Thank you for your insightful video! You hit on several points that really made me think about how I need to change my home to lessen stress. I'm going right now to start in my kitchen, getting rid of things I've kept "just in case I need it someday". That should give me a lot of storage room, & a lot less stress. Next will be my closet. God bless you.
Several. I have a dresser in my bedroom that is full of god knows what, I realized I never even open it so the bedsheets can't be essential.. Several interesting points, thank you!
The biggest stressors in our home have been: 1. no useful surfaces/cluttered counters, 2. no expectation of tidiness (on my husband's part), 3. many items with no place to belong ("a place for everything and everything in its place" is MY mantra, but not my husband's), 4. piles (of my husband's things), and 5. so many items underfoot (mostly boxes of my husband's things that have grown legs and walked out of the "storage bedroom") that our cats have no room to run around. I've already taken care of #1 and #2, and I'm currently working on #3, #4 and #5 ... one room and one contractor trash bag at a time.
For me, taking digital pictures of "not used" sentimental items was a wonderful way to let go of them! Now, I can visit that item any time I want w/o pulling out a box. As well, I asked for a blessing upon the next owner. ♡
I would add owning a home that's too expensive for your budget.... too big of a mortgage, too high of rent, too much debt associated with the home or things in it.
You are 100% correct in every single step you talked about. I have been cleaning out, donating, and throwing out. It feels soooooo good! I have an issue with a husband who does not see getting rid of anything is a good idea. I hate stress in my home. Also when the home is cluttered it is so hard to keep clean! I stumbled across your video today and loved it. Thank you!!
I hope that there were at least a few things I talked about that you could work on in your home, to help alleviate the stress - even if your husband isn’t on board with decluttering! ❤️
I recently discovered your channel. I love it already! I am single with no children. I live in a large city apartment, yet I find your minimalist lifestyle relevant to me. It's so refreshing not to see unboxings of $7,000.00 Chanel purses or posed, perfect photos from exotic places I will never travel to. Keep up the good work!
#7 YES! I always say I need somewhere for my eyes to rest. My husband finds comfort in organized clutter (he’s Asperger) but he confines his clutter to his spaces (his office, his corner of the bedroom and his garage). In our kitchen and living areas, I need lots of blank spaces to feel serene. Fortunately we respect each other’s needs.
We moved to a smaller home in retirement that had a small garage and no basement. I made the decision to not store anything. When we unpacked I sold all my plastic totes. Everything is in the home being used or neatly put away in un-packed closets and cupboards. I cannot tell you how wonderful it feels to think I will never clean a basement again and what a joy it is to bring out my two baskets of treasure Christmas decor and not eleven plastic totes. I have time for fun stuff in retirement and stuff is a time sucker.
I would actually hate to have a bigger house. It's funny how my perspective has changed about that since becoming a minimalist. Instead of seeing it as a positive for storage purposes, extra space is now a burden to me that I have to maintain and clean. That was so smart to include "difficult to clean finishes" on the list too. I regret everything about purchasing a stainless steel fridge with the freezer on the bottom because they are awful to clean and less energy efficient than the other types. I'll never repurchase shiny chrome or black faucets because we have hard water spots. For floors and counters and other surfaces, I'm really mindful about purchasing something that isn't a solid white or dark colour because dust shows up on them so badly. When we switched out our light fixture in the kitchen, I went with something very easy to wipe because I have a couple other very intricate chandeliers in the entryway and dining room that are a real chore to dust. Dusty horizontal blinds are out and washable curtains are in... I just need to buy some ring clips to make the process of putting the curtains up and down super easy. The list truly goes on and on... I probably need to work on #15!
Definitely! Larger homes are many times eyed as ‘the goal’ for many people - but once they move in, they realize all the work involved! It’s stressful for some! Thanks for watching! ❤️
This is a great list, hits on quite a variety of ways we might not be aware that our homes are stressing us. This helped me see I need to reduce storage areas, not just reduce what is IN them. I've always known if I had a small purse, it was full.if I had a large purse, it was full. But the large purse meant shoulder pain from carrying the load. I'm seeing that my full storage spaces are giving me mental pain. And if I just reduce what is in them, they'll likely just refill, like my big purse. I need less areas. ✔
Thanks again for your calm, insightful video. I like to ponder over your suggestions. I was brought up in a home where beds were always made (after being aired, preferably with the window open!) and it's always stuck with me. How inviting to slip into a 'tidy' bed after a long, hard day!
