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.
Further Reading:
Indigo says
Insanely Timely HELPFUL directions, as we have our PACKED attic to tackle, and we were JUST talking about how to handle it this very morning! This sounds VERY do-able. Thank you SO much!!
Suzanne Driscoll says
Thank you, Joshua, for sharing this valuable information. I have lived in my two bedroom house for over 40 years. As the only family member with a basement, I said YES to everyone and everything; why rent storage space when here it is free? But it really is not free, because the burden weighs on your mind and heart. I challenged myself to get this area cleared this year. Big items are gone and family storage has been curtailed. Regarding my own property, I ask myself if a particular item deserves to live upstairs. If I don’t love it, I leave it—as a donation, or garbage. 2021 will be GREAT in SO many ways!
Ulrike Nelson says
Joshua, any chance you could quickly do a video on moving tips and tricks? We need to clear a lot of space fast, and I am not feeling very confident of how to accomplish this. Thanks for all you do.
One of your zillions of fans.
Ulli
Cindi says
My advice is be ruthless in deciding what to take. I moved and left half my stuff behind. I still had too much. I moved again 10 years later and left half of that behind (I hadn’t bought much in the meantime). And I still had too much! I got rid of another half of that after I moved in, and after I had just paid to move it!
I am building a house now in the same town in which I live. Instead of thinking about what not to pack, I’m going to consciously decide on every single item I do bring over, and leave the rest!
Dodie says
I have moved 36 times. So my advice is this: Keep what is sentimental. And I mean, you have an emotional attachment to it. Get rid of all the replaceable stuff from Walmart and Target, worn out clothes, furniture that is uncomfortable, and anything that brings back bad memories. When moving, give each person a rolling suitcase (if you don’t have enough, buy them for a $3 at Goodwill) and let them put into their own suitcase non negotiables. It’s private, it’s their own, no one can touch it. Then add one extra suitcase for the house – it should contain dishsoap, dish cloths, a few towels, a disinfectant, toilet paper, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, perhaps paper towels, some plastic cups, a roll of trash bags. My last move, I did something I have never done before and it was a game changer: I spent $100 to buy boxes all the same size, tape, a dispenser, and furniture wrap. It was delivered to the house and they would buy back any you didn’t use. I can’t tell you how much easier this made the whole moving process. I don’t plan to ever move again without doing this. I saved more than the $100 just in being able to use a smaller moving truck because the boxes all fit together perfectly. I hope this helps.
Karenliz Henderson says
Love 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.
Helan Amy says
Wow! this is really inspiring article for us, thank you very much for sharing these awesome article.
Krista says
Joshua, 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.
Judith McCArthy says
Thank 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!
Anya says
We 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.
Vera Tanier-Sebree says
I 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 ;-)
Angie says
I 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.