Random tip: my friend puts “winter clothes” on one end and “summer clothes” on the other end so she can just swap them out and turn it around using the same bin without having to relabel all the time.
In a time where people seem to be looking for ENORMOUS houses with bedrooms & bathrooms for each child, your sweet home looks so cozy!! Kids growing up sharing space with a sibling is a valuable experience! 💖
I agree, I could never live in a huge house with all those unused rooms. It just seems so wasteful & showy. Just thinking about the utilities to heat & cool rooms that no one uses is just so wasteful! IDK I just don't get it.
I do think sharing rooms helps kids learn to live with others and share. Even if it isn't your choice. Lol - My boys have their own room, but are usually together in one of their rooms. I also like to say, God gave me a smaller house so I couldn't fill it with a lot of furniture(I love furniture).
I am so glad someone else thinks like this too. I'm kind of tired of hearing people say that everyone needs their own space. I have seen how close my kids are because they share rooms and I love it.
I agree although we bought bigger to accommodate multi-generational living if it were just my family I always favor quality over quantity 100%. Her home looks so nice!
I never really cared which specific topic Dawn is talking about in her videos. All I know is that when I hit play button in any of her videos 100% sure I am gonna get nuggets of wisdom each time. Thank you for all you do! ❤️
I know it seems like it is just vanity wanting everything to match but really a lot of different containers can feel like visual clutter and can be disturbing and cause some stress every time you look at it. Love it!
Hey Dawn, If you put a large garbage bag over the highchair it will keep the dust & bug burgers off it and be ready for your Foster Children without having to scrub it clean, rather just wipe off. Basement looks terrific!
I'd love to see a hardware declutter video, I never know if I should save that extra bracket , screw, etc that comes with household items, great job... the corner of the basement looks terrific.
I struggle with this as well. I always want to toss them. But then i remember how many times saving them has saved me loads of time and $$$. (30miles to the closest small hardware store, 80 to a big box). My solution was to get an extra of the bins my husband uses in the garage. Hardware is in ziplocks by type. Alls nails, screws, nuts, bolts, washers, hinges, etc goes into this bin in their ziplock bags or small containers they came in. If I meed something for a project or repair, I go to the the bin before the hardware store. Many times I already have what i need and bc i used the same tote my husband already has, it fits right on the shelf in the garage.
I'd like to see a hardware declutter too. My husband and I are not handy at all, yet we have all these containers of screws, nails, brackets, ... I don't feel comfortable throwing them out, because I don't know what's important. Also, where is an appropriate and easy place to donate hardware stuff?
Yes! My husband just kept a back of anchors that came with a shelf we didn't use because "they're good anchors" even though we already have a box of "good anchors" already...🙄
I agree with you dawn ,clear for items you use often and reg totes for storage items. Great video. By the way was telling my husband about redoing our pantry and said I was going to buy a clear tote for our electric slicer, he said “ what happened to minimalism, if we haven’t used in a year it goes?!” I was speechless, lol ! Only thing I could say was, well didn’t think you wanted to get rid of it. He said it goes, we haven’t used it😱 Guess hubby is on board!!!
This video was perfect timing for me today. My husband asked me, just this morning, if I would have time to go through the bins in our basement with him anytime soon. Now I not only have the time, I have the motivation! Thanks Dawn!
It was so helpful to see your storage areas in your house. I always feel like minimalists don't have any storage. It's all what you see in their drawers and cabinets but nothing more. Thank you so much for sharing a bit about the behind the scenes of your household! You have such great and inspiring content!!
I'm glad she shows this now. I was watching dawn's channel for a year before I discovered she had storage areas - basement, garage, outhouses... I was beating myself up trying to figure out how to declutter down to her levels, when I had zero storage areas, a similar sized house, and as many kids as her.
I've been decluttering since 2020 and I've seen a big difference now that I get rid of containers. I just got rid of laundry baskets in every bedroom. We now have a divided laundry basket for everyone and a laundry basket for my husband's work clothes. Now I'm not overwhelmed by laundry all the time. I've just started a new rule that clean laundry cannot go back in a laundry basket once it's folded. It has so be put away, right away.
You are THE person God used to speak truth to my life with minimalist tools and decluttering. We are continually using the onion method in our house but I have a basement room that's also my laundry room that I've been stressing about for weeks and here is this video. Thankful to Jesus and thankful to you! There are two kids who I kidsit for at my house each week and I have more emotional room in my heart for them, so much more peace and contentment, as well as more physical room in my house to play. They used to tell me my house was small but I havent heard that since we started decluttering 80-90% of our home 2 years ago. Thank you!!! (I'm in a text chat with 4 of my friends and we send weekly advancements to each other - thanks for that idea also). God is great and worthy to be praised - with our entire lives from the inside out.