I decluttered my "linen closet" in the hallway and have managed to keep it half empty for at least a year. There is actually several empty shelves. Baby steps, Baby!
Nothing wrong with lots of storage closets! Just change your mindset about them: easy access to get things out and put things away! LACK of storage is much worse! Most homes make you fight with vacuum cleaners to get to coats, or vice versa, for example. No consideration is given for products most economical in cost (and gas) to purchase in moderate bulk.
Awesome video, Angela...may be my favorite! I love how you always put your own spin on common minimalism concepts and don't just regurgitate other creators.😅 The first and last points were my favorites. Keep up the great work! Btw, I'm a single lady in a 3 bedroom house. I never wanted one this big but the realtor talked me into it for resale value. I've been here almost 19 years now and need to clean out all my "storage containers..."😢
What a useful and helpful video. Thanks for reminding us what is important in a home and eliminate the unnecessary clutters one gotten so used to seeing them.👍
Size I find is the biggest one and that can impact on how cluttered your home looks, how difficult it is to clean, etc.... Even if you have a small amount of things a home can be cluttered if it is not the right size. I would also add noise from neighbours, and lack of privacy, and feeling like you are boxed in also impact it.
Yes, this. My biggest stressors are my house too big, losing connection with my family, too much to clean, retarded nonfunctional finishes, being boxed in in town, no privacy, but alas, we need to be here. I also need to learn to be content in whatever situation I am in. I have a roof over my head. I have big bright windows. At least it's not a cave😋
After my stroke 1 year ago which im fine and no problems I have been cleaning out like crazy??? Getting rid of everything and I mean everything 😂. Selling on ebay, giving to goodwill and the senior center. I just don't want it anymore.
The least stressful places I know are often art museums. They are usually spacious, tranquil and neat as a pin. No clutter. (The quality of the art housed there may vary though.)
Hey, Angela. 🌞 This video made me think if, us, minimalists, have pet peeves. (Mine is when people don't out things back where they got them from). But no judging, we know that. 😁 Would you be able to make a video on that?
@@ArrowHillCottage Definitely, yeah. To us it's already been a habit each morning, but you should do the *reverse of pet peeves* of people who live together, and they're *not* all minimalists. That should be fun. 😁
I find my 750 sq ft apartment just right. I don't want a house and people criticize me for that. For me, it is all about managing my stuff. I am still on my decluttering journey after 2 1/2 years. I love the lived in look. It is very easy to tidying up my apartment. I don't make my bed.
Just out of curiosity, why do people criticize you for not wanting a house? I mean, it's not like you're saying that you're living under a bridge.What do they think is so terrible about living in a 750 sq ft apartment.
I'm the purger in my family, my husband is the hoader, unfortunately I have to throw things out when he is not looking. And yes I like to make my bed daily
1300 sq ft home with 6 kids. 😂 some homes are layed out well and have decent storage. This one doesnt. Not even a linen closet to be found. We have had to get creative with our storage solutions. We have added kitchen cabinets with doors as an "entertainment center wall" for books, tech, and homeschool gear. I love that its closed even though it is right in the main area. Sadly there is only so much decluttering you can do with this many people in the home with their own personal items. Always a work in progress.
