"Maybe I'll make it into a belt." See how stuff creates projects? Especially projects that never get done. It clutters the mind...makes you feel like you have to complete a bunch of tasks. Less stuff means less times we say, "May I can use this for X."
I've started tossing things that I don't use too, and I agree it hurts to get rid of something I paid money for and never used.. but it also hurts every time I see that unused thing laying around the house. By tossing them finally, its just one more blow instead of a thousand pangs of guilt every time I see it! Like just ripping off a bandaid! LOL
If you have a local SPCA or animal shelter, they are always in need of old blankets and towels. Just an idea for a donation that would be really appreciated!
Debra Kelly thanks for mentioning that! I have some big ugly comforters and was a second away from donating them the other day and then realized my dogs would get some enjoyment out of them instead. 😁
I've realized that I spent a lot of time purchasing for "pretend me". The me who would knit something to completion. The me who would set a full table with fine china at Thanksgiving. The me who would take up watercolors. Getting these things out of my house has been difficult. We've also got a junk room! I keep calling it the guest room, but the legos got moved in there during winter break so now everyone (even my husband) has been calling it the playroom. So, now I'm torn. Do I make it the guest room I want? or Leave it as the playroom we (apparently) need? I think I'm going to leave it as a play room. They're only at this age for a while, right?
It's 9ftx 9ft. And once I get a double bed and a night stand in there, I don't think there will be enough room for all the toys. At least not in a way that allows for all the toys and ways to keep them neat enough that my brain doesn't explode.
Could you put a sofa bed in there? I have a guest bedroom (junk room) - it is mostly full of double bed, but only in use 2-3 weeks of the year. Having it redundant most of the time makes it easier to turn back into a junk room. If you have a chance to keep Lego corralled it seems a shame to have it where you can stand on it! Lol at finishing knitting projects, starting is much more fun!
I've watched so many declutter videos but you're always motivate me to actually start. Two minutes into your video I de cluttered my night stand junk drawer and even put in small organizers I got weeks ago from dollar tree. I love seeing how you are transforming your home.
or your hubby decides he can't be bothered to put stuff in their rightful place and decides to clutter up your utility room with odds and ends and tools etc... making itlook a mess and difficult to enter.
“This is a perfectly good baby blanket that we don’t need anymore” my heart is melting little did you know you’d have an amazing new addition to your family soon enough
When you said you have purchased the thrill of letting something into your house, I was blown away! It was so well said and so relatable! Thank you for the inspiration!!
Thanks for taking me through the process one thing at a time so I can gain insights on making specific decisions on each of my items that I have to declutter. Very helpful!
I'm so proud that you found the blanket said you were going to wash it and IMMEDIATELY did! It's the lazy procrastinator in me that just would've said "I'll wash it and see if I need this" and never actually get to it!
I want to say that I appreciate how positive you are. Many of us get down on ourselves when we set out to accomplish a goal and can't get there. You model grace for yourself and your process really well and I wanted to say Thank You! Keep up the good work.
I am also a very messy person trying to be tidier, so I love these kind of videos, and just wanted to say you have a great style! SO many of these decluttering videos are just someone talking at top speed blahblah blahblahblah... they don't even pause for breathe and you have a headache after 10 minutes! But your pace of speaking is great... you are a natural in front of the camera! And I like the sped up bits of tidying to break it up :-) Good luck with your continued decluttering!!
Recently I finished this swedish book on psychology of adults "Adolescence man",it was very interesting. Apparently the whole shopping and owning, possessing and storing problem we realize now is something that psychologists and marketing people know very well and have not stopped studying since late 60ies. One of reasons people shop, is because they were raised with shopping itself presented as full new and exiting experience with tastes, sounds, smells and colorful pictures.Human brain learned to react to a day of shopping as fun joy ride. So it is understandable. But oh so annoying, it really feels like betrayal and manipulation, partly because yes...it is fun...but...shouldnt be THAT fun...
evgenia I'm so glad that my mum HATES shopping and my dad even more. I never really picked up that habit. It's more that my parents can't get rid of anything so their collection builds very slowly and steadily haha
Letting something go when you invested money into it (yet never really used it) is just a natural consequence that will help you learn that you don't need to buy the next thing that you come across because it's pretty/unique. Another thing to consider when you're out is that you can appreciate something for how beautiful it is, but that doesn't mean you need to possess it. Your office looks wonderful!
You model good work through your journey. Don't stop! Anyone who checks in, please know the importance of clearing space so you can fulfill creativity. It doesn't happen in an overwhelming mess. If you want your head clear you may have to work your way to it.
This video basically explains my life about a week ago before I started my minimalism journey. My room was a junk room. I got so sick of it that I started throwing everything out and began a minimalist journey :) Love that you're helping people get rid of their junk room! Btw, your eyes are gorgeous!
Watching you all over again... Rachel, you've no idea HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU!! I'M SURE THAT'S TRUE FOR ALL VIEWERS HERE! 62 NOW, I never thought about our "fantasy self" CONCEPT before watching you... I keep learning... and your vids are so much a part of that!
Loved your video. Currently I'm helping my Father create a will. One of my brothers said he wants Dad's junk drawer. LOL So many treasures in the junk drawer. Thank you for being so candid!
Our office/guest room is always the place we throw things that need a temporary home. We de-junk it right before we have company coming to stay because that's when we can make split second decisions keep it vs. toss it. I just donated decorating items I had been hanging on to for FOUR YEARS thinking they would get used in the house... yeah no, I would have used them by now LOL. Thanks for keeping it real, always love watching your videos!
You could put your blankets, or atleast some blankets, in your hygge corner that you created a couple episodes ago. That way you can grab a book and cuddle up and read! You can find or even make a crate or basket to store the blankets too if you'd like! That way they become a decor piece when not in use rather than just laying there taking up space when someone isn't using them. Just some thoughts! =)
thank you so much for this series. I love your honesty and openness. Most declutter/organization videos seem to have been "pre-cleaned" before filming, and I can't relate thst to my life. You are so honest and "real" that you've inspired me to get digging and purging. last night I tackled the 2 biggest kitchen cabinets and the to-go pile is bigger than the to-kerp pile. Today Im going to tackle the drawers in there, maybe I'll finally have room for my kitchen towels and placemats yo live :) thank you, its a pleasure to follow along.
to be honest when I throw away things if it brings memories for me I take a picture of the item. So I won't feel like its forgotten or not important I just remember it's not laying around taking up space. You can even create a special drop box online for all the donation items so its there when ever you want to rmeeniace.