I feel so much better seeing that you have areas that get cluttered and turned into “dumping grounds” 😁 your home is beautiful and functional but it’s great to know you’re not perfect! It makes a simplified home seem more attainable ♥️
I’m so glad that you have realized that it’s not that you can’t maintain the system or the system doesn’t work, but that we have to maintain the system. That is a huge realization! Looks like you have a great streamlined system going! It’s the same kind of thing and I do and it has worked really well for years. Now I’m at the point of decluttering and downsizing and I’m loving it. Thank you for the inspiration to declutter!
It makes me so happy to learn you have a “kitchen overflow.” I do too. I just can’t minimize any more and there isn’t quite enough room in our small kitchen! Also, use your rug right there in the basement! Then you won’t have to stand on the cold cement when you run down without shoes on!
We also get overwhelmed with winter inventory, so a few years ago I bought some of the vacuum sealed storage bags at the Dollar Tree. That helps compress the winter wear and keep it more categorized. There are 7 in our household, but I can now get all that winter gear in just 2 totes.
Great video; love the final product. I'm done apologizing for wanting my storage areas to look as neat and attractive as the rest of my home. We may have been taught that this preference is shallow, but it's actually extremely helpful cognitively. And even if it weren't, there's nothing wrong with appreciating nice-looking spaces and things. Brava! (Edit: Oh, and I LOVE those labels!!)
I'm happy to see that you have a small stock of your grocery and household staples! You don't need it to clog up your kitchen, but a well managed back up supply to rotate through is smart!
I have been binge watching all of your videos while purging my house!! We are moving to a new house and I'm trying to go more minimalist, again. I tell myself I can't watch any videos unless I'm decluttering, or washing dishes, while doing so! Lol! I can always use more advice on kids toys... ugh 😩 Thanks for all the awesome content! You're the best!
Yes, Dawn is very encouraging and very easy to listen to - a real help during your house move. Very best to you in the venture. Trust your instincts. I like Dawn's line "The past is a guide to the future- if you haven't used it up to now, chances are you won't". Also Dana of A Slob Comes Clean: "Is it worth putting in a box and paying for it to be transported to your new house?" G Ire
It's called GROWTH! Priority was reducing inventory so that you could organize what you have. Yay for beautiful storage! I'm still working on labeling things.
Another great video! My tip for you is to purchase a small box of 8.5" x 11" clear sheet protectors and tape a sheet protector to the inside of your storage container. Then you can easily slide a page in and out, as well as replacing them if you change how the container will be used. It will save time and tape since you won't have to re-tape the page every time.
I LOVE the way that you show all of the details in your process with even the smallest items. This is perfect for me to understand how to organize. Thank you so much for making these videos.
Like others…glad to see food storage. I haven’t watched for several months and have watched several in the last week. Interesting to see some changes. We do all change, hopefully for the better by gathering more knowledge, understanding and wisdom. She on a good road for sure.
Oh my gosh, Dawn! What a difference!! This video was SO inspiring, thank you!! I have the world's crappiest basement, so I reallllllly need to get down there and rework everything! I have been DREADING it, but you have just given me the hope I can do it!! Thank you!! Sending a big hug from WI!! (And you're right...stillllll winter-ish here, too!)
I just did this same thing to “dry pamtry”. I have two pantries in my home- one for food and one for kitchen gadgets, canning supplies, laundry, household goods, etc. it was getting way out of hand so I went to town and organized. I threw away a ton, added stuff to my donation pile and used bins to organize like things. It worked like a charm. I love your idea of adding a check list for windier clothes. I’m going to do this for my herb box. I always forget what I have. We use herbs quite a bit so I have a ton for herbs but I forget all that’s in there and it would help with what I actually need and use. Love this video!
It’s nice in MI for one day, so I took advantage of it! I finally painted the trim around the windows that I had put in my mobile home almost three years ago. Then I came in to relax and watch this video. You inspired me to declutter the two Rubbermaid sheds outside my home, putting stuff to donate in my car for tomorrow. Now I’m going to try to find a relaxing YT video that will inspire me to relax as well. Your storage bins look great, and I love the shelving units. When you started labeling bins my first thought was that you’re spending too much time with Cas ! 😂
Great session!!! I too don’t always like to see it all. The peace of a unified look is so calming. The label is enough for when I have to find something.
