I don't like framed pictures lying around on surfaces, to me it just looks cluttered and collects dust, it drives my husband crazy, he wants to put out all the framed pictures on every surface.
My husband and I often run into a similar issue Amanda! Usually we end up meeting in the middle, but I definitely can relate to that driving you a bit crazy! 😅
I need better organized storage so it's easy to put things away in the right place. Now I just shove them in where I am so tools mixed with work books and jars for my jam mixed with tins and baking stuff so too messy and then I put in more stuff that doesn't belong there like lightbulbs, decor and so on. It's stuff I use regularly but I need to get it all organized better
@Ashlynne Eaton love your channel it has helped me feel less cramped at home. however, I'm struggling to get rid of certain items I have things that I don't like/need that come in a set or collection and not sure weather to get rid of part of the set if you could make a vid on that I’d be very grateful
Hi I chose to use 4 really inexpensive fabric cubes from Bed Bath & beyond to put in the bookshelf in my bedroom to store frequently used items but keep them out of sight. As a rule I don't go into Bed Bath & beyond but I'm staging my home to hopefully sell quickly so I did that as a staging device first and realized I really liked it so I'll keep using them.
Tipps from the video: 1) don't be afraid of boxes+ baskets 2) embrace color palettes 3) eliminate word signs 4) clear your counter tops 5) straighten all wall hangings 6) use harmonious numbers in decor 7) hide cords from electronics 8) remove dead leaves from plants 9) reduce the number of pictures on walls 10) beware of overstuffed shelves Great tipps, thank you! :)
I had a hard time with depression and anxiety, so I put up word signs to kinda encourage me. I did however choose the signs carefully cause they had to match my room, and pertain to my life.
I do the same! I have anxiety disorder and depression and having word decor helps me to stay motivated and to smile. Especially because one of the ones I have is a gift from my friends
I live in a very small apartment so I had to choose wisely the storage solutions. All furniture is white, I decided not to use coffe tables or side tables of any kind and all of our storage is closed (no open shelves gathering dust). We also chose soft colours (soft blue, grey and white) and only one picture in the living room and another one in the bedroom. My countertops and all surfaces are empty except for a pop of colour on a desk. And we paid a builder to move several outlets so there are no cords in sight in any place of the house, as our tv outlets are now behind the tvs and so on. So everybody agrees that although the apartment is tiny, it looks airy and relaxing.
Like my word signs. They are not going away and my house does not look cluttered. I get many compliments on my signs, wanting to know where i get them(i make them) so lots of orders for signs as these same people have friends that visit their homes and want signs like that. My home is warm and inviting, not cold and sterile.
Great tips! About a year ago, we listed our house in Michigan to be ready for a downsizing move to Florida. Before listing the Michigan house, I went through the entire house and did a purge of over half the items in our closets, drawers, cupboards, garage, and basement. It was the most freeing thing I ever did in my life! When I was finished the house looked amazing and it was so easy to clean! We downsized from a 3500 square foot house and three car garage and full basement to a 1980 square foot house with a two car garage and no basement. Our new Florida house has very little closet space but we are fine with that! We figure it is less space for us to accumulate more stuff for our kids to get rid of when we pass away! We have been here almost ten months now and I find myself still gathering things to donate to Amvets because I’m finding I just don’t need so much clutter - even in my closets or cupboards! It’s so much easier to find everything and easier to get to when everything is in it’s proper place! I don’t have to move things to get a serving bowl from the cabinet or to get my toaster off the shelf. We still have a lot of stuff but it all fits in the space we have. Easy to find. Easy to clean. I wish I had found your videos years ago! You are still rather young, but, older people have a hard time letting things go because so many things bring back memories of when they or their children were young. Clearing out my parents house after they passed away made me realize that I cannot take it with me so why let so much stuff weigh down my life now? I also view too much stuff as more things to dust in my house. I don’t want to be a slave to my stuff. I never thought of minimalism in such a way before. I didn’t even realize I had become a minimalist until I saw your videos! Mind blown! (In a great way!)
I grew up in India and it used to be so much a part of our culture to not keep stuff.As I read your comment,I remember my grandma asking me about a million times “Why do you want to keep your dolls/ toys etc.? You can’t take them with you when you go.Let someone else use itonce you have outgrown it “😀
Clearing countertops has changed my life! In my “minimalism” journey, I’ve realized I’m not a stark aesthetic minimalist, but I deeply admire minimalist principles and I still use them daily when I clean and declutter! I also love the power of three rule- I use it a lot. Thanks for another great video.
Agree! I cannot tolerate cords. I eliminate the view of any cords at my home. I also need negative space- aka- open space. Counters don’t all need something on them. If only I could 100% control this at work!
Prefer dogs that I can train who want to please me. I had a cat that would try to trip me on the way to the bathroom every morning so I would feed him. After braking my toe and realizing he bullied my other cat all the time , we gave him to another home. Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do.
This was happening with our cat too and we lined up someone to take her. I was so tired of it. And then I read something online that said “you need 2 litter boxes for every one cat you own. I had 2 cats and one litter box. I bought 3 more and I haven’t had a problem since.