Oh, your dogs follow you everywhere too??? LOL! This video resonated so much with me! I didn't grow up with a junk room, but we did have a llwell lived-in home. My mom cleaned, but she wasn't a perfectionist. Unfortunately, since I married, my things from when I was single were boxed up, moved to my new home, and dumped into our extra bedroom, where more and more things were also dumped over time. This summer, (AFTER 15 YEARS!) I have finally started clearing out, throwing away most of the junk, and am now trolling RUclips looking for ideas on how to organize or perhaps decorate this extra room. Your video was the first one that popped up. Once I finish cleaning my junk room, I won't be dealing with the eyesore that is my "garage from hell" until it cools off again (maybe this winter!) Thank you for the ideas and extra motivation!
I see a lot of the KonMari methods where people to the joy thing, but there's been a lot of talk of how everyone feels guilty for NOT using something they bought and intended to use. I very much a proponent of modifying the KonMari style to forgive yourself for never using an item and rather than thank an item that has been used, apologize to an item for not using it and give it a send-off. :3 It's helped me to alleviate A LOT of guilt while clearing my own things. Also, I think a friend of mine might love that belt buckle for her steampunk outfit. It looks rather awesome.
Sensei I have watched a konmari interview where she explains that when you thank the item you can appreciate that it brought you joy when some one gave you the item, or for the fact that it brought you joy in the moments of purchasing the item if you were feeling down before. She says that it isn't about using it, it's about appreciating the moments of the joy and that that was its purpose and now you can move on. It has helped me get rid of a lot of what could be considered "sentimental" but then I felt good getting rid of.
Yay, new video! My husband is of the belief that wherever I am for longer than ten minutes is the junk room. Let's not mention him having two sheds and the conservatory full! I've slacked off so it's my mission to have a purge session tomorrow after work :)
Why not use the crystal bowl inside a drawer to corral small items instead of cheap, plastic drawer dividers. That way it doesn't collect dust and it's useful.
Oh my goodness, the junk room is the worst! Ours is our son's bedroom, since he sleeps in our room with us. I never thought to call it a junk room but that's exactly what it is. Great job taking care of yours!
thank you for this video! i like your free desk, and it's great that you let go of so many things which don't make you happy- that is not easy! Also- wow you have so many subscribes!!! that's great! can't wait to see more!!!!!!😘Rifka!
Love your videos! Love that you show the real side of life not just the perfect parts😉🙃 Love seeing the end product but also love seeing the process. We moved 2 years ago and since then my eyes we opened to how much JUNK we owned. Since then it's been purge city every since. Life feels so much better with less and with only things we love! Keep it up!👍🏼😃🎉
I had a similar problem with my mother and her boyfriend, who served time in the military. He had a bunch of friends who passed away. Being that, he also accumulated a lot of memorabilia from his fallen comrades. I suggested that he clean the place once, but gave me a look that I won’t forget. Shortly thereafter, during a small stint at a reunion for fallen soldiers, I called for the services of Jux Los Angeles, a garage and attic cleaning / reorganization company, based in southern a California. My mother’s boyfriend wasn’t pleased with what I had done at first. As a week passed by since the renovation, much to his chagrin, he had to tell me that the place looked so different and that now, he has a place where he can honor his brothers and sisters; in his garage ( I made it extra special and hung up some uniforms his comrades wore on the garage walls…)
We always called our junk room growing up the "spare room". When we all grew and moved out my parents tried to convert it to an office but it's sadly still a junk room. My basement is my junk room...and it's bad. I need to just bite the bullet and clean it out! Also, I have that same blue lotus flower dish you got rid of, we use it as a spoon rest on the stove. :)
I thank my lucky stars every day for our 'junk cupboard'. It's the only place that I can keep my boyfriend's stuff and keep our flat looking clean and calm 🙌🏼 good luck with your de-junking
Hi! I am a new subscriber and am LOVING your channel! I have read about the Konmari method of decluttering and watched other Minimalist videos but none have actually taken me through the process of evaluating each item we have to see if it brings any joy. I can totally relate to the junk room and your method of going through your stuff. Thanks for sharing your life and for being so real!!
Thanks for this comment! I'm glad you're enjoying my channel - and sounds like you're doing well on your own journey! I've only been at this a few months, but I agree that you need to find what works for you. I think I use parts of the Konmari method, but I don't follow it like she says you must. Good luck to you!
I always love your videos! Don't let the not so positive comments get to you. Everyone has different sized homes, and things to put in them. Our "office" is now FULL of tilting piles waiting to burry you alive should you dare to walk in.....no one has a perfect home, or life. So good for you for tackling it for all of us to see!! ;)
haha, well I came from the advertising industry, so I guess that makes sense! :) Good luck to you in finishing your studies! I had a lot of fun working at some pretty big shops, but so glad to be mostly 'out' of it now!
I am studying at Michigan State and I'm so exited to get my feet into the actual industry. Studying abroad this simmer but looking into internships in Chicago for next summer!
Oh nice! Well don't discount the detroit ad scene. I got my start there and worked at some awesome places. It helped me get a gig in New York City (Saatchi & Saatchi) -- so it was a great stepping stone city. Chicago is nice too tho :) Good luck!!
Thank you for the encouragement! My husband and I just decluttered our closets for the billionth time, but we keep getting rid of more! 😀 keep up the good work 😊
Oh honey, that junk room is nothing!! I wish I had a junk room as cleaned out as your before picture is!! Sadly, mine has Mount Junkmore in the middle of it. I still get a lot of inspiration from the videos, thank you.
Loving this video! My only complaint is the volume for your music. Great content though! I just started with your videos yesterday and I am just going through your playlists and watching everything.
