1. Our home is not a storage unit 2. Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful (William Morris) 3. Our family “rules” for a peaceful home 4. Declutter space for creativity 5. Discard something right now (Fumio Sasaki)
I really hope your channel will grow exponentially. You give great advice, straight to the point, no endless blabbering which I personally find exhausting.
You are so right. The basics without the blabber! I have had to unsubscribe from several content creators because of the noise, emphasis on money, immaturity, gimmicks, shopping hauls, etc I have just discovered this lovely video & was immediately drawn to it.
Very good advice. Very calm and lovely presentation. I would not say I am minimalistic, but at age 74 I am very aware that one day 'someone' will have to deal with my 'stuff'. I keep on top of it and regularily donate. Alone the thought to burden someone with clearing out my ample house is motivation. Plus, I love the empty space gained. For my mother, an empty space on a piece of furniture or the fireplace mantel meant she had to put something there. One really could not appreciate the furniture and she could never find things because she rarely put them away. I am the opposite..thanks to her bad example.😉 One learns much from parents, including how not to be!
Consumerism is good>People have jobs, purpose, keeping busy means staying physically fit etc etc etc…In America, we have Room to spread out, which means larger houses for some people. We’ve worked very hard to EARN our private property w/large(er) home. Larger homes and land space equals more things we’ve accumulated. I support local artists/businesses when I can. I make ALOT of my own decor;often from repurposed thrifted items. Anyway…please be careful not to make stereotypes for ALL peoples. The world is bigger than the internet makes it seem….America is bigger……….
So true - we are encouraged to pack knick knacks, clutter and more, more and more of things we already have into our display shelves, closets, garages and basements. It increases our stress level and can become a tripping hazard, robbing us of valuable space, attracting insects of all kinds and impossible to keep clean as it piles up. Why? To compete with other women with our home decor, our clothes and shoes, etc. What is behind it? Pride, insecurity, showing off for others. The sad truth is nobody really cares about what you have that you are trying to impress them with. If they like it it's only because they are envious of it and want it for themselves. It is often under the guise of "thrifted" or "DIY" but it is still just amassing stuff... I agree. So tired of the endless babbling on the home tour and shop with me videos bragging about all the stuff.
That was an incredible video with such beautiful music! I love the thought of decluttering as removing distractions so you simply live your life. I am so tired of spending time and energy managing stuff. Really, that was great, thank you!
I wish I could say this to my MIL, I was raised with the same mindset to not have a cluttered home and only keep things that are truly special and/or meaningful. Not only for the concept or the aesthetics but also for health reasons. Clutter makes a home harder to clean and I suffered from a lot of respiratory issues since childhood. I recently got married and have my own apartment with my now husband. My MIL is an undiagnosed hoarder and keeps things form generations back. She keeps everything! Trying to help us "fill out our apartment" she gave us so many unnecessary things and always makes comments of where we should add stuff and that our home need more. I told my husband the same thing that our home is not a storage unit.
Your story makes me think about the Swedish Death Cleaning book, what is done with all that stuff after you pass away? My Nan kept every card she was ever given, what could we do after she passed but throw them away? Especially when there’s so many other things to go through. It’s really our personal responsibility to curate what we leave behind so that the most special and meaningful things rise to the surface
@@chelseafisher6881 I purchased a house for my mother across from me and pleaded with her that when she moves here (to Spain) that she seriously throws away things that she has not touched in years, donate, throw away, turn lose of and not keep things out of nostalgic duty simply because someone - no matter who - gave it to her. She came here still with utterly useless things (electrical appliances that will not work with our different voltage) and old bills paid from the 60's etc. Thousands of photos and albums never opened, still in the packing boxes. You can imagine the rest. The new house was still cluttered but became worse within 20 years. Now she lives with me in a garden studio, has dementia and it took me a full year to sort out her 'stuff'. Except for a 3 week break it was a daily 2+ hour ordeal . My resentment was very high as she was often offended when I reminded her nicely to at least put things away, throw away old cosmetics etc. Her answer was 'you can do what you want with it when I die', clearly chosing to let me deal with it. Now she is living very minimalistically, but certainly doesn't notice it.