I love when I get to what your after looked like...I then sit there for like a good 20 minutes smiling just looking around....same goes with any cupboard I purge. I keep opening and closing it just smiling. Such a great satisfaction!
Oh, please, please,please show us basement tool storage- all the odd screwdrivers, random nuts and bolts,bits of old plumbing and electrical projects-I know we have at least one of everything- somewhere
You would be so proud of my husband and I. We took a vacation and decluttered our entire house. We took 10 black bags to goodwill and tossed out a truckload of stuff. You and Cas have helped me already so much over the years and this week we went fully ruthless in our decision making . Even got rid of too small clothes and shoes that were cute but hurt my feet that I have held onto for years. Thank you for all you do!
My favorite type of storage system ARE the shelving units you bought. I've used this type for several years, now...they are sturdy and durable...and at least 2 of those have been thru 2-3 different moves. Back in the Spring, I bought the most durable one I could find like that, and was not disappointed. My daughter who is SO HANDY with tools put it together for me....I think each shelf holds 800 lbs each ....that unit is there to stay!😅 The QUALITY makes such a difference.😅 ❤
Dawn, that was an awesome transformation! It’s so pretty to look at now! 😍 I absolutely love what you did for the kids winter bins inventory - BRILLIANT! 🌟I was just thinking that if it works well & you will be reusing them, you could reprint them and either laminate or put them in sheet protectors. Your chalkboard tags are gorgeous! The painted floor completes the look. Now it’s a much happier place! Job well done! TFS 🥰 TIP: Sharpie marker ink wipes off easily when covered first with a dry erase marker, or with hand sanitizer (going back to the checklist idea 🤣)
This was one of the FIRST videos I watched from The Minimal Mom, about a year ago. I sent it to my husband and it made a positive impression on him. I've been decluttering for decades but have become a minimalist in the past year. Our house is so delightful and our basement is progressing! I recently told my husband that the chalkboard tags were too expensive (in Walmart they were $0.50 each!) and I've learned that I can put clear tape on the bin and write on it with a wide black Sharpie. If I change what's in a bin, there's no erasing, just pulling off the clear tape!!! I change my linens and decorations twice a year (our bedroom color scheme in spring and summer is blue and white; in fall and winter it's burgundy and dark green), so my bin labels change twice a year. But Amazon has the chalkboard labels for $0.18 each, which is much more reasonable! Maybe I'll get a gift card for Christmas or my birthday (January) and get matching bins and/or chalkboard labels.
This video motivated me to run into the basement (before work). Grabbed all my camping gear I hadn't used in about 8-10yrs and donated them. I was holding on to it because of the what if scenario. When I came back from work, someone picked it up. So glad I finally did this.
Great tips Dawn! For canned and other food storage, I mark the 'best by date' on the item with a Sharpie and rotate so the oldest is up front. I put flour, rice, pasta, beans, oats, etc. in recycled half-gallon and quart jars, label with name, date, and rotate those as well.
i'm still in the process of helping my parents declutter their hoarder garage. we made massive progress last weekend and i am just hoping the garage will look close to this! can't wait to get to the part where I can get shelves and bins to organize it all but first we have lots of decluttering to do still! 😌
Reading this, I thought you were describing my basement. Unfortunately we are not allowed to declutter things that are not ours… otherwise I could have made a bigger difference in it - because I can’t access my clutter right now.
I feel you! Our basement was like that until I started digging into it. You can do it, I promise! Remember to take mental breaks when your brain fuzzes over from constant decision making. One thing that helped me (this might sound crazy) at the beginning was each delivery I made to donate I envisioned that as the space I freed up and smiled all the way home. :-)
I roughly calculate cubic footage for each trip to donatation center or recycle/trash center. So at the end of the trip I can say, "That's ____ cubic feet outta here!"
Please don’t apologize for your dream home! I love your home and every family needs to figure out what works for them and y’all have done it. I think it’s adorable!
Great video Dawn! I love when you show that a minimal person has to continually declutter and organize. It gets better and better, but its not a one and done forever thing.
I've so enjoyed your transformation over the last 3 years. This new system reflects where you are in your journey and your values as well. I love the upgrade! Clear totes stress me out too. Your new winter gear storage is genius. I love everything about this video! ❤
Dawn, you are continually inspiring me and I love that your content has real value. Every video of yours has lessons and teaching and tips and not just filler like some creators tend to do. I really appreciate the thought and time you put in. And I love how simple everything is. No complicated systems or fancy gadgets. Just back to the basics of getting ahold of our homes and items in order to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life. THANK YOU.