This video motivated me to finish removing all the clutter from the bottom of my smallish walk-in closet - it's about 4 feet X 4 feet. I was contemplating where the vaccuum cleaner belonged in there, when I decided to try putting in my meditation cushions instead. Yaaaaaaaass! Even though the shelves haven't yet been cleared or organized, it already feels great to sit there. I will find somewhere else to store the vacuum cleaner and broom, winter coats, etc. and hang a serene tapestry from the top shelf to make a relaxing sanctuary. I have wanted a dedicated enclosed space to meditate for almost 30 years, so this is huge for me!
🌿 Visual clutter is my enemy. It literally disrupts my focus. Although I am not a traditional minimalist (small kids), minimalism still colors my lifestyle philosophy.
I decluttered everything in my home, within a month or so. It s made my life so much easier and cleaning so less of a chore. But I still need to tidy each day. Before going to bed, I make sure everything is tidy and there are no dirty dishes. My kitchen sink needs to be clean at all times
I have one item of word art: one of those boards with changeable words. It's on the kitchen counter beside the coffee maker. The extra letters are in a container beside it. When someone comes up with a phrase they want to share, they change it. It's fun to challenge yourself with phrases that you can share with the rest of the family. I don't think I could live with one unchanging piece of word art.
This was a great video with fab tips. I hate visual clutter. I always dry my dishes as i don’t like to see them on the draining board, I always make my bed and I like to keep my worktops as clear as possible. Before I go t9 bed at night I straighten the sofas and throw pillows and make sure everything is put away. It only takes a few minutes and Its so nice to wake up to a clean clear space.
Wow! I actually learned a lot from this video! About decluttering and minimalism, I feel everything is already been said and we just upcycle the same tips and information. But here there were tips I have never heard of! Thank you!
I just had bookcases and a fireplace built. My two declutter tips are put outlets on top of the mantel. I originally did it for Christmas lights, but it has been taken over with a sound bar. And two, in arranging the bookcases, I put rows of books on the bottom two to visually hold the rest of the bookcase, scattered books in the rest, only put one object in some shelves and (stay with me here), cut out beautiful wrapping paper and lined the backwall of two shelves on each tower. It needed something to help unify the four towers of bookshelves and move your eye across. Pretty happy with it.
I definitely agree that having negative space between items can really make a difference. My desk and bookshelf has gone through many different phases as I like to switch up how they look sometimes, but I always keep to the rule of three and make sure it doesn't look cluttered with too many things sitting next to each other. :)
Removing decor sitting on the kitchen counters made a big difference for me. Also, I find people who like houseplants have them everywhere and because they are living don’t consider them clutter but I find more than one in a space visually distracting.
That’s a great one Elizabeth! Personally I don’t find plants all that visually cluttering, but if you do then it’s a great idea to get rid of them, or like you said, reduce the number of them you have to just one 🤍
Ashlynne Eaton Maybe I would like plants better if I could keep them alive Ha. Except for spider plants, those things won’t die and will take over your home like a jungle takes over your home in a Jurassic horror movie. I’ve had that happen so that’s probably why I only want one plant per space.
@@elizabethlangheim9460 I get what you're saying, I can't stand houses full of plants, that you can't walk without bump into one, to me is clutter. I always joke that I'm a "fake" minimalist because I don't care about plants and have none in my house but I like flowers.
Yesterday I got really overwhelmed at how many decorative pieces I still kept through decluttering. Perfect timing for this video to come out! Thanks for the inspiration :3
This is one of the best and most helpful home decor videos I've seen. Visual clutter makes me crazy, and I continue to struggle with it. I'm going to try these ideas this weekend!
Yes this was so well said!! I was just saying to my boyfriend I wanted a few blankets but I didn’t want it to look like too much. So now I’ll get a nice basket to put them in!
For the groups of 3 thing, it works. I actually have a little stool that acts as my nightstand and it actually has 6 items on it, but they are still in "groups of 3" that it looks really good. Group 1 is a thin book with a kalimba on top that is the same size. Group 2 is a tiny fake tree and Chinese medicine balls that are in line with each other. And group 3 is 2 tiny stuffed toys. So while 3 items is probably ideal, if you have more and they fit into 3 groups, it also works.
You mentioned crooked pictures frames as a source of mental distraction and when I saw the picture of the Eiffel Towel on the shelf I thought that you were going to remove it. The tower looks out of balance to me. Different folks different strokes. I enjoyed your video, thanks
Ashlynne, Another way that I learned to eliminate word signs is to use black electrical tape to cover labels on electronics. This will eliminate some small subconscious distractions.
Hi Ashlynne! I love your videos and finally learned how to do comments here 🙄. I left blankets as well and have discovered the trend of blanket ladders I have a very large family room and so I had room in one corner to put a blanket ladder that is slim and sturdy and I fold the blankets and draped them in a little pallet of colors on the ladder. I'm using that to help me stage my family room and keep the blankets neat but accessible.