This video inspired me to go tackle a little space that still needed taking care off.I actually paused the video and got it done just 10 minutes , I only have to get it to goodwill now ;) Thank you! And keep up the great work.
Holy CRAP, literally! That is a lot of stuff. Good for you for getting through it! Decluttering takes a lot of TIME! You'll eventually get to your closet. It will be a nice workspace once it's cleaned up and painted.
Oh yeah, and the junk room...that's not really a thing. Or maybe it is. I dunno, junk drawers are definitely a thing, but I've never heard of junk rooms! That's just weird.
I cant wait to see it done! I have done so much in my house for 2 weeks. But i have a small apartment and im half way done i feel:) i even bought the magic art of tidying up cause of you.
Ah the Room of Requirement - never an easy thing to deal with. Decluttered mine down to a pile, but it took years. Great fun to watch your culling journey!
I just subscribed to your channel. I love the way you talk about most of the items that you are getting rid of. You give reasons for the decisions. Thank you!
Great job cleaning out your office :) I know I find it hard to declutter and organize, but it is something that I need to do and you are motivating, so thank you for that.
Awesome job reclaiming your desk! I'm glad you kept the hand blown glass thingy that you like to hang in your windows...that was so pretty! You have inspired me. BTW...my Husband and I had always said, every house needs a junk room...LOL.
My dad had a junk room when I was growing up and it turned into his entire house. I live in a condo and there aren't any extra rooms for junk. :) We do have an outside storage room. It was filled with my husband's stuff that he moved in with. Some extra furniture but mostly boxes of junk. We just cleaned it out this week and now it's going to be a storage area for things we actually use throughout the year but don't have space for in the house. Like our grill, folding chairs, party supplies (we do hold parties), beach chairs and umbrellas, yard work items. It doesn't stay unless we actually use it a few times a year.
Growing up we had a whole part of the house dedicated for storage. When we bought the house a few people lived there and they had used a good part of the house as an office where they ran a business from. We just put our stuff there. It was never a part of the house to hang out in, it was really just for storage. I'm in my early twenties and I'm so glad that I am realising this early. I have to stop letting things enter my life. This is not meant as a judgement but your house looks scary to me. I don't ever want to own that much stuff. I'm letting go of things and it is helping me find my true self. Under a pile of distractions I uncovered my true values.
Vici233 she actually inherited a good chunk of stuff from her mother when she passed away. Having cleared a couple of homes myself, the amount of stuff is unbelievable, and does take time to go through. We are not always in control of how much stuff we need to take responsibility for.
Ik this is an older video but still watching all your declutters. I've watched all the current ones😉 anyway I to have embarked upon the minimalist journey. I just had my first yard sale this weekend. I made my prices very low. Most everything was 25 and 50 cents with the occasional 1 2 and 3 dollar items. I managed to make $400 that i will be putting towards my daughter's golf fees for this year. I drop a grand easy for the season so every little bit helps. Anyway my point to all this was...I watch your videos and it's nice to see I'm not going it alone. That there are others dealing with the same clutter issues. It feels so liberating getting tge clutter out of my house. My kitchen is the only room complete with the exception of ...yep that freakin junk drawer! But i have gone from things not fitting in the cabinets and falling out when you open them...to having empty shelves! 🎉🎉🎉 Very Exciting! Keep up the great work and making these relatable videos.❤xoxo
I've got a large mason jar of all the keys I have found while cleaning my office and my home. We labeled it "Keys to Unknown Doors." Other people have started giving me keys to place into it. Apparently I collect keys now.
Supposedly in some Japanese homes, it's not a "junk room" perse but a stuff room (don't know the japanese name), but it's a place for the majority of the house's stuff. Very little items are left out in the home, and sometimes shoes are stored here, too. Very similar to the "mud room" concept, but it houses everything: vacuums, toys, extra linens, decor not in use, old papers.
Your videos have really helped me put the things that have no use into perspective. Today I got rid of a box of unused file folders, books I don’t want to keep and a blanket that I’ve held onto for years. It never had a home. It never felt comfy. So I let it go to Goodwill.
😂😂😂 the willow sprigs battery operated lights... I laughed with you on that reveal🍃 your doing a great job... yay a clear desk👐 tfs enjoy your hard work... it's not easy but it's worth it at the days end♡
good points in this video. I have issues with drawers and often i have to pull out a whole drawer and just tackle it so it looks the way i want. if i keep doing this it helps things stay looking better even behind drawers and closets
Those plastic storage bins in the closet -- not a good thing, all my storage bins are see through that way you know exactly what you have in storage at a glance. Great job on decluttering your life. :)
Junk rooms are universal...most Aussie houses here have them too!... Plus yes full garages of "junk" too...my parents have a double garage, no cars, but plenty of "junk"...aka "crap"... Just found your channel today...greetings from Oz!...😎🐨
I had always seen junk rooms or store rooms as we call them in India in my family homes....then I moved to an apartment and my whole perspective changed....I try to tell my folks to see your videos and get inspired to get rid of stuff
I really enjoy your videos, and I can't believe how fast your number of subscribers are going up since I started watching a month or so ago. You mentioned your garden. Do you think you would consider giving us a tour this summer?
Although I used to hoard, I've never had a junk room. It's actually indicative of an emotional problem, the root of hoarding. Holding onto stuff is symbolic of holding onto emotional issues, including unhealed trauma. It's a form of control... Our outer world invariably reflects our inner world. When working with organizing clients, their reactions are predictable. It's really very interesting on this level. Like, in showing the client that it's beneficial to leave at least one clear spot on a counter or other flat service, I've cleared such a spot, walked out of the room, and the person filled the space before I returned, lol. Space for some represents the "dark" and "unknown" ... emptiness (like the womb, ripe with creative energy...not so easily controlled), it's very unnerving to them. And so they fill every nook and cranny of their homes. If an organizer moves too quickly in organizing their stuff, well, it's as if someone just reached into their heart and started moving things around... The best organizers are aware of this, and will take periodic breaks to see how their client is feeling. People can't stop hoarding just because someone comes to their homes and gets them organized, a lot of them need some degree of therapy to get to the real issue(s). So many...our world is really insane with its need for excess. It's good though that many are seeing this, and taking needed actions to heal themselves, emotionally, along with the clearing away all the excess in their lives.