Aww Dawn, you are the best. What a super video and what a super person. I love the little extra details that makes everything so special. What a glorious transformation. The labels are awesome. it must be a treat having you for a mom. I wanted to hug you so many times during the video. Wonderful. Thank you sooo much.
For seasonal decor, I like to get stuff that "wears out." For example, on your open shelves during the fall, buy some small pumpkins/gourds, then toss!
I have to say. Using the container method has helped me a lot. Now I'm trying to change my husband to putting things back in their (home space )... Lol 😂
I’ve been decluttering, sorting, container-ing, and labeling in our 2,000 sq ft basement. It’s a semi-finished basement without finishing touches, so it gets used as office, workout zone, rec room, lounge zone, and storage. It’s all one big open space, no dividing walls, so EVERYTHING is visible. Ugh. My personal things, and things used by all the family are pretty small. But the university-age daughters’ and the husband’s things are overwhelming! I’m 56 and husband is 62, and I am in more of the Swedish-death-cleaning mindset, but mostly, I don’t want to be corralling, inventorying, and organizing so much stuff. My motto is, “Will it fit in the Airstream?” to determine its value to me. I don’t even have an Airstream, 😂, (yet) but it keeps me moving toward a goal of less stuff, more energy and mental bandwidth for other things in life!
Love the Airstream mentality! When we move out of the house my mom gave each of us one year to take ALL our stuff or she would give it the ol' heave ho!
@@infjandcoping4614 You have to be careful with Ikea cubes. They have the ability to tip over if you have climbing kids, or if you brush by them. They often need to be tagged to a wall.
@@infjandcoping4614 We have huge, industrial strength shelving, plus 4 large rolling shelving units. I hung curtains across a part of the space to conceal part of the storage area. It’s that I live among people who want to save almost everything. I have binned and boxed, but things go into disaster mode too easily.
@@infjandcoping4614 My girls won’t climb the shelving, no grandkids, and the shelving has a super wide and deep base. We have no wall material to connect into. It’s poured concrete with very deep insulation and vapor barriers over it. Our home seems like more of a dorm/business office/Airbnb. 😂
That was so satisfying to watch! Let me know if you come to California ... I would love to borrow your handwriting to label my bins! When I get new bins, the first thing I do is take the store labels off. It makes the bins look tidy and they are harder to get off the longer they stay on. Thank you for another great video! You are such an inspiration to me!
I love how you go into detail of why labels are good and not just pretty. I have held back on labels as I’m worry it’s going to mess up and I need to redo them. So washable is fab. For now I’m using masking tape. (Painters tape equivalent in the UK which you can write on.) I didn’t actually know you weren’t always minimalist, so thanks for sharing.
We have masking tape, painter's tape, and washi tape in the US. Painter's tape is papery like masking tape, but more adhesive to make sure paint doesn't get under it. Washi tape is also papery but less adhesive, and used for decorative purposes.
This looks amazing! I think that’s the key of organizing - when a space functions well and you have the bandwidth to make it a little more visually appealing, these spaces become more enjoyable to access and maintain. Love those labels - and your handwriting!
I love how you are changing as you are in a situation where you can manage what you have!🙂 I'm still in the whole house decluttering process but I've already gained confidence in my ability to make decisions 🙃 with the areas that are decluttered to the point that I know what is in those spots!
I think this looks totally awesome. The end shot of all that space and underneath the stairway all cleaned and everything put away it looks really nice. And I like the labelling idea because then you know what’s there and where things belong. Thank you Dawn. Love ♥️ you too 🙋🏼♀️
Dawn, you have inspired me to work through minimizing my entire house. I look forward to each and every video- thank you so much! I love the idea of adding the list to the bin. I tape plastic sheet protectors to the cover - that way I can update the list, slide the old one out and add the new one! It keeps them clean and neat! PS Easter blessings to you and your family! 🐣
I started using the rolling pantry shelves that Dawn uses, and they are fantastic, I use them in my laundry area, garage and basement. So versatile, an easy to clean under, plus it keeps everything high and dry.
Talk about eye candy! Love it! Your handwriting on the labels looks like a computer font. ❤ Great idea to be looking for winter gear at garage sales this summer!
