotate a small amount of toys. (Keep the favorite pieces). You can rotate chests, that are out of the kids' sight. 9. Donate kids' clothes after they grow up. Don't hold on to baby's clothes, except for one or two pieces. Give yourself a timeframe to get it out, or keep a box and empty it monthly. 10. Be an imperfect minimalist. Just start doing it. It's not about the most efficient or perfect way. 11. To maintain : Declutter often and make it fun. Either: - replace old items or - purge a certain amount of items per week
One year, my husband bought me a new 12" paper cutter for Christmas. Many people would be annoyed, but it was the perfect gift. I used it for lots of projects during our homeschooling years and also for cutting cardstock for making rubber-stamped cards 😃
See! I'm the same. I told my kids for my Birthday that I just want hand made cards because those are from them and not from stores made by others. I love keeping gifts made by my kids. I keep them in a keepsake. Plus I do not get attached to items. Having to many items stresses me out and makes me feel to tied down and anxious. I love how you guys simplified your life. I am on that journey as well.
Peaceful state is important, need to declutter kitchen counters also to feel better! Listening to your gut is good advice you gave, thanks! We have cats so it is busy for us!
Put items in a box, put it in the garage or closet then think about for a month and then get rid of it. Organizing is the answer to everything. Minimalism looks different to different people.
Awww ✨🦋💫. I wish I could have been able to do such a fabulous and wonderful things with my passaway. 😡😢😤 There's always a reason while we lost our lovely one's & well wishes too. I pray God Almighty, to grant us more protection in all aspects of our Life 🙏🏿❤️💫
Well, awww. You look so beautiful and sweet🥰😘🤗. Whom I desire to be with now and till eternity. If you don't mind, I want us to know more about each other's as Best of friend's. Wishing you a fabulous and amazing weekend over there ⭐️💥💫 Yours Faithfully Mary x❤️
Same! “Laundry purgatory” is the “it’s not really clean but not really dirty” piles around the house🙄 bleh I hate it! Dining room table catches my husband’s clothes all the time. Eww. Well placed hampers & good ol’ fashioned nagging has helped a little bit😅
You hit on a big issue for me. Most of the clutter in my home is "gifts" people gave me. I did not ask for them and did not want them, but now I feel like I will hurt people's feelings if I don't keep it all and dsiplay it. Ugh.
We buy bulk toilet paper which is annoying to store but we don’t have anything under our sink or in one drawer so that’s where it goes. This to me is the only thing to buy bulk.
My mom lives with us and has an overactive bladder. Toilet paper is literally the only thing we buy in bulk. We're lucky though and have a shelf in our linen closet just for storing that.
Great insight , absolutely love your videos. Thank you for sharing, definitely saving to rewatch. Keep up the great work, you guys make a beautiful team.
Massages are a good free gift ❤️ Or even buying a small bottle of oil for it. Experience days. A weekend away (without the kids!). A romantic meal either at home or a restaurant.
I also want to unclutter - don´t like too much clutter - but a minimalist house looks and feels naked to me. The sound is like a totally empty flat - somehow feels somewhat uncosy to me... But you did a great job.
You both complement each other well, beautiful couple and lovely home. Great tips! I love thoughful simple gifts, they mean so much to me. Im guilty of regifting items I don't find useful or sentimental as I HATE clutter. I guess I intuitively follow these tips. My home is my sanctuary!
Mannnnnn, I love this. I think giving a number to things is brilliant. I do that with a few wardrobe items, but NEVERRRR thought to apply it to other areas!
I think people feel they have to spend a certain amount. In the end if measuring spoons and a scale are the perfect gift, it is priceless. I also really like my scale. And my husband uses it too.
my college boyfriend gave me jumper cables, which I LOVED! cuz …well I had a crappy battery AND it could even connect to posts on the SIDE Of the battery!
I have just come across you today and this is the most relatable channel for me in terms of minimalism because we too are a young family, trying to navigate through the mess kids create and be minimalists. Most of the other channels are good but not as closely related for me. I’ve now subscribed 😊