This key thing is kind of like a running gag for me:D I have some junk boxes and thanks to you they are getting less. You are a pretty good motivation for me!:)
My junk room is a "beauty" room. This week I've cleared it out and purchased everything I needed to re do it! Almost done 🤓Every time your new video pops up on my page I do a little dance 💃🙂
I'd never thought about whether a blanket brought me joy before. Just whether it brought me warmth. 2 blankets just went in the out the door pile... more to go!
Wow! Really??? We never had a junk room growing up. That's crazy...lol... Maybe a drawer, a closet or even a corner in the garage, but not a room just for junk. That's a whole other league of hoarding. 😳 Btw, wow...wow...wow!!! It looks great! So happy for you! 💕💕💕
I'm writing an article about the pursuit of happiness in the US for one of my classes, and I choose to talk minimalism. And the way you talked about why we buy stuff (purchasing the feeling of excitment) was exactly what I was looking for XD I have to quote you now :D
My art studio slowly turned into a junk room as I got too busy to get in there and paint. Tomorrow I start tackling it - I've binged watch all your videos a couple times (your voice is super soothing) I'm on a roll - bathroom done, office/classroom done..... next the 'junk' room. I'd like to be able to use it as a studio again...
When you're cleaning your junk room and find yourself lint rolling tape rolls bc the sides have collected so much stray pet hair and dust from sitting in your hoard so long. So that's what I'm doing. On the plus, love watching your vids when I'm decluttering
Hi everyone! So this is my absolute favorite minimalist RUclips channel. It got me started cleaning regularly!!! Anyway, can any of you recommend other good minimalist RUclipsrs that have a similar style. I've looked around, but no one quite inspires me like this!
I see that wooden puzzle you have on the floor. We have the same one! Secret: I got a stash of those Velcro dots and affixed the soft fuzzy side of the Velcro to the puzzle piece (otherwise you will have loose puzzle pieces velcro’d to all your carpets and rugs...found out the hard way) and the rough side to the place where the puzzle piece goes on the board. That way, when it gets bumped or knocked over, the pieces don’t go flying everywhere, causing you to pick them up 10x a day!
Here is an idea for you: I have a little basement window with a curtain and a ledge. I display little things there that I do not want to pitch. It looks cute from outside, and is very little work for me. After a while, I can let them go.
I think the junk room is the one room that was “allowed” to be messy?? My fiancé has labeled our office/my craft space as the one room that can stay messy. I have since redone the office, purchasing Ikea furniture and a beautiful ficus tree!! (Before anyone freaks out, we share household chores. He does the heavier stuff while I do general cleaning) Thanks again for your amazing inspiration!!
![ROSÉ (로제) - number one girl [더 시즌즈-이영지의 레인보우] | KBS 241129 방송](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/A9oByH9Ci24/mqdefault.jpg)
"Maybe I'll make it into a belt." See how stuff creates projects? Especially projects that never get done. It clutters the mind...makes you feel like you have to complete a bunch of tasks. Less stuff means less times we say, "May I can use this for X."
Genius!!!!!
Yes!
I've started tossing things that I don't use too, and I agree it hurts to get rid of something I paid money for and never used.. but it also hurts every time I see that unused thing laying around the house. By tossing them finally, its just one more blow instead of a thousand pangs of guilt every time I see it! Like just ripping off a bandaid! LOL
If you have a local SPCA or animal shelter, they are always in need of old blankets and towels. Just an idea for a donation that would be really appreciated!
Debra Kelly thanks for mentioning that! I have some big ugly comforters and was a second away from donating them the other day and then realized my dogs would get some enjoyment out of them instead. 😁
I've realized that I spent a lot of time purchasing for "pretend me". The me who would knit something to completion. The me who would set a full table with fine china at Thanksgiving. The me who would take up watercolors. Getting these things out of my house has been difficult.
We've also got a junk room! I keep calling it the guest room, but the legos got moved in there during winter break so now everyone (even my husband) has been calling it the playroom. So, now I'm torn. Do I make it the guest room I want? or Leave it as the playroom we (apparently) need? I think I'm going to leave it as a play room. They're only at this age for a while, right?
Caryn Meyer I'm 21 now (so old, right?), but some of my best memories are from my play room.
I suggest keeping it as a play room. Your kids can use it every day! Whereas a guest room would be used what, maybe once a month?
Does it have to be either or?
It's 9ftx 9ft. And once I get a double bed and a night stand in there, I don't think there will be enough room for all the toys. At least not in a way that allows for all the toys and ways to keep them neat enough that my brain doesn't explode.
Could you put a sofa bed in there? I have a guest bedroom (junk room) - it is mostly full of double bed, but only in use 2-3 weeks of the year. Having it redundant most of the time makes it easier to turn back into a junk room. If you have a chance to keep Lego corralled it seems a shame to have it where you can stand on it! Lol at finishing knitting projects, starting is much more fun!
I've watched so many declutter videos but you're always motivate me to actually start. Two minutes into your video I de cluttered my night stand junk drawer and even put in small organizers I got weeks ago from dollar tree. I love seeing how you are transforming your home.
:) I love hearing this. If I can continue to help motivate others while I journey myself, I'll be a happy lady! Good work!
If you have a junk room you own too much stuff. Good on you for tackling this!
or your hubby decides he can't be bothered to put stuff in their rightful place and decides to clutter up your utility room with odds and ends and tools etc... making itlook a mess and difficult to enter.
And maybe your house is too big :D With my 1 and a half rooms I could never start a junk room.
oh I hear that!
Even the smallest house can have a "junk room", which may be a cluttered closet, nook, or corner.
My "craft" room got renamed the crap room
Old blankets and old sheets and old towels (you get the idea!) that aren't great for donation are great to give to animal shelters!
