When people ask for advice on how to begin their journey toward minimalism, I always offer the same approach: move through the rooms in your home easiest to hardest, starting with the most lived-in spaces. That approach forms the foundation for the Uncluttered Course and my new book, The Minimalist Home.
After completing the first spaces in a home, anybody who has lived in their home for more than a few years can attest that there usually exists at least one large, overwhelming space that needs to be decluttered of possessions no longer needed. Think: basement, attic, garage, or storage shed.
These larger, more overwhelming spaces can present unique challenges. But countless people have found victory over them, and so can you.
Here is the best formula for decluttering large, overwhelming spaces:
1. Remove the easiest things first.
Scan the entire area and fill several bags/boxes of items you can get rid of quickly and easily. No difficult decisions at this point, just grab the low-hanging fruit. Don’t even bother opening boxes. You’re looking for quick, easy decisions at this point. Grab the things already in plain view that you know you don’t want anymore.
2. Discard larger items next.
Look for big items that take up lots of physical space, remove them next. Things such as cardboard boxes, furniture, large tools, anything that stores awkward. I realize sometimes these larger items can be more difficult to dispose of, but starting here is important. By removing the largest items at the very beginning, you will see quick progress in decluttering the space. This visible victory of cleared spaces will provide motivation as you continue.
3. Donate items instead of selling them.
If you don’t desperately need the money, you should always donate to a local charity whose mission you believe in. The only exceptions are valuable items or large items you are unable to transport yourself. Following this rule is particularly important in large spaces that are going to be time-consuming, don’t add to the burden by trying to resell everything.
4. Break your large space into smaller bite-size challenges.
After removing the easy and large items, you will begin the process of working methodically through your space. Use natural physical boundaries to break your project into smaller pieces: one shelf, one drawer, one side of the room, or even one box at a time. Don’t think about the whole project at once. Just start with one small area.
5. Work until your bite-size piece is completed.
Almost certainly you will not complete this large space in one day—especially if you have years of items. But you can still feel a sense of accomplishment by completing a smaller-sized challenge each time (a shelf, a drawer, etc.) as outlined in the previous step. See each smaller chunk all the way to completion before taking a break or quitting for the day. There is joy to be found in completing these smaller goals.
6. Physically touch each item and sort into keep, remove, or relocate.
It’s important to touch each item in a space when decluttering because the action forces a decision. Work hard to put as many things as possible into the “remove” pile. You need much less than you think you need. If an item has sat untouched for years in your attic, there is very little chance you will need it in the future.
7. Organize what’s left.
Don’t stop decluttering until your space looks spacious and manageable. When you’re done, neatly organize the remaining things so the space stays clean, manageable, and useful.
Large, cluttered spaces take focused effort and time. But you can do it. You’ll be glad you did.
Emma-a simple living journey says
August 6, 2018 at 2:47 AMOh, a timely post. I need to badly deal with my Home office/spare room/sewing room/junk room…..well really it’s more of a black hole. 🙊 The rest of the house is pretty good with a few small spaces to deal with but my spare room just makes me tired to even look at!
laura ann says
August 6, 2018 at 5:31 PMGarages are the worst places for clutter, I had too many containers not being used so donated to animal shelter to store their supplies in. Several went to friends with kids.
Tina says
August 11, 2018 at 6:31 PMMy daughter has been on her own for 20 plus years. She is moving back in with us for the next year or so. She has given away garbage bags full of clothing, books and hobby materials. But there is still so much.
I have friends with 2 car garages full of boxes of stuff. Walls of toilet paper and detergent. I am mystified by all of it.
Judy says
August 6, 2018 at 3:48 AMGood tips, Joshua! I like the part about completing the smaller task and the part about cleaning the newly decluttered space. love it!
Tony W says
August 6, 2018 at 6:58 AMSometimes I feel like a snob as I walk the streets of my neighborhood and see how much stuff is packed in some garages. But I mind my own business. LOL.
We all have had a large space we needed to tackle.
I agree with the idea of donating instead of selling. The time and stress saved will be worth it.
Glenda says
August 6, 2018 at 7:01 AMJust what I needed right now. I had come to a standstill on my basement. Lots of stuff is already gone but it is still overwhelming. This gives me a way forward. Thanks!
joshua becker says
August 6, 2018 at 10:59 AMYou can do it Glenda.
Heather Groce says
August 6, 2018 at 7:11 AMThank you for this post!y basement makes me almost physically I’ll when I go down there and see the mess!
Like you say,it’s years of clutter!I also have severe ADHD and so the overwhelm is even worse! I am just visually overwhelmed at the stuff and mentally overwhelmed at where to begin! I have been actively decluttering for a couple years now and I am almost done with the rest of the house.This article was right on time for my next step!