It's nice to see someone with a cement basement. Nothing pretty, but tidy. Paint is the game changer. We went to Ollie's and bought carpet runner at $1.99 a foot for the basement steps. Such happiness to walk on! Icing on the cake for me!!
This was so helpful over all. I’ve been working on my house. I don’t have a basement but I can use this information and ideas elsewhere. I constantly remind myself about inventory. I love this thought on the labels I’ve never liked them but I think I’ll start trying to include this in my organization
Oooh, I really like the way you manage the kids' winter gear. I need to adopt your method of assessing the inventory at the end of a season and making a list of what's needed so I can look for deals in the off season.
We are literally decluttering our store room at the moment so think I’m going to get me some of those black-board labels to save us having to sift through each box every time! Your basement looks so neat Dawn! 😊
Years ago My sister decided to choose red paper products for birthdays.. she figured she could get clearance items after Xmas and 4th of July. She would add in pink or white some years.
When the kids where growing up i kept a birthday bin. All birthday related stuff went it . i also had 1 bin for each holiday. Party supplies, wrapping, decorating, i reused everything until worn out.
Great transformation! I love matching containers, just can’t justify the cost at the moment. I love how containers set the boundary of what you keep from season to season or year to year. Would a few of those plastic tubs that are left over replace the cardboard boxes in your food storage area? Not sure if it is true, but I’ve read that critters like cardboard. I’d also stick the stack of paper goods in a tote, at least for the bottom, in case of water. I grew up in a house where the basement often had water so protecting what was on the floor was always a concern.
Not sure what areas you live in, but where I am totes go on sale a few times a year for about $6 depending on the size and you could pick up a few at a time, especially in grey or tan, colors that they have all the time.
@@jessicamickles2602 yep, I was gonna say wait for the sales lol. Different items get discounted in the "off season" for them (usually just after that holiday/season has ended.)
Dawn, I watch 99% of UA-cam videos on 1.5-1.75 speed so that I can absorb the information as fast as possible. You’re the only one I watch on normal speed so I can enjoy every word and make the video last as long as possible 🥰
What's not to understand about it being your dream house? You've done a great job and it looks like a classic, beautiful farm house on the outside AND inside!
I love how you reorganized some of the items into bins to keep them contained and probably clean with a lid on it. I am currently going through years of stuff in my cellar. I don't get down there often, but what I have already been able to accomplish, throwing stuff away, donating, and a current keep section, it looks so much better. You encourage me to declutter. I am looking forward to a more organized cellar with a whole lot less stuff. I will feel like I have one whole floor of my house organized 😊
Random tip: my friend puts “winter clothes” on one end and “summer clothes” on the other end so she can just swap them out and turn it around using the same bin without having to relabel all the time.
Great tip!
That struck me as I was watching Dawn apply the label. Great idea!
This is brilliant!
Ha ha - I do this too! ;) Nice to have a kindred spirit…
Love that idea! Thanks
In a time where people seem to be looking for ENORMOUS houses with bedrooms & bathrooms for each child, your sweet home looks so cozy!! Kids growing up sharing space with a sibling is a valuable experience! 💖
I agree! I wouldn't know what to do with a huge house. I love our compact American Foursquare so much.
I agree, I could never live in a huge house with all those unused rooms. It just seems so wasteful & showy. Just thinking about the utilities to heat & cool rooms that no one uses is just so wasteful! IDK I just don't get it.
I do think sharing rooms helps kids learn to live with others and share. Even if it isn't your choice. Lol - My boys have their own room, but are usually together in one of their rooms. I also like to say, God gave me a smaller house so I couldn't fill it with a lot of furniture(I love furniture).
I am so glad someone else thinks like this too. I'm kind of tired of hearing people say that everyone needs their own space. I have seen how close my kids are because they share rooms and I love it.
I agree although we bought bigger to accommodate multi-generational living if it were just my family I always favor quality over quantity 100%. Her home looks so nice!
“Stuff that holds stuff, holds stuff.” H”How much inventory do you want to manage?” Now two favourite quotes from Dawn!!!!! Love it. Thanks
I always wondered how a family of 6 had so little food in their kitchen cupboards. Nice to see you stockpile in the basement. You are real people!
HA HA I just wondered why do they have so many cans. I grew up in a family of 9 and had less... But the weather were I live is much less extreme
It has only been in the last few months that they’ve increased their food inventory. The reports of food uncertainty is getting to all of us
That’s newer. They never did that before Covid
I think that's Dawn's emergency food supply...