“This is a perfectly good baby blanket that we don’t need anymore” my heart is melting little did you know you’d have an amazing new addition to your family soon enough
I love your videos. hits home and not pretentious.
and your kitchen is looking great!!
La Dama del Caribe I like your profile picture!!!
When you said you have purchased the thrill of letting something into your house, I was blown away! It was so well said and so relatable! Thank you for the inspiration!!
You're very welcome! I'm glad that hit home with you! :)
Thanks for taking me through the process one thing at a time so I can gain insights on making specific decisions on each of my items that I have to declutter. Very helpful!
I'm so proud that you found the blanket said you were going to wash it and IMMEDIATELY did! It's the lazy procrastinator in me that just would've said "I'll wash it and see if I need this" and never actually get to it!
I am so lazy I would have just put it in the bin, if it smelled so bad. 🚮
I want to say that I appreciate how positive you are. Many of us get down on ourselves when we set out to accomplish a goal and can't get there. You model grace for yourself and your process really well and I wanted to say Thank You! Keep up the good work.
I am also a very messy person trying to be tidier, so I love these kind of videos, and just wanted to say you have a great style! SO many of these decluttering videos are just someone talking at top speed blahblah blahblahblah... they don't even pause for breathe and you have a headache after 10 minutes! But your pace of speaking is great... you are a natural in front of the camera! And I like the sped up bits of tidying to break it up :-) Good luck with your continued decluttering!!
Oh, thank you! I'm glad you're enjoy my videos! I always try to take at least a little action in each video, gotta practice what you preach! ;-)
Somehow this gave me the motivation to study for my maths exam. Not entirely sure how that works but I'll roll with it.
Recently I finished this swedish book on psychology of adults "Adolescence man",it was very interesting. Apparently the whole shopping and owning, possessing and storing problem we realize now is something that psychologists and marketing people know very well and have not stopped studying since late 60ies. One of reasons people shop, is because they were raised with shopping itself presented as full new and exiting experience with tastes, sounds, smells and colorful pictures.Human brain learned to react to a day of shopping as fun joy ride. So it is understandable. But oh so annoying, it really feels like betrayal and manipulation, partly because yes...it is fun...but...shouldnt be THAT fun...
evgenia Hi can you tell me the author? I'm having trouble finding anything called adolescence man or similar...
evgenia I'm so glad that my mum HATES shopping and my dad even more. I never really picked up that habit. It's more that my parents can't get rid of anything so their collection builds very slowly and steadily haha
Mel Mariposa my parents are exactly the same!! They never go shopping, but then again they never throw anything away.
evgenia Right on!! People binge shop and then complain when an unexpected (or expected) bill pops up...
Yes! Another video! Can't wait to sit down and watch it while I take a break from cleaning :)
Why clean when you can watch other people clean?
No worries about the garage! You'll get there!! I'm rooting for you all through your journey. You're an inspiration, truly. Thanks!
:) Thank you!!
Letting something go when you invested money into it (yet never really used it) is just a natural consequence that will help you learn that you don't need to buy the next thing that you come across because it's pretty/unique. Another thing to consider when you're out is that you can appreciate something for how beautiful it is, but that doesn't mean you need to possess it.
Your office looks wonderful!
You model good work through your journey. Don't stop! Anyone who checks in, please know the importance of clearing space so you can fulfill creativity. It doesn't happen in an overwhelming mess. If you want your head clear you may have to work your way to it.
This video basically explains my life about a week ago before I started my minimalism journey. My room was a junk room. I got so sick of it that I started throwing everything out and began a minimalist journey :) Love that you're helping people get rid of their junk room!
Btw, your eyes are gorgeous!
Watching you all over again... Rachel, you've no idea HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU!! I'M SURE THAT'S TRUE FOR ALL VIEWERS HERE! 62 NOW, I never thought about our "fantasy self" CONCEPT before watching you... I keep learning... and your vids are so much a part of that!
I clicked on a video of yours by chance, and subscribed within seconds. Now I cant stop watching.
Loved your video. Currently I'm helping my Father create a will. One of my brothers said he wants Dad's junk drawer. LOL So many treasures in the junk drawer. Thank you for being so candid!
Our office/guest room is always the place we throw things that need a temporary home. We de-junk it right before we have company coming to stay because that's when we can make split second decisions keep it vs. toss it. I just donated decorating items I had been hanging on to for FOUR YEARS thinking they would get used in the house... yeah no, I would have used them by now LOL. Thanks for keeping it real, always love watching your videos!
Nice job! haha, yeah we do quick cleans before company comes too. It's funny how the pressure can help move those decisions along. ;-)
You could put your blankets, or atleast some blankets, in your hygge corner that you created a couple episodes ago. That way you can grab a book and cuddle up and read! You can find or even make a crate or basket to store the blankets too if you'd like! That way they become a decor piece when not in use rather than just laying there taking up space when someone isn't using them. Just some thoughts! =)
Had a junk room and drawer since always. Got rid of the junk drawer and slowly getting rid of the junk room! Feels sooo good!
thank you so much for this series. I love your honesty and openness. Most declutter/organization videos seem to have been "pre-cleaned" before filming, and I can't relate thst to my life. You are so honest and "real" that you've inspired me to get digging and purging. last night I tackled the 2 biggest kitchen cabinets and the to-go pile is bigger than the to-kerp pile.
Today Im going to tackle the drawers in there, maybe I'll finally have room for my kitchen towels and placemats yo live :) thank you, its a pleasure to follow along.
to be honest when I throw away things if it brings memories for me I take a picture of the item. So I won't feel like its forgotten or not important I just remember it's not laying around taking up space. You can even create a special drop box online for all the donation items so its there when ever you want to rmeeniace.
Oh, your dogs follow you everywhere too??? LOL! This video resonated so much with me! I didn't grow up with a junk room, but we did have a llwell lived-in home. My mom cleaned, but she wasn't a perfectionist. Unfortunately, since I married, my things from when I was single were boxed up, moved to my new home, and dumped into our extra bedroom, where more and more things were also dumped over time. This summer, (AFTER 15 YEARS!) I have finally started clearing out, throwing away most of the junk, and am now trolling RUclips looking for ideas on how to organize or perhaps decorate this extra room. Your video was the first one that popped up. Once I finish cleaning my junk room, I won't be dealing with the eyesore that is my "garage from hell" until it cools off again (maybe this winter!) Thank you for the ideas and extra motivation!