Love your take on counter tops. I used to always leave my toaster out. Why? I used it every day, but for 2 minutes tops!! It is so easy to pull out for that small amount of use and then put away for the next day. And the use of art....someone told me once that you need to leave one wall empty in a room. Art work on every wall is distracting!
Great tips! I have been stressing about my flat this week and how messy it looks. My living room and kitchen are one big room, and it just looks cluttered. I am going to focus on clearing the work tops and sorting out my bookcase! I feel excited to get to it rather than stressing!
I don’t shop word signs, but I’ve been gifted a few that resonated with me (so I kept them). How I navigated them was to put them on shelves, grouped with other sentimental items, so they’re not a focal point on the wall.
Thank you SO much for your video content! I am a VERY visual person and what you said regarding word signs and harmonious numbers really struck me. I am incredibly sensitive visually and your insight helped tremendously. Thank you!
I don't know why RUclips recommended this video to me, but I am so glad it did. Already subscribed and I hope I can make my home as pleasing as yours 😊
My appartement is poorly made, I don't have any closed, wardrobe or anything like that, and in the kitchen I only have little cupboards so nowhere to "hide" my stuff (only food and dishes), is drives me crazy ! 😅 When I will own my place, I will create in-built closed storages everywhere to free the mind :)
These tips are seriously so helpful! Earlier I never thought of paying attention to such fine details. But it all made sense because of the way you explained. Thanks so much
Wow how can you be so young and wise? My dougter always telling me the same advices, but you sound more convincent 😉 thank you I"ll try to put them in practice.
Ashlynne calling me out on some of these 🙈😂 great content and definitely will help me after my decluttering process. I already do some of these tips but I appreciate that you make all of these videos to help people live more simplified lives
That’s great! These videos aren’t meant to make anyone feel guilty but hopefully to motivate us and help to identify areas where we can grow! And honestly, I need these tips as much as anyone 🤍🥰
I watch a lot of declutter vids, but have not ever heard the idea of the various colors being clutter. thanks. and yes, I hate things on the walls that are not straight..... drives me crazy. Loved your video, first time I've been here, so I subscribed.
loved this video - really interesting and helpful ideas! i have been on my minimalist journey for about two years now and the amount of things i have learned is amazing!
Nice video. I also realized that I need to dust my fake plants and restore the loose leaves where they belong. I also say, "If something is not decorative or functional in its current location, it needs to be put away."
hi, Ashlynne! I just bumped into your channel and this is the first video I saw. Your 10 tips are absolutely the best pieces of advice I have ever heard. Thank you so much!
A couple of perceptual basics hinted at in three of your tips: 1. Baskets (also trays): Visual clutter is having too many individual items to look at. Human beings are hard-wired to pay attention to individual items, whether as a goal (prey object) or a danger (predator). We notice, even on a subconscious level, things out of place or malfunctioning. When things are corralled in a basket or tray, they cease to be several items and become one thing: a group. That's why gathering up items left randomly on a table and putting them together in a tray or basket reduces the sense of clutter. 2. Color Palette: Something many designers do is to paint walls and ceiling (and sometimes flooring) the same neutral color, usually a soft white but sometimes a darker color. The uniformity of color obscures edges where these planes (walls/ceilings/floors) meet and can create the illusion of a larger space by making those planes seem more distant and leaving the space feeling more expansive. It continues in matching furnishings with the same color as is on the walls. 3. Overstuffed Shelves (or any crowded area): Difference attracts attention by standing out. An area can stand out as much by being distracting as it can by NOT competing with other objects or colors. Just as how items are presented can focus attention to it, the same with baskets or color palette. There's a reason it's called an ACCENT wall; it is MEANT to draw attention. Accent walls need to be intentional and purposeful, not used because you think you have to incorporate an accent wall somewhere. It's not a cliche, it's a tool for directing attention. Accent walls deflect attention from everything elsewhere in the room that disappeared in the sameness of color that so makes the accented wall stand out. So, what am I saying here? I'm saying you can obscure visual clutter by making things similar enough that they blend into 'one' thing. By duplicate baskets or other containers, by matching color, by close proximity to each other, even something as simple as group items that share a category (like hanging clothes or a group of plants or a collection of kitchen tools), you fool the mind into perceiving many things as one thing, and that reduces visual clutter. It's the 'Forest vs Trees' situation; one tree on a plain stands out, but many close together is one forest. And human beings tend to sort what they see. If you help that along, they will see 'fewer' items than are actually present. You reduce visual clutter by making as much of what's present into background rather than foreground. The many individual trees blend into a leafy green blur. The closet looks less cluttered with clothes hung on identical hangers and facing the same way. Conformity always annihilated individuation.
I focus on whites, beiges, and a touch of gray in my home. It relaxes me after a busy day at work. Oh, and be careful not to mix cool colors with warm. That registers as “something is not quite right.”