I am not a minimalist when it comes to kids’ toys. Most toys are touted to develop smth unique in kids and I just can’t resist… the only room that stresses me out
So many of these things truly used to be me. I look back and it seems like such a long time ago, even tho it really wasn’t that long ago that I had so much with mess and avalanches and overwhelm and procrastination/escapism, depression going on regularly. 😅😅 Overstimulation is huge to me. Even having to see too much store packaging on food bothers me. Lol. I am the type tho that would have my brain scrambled just entering a store like Michael’s. Lol. So what I did with the chatzkies was refinish a beautiful curio (farmhouse style) and put them all in there as one single artful display. They also are safe and don’t get so dusty. Lol. Number 2 for real. It is very literal for me. I don’t think folks really know tho. Built to be “rentable” and it does make a little money….BUT….Rental side. Extended porch and walk around deck. 3 bedrooms (all furnished). 2 baths. Kitchenette “lounge” with a trundle sleeper and closet. Hallway. Sink/cabinet area. Laundry. My side. Large living dining area (with nook space). Kitchen. Side room w closet small size bathroom. (Could function as a bedrm w bath). Walk in closet (used to be my bed/bath). Second bathroom. Hallway. Cat room. Another small bedroom (my current bedroom lol). Back deck (continuation of rental back deck). Side porch. Giant unfinished basement-not even flooring. Just boards and pallets over mud (outdoor entrance only). Then we have things like shoddy construction. The cheap flooring falling apart. Gapped baseboards. (Well the list of small grievances like that goes on and on lol). I also used to get in little snits about that every time I cleaned (or tried to clean 🙄 ugh) but I soon realized that it just wasn’t productive or helpful to keep doing that. I still don’t like it but now at least I can stay a lot more unruffled about it. Well just the fact that I know I’m leaving and it’s not forever goes a really long way. And I’ve already Macgyvered a ton of crap just so I can stand to live in it myself. Lol. But in essence just the enormity of it at first was quite difficult for me to handle. (I had spent the prior 8 years or so living in a 2 br duplex lol). It’s very much like trying to always wear clothes or shoes that are way too big for you. And with the construction issues you tend to feel like you’re just constantly working harder to try and mitigate someone else’s mess they left you to deal with alone. Mega utilities. Mega property tax bill. And so on. Beg, steal and borrow for handyman help and cleaning help. The upheaval of playing “musical chair roommates.” Idk. Lucky me? My “inheritance?” But it’s also more like a ghetto mansion in the middle of the “seedy hood.” Leave it to them to make these kinds of plans. And then to make them for someone else. 🙄 I would expect no less. Plus the fact that they just kind of “thrust” me into a huge responsibility that they never prepared me for. It’s like clip my wings for decades, then drop kick me out of the nest and barking at me to now fly all of a sudden. But much to their chagrin I actually DID finally fly. Lol. Idk. Maybe they expected me to fail at it so they could keep calling me a loser. Ha ha. But I haven’t failed. (Although at first it did seem like I was failing). I don’t love it but at least I can say HAH! Call me a loser now babes Bcuz everyone and their brother wants to get a spot at “Stephanie’s house.” Lol. But ya know. It stays better and cleaner Bcuz I take good care of it. So I do my best to not let “pigs” in. (People who you could not even imagine never clean or take care of anything). I was in this business for a long time so I’ve seen some pretty insane things. (At times as the designated move out cleaner). Gross things beyond comprehension. Well anyways. The weight of everyone wanting a piece of the action at the “good house” is taxing also. I feel proud that I was able to kind of prove some naysayers wrong but I also feel like it’s not my ideal life either. A kind of “regular” unassuming life appeals to me not only Bcuz of the simplicity, but Bcuz nobody even thinks to chase you all over town Bcuz they think you are “somebody.” Or Bcuz they know you might be “loaded” and have a lot of things they want to exploit. And they flatter also and you’re never quite sure if they really like you or if it’s just them liking what all you have that they want to get a piece of. You wouldn’t even have to be “rich” eh. It’s just the dynamic of takers and the fact that you live among impoverished, grasping people like that. I’m not trying to diss anyone who is “low income” Bcuz it’s def more about how they are in their souls than what anyone can or cannot afford. So in an environment like that, boundaries are essential. I’m still searching tho. Affordability is hard to come by these days with house prices being what they are. I’m truly considering either tiny home living or nice manufactured home on a bit of my own land. And of course pets/number of pets is a huge factor as well. Trying to learn all I can. And not sure if tiny is too small Bcuz as you said…”in each other’s faces 24/7” might not work so well either. And just not wanting to overpay and have no nest egg set aside for upcoming retirement. (Likely within a decade). So much to consider I guess. Thanks for letting me soundboard once again. Lol. I’m def a girl with a lot on my plate and a lot on my mind. Lol. I can at least say tho that the itch to move and downsize has become palpable lately. So it really might not be much longer before it actually happens. Lol. Feels like the ducks are about to line up in a row and the discomfort of this “not me” situation is becoming harder and harder to “carry on.” Not that it’s not manageable, but internally it’s just more like such a desire to bust out of this ill fitting mold, guns blazing. Lol.