I can see something and recognize that it is beautiful, but not have to have it for myself. Or so I tell myself. You make it easier for me. Thank you!
I see a lot of the KonMari methods where people to the joy thing, but there's been a lot of talk of how everyone feels guilty for NOT using something they bought and intended to use. I very much a proponent of modifying the KonMari style to forgive yourself for never using an item and rather than thank an item that has been used, apologize to an item for not using it and give it a send-off. :3 It's helped me to alleviate A LOT of guilt while clearing my own things.
Also, I think a friend of mine might love that belt buckle for her steampunk outfit. It looks rather awesome.
Sensei I have watched a konmari interview where she explains that when you thank the item you can appreciate that it brought you joy when some one gave you the item, or for the fact that it brought you joy in the moments of purchasing the item if you were feeling down before. She says that it isn't about using it, it's about appreciating the moments of the joy and that that was its purpose and now you can move on. It has helped me get rid of a lot of what could be considered "sentimental" but then I felt good getting rid of.
Amazing progress you've done with this rooom!
I love to get rid of old stuff, too. I have very few items lying around but still love to watch your journey.
:) Thanks for watching, I'm glad you're enjoying it! And nice work keeping your items to a minimum, I hope to be there eventually!
Yay, new video! My husband is of the belief that wherever I am for longer than ten minutes is the junk room. Let's not mention him having two sheds and the conservatory full! I've slacked off so it's my mission to have a purge session tomorrow after work :)
Why not use the crystal bowl inside a drawer to corral small items instead of cheap, plastic drawer dividers. That way it doesn't collect dust and it's useful.
or put on a dressing table for earrings and other bits of nice jewellery I love glass and the turquoise bowl was so pretty.
Helen Anagnostopoulou yes!! or use it on her new office table to hold paperclips or something :)
or get rid of it and use an item that really does bring her joy to organize in the desk :)
It's this attitude that's the whole problem. "oh, maybe I'll use this for something" "it will be usefull some day" Tha's how you become a hoarder.
Helen Anagnostopoulou I was just thinking about that!! My fiancé has one on his nightstand that collects dust...😂👍🏻
Oh my goodness, the junk room is the worst! Ours is our son's bedroom, since he sleeps in our room with us. I never thought to call it a junk room but that's exactly what it is. Great job taking care of yours!
thank you for this video! i like your free desk, and it's great that you let go of so many things which don't make you happy- that is not easy! Also- wow you have so many subscribes!!! that's great!
can't wait to see more!!!!!!😘Rifka!
Love your videos! Love that you show the real side of life not just the perfect parts😉🙃 Love seeing the end product but also love seeing the process. We moved 2 years ago and since then my eyes we opened to how much JUNK we owned. Since then it's been purge city every since. Life feels so much better with less and with only things we love! Keep it up!👍🏼😃🎉
*were
Thank you! "purge city"... haha, I hear ya!! :) I agree though, it really does feel better to get rid of the clutter. Good luck to you!!
Hey, did you ever go back & re-decorate your office? I'd be interested with a part two to this video, please.
Blankets and pillows can be used at an animal shelter. It brings such warmth to their cold spaces while they wait on a forever home.
I had a similar problem with my mother and her boyfriend, who served time in the military. He had a bunch of friends who passed away. Being that, he also accumulated a lot of memorabilia from his fallen comrades. I suggested that he clean the place once, but gave me a look that I won’t forget.
Shortly thereafter, during a small stint at a reunion for fallen soldiers, I called for the services of Jux Los Angeles, a garage and attic cleaning / reorganization company, based in southern a California. My mother’s boyfriend wasn’t pleased with what I had done at first. As a week passed by since the renovation, much to his chagrin, he had to tell me that the place looked so different and that now, he has a place where he can honor his brothers and sisters; in his garage ( I made it extra special and hung up some uniforms his comrades wore on the garage walls…)
I gave our garage a major overhaul yesterday. Like you, I"m waiting for warmer weather before I actually get into seriously organizing it.
We always called our junk room growing up the "spare room". When we all grew and moved out my parents tried to convert it to an office but it's sadly still a junk room. My basement is my junk room...and it's bad. I need to just bite the bullet and clean it out! Also, I have that same blue lotus flower dish you got rid of, we use it as a spoon rest on the stove. :)
I thank my lucky stars every day for our 'junk cupboard'. It's the only place that I can keep my boyfriend's stuff and keep our flat looking clean and calm 🙌🏼 good luck with your de-junking
Also, I found the music bits a bit loud in comparison to the spoken parts - kept having to adjust the volume!
lol too funny! hey, do what works! ;-) Oh, and sorry about the volume, I'm going to watch out for the on future videos/editing.
Still loved the video, though! But yeah, especially with headphones it was a bit loud 🙂
Hi! I am a new subscriber and am LOVING your channel! I have read about the Konmari method of decluttering and watched other Minimalist videos but none have actually taken me through the process of evaluating each item we have to see if it brings any joy. I can totally relate to the junk room and your method of going through your stuff. Thanks for sharing your life and for being so real!!
Thanks for this comment! I'm glad you're enjoying my channel - and sounds like you're doing well on your own journey! I've only been at this a few months, but I agree that you need to find what works for you. I think I use parts of the Konmari method, but I don't follow it like she says you must. Good luck to you!
My so called home, brought me to your channel and I subscribed to it today. She was right you have awesome videos.
I always love your videos! Don't let the not so positive comments get to you. Everyone has different sized homes, and things to put in them. Our "office" is now FULL of tilting piles waiting to burry you alive should you dare to walk in.....no one has a perfect home, or life. So good for you for tackling it for all of us to see!! ;)
I love how real you are about everything!
Your house looks so spacious and chill! love it!
without meaning to sound patronizing, well done! keep it up, and keep on with your terrific channel!