I totally agree on the word clutter. My husband laughs at me because I read everything!!!!😬😬😬🤦, if he is wearing a t-shirt with something written on it I can't concentrate on the conversation because I keep reading the t-shirt over and over again. My brain has to read every word and number, it's exhausting. Visual clutter really stress me out, my husband doesn't get it!😔
That’s awesome Cynthia! Identifying the small areas where clutter or messiness tends to build up can be incredibly helpful to eliminating clutter overall 💙
Yes happy word signs. The most overused decor item ever. I never liked them myself and why people are drawn to "eat", "farm fresh eggs" etc... is beyond me. Good tips. Vicki
I had helped my friend and his four kids declutter and organize before I left. Since I've left, I noticed that the place looks a little nuts. So this video is helpful for me to keep in mind when I visit again lol
@@suzannah4303 That "EAT" sign always makes me wonder if they forget what their rooms are for, & if they also have a certain sign on the wall over their toilet.
This was a very good video for me. I have been struggling with my open concept house. I’m going to reduce the artwork and clear the one shelf that I have. Hopefully that will help. Thank you.
I do a lot of these already. I only have three coffee makers all different kinds on my counters. I have basket for my cleaning supplies. I have artwork in each room. Great video 👍
I've noticed in so many minimalists homes there are no personal photos such as parents, children, weddings etc. Why don't they display them? I feel closer to my family that I don't live by and like to see wedding photos of my 2 children.
LOVED THIS VIDEO!!! Such great principles to keep in mind when analyzing our living spaces! I’ve began my minimalist journey about a year ago and have really enjoyed decluttering or gifting a lot of items that don’t serve me purpose and or are just becoming visual clutter. Continue doing these awesome videos! I love all your content!!! God bless!!! 🥰
Hi Ashlynne! I just discovered your channel through Megan, whom I have been following for a long time, and have watched two of your videos - loved them and am subscribing. Great tips and will put some of them in practice immediately, specially the decluttering desk tops, etc,
Hey everyone! What’s one thing you like to do to reduce visual clutter in your home? ✨
I don't like framed pictures lying around on surfaces, to me it just looks cluttered and collects dust, it drives my husband crazy, he wants to put out all the framed pictures on every surface.
My husband and I often run into a similar issue Amanda! Usually we end up meeting in the middle, but I definitely can relate to that driving you a bit crazy! 😅
I need better organized storage so it's easy to put things away in the right place. Now I just shove them in where I am so tools mixed with work books and jars for my jam mixed with tins and baking stuff so too messy and then I put in more stuff that doesn't belong there like lightbulbs, decor and so on. It's stuff I use regularly but I need to get it all organized better
@Ashlynne Eaton love your channel it has helped me feel less cramped at home. however, I'm struggling to get rid of certain items
I have things that I don't like/need that come in a set or collection and not sure weather to get rid of part of the set if you could make a vid on that I’d be very grateful
Hi I chose to use 4 really inexpensive fabric cubes from Bed Bath & beyond to put in the bookshelf in my bedroom to store frequently used items but keep them out of sight. As a rule I don't go into Bed Bath & beyond but I'm staging my home to hopefully sell quickly so I did that as a staging device first and realized I really liked it so I'll keep using them.
Tipps from the video:
1) don't be afraid of boxes+ baskets
2) embrace color palettes
3) eliminate word signs
4) clear your counter tops
5) straighten all wall hangings
6) use harmonious numbers in decor
7) hide cords from electronics
8) remove dead leaves from plants
9) reduce the number of pictures on walls
10) beware of overstuffed shelves
Great tipps, thank you! :)
Thank you!
😘
Thanks for summarizing this.
Thank you much!!
Thanks for reducing verbal clutter☺
I had a hard time with depression and anxiety, so I put up word signs to kinda encourage me. I did however choose the signs carefully cause they had to match my room, and pertain to my life.
What helps me is to write quotes with pretty colored dry erase markers on my mirror. 💗
@@susie7336 I love that idea! Thanks! 😀
Good for you Sierra!
I do the same! I have anxiety disorder and depression and having word decor helps me to stay motivated and to smile. Especially because one of the ones I have is a gift from my friends
Same here, that’s prolly the only thing I wouldn’t remove.
I live in a very small apartment so I had to choose wisely the storage solutions. All furniture is white, I decided not to use coffe tables or side tables of any kind and all of our storage is closed (no open shelves gathering dust). We also chose soft colours (soft blue, grey and white) and only one picture in the living room and another one in the bedroom. My countertops and all surfaces are empty except for a pop of colour on a desk. And we paid a builder to move several outlets so there are no cords in sight in any place of the house, as our tv outlets are now behind the tvs and so on. So everybody agrees that although the apartment is tiny, it looks airy and relaxing.
Got to have a table to sit a lamp on and for a drink.
Finally, I found someone who shares my thoughts on word decor! 😄
I love the tip of having a color palette for a room. it does look visually pleasing.
Yes! It’s such a subtle yet powerful tip!
Like my word signs. They are not going away and my house does not look cluttered. I get many compliments on my signs, wanting to know where i get them(i make them) so lots of orders for signs as these same people have friends that visit their homes and want signs like that. My home is warm and inviting, not cold and sterile.