Toni says
August 6, 2018 at 7:35 AMAhhhh yes!
Decluttering is AMAZING!
We have had most of our belongings in storage, but have recently downsized to a small home, and have been able to unpack the storage trailer- WHY I thought I had to keep all of this stuff originally, I have no idea 🙄
Liane says
August 6, 2018 at 8:36 AMAfter two years of clearing out my mother’s home to sell. I ended up with 3 rooms of “treasured heirlooms” and a garage filled of tote bins. We ended donating everything wouldn’t fit into 1 tote bin. Now we are doing the same for my mother in law. We moved her into an assisted living facility. She went from a large 2 bedroom apt. to a 300 sq. foot room. We donated and trashed everything that did not fit into her room. It felt great knowing that she has everything she really needs and we are not encumbered with “treasured heirlooms” and unwanted items. The only things we kept from our parents were photo albums which I am scanning and tossing. A scanner is the best thing for a minimalist. Invest in one if you don’t already own one. It literally will change your life.
Ola says
August 6, 2018 at 9:51 AMAwesome advice. The missing piece… AND REPEAT :)
Fighting clutter is an ongoing battle.
Sandra says
August 6, 2018 at 9:56 AMWe needed to see this several years ago when the shed out back became the dumping ground for things passed down by family members. It is such an emotional task to “let go” of things you’ve grown up with or that your loved one cherished. I think this list will help give us a starting place.
Suzanne says
August 6, 2018 at 3:46 PMMy large overwhelming space is the basement. It has a mix of acquired heirlooms from when my mom passed away 5 years ago and many items I thought I might need or use in the future. The steps, especially the first three, you outlined are very helpful. These guidelines make the task feel more manageable. Thank you….
Angie says
August 7, 2018 at 7:39 AMI encountered this with my late Grandpa’s massive woodworking workshop. It was a huge building, and my father could not bring himself to do it for years because his emotions and reminder of our own mortality prevented him from doing so. I ultimately had to kick my dad out of the workshop and have at it. I needed little motivation to drive me on because it was THAT dirty, I am THAT anal-retentive, and I was the only one capable of discarding sentimentality to do it.
When the dust settled, I left one ashtray filled with butts on a workbench. As I cleaned/sorted/organized on, I recognized my grandpa was not ready to go and still had many things to work on. The ashtray remained as a silent reminder of that.
Vera Tanier-Sebree says
August 7, 2018 at 8:25 AMI have tackled a project each week for the past 6 weeks. I can say I have found it very freeing. Even looking at the $$$$ I have wasted on items that I really do not use or need. I have gifted some items to others (they needed them- spare bed set, toaster, sewing machine and such)
I look forward to phase 2 in my closets. I was weak when I started there and as I dress each morning for work I realized I really do only wear a fraction of the stuff in my closet.
I will continue till I can rest in a space filled with – well space ;-)
Anya says
August 7, 2018 at 7:46 PMWe live in Southern California— earthquake country—and people do not generally have basements here for that reason. I remember reading your book, Joshua, in which you mention the percentage of houses with two-car garages that can’t even fit one car—we CAN fit one car, but I think those of us in houses without basements should be cut a bit of slack. :) The bicycles, Christmas decor and treadmill do have to live somewhere. ;) Anyway, as I’ve decluttered— especially since my husband comes from a rather hoardy family—I’m relieved we don’t have a basement. I can easily picture what it would have turned into years ago as his older relatives downsized.
Judith McCArthy says
August 9, 2018 at 9:58 AMThank you so much for all these tips. My garage is so much tidier. I’m a crafter, so you can imagine how easy it is to let things get out of hand. I am steadily using up my supplies, and have empty spaces on my craft room shelves.SO good!
When I was a teacher, and my class looked like a bomb had hit it after Art lessons. I got the kids to pick up 5(10,15) depending on state of room.They brought things to bin I was holding. Worked a treat. Cleaners always loved me! Once heard a tip ..pick up /tidy 5 things each time you visit a messy room. By the end of day it looks so much better.Continue until room tidy!
Krista says
August 11, 2018 at 12:34 AMJoshua, you are a genius! This is just what I needed (the garage beckons) and already it feel less overwhelming because now I have a plan.
Helan Amy says
August 19, 2018 at 12:10 AMWow! this is really inspiring article for us, thank you very much for sharing these awesome article.
Karenliz Henderson says
August 31, 2018 at 7:30 AMLove this! Perfect timing for me. My husband gets so angry when I talk about decluttering to the point where he puts signs on his boxes of junk so I don’t throw them out. I’m now only getting rid of “my stuff” so I can least know that I don’t have any clutter/crap building up. I’m hoping to be done by the end of the year. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.