Good point how even packaging can be visually overstimulating! I feel that also when I go to a store! I’m happy to have a home that lets my brain rest! I know you are extremely mindful and introspective and so I’m sure when/if you do decide (and are able) to change up your housing situation, you will make a wonderful decision that fits your life perfectly! Have a great day! ❤️
@@ArrowHillCottage Lol. Thanks. Yah. Packaging. The only bright, multicolored things I wanna look at in a store are clearance stickers. 😅😅 As far as the other, main thing I guess is to just not pick things apart so much and for so long that I miss the whole boat when it’s time to jump. Lol. I think at this rate tho, I’d be happy with decent quality, smaller size and a fairly good deal on pricing.
We have a camper on our land in Western PA. It's 21' long. That sounds long. It's not. It has a queen sized bed and a full bath along with a little kitchen and sofa/table. It's now full...no people. We use it as a place to sleep as we clean up the land. Fortunately it has many cupboards for food and dishes. You cant stuff it too full or you use up comfortable spaces. It's a game of jenga if you have too much in it.
Some is the structure of the house; tired of whacking my head or hands on too short ceilings. Also so much to fix. Even getting rid of most of the things inside…
I like to sit all day my house is in the pathetic condition 3 times my husbnd was about to divorce me but he loves me plz help me make video on this issue
@@noreentanveer592maybe you need professionel help. Either that our you just need to kick yourself into gear. Just start and learn along the way. No one is perfect
Thank you for the video . We have noticed , donating duplicates or barely used items has made the biggest difference for us. Not only has our home become more visually calming , we’ve noticed belongings that have a ‘home’ & that are easy to access when needed make for a more productive day . And the container concept is so true , if it doesn’t fit the container it ( or something already in the container ) has to go , next step……limiting how many containers are necessary🤣
My wife of 41 years past away three months ago. She was a habitual collector of "antiques and collectable junque". I have been decluttering one contractor garbage bag at a time. I have so far gotten rid of 43 contractor bags of things I do want and do not need. I am nowhere near done and will not stop until I have gotten rid of every non essential item.
I’m so sorry for your loss. And I feel heartbroken to know that all the stuff may possibly be getting in the way of you being able to fully grieve and heal. ❤️
I am going through drawers and cupboards room by room to declutter BEFORE we move! It is actually rewarding as it 1)gets it out of my house 2)someone else can and will get use out of it!!
How does someone so young have so much knowledge about all 15 of those things!? First time seeing any of your videos, and absolutely loved loved loved this one! Your voice is also very calming compared to most clutter videos, which is greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Each person has a different idea of perfection. For me, I have a goal of making my home like a hotel room. I am not content until . Then that will suit my childhood peaceful homelife.
Am just on the last leg of a massive clutter clear. I am absolutely struggling with my wardrobe and shoes and bags. I have emptied a whole double wardrobe and still want to do more. I want no stress when getting dressed each day. I want to be able to pull out an outfit that just works. A single bag that goes with everything. I need to sort a capsule wardrobe but am struggling with that. I’m working on it though.😅
Take out all your favorite pieces of clothing, match up differently outfits with them, along with the belts, shoes/boots, and handbags. Then consider donating the rest.