Great tips! About a year ago, we listed our house in Michigan to be ready for a downsizing move to Florida. Before listing the Michigan house, I went through the entire house and did a purge of over half the items in our closets, drawers, cupboards, garage, and basement. It was the most freeing thing I ever did in my life! When I was finished the house looked amazing and it was so easy to clean! We downsized from a 3500 square foot house and three car garage and full basement to a 1980 square foot house with a two car garage and no basement. Our new Florida house has very little closet space but we are fine with that! We figure it is less space for us to accumulate more stuff for our kids to get rid of when we pass away! We have been here almost ten months now and I find myself still gathering things to donate to Amvets because I’m finding I just don’t need so much clutter - even in my closets or cupboards! It’s so much easier to find everything and easier to get to when everything is in it’s proper place! I don’t have to move things to get a serving bowl from the cabinet or to get my toaster off the shelf. We still have a lot of stuff but it all fits in the space we have. Easy to find. Easy to clean. I wish I had found your videos years ago! You are still rather young, but, older people have a hard time letting things go because so many things bring back memories of when they or their children were young. Clearing out my parents house after they passed away made me realize that I cannot take it with me so why let so much stuff weigh down my life now? I also view too much stuff as more things to dust in my house. I don’t want to be a slave to my stuff. I never thought of minimalism in such a way before. I didn’t even realize I had become a minimalist until I saw your videos! Mind blown! (In a great way!)
I grew up in India and it used to be so much a part of our culture to not keep stuff.As I read your comment,I remember my grandma asking me about a million times “Why do you want to keep your dolls/ toys etc.? You can’t take them with you when you go.Let someone else use itonce you have outgrown it “😀
Clearing countertops has changed my life! In my “minimalism” journey, I’ve realized I’m not a stark aesthetic minimalist, but I deeply admire minimalist principles and I still use them daily when I clean and declutter! I also love the power of three rule- I use it a lot. Thanks for another great video.
Completely agree with you on this! And thanks Lena! 🤍
Hi out of curiosity what is the three rule?
What's the power of three
Ashlynne Eaton omg thanks for the reply! Hope you are well! 😊🌸
the rule of three is that three looks the best visually. In general, odd numbers look the best. this is for like decorations plants etc
her smile is so positive and infectious.
You are too sweet! ☺️
Agree! I cannot tolerate cords. I eliminate the view of any cords at my home. I also need negative space- aka- open space. Counters don’t all need something on them. If only I could 100% control this at work!
This is so helpful for someone with adhd and feeling so overwhelmed by clutter and solidifies how impactful our environments are
We tried a basket in the living room. Cat peed in it. Can’t have nice things.
Same
Prefer dogs that I can train who want to please me. I had a cat that would try to trip me on the way to the bathroom every morning so I would feed him. After braking my toe and realizing he bullied my other cat all the time , we gave him to another home. Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do.
@@linda8485 zlol I train my cat basically like a dog as my mums bf is allergic to dogs but not cats so yeah but very true
This was happening with our cat too and we lined up someone to take her. I was so tired of it. And then I read something online that said “you need 2 litter boxes for every one cat you own. I had 2 cats and one litter box. I bought 3 more and I haven’t had a problem since.
@Siobhan Fraser because he peed in a basket..? Weird
I’d be all for having a word sign that says “random!” 🤣 or like a giant word sign that says “subtle!”
This video motivated me to finish removing all the clutter from the bottom of my smallish walk-in closet - it's about 4 feet X 4 feet. I was contemplating where the vaccuum cleaner belonged in there, when I decided to try putting in my meditation cushions instead. Yaaaaaaaass! Even though the shelves haven't yet been cleared or organized, it already feels great to sit there. I will find somewhere else to store the vacuum cleaner and broom, winter coats, etc. and hang a serene tapestry from the top shelf to make a relaxing sanctuary. I have wanted a dedicated enclosed space to meditate for almost 30 years, so this is huge for me!
🌿 Visual clutter is my enemy. It literally disrupts my focus. Although I am not a traditional minimalist (small kids), minimalism still colors my lifestyle philosophy.
I decluttered everything in my home, within a month or so. It s made my life so much easier and cleaning so less of a chore. But I still need to tidy each day. Before going to bed, I make sure everything is tidy and there are no dirty dishes. My kitchen sink needs to be clean at all times
Not going to lie, I actually shouted when I saw this title! This video is exactly what I needed!!! So many great tips!! Thank you!!!
I have one item of word art: one of those boards with changeable words. It's on the kitchen counter beside the coffee maker. The extra letters are in a container beside it. When someone comes up with a phrase they want to share, they change it. It's fun to challenge yourself with phrases that you can share with the rest of the family. I don't think I could live with one unchanging piece of word art.
Great idea!
This was a great video with fab tips. I hate visual clutter. I always dry my dishes as i don’t like to see them on the draining board, I always make my bed and I like to keep my worktops as clear as possible. Before I go t9 bed at night I straighten the sofas and throw pillows and make sure everything is put away. It only takes a few minutes and Its so nice to wake up to a clean clear space.