Watching your videos years later and I finally could get rid of a few items I could just not part with. Thank you.
I'm an undergrad studying advertising. You think about your consumer habits with such an advertisers eye. I love it!
haha, well I came from the advertising industry, so I guess that makes sense! :) Good luck to you in finishing your studies! I had a lot of fun working at some pretty big shops, but so glad to be mostly 'out' of it now!
I am studying at Michigan State and I'm so exited to get my feet into the actual industry. Studying abroad this simmer but looking into internships in Chicago for next summer!
Oh nice! Well don't discount the detroit ad scene. I got my start there and worked at some awesome places. It helped me get a gig in New York City (Saatchi & Saatchi) -- so it was a great stepping stone city. Chicago is nice too tho :) Good luck!!
Thank you for the encouragement! My husband and I just decluttered our closets for the billionth time, but we keep getting rid of more! 😀 keep up the good work 😊
Oh honey, that junk room is nothing!! I wish I had a junk room as cleaned out as your before picture is!! Sadly, mine has Mount Junkmore in the middle of it. I still get a lot of inspiration from the videos, thank you.
Loving this video! My only complaint is the volume for your music. Great content though! I just started with your videos yesterday and I am just going through your playlists and watching everything.
Oh gosh.. sorry about that! Is it too loud? I'm terrible at sound editing!
I think it's just much louder than the portions where you talk so I had to keep turning the video up and down
I did as well. I had difficulty hearing a lot of the commentary.
It is just a little loud, but it seemed better in your new garden clean out video!
I didn't notice that at all. 😊
This video inspired me to go tackle a little space that still needed taking care off.I actually paused the video and got it done just 10 minutes , I only have to get it to goodwill now ;) Thank you! And keep up the great work.
Holy CRAP, literally! That is a lot of stuff. Good for you for getting through it! Decluttering takes a lot of TIME! You'll eventually get to your closet. It will be a nice workspace once it's cleaned up and painted.
Oh yeah, and the junk room...that's not really a thing. Or maybe it is. I dunno, junk drawers are definitely a thing, but I've never heard of junk rooms! That's just weird.
lol, a junk room is when your drawers get so overfilled, you just dump them...into a room. ;-) hehe
Rachel! Your ideas are awesome!! I am pumped and motivated! Am a fan!!! 👍
I cant wait to see it done! I have done so much in my house for 2 weeks. But i have a small apartment and im half way done i feel:) i even bought the magic art of tidying up cause of you.
Ah the Room of Requirement - never an easy thing to deal with. Decluttered mine down to a pile, but it took years. Great fun to watch your culling journey!
hahah... ;-) love it. I've been told my garage looks like the Room of Requirement on more than one occasion! Too bad I'm just a muggle. (sigh!)
I just subscribed to your channel. I love the way you talk about most of the items that you are getting rid of. You give reasons for the decisions. Thank you!
You did soooo well with your junk room/office! I can not wait to see the final product. : )
Great job cleaning out your office :)
I know I find it hard to declutter and organize, but it is something that I need to do and you are motivating, so thank you for that.
Awesome job reclaiming your desk! I'm glad you kept the hand blown glass thingy that you like to hang in your windows...that was so pretty! You have inspired me. BTW...my Husband and I had always said, every house needs a junk room...LOL.
haha! Glad I can inspire you. Good luck!
You are really doing a great job, I'm a minimalist and I have known your struggle. So keep up the good work. Jean from Arizona 😊
You go girl. Keep decluttering !
My dad had a junk room when I was growing up and it turned into his entire house. I live in a condo and there aren't any extra rooms for junk. :) We do have an outside storage room. It was filled with my husband's stuff that he moved in with. Some extra furniture but mostly boxes of junk. We just cleaned it out this week and now it's going to be a storage area for things we actually use throughout the year but don't have space for in the house. Like our grill, folding chairs, party supplies (we do hold parties), beach chairs and umbrellas, yard work items. It doesn't stay unless we actually use it a few times a year.
Growing up we had a whole part of the house dedicated for storage. When we bought the house a few people lived there and they had used a good part of the house as an office where they ran a business from. We just put our stuff there. It was never a part of the house to hang out in, it was really just for storage. I'm in my early twenties and I'm so glad that I am realising this early. I have to stop letting things enter my life. This is not meant as a judgement but your house looks scary to me. I don't ever want to own that much stuff. I'm letting go of things and it is helping me find my true self. Under a pile of distractions I uncovered my true values.
Vici233 - Kinda scary, a lot of space with small pieces of furniture & bare walls. imo.
Vici233 she actually inherited a good chunk of stuff from her mother when she passed away. Having cleared a couple of homes myself, the amount of stuff is unbelievable, and does take time to go through. We are not always in control of how much stuff we need to take responsibility for.
Ik this is an older video but still watching all your declutters. I've watched all the current ones😉 anyway I to have embarked upon the minimalist journey. I just had my first yard sale this weekend. I made my prices very low. Most everything was 25 and 50 cents with the occasional 1 2 and 3 dollar items. I managed to make $400 that i will be putting towards my daughter's golf fees for this year. I drop a grand easy for the season so every little bit helps. Anyway my point to all this was...I watch your videos and it's nice to see I'm not going it alone. That there are others dealing with the same clutter issues. It feels so liberating getting tge clutter out of my house. My kitchen is the only room complete with the exception of ...yep that freakin junk drawer! But i have gone from things not fitting in the cabinets and falling out when you open them...to having empty shelves! 🎉🎉🎉 Very Exciting! Keep up the great work and making these relatable videos.❤xoxo
I've got a large mason jar of all the keys I have found while cleaning my office and my home. We labeled it "Keys to Unknown Doors." Other people have started giving me keys to place into it. Apparently I collect keys now.
lol, I love this! Fun idea - I feel like there is a story to be written based on that. :)
My first thought was that you should make jewelry, but that just attracts more clutter...
Supposedly in some Japanese homes, it's not a "junk room" perse but a stuff room (don't know the japanese name), but it's a place for the majority of the house's stuff. Very little items are left out in the home, and sometimes shoes are stored here, too. Very similar to the "mud room" concept, but it houses everything: vacuums, toys, extra linens, decor not in use, old papers.