@@sct4040 thank you so much. I’m at that time in life where all my ‘old’ clothes don’t feel like me anymore. I’ve basically been isolating for over three years with my disabled daughter so haven’t been shopping. Gone through the menopause and had my youngest go off to university. Guess I need to find myself again now! Should spin it on its head and instead of being stressed look it it as a new start! So kind of you to reply and offer advice. 😊
@@ArrowHillCottage thank you for your advice. You’re right. That’s exactly what I need to do! My life has changed so much these past three years and I need to find myself again. Let the journey begin…😊
I would love walk in pantries and storage! I have been decluttering for years and years, there's only two small closets here....no linen closet, no hall closet no cabinet in the bathroom , so I have had to be creative for storage but I would kill to have normal storage options. I use dressers and armoires, shelves, under the beds........ I have fantasies about closets 😂 I watch these videos where they have three things in a huge walk in closet and they say "omg I'm so cluttered " hahahaha 🤣
I don't understand why people buy these gigantic sectional sofas that seat 10 people. Even in the days when people had many children, the average sofa held maybe 3 adults or 4 children. If more seating is needed, there can be chairs. Or have some folding chairs for parties, holidays, etc. I also don't understand why people buy white sofas, have white rugs, and white walls when they have children. I can't imagine how they stay white.
Those sectionals are great to lay on too! We actually use our family room as a guest space, and 2-3 people can sleep on the couch! As for the white walls and furniture, I think that is just a matter of personal preference. I personally like to see when things are dirty so that they can be cleaned! The colors of the walls don’t mean they more difficult to clean - but the finish does! ❤️
What stresses me out is that blank, white wall behind you. Put something on it, doesn't need to be personal but some rattan trays ,something. "Just saying "
I LOVE my extensive surfaces and wish I had more of them: any party or project is made so much easier! The key is storage for what gets used on the surfaces in between use.
There is such a large spectrum between hoarder and OCD. Sadly, people who struggle with hoarding have a completely different perspective about reality. ❤️
Loved your video, so many good points! I rarely comment, but I am concerned about your household battery storage being a hazard. Batteries in contact with one another can create heat, and thus a fire. Best to store in the original packaging or a battery box designed for this purpose. Grateful for you!
good morning Cottage 🌻 -how's that saying go-"we lie down in the beds we've made.." anyway on number 15 - when we travel or vacation -a little town or a b&b always looks so pretty or fun I think a lot because we're not involved or if I may use the word dragged down with insight of the maintenance there... a few years back someone was dropping something off for me and he looked out my living room window at the rainy lake that was now my front lawn and said how incredibly beautiful it was-he was a Vietnam vet- he clearly had a ready grasp of the value and cherish that we may take for granted or again just see the maintenance or problems there-in - which brings us back to our front door stoop-and a sense of wonder and gratefulness and to count our blessings-Willie Nelson wrote that when he started counting his blessings his whole life changed
That is a wonderful insight, thank you! It’s so true that we can become bogged down, and then almost numb to our surroundings! So much wonder and beauty is right under our noses! ❤️
Just a little thing. The container in the drawer holding crayons and pencils - with quite a volume of pencils - I would determine how many pencils do you really need. Automatically I would half that amount. Then perhaps half again the remaining.
Why would you think that any of the things you mentioned would not be ‘allowed’ in your home? Your home should reflect you, as a unique person, and each of us reacts to our environments in our own way. While white walls give me a sense of calm, they leave you feeling depressed. The solution? I can paint my walls white and you can color yours! ❤️
I'm SO glad you mentioned nr. 2. We (Me, my husband and our 7 year old) live in what we call a 'one bedroom flat' in the UK... Our son has the bedroom, and we sleep in the livingroom/entryway/hallway to the bathroom and kitchen. We have been looking for a year now (!!!) to move... unfortunately, due to the current economic circumstances in the UK, we haven't managed to find a bigger place. You may think "why are you in there in the first place?" Well... that is a veeery long story.
Ooof, that sounds like a tough situation! Hopefully you will be able to find something more suitable soon! The good thing is- once it finally comes, you will REALLY appreciate it! ❤️
I have a bit of "treasures" in my home that you call clutter. People confuse my tool room as a living room. Somehow I do not think you understand the value of having drill bit charts on the wall instead of all of those paintings and family photos.