So true. I can't just leave things messy...disturbs my focus. Especially I am trying to be creative 🌿
Wow! I actually learned a lot from this video! About decluttering and minimalism, I feel everything is already been said and we just upcycle the same tips and information. But here there were tips I have never heard of! Thank you!
Thanks so much Anja! So glad you were able to learn something and find inspiration from this video! 🤍
I just had bookcases and a fireplace built. My two declutter tips are put outlets on top of the mantel. I originally did it for Christmas lights, but it has been taken over with a sound bar. And two, in arranging the bookcases, I put rows of books on the bottom two to visually hold the rest of the bookcase, scattered books in the rest, only put one object in some shelves and (stay with me here), cut out beautiful wrapping paper and lined the backwall of two shelves on each tower. It needed something to help unify the four towers of bookshelves and move your eye across. Pretty happy with it.
I definitely agree that having negative space between items can really make a difference. My desk and bookshelf has gone through many different phases as I like to switch up how they look sometimes, but I always keep to the rule of three and make sure it doesn't look cluttered with too many things sitting next to each other. :)
Removing decor sitting on the kitchen counters made a big difference for me. Also, I find people who like houseplants have them everywhere and because they are living don’t consider them clutter but I find more than one in a space visually distracting.
That’s a great one Elizabeth! Personally I don’t find plants all that visually cluttering, but if you do then it’s a great idea to get rid of them, or like you said, reduce the number of them you have to just one 🤍
Ashlynne Eaton Maybe I would like plants better if I could keep them alive Ha. Except for spider plants, those things won’t die and will take over your home like a jungle takes over your home in a Jurassic horror movie. I’ve had that happen so that’s probably why I only want one plant per space.
@@elizabethlangheim9460 I get what you're saying, I can't stand houses full of plants, that you can't walk without bump into one, to me is clutter.
I always joke that I'm a "fake" minimalist because I don't care about plants and have none in my house but I like flowers.
Same! I have 2 plants in my entire house. That is it.
4:28 👍Totally agree with you on word "pictures" -- much nicer to keep them in a book! Good tips: thank you for sharing.
Yesterday I got really overwhelmed at how many decorative pieces I still kept through decluttering. Perfect timing for this video to come out! Thanks for the inspiration :3
So glad it inspired you! Hope you can use some of the tips to create a space you love!! 💙
You seem like such a genuine person, I literally subbed within the first 30 seconds!
This is one of the best and most helpful home decor videos I've seen. Visual clutter makes me crazy, and I continue to struggle with it. I'm going to try these ideas this weekend!
This is why it's good not to spend too much time in Hobby Lobby 😂
Hahaha yes! With you on that one 😉
🤭👍
Totally agree with you lol
Ikr lol I 💝 hl too
hobby lobby is awesome. but so gosh dang expensive.
Yes this was so well said!! I was just saying to my boyfriend I wanted a few blankets but I didn’t want it to look like too much. So now I’ll get a nice basket to put them in!
* sees the title of the video* * looks around the room * * shrugs * * clicks *
Haha love it 😂🤍
Very funny.
Great tips. Adding on to not having word signs in your house, I also remove labels on items when possible. It removes visual clutter.
For the groups of 3 thing, it works. I actually have a little stool that acts as my nightstand and it actually has 6 items on it, but they are still in "groups of 3" that it looks really good. Group 1 is a thin book with a kalimba on top that is the same size. Group 2 is a tiny fake tree and Chinese medicine balls that are in line with each other. And group 3 is 2 tiny stuffed toys. So while 3 items is probably ideal, if you have more and they fit into 3 groups, it also works.
I love that! Grouping in threes is a great way to apply that advice too!
You mentioned crooked pictures frames as a source of mental distraction and when I saw the picture of the Eiffel Towel on the shelf I thought that you were going to remove it. The tower looks out of balance to me. Different folks different strokes. I enjoyed your video, thanks
Ashlynne, Another way that I learned to eliminate word signs is to use black electrical tape to cover labels on electronics. This will eliminate some small subconscious distractions.
Hi Ashlynne! I love your videos and finally learned how to do comments here 🙄. I left blankets as well and have discovered the trend of blanket ladders I have a very large family room and so I had room in one corner to put a blanket ladder that is slim and sturdy and I fold the blankets and draped them in a little pallet of colors on the ladder. I'm using that to help me stage my family room and keep the blankets neat but accessible.
Haha yes! That’s awesome Cate! 🥰 I love that idea for storing blankets in a simple, yet attractive way!
Wow! I’m impressed with these tips, they’re really helpful!
So glad you found it useful! 💙
Love your take on counter tops. I used to always leave my toaster out. Why? I used it every day, but for 2 minutes tops!! It is so easy to pull out for that small amount of use and then put away for the next day. And the use of art....someone told me once that you need to leave one wall empty in a room. Art work on every wall is distracting!
That’s awesome Susan! I love that tip about keeping one wall empty in each room! :)
Great tips! I have been stressing about my flat this week and how messy it looks. My living room and kitchen are one big room, and it just looks cluttered. I am going to focus on clearing the work tops and sorting out my bookcase! I feel excited to get to it rather than stressing!