I like your ideas! Its so true that one must be able to eat in peace, and keeping the noise level down is such a great way to respect others. Thank you for sharing!
I just recently retired from teaching--teachers tend to hold on to "stuff" A colleague and friend who had retired before me forced me to leave that stuff behind because I did not need more stuff at home. I made my husband and son and his wife watch this video. The title alone was enough to make me realize even more that I am not only doing my self a disservice but my family as well--who will want this stuff? We all need to change our mindset about the amount of unnecessary stuff we hold on to that make our lives less interesting and monopolize our time in trying to maintain items that have no memorable value or need.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! It's a big step to leave behind the "stuff" of a long career. Congratulations on your recent retirement from teaching! It's a significant milestone and a time for new beginnings. ✨
I really agree with your advice. I had intended on showing this to my Self-Care class for adults living with disability, but it's not in a format that is accessible to all. However, I will share points from this with them! Thank you!
Love this! Thank you. Just viewing this video makes me feel more relaxed - especially love the cat - my home is made more beautiful because of my two. I owe it to them and to myself to declutter and make my home a peaceful sanctuary. ❤ xxxx
I have been a minimalist for over 20 years and have moved on to Swedish Death Cleaning as I am 70, but I am smitten with your channel! It is so unique! I love the useful content, cat and the music!
'My home is not a storge unit' Just what I needed to hear!! Just subbed and found the inspiration I need for the New Year here. Such relaxing music and love that you add quotes too. Looking forward to 2024 following you and learning from your style. So much inspiration for a calm and loving space. Thank you. Happy New Year. x
@calmnordic I’m not sure how I haven’t seen your channel until now but it’s a total game changer. I loved this video. My house is not a storage unit is a great reminder and exactly what I need to tackle a couple spots that I’ve designated as “storage”. Why do I even need the stuff I have in there I haven’t moved them in 3 years lol. Thank you so much for helping me. I just pulled out the bins and they are currently blocking the hallway so I have to declutter right now.
I need rest and this Chanel mirrors this need. It feels like I finally came home. This is exactly how my home should look like. Free of Cluster, simple, mindful.
I have relatives with 'hoarding disorder'. Hoarding disorder is when you don't just have normal clutter, but a form of mental illness that impacts all aspects of your life (similar to other types of compulsive behaviours and addictions). Some people who have grown-up around 'hoarding disorder' inherit the disorder themselves, or they find that clutter triggers anxiety due to bad childhood memories.
Great editing with helpful advice. Thanks. I love the piano background. Beautiful touch to a video. And your cat is beautiful. She reminds me of my Sunnyhead who passed away.
I am loving your content and it is fresh and enlightening. I am already a minimalist but love how you are putting together things to remind why and to revisit some of those things. Beautiful place where you live and love your cat!! we have 6 cats, not very minimalist but they came as 1 unit.( mama and 4 babies and a feral).
Just found you today and after watching a few of your videos I tackled my kitchen and it felt so good to get rid of things! Going to keep on going to simplify my life because I don't want a house that's a storage unit, I want to live in my Very Own Museum!
Okay, I have to ask. I noticed the plett pan when you had a donate bag and "time will tell" box out. Did you keep it? I found my grandmother's in a box and it's a bit rusty, but I remember her making me pancakes/plättar on it when I was little and I want to keep and use it for sentimental reasons. It turns out there's a whole process to revive cast iron that's seen better days. I also have her (manual) coffee grinder. I still remember her "hyvää kahvia" and breaking up loaf sugar into lumps! (This was at a time when you could easily buy sugar cubes, lol.) Funny how just one image can conjure up so many memories...
I would like to comment respectfully that I noticed when you wash the bathroom or your hands that you have the water running while not using it. As I feel it is important to care for the environment and the water supplies in particular, I believe we should be careful not to waste water. Thank you
Agreed!! I'm constantly yelling at my kids to "Stop wasting water!" A few years back I started shutting off the water while brushing my teeth and shaving my legs in the shower. It all adds up and this Earth only has so much fresh water.