Your videos have really helped me put the things that have no use into perspective. Today I got rid of a box of unused file folders, books I don’t want to keep and a blanket that I’ve held onto for years. It never had a home. It never felt comfy. So I let it go to Goodwill.
😂😂😂 the willow sprigs battery operated lights... I laughed with you on that reveal🍃 your doing a great job... yay a clear desk👐 tfs enjoy your hard work... it's not easy but it's worth it at the days end♡
good points in this video. I have issues with drawers and often i have to pull out a whole drawer and just tackle it so it looks the way i want. if i keep doing this it helps things stay looking better even behind drawers and closets
Those plastic storage bins in the closet -- not a good thing, all my storage bins are see through that way you know exactly what you have in storage at a glance. Great job on decluttering your life. :)
Junk rooms are universal...most Aussie houses here have them too!... Plus yes full garages of "junk" too...my parents have a double garage, no cars, but plenty of "junk"...aka "crap"...
Just found your channel today...greetings from Oz!...😎🐨
Omg your eyes are sooooo pretty!!!
we had a lot of blankets when we purged years ago too. we have about 4 now that we love compared to 30 we would forget about
This video is very insightful and completely honest. I am in the process of a full house decluttering project and you help keep me on track!
I'm glad I can help! :)
I had always seen junk rooms or store rooms as we call them in India in my family homes....then I moved to an apartment and my whole perspective changed....I try to tell my folks to see your videos and get inspired to get rid of stuff
Ooo I kinda like the "dirty grime/wax/hair blue"" dish lol
I really enjoy your videos, and I can't believe how fast your number of subscribers are going up since I started watching a month or so ago. You mentioned your garden. Do you think you would consider giving us a tour this summer?
Although I used to hoard, I've never had a junk room. It's actually indicative of an emotional problem, the root of hoarding. Holding onto stuff is symbolic of holding onto emotional issues, including unhealed trauma. It's a form of control... Our outer world invariably reflects our inner world. When working with organizing clients, their reactions are predictable. It's really very interesting on this level. Like, in showing the client that it's beneficial to leave at least one clear spot on a counter or other flat service, I've cleared such a spot, walked out of the room, and the person filled the space before I returned, lol. Space for some represents the "dark" and "unknown" ... emptiness (like the womb, ripe with creative energy...not so easily controlled), it's very unnerving to them. And so they fill every nook and cranny of their homes. If an organizer moves too quickly in organizing their stuff, well, it's as if someone just reached into their heart and started moving things around... The best organizers are aware of this, and will take periodic breaks to see how their client is feeling. People can't stop hoarding just because someone comes to their homes and gets them organized, a lot of them need some degree of therapy to get to the real issue(s). So many...our world is really insane with its need for excess. It's good though that many are seeing this, and taking needed actions to heal themselves, emotionally, along with the clearing away all the excess in their lives.
This key thing is kind of like a running gag for me:D I have some junk boxes and thanks to you they are getting less. You are a pretty good motivation for me!:)
My junk room is a "beauty" room. This week I've cleared it out and purchased everything I needed to re do it! Almost done 🤓Every time your new video pops up on my page I do a little dance 💃🙂
I'd never thought about whether a blanket brought me joy before. Just whether it brought me warmth. 2 blankets just went in the out the door pile... more to go!
Wow! Really??? We never had a junk room growing up. That's crazy...lol... Maybe a drawer, a closet or even a corner in the garage, but not a room just for junk. That's a whole other league of hoarding. 😳 Btw, wow...wow...wow!!! It looks great! So happy for you! 💕💕💕
I'm writing an article about the pursuit of happiness in the US for one of my classes, and I choose to talk minimalism. And the way you talked about why we buy stuff (purchasing the feeling of excitment) was exactly what I was looking for XD I have to quote you now :D
haha, awesome! By all means, feel free to quote me! ;-) happy to help
My art studio slowly turned into a junk room as I got too busy to get in there and paint. Tomorrow I start tackling it - I've binged watch all your videos a couple times (your voice is super soothing) I'm on a roll - bathroom done, office/classroom done..... next the 'junk' room. I'd like to be able to use it as a studio again...
Thanks for sharing. I love the blue you have in your office. H
When you're cleaning your junk room and find yourself lint rolling tape rolls bc the sides have collected so much stray pet hair and dust from sitting in your hoard so long. So that's what I'm doing. On the plus, love watching your vids when I'm decluttering
Hi everyone! So this is my absolute favorite minimalist RUclips channel. It got me started cleaning regularly!!! Anyway, can any of you recommend other good minimalist RUclipsrs that have a similar style. I've looked around, but no one quite inspires me like this!
That succulent looking dish is sooo cute.
thanks! :)
I see that wooden puzzle you have on the floor. We have the same one! Secret: I got a stash of those Velcro dots and affixed the soft fuzzy side of the Velcro to the puzzle piece (otherwise you will have loose puzzle pieces velcro’d to all your carpets and rugs...found out the hard way) and the rough side to the place where the puzzle piece goes on the board. That way, when it gets bumped or knocked over, the pieces don’t go flying everywhere, causing you to pick them up 10x a day!
Here is an idea for you: I have a little basement window with a curtain and a ledge. I display little things there that I do not want to pitch. It looks cute from outside, and is very little work for me. After a while, I can let them go.
I think the junk room is the one room that was “allowed” to be messy?? My fiancé has labeled our office/my craft space as the one room that can stay messy. I have since redone the office, purchasing Ikea furniture and a beautiful ficus tree!! (Before anyone freaks out, we share household chores. He does the heavier stuff while I do general cleaning) Thanks again for your amazing inspiration!!
I don't want a junk room either. By the way I deep cleaned our bedroom and my kitchen the other day!!! you are inspiring
We have junk rooms in Argentina too. But we call it like a "deposit". But they always start off like "an office", a "garage" or a "laundry room
I call my junk room "the office" and it is also the craft room and the mud room as our hall is too narrow to fit in anything :D