Not only do I learn from the information you share, you are so adorable! Love your channel! Thank you for sharing.
Colour palette is the most essential tip, neutral, cool or warmth tone group together, help the space much more cohesive and intentional.
I don’t shop word signs, but I’ve been gifted a few that resonated with me (so I kept them). How I navigated them was to put them on shelves, grouped with other sentimental items, so they’re not a focal point on the wall.
Love that strategy + perspective! Thanks for sharing 🤍
Thank you SO much for your video content! I am a VERY visual person and what you said regarding word signs and harmonious numbers really struck me. I am incredibly sensitive visually and your insight helped tremendously. Thank you!
I don't know why RUclips recommended this video to me, but I am so glad it did. Already subscribed and I hope I can make my home as pleasing as yours 😊
GREAT TIPS that I'm not seeing on other channels! Thanks!
I just did this and my room feels so much cleaner and organized 🥰
My appartement is poorly made, I don't have any closed, wardrobe or anything like that, and in the kitchen I only have little cupboards so nowhere to "hide" my stuff (only food and dishes), is drives me crazy ! 😅
When I will own my place, I will create in-built closed storages everywhere to free the mind :)
These tips are seriously so helpful!
Earlier I never thought of paying attention to such fine details. But it all made sense because of the way you explained.
Thanks so much
Great tips, thank you! And, unrelated--You are well spoken, articulate and adorable!
I love bright colours and rainbow, but I make sure there are grounding neutral colours around them and not too much.
Wow how can you be so young and wise? My dougter always telling me the same advices, but you sound more convincent 😉 thank you I"ll try to put them in practice.
You’re so kind! These really are ageless principles I’m sharing 🤍
Cords are the bane of my existence.
Love the 3 item rule!
Excellent tips. I always like to keep my kitchen and bathroom countertops cleared off -- so much easier to clean, and looks so much nicer! TFS.
Ashlynne calling me out on some of these 🙈😂 great content and definitely will help me after my decluttering process. I already do some of these tips but I appreciate that you make all of these videos to help people live more simplified lives
That’s great! These videos aren’t meant to make anyone feel guilty but hopefully to motivate us and help to identify areas where we can grow! And honestly, I need these tips as much as anyone 🤍🥰
I watch a lot of declutter vids, but have not ever heard the idea of the various colors being clutter. thanks. and yes, I hate things on the walls that are not straight..... drives me crazy. Loved your video, first time I've been here, so I subscribed.
loved this video - really interesting and helpful ideas! i have been on my minimalist journey for about two years now and the amount of things i have learned is amazing!
Nice video. I also realized that I need to dust my fake plants and restore the loose leaves where they belong. I also say, "If something is not decorative or functional in its current location, it needs to be put away."
hi, Ashlynne! I just bumped into your channel and this is the first video I saw. Your 10 tips are absolutely the best pieces of advice I have ever heard. Thank you so much!
A couple of perceptual basics hinted at in three of your tips:
1. Baskets (also trays):
Visual clutter is having too many individual items to look at. Human beings are hard-wired to pay attention to individual items, whether as a goal (prey object) or a danger (predator). We notice, even on a subconscious level, things out of place or malfunctioning. When things are corralled in a basket or tray, they cease to be several items and become one thing: a group. That's why gathering up items left randomly on a table and putting them together in a tray or basket reduces the sense of clutter.
2. Color Palette:
Something many designers do is to paint walls and ceiling (and sometimes flooring) the same neutral color, usually a soft white but sometimes a darker color. The uniformity of color obscures edges where these planes (walls/ceilings/floors) meet and can create the illusion of a larger space by making those planes seem more distant and leaving the space feeling more expansive. It continues in matching furnishings with the same color as is on the walls.
3. Overstuffed Shelves (or any crowded area):
Difference attracts attention by standing out. An area can stand out as much by being distracting as it can by NOT competing with other objects or colors. Just as how items are presented can focus attention to it, the same with baskets or color palette. There's a reason it's called an ACCENT wall; it is MEANT to draw attention. Accent walls need to be intentional and purposeful, not used because you think you have to incorporate an accent wall somewhere. It's not a cliche, it's a tool for directing attention. Accent walls deflect attention from everything elsewhere in the room that disappeared in the sameness of color that so makes the accented wall stand out.
So, what am I saying here?
I'm saying you can obscure visual clutter by making things similar enough that they blend into 'one' thing. By duplicate baskets or other containers, by matching color, by close proximity to each other, even something as simple as group items that share a category (like hanging clothes or a group of plants or a collection of kitchen tools), you fool the mind into perceiving many things as one thing, and that reduces visual clutter.
It's the 'Forest vs Trees' situation; one tree on a plain stands out, but many close together is one forest. And human beings tend to sort what they see. If you help that along, they will see 'fewer' items than are actually present. You reduce visual clutter by making as much of what's present into background rather than foreground. The many individual trees blend into a leafy green blur. The closet looks less cluttered with clothes hung on identical hangers and facing the same way.
Conformity always annihilated individuation.