My goodness, your videos alone give me peace and quiet. It is new year and I plan to spend the day cleaning and organizing. I wish I had the space as many things I have are not beautiful but are useful but are cluttery (records, paperwork, supplies for writing, machines for doing calculations, office and craft supplies, craft projects in progress, kitchen appliances) and I've no place to put them. I have no dishwasher, so I have to wash dishes, pots and pans by hand. I am looking at my full sink and am tempted to just throw all of it in the trash and minimalize by starting over. Just have 4 plates, 4 bowls and 4 mugs and utensils for 4, 1 storage container, 4 glasses, and one baking dish and one cooking pan and throw everything else out, so I will have less to dirty and need to wash. I plan on clearing out my closets. I have many lovely outerwear - coats, jackets, capes, but I have worn only two or three of them in the last 3 years, so I know I will likely never wear the rest of them, so out they go, to Donations. I have a love of Nordic/Scandinavian white/white decor and furniture and still love that, most of my furnishings are white, my bedroom is white on white, very relaxing, but I feel your pain of having all this beige, white and off white decor and furniture and bed clothes...but having a black cat. Black cat hair will be on everything. LOL. My first cat was black and her companion was a light tan color, so I joked I had a black cat to get hairs on white things and a tan cat to get light hairs on dark things. Subscribed.
If your ‘stuff’ makes you happy, keeps you content and gives you peace, then keep your stuff! Too many people today try and live their lives the way other people think they should be living. To some an empty space is heaven, to others it is hell. ( I did find the music over bearing) 😊
I love your minimalist video. You say more with music and actions than other channels say with egocentric dialogue. I subscribed. Happy new year. Bright blessings to you from Chicago.
It feels so calm watching your videos. Please consider adding a little bit of your voiceover here and there 😊 it would make a lovely change. All the best 😊
Thank you for your feedback! I appreciate your suggestion, and I'll definitely consider adding voiceover to some videos in the future. Have a wonderful day ✨
Thank you for your lovely comment! I'm updating my blog with ideas about curating homes, I'll let you know when I get the blog back online. Have a wonderful day!
Don't spray cleaning fluids onto surfaces. Spray onto your cloth. However, since you're using a microfiber cloth, please use no cleaning fluid at all. They're meant to be used alone, damp or dry.
How would you declutter books? I have books from my parents, and books that were given to me as gifts. I feel guilty giving them away because they are books.
I try to keep the ones that hold the most sentimental value or serve a practical purpose. I did three categories "keep, maybe, donate", and I also gave some books to friends and family. I like to think that the purpose of a gift is to bring joy at the moment of giving. I try to think that I don't have to hold on to the gift indefinitely. It's not an easy process, we still have many books we could declutter.
I love to read & prefer actual books I can hold . When it comes time to thin out my collection , I pass books on to friends or donate to the local animal shelter's thrift shop , I'm motivated by the good these books will generate . Same w/ other items being donated such as clothes & household items - think of others ! 🥰
If I were renovating my kitchen again, I would have 2 dishwashers, one for clean and one for dirty dishes. These would alternate as dishes are cleaned and dirtied again. Since we use a lot of the same dishes every day, the futile, pointless act of putting dishes away only to take them out again is a waste of time. The storage space given up for a second dishwasher won't be missed if we forego the need to "store" things we will be using again in a few hours.
The mom of this house is doing a lot of housework while everyone else in this family is off in their private space relaxing and listening to head phones...
Thank you for your comment! Sometimes that's true, but luckily, usually my family members also clean often 😄 Our cat is the only one who is just relaxing all the time 😄
Unfortunately we have small houses in England... this type of living is just de-clutter porn that is out of our reach. Im proud my house looks like a storage unit, it shows my personality.
We have a huge house and I would love it more organized but this sort of "uncluttered" is just not my thing, zero personality showing in the home. But that's just me....😂
This could have been a peaceful, calming video but for the music. Would much prefer the simplicity of the natural sounds of the activity of decluttering - as though I were cleaning my own space. There's almost no place to escape to avoid noise.