Omg.. not folding the blankets 😳
I focus on whites, beiges, and a touch of gray in my home. It relaxes me after a busy day at work. Oh, and be careful not to mix cool colors with warm. That registers as “something is not quite right.”
I totally agree on the word clutter. My husband laughs at me because I read everything!!!!😬😬😬🤦, if he is wearing a t-shirt with something written on it I can't concentrate on the conversation because I keep reading the t-shirt over and over again. My brain has to read every word and number, it's exhausting. Visual clutter really stress me out, my husband doesn't get it!😔
YES! Visual clutter stresses me out too. Wife doesn't get it. Haha.
I do sometimes get Carried away I add to many pictures but right now my vanity is small but feels clutter so they could use some love to tidy up.
That’s awesome Cynthia! Identifying the small areas where clutter or messiness tends to build up can be incredibly helpful to eliminating clutter overall 💙
I just got my own apartment last month. This comes in handy. Thank you!
That’s amazing! And congrats on your new apartment ✨
Everything in this video is simple, yet helpful. Thanks!
Be careful in hiding cords that you don’t create a fire hazard.
This is the tips that i v been looking for a years. Thanks for making the video.
I like to cover shoe boxes or any paper box with white contact paper and use these for drawer and closet storage.
Enjoyed these great tips, thank you! 😊
Yes happy word signs. The most overused decor item ever. I never liked them myself and why people are drawn to "eat", "farm fresh eggs" etc... is beyond me. Good tips. Vicki
I took two carloads of good stuff (overflow) to a woman’s shelter store. It felt so good!
This was really helpful because I'm never satisfied with how my apartment looks
That’s great! Hope you’re able to implement some of these tips and that they help!
I had helped my friend and his four kids declutter and organize before I left. Since I've left, I noticed that the place looks a little nuts. So this video is helpful for me to keep in mind when I visit again lol
Love it! 💙
Loved it! I have such a love for minimalism I fell in love with your channel!
new subscriber ! yay!
I just subbed as well. These minimalism channels are influencing both my personal philosophy as well as creative channel choices 🌿
I hate word sign, finding them tack, it's like you need signs to tell you what to do in your house, it's a strange trend.
haha love this. that said I do like quotes or scripture on the wall. we make our own.
Plus more shit to dust
@@suzannah4303 That "EAT" sign always makes me wonder if they forget what their rooms are for, & if they also have a certain sign on the wall over their toilet.
This was a very good video for me. I have been struggling with my open concept house. I’m going to reduce the artwork and clear the one shelf that I have. Hopefully that will help. Thank you.
Thank you so much for the great ideas! Your voice is so calming 🙂 Just subscribed 😁
Great tips! Thanks for sharing. I LOVE me a cleared off kitchen counter. :)
Your videos are so relaxing to watch. You are doing a great job! 🙂
Çok güzel, açıklayıcı bir video olmuş. Thanks, I got the point🙏🏼👌🏼
Can you tell me where you got your blanket basket? I love it and have been looking for something like it. Thank you!
I love the color pallet idea!
Very insightful video!
I recently embraced minimalism and this tips will help me a lot. Thanks for sharing ❤️
Can we have a tour of your space? Like an apartment tour or rather a room tour..?
Btw just joined your fam, love from India ✌🏻❤
Love that idea! It’s been too long since I’ve done one 💙
@@AshlynneEaton will be waiting for it❤
Thank you for this video. These were amazing tips!
I do a lot of these already. I only have three coffee makers all different kinds on my counters. I have basket for my cleaning supplies. I have artwork in each room. Great video 👍
My next life admin day is decluttering + getting house plants.
I've noticed in so many minimalists homes there are no personal photos such as parents, children, weddings etc. Why don't they display them? I feel closer to my family that I don't live by and like to see wedding photos of my 2 children.
Odd number..more attractive...this is something new to me. Thanks!
Great advice. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Kim! ✨
This was so good! Thank you Ashlynne!
"3" items really make me mad.....so do "chopped" pillows...honestly!!!!
It's all about the even #s. Right? 🌿
I thought I was the only one who hates chopped pillows!
Love love love this video and your tips. Thank you.
So glad you enjoyed it Maria!! 🤍
Once a week is not enough! Thank you!
LOVED THIS VIDEO!!! Such great principles to keep in mind when analyzing our living spaces! I’ve began my minimalist journey about a year ago and have really enjoyed decluttering or gifting a lot of items that don’t serve me purpose and or are just becoming visual clutter. Continue doing these awesome videos! I love all your content!!! God bless!!! 🥰
Thank you so much Stephany!! 💙
Hi Ashlynne! I just discovered your channel through Megan, whom I have been following for a long time, and have watched two of your videos - loved them and am subscribing. Great tips and will put some of them in practice immediately, specially the decluttering desk tops, etc,
Hi Ines! So glad you found the tips helpful! ✨
It's my first time seeing a video for you. I LOVE your pleasing appearance and calm tone. Thank you for the tips! I subscribed! 😊
Oh wow thank you!! 🥰
@@AshlynneEaton You're welcome!
Hi ashlynne i just want to mention that you look pretty in this video.