Thank you for the explanation 🙂
I never really cared which specific topic Dawn is talking about in her videos. All I know is that when I hit play button in any of her videos 100% sure I am gonna get nuggets of wisdom each time. Thank you for all you do! ❤️
I know it seems like it is just vanity wanting everything to match but really a lot of different containers can feel like visual clutter and can be disturbing and cause some stress every time you look at it. Love it!
Hey Dawn, If you put a large garbage bag over the highchair it will keep the dust & bug burgers off it and be ready for your Foster Children without having to scrub it clean, rather just wipe off. Basement looks terrific!
or nearer to Christmas get one of those large Christmas plastic bags for bikes and large toys ... winner!
I'd love to see a hardware declutter video, I never know if I should save that extra bracket , screw, etc that comes with household items, great job... the corner of the basement looks terrific.
I struggle with this as well. I always want to toss them. But then i remember how many times saving them has saved me loads of time and $$$. (30miles to the closest small hardware store, 80 to a big box). My solution was to get an extra of the bins my husband uses in the garage. Hardware is in ziplocks by type. Alls nails, screws, nuts, bolts, washers, hinges, etc goes into this bin in their ziplock bags or small containers they came in. If I meed something for a project or repair, I go to the the bin before the hardware store. Many times I already have what i need and bc i used the same tote my husband already has, it fits right on the shelf in the garage.
Wow yes! Relatable
I'd like to see a hardware declutter too. My husband and I are not handy at all, yet we have all these containers of screws, nails, brackets, ... I don't feel comfortable throwing them out, because I don't know what's important. Also, where is an appropriate and easy place to donate hardware stuff?
Yes please!!
Yes! My husband just kept a back of anchors that came with a shelf we didn't use because "they're good anchors" even though we already have a box of "good anchors" already...🙄
I agree with you dawn ,clear for items you use often and reg totes for storage items.
Great video.
By the way was telling my husband about redoing our pantry and said I was going to buy a clear tote for our electric slicer, he said “ what happened to minimalism, if we haven’t used in a year it goes?!”
I was speechless, lol ! Only thing I could say was, well didn’t think you wanted to get rid of it. He said it goes, we haven’t used it😱 Guess hubby is on board!!!
Amazing!!
This video was perfect timing for me today. My husband asked me, just this morning, if I would have time to go through the bins in our basement with him anytime soon. Now I not only have the time, I have the motivation! Thanks Dawn!
It was so helpful to see your storage areas in your house. I always feel like minimalists don't have any storage. It's all what you see in their drawers and cabinets but nothing more. Thank you so much for sharing a bit about the behind the scenes of your household! You have such great and inspiring content!!
Oh yes we do, we just try to organize things more and container methods that make sense but don't go over board and cause more clutter
I'm glad she shows this now. I was watching dawn's channel for a year before I discovered she had storage areas - basement, garage, outhouses... I was beating myself up trying to figure out how to declutter down to her levels, when I had zero storage areas, a similar sized house, and as many kids as her.
Agree. I always wondered where they kept stuff! Love to have that basement ! I have no storage !
I've been decluttering since 2020 and I've seen a big difference now that I get rid of containers. I just got rid of laundry baskets in every bedroom. We now have a divided laundry basket for everyone and a laundry basket for my husband's work clothes. Now I'm not overwhelmed by laundry all the time. I've just started a new rule that clean laundry cannot go back in a laundry basket once it's folded. It has so be put away, right away.
You are THE person God used to speak truth to my life with minimalist tools and decluttering. We are continually using the onion method in our house but I have a basement room that's also my laundry room that I've been stressing about for weeks and here is this video. Thankful to Jesus and thankful to you! There are two kids who I kidsit for at my house each week and I have more emotional room in my heart for them, so much more peace and contentment, as well as more physical room in my house to play. They used to tell me my house was small but I havent heard that since we started decluttering 80-90% of our home 2 years ago. Thank you!!! (I'm in a text chat with 4 of my friends and we send weekly advancements to each other - thanks for that idea also). God is great and worthy to be praised - with our entire lives from the inside out.
Love how you are flexible and show how you grow and change but still keep what helps serve your family best!
I feel so much better seeing that you have areas that get cluttered and turned into “dumping grounds” 😁 your home is beautiful and functional but it’s great to know you’re not perfect! It makes a simplified home seem more attainable ♥️
I’m so glad that you have realized that it’s not that you can’t maintain the system or the system doesn’t work, but that we have to maintain the system. That is a huge realization! Looks like you have a great streamlined system going! It’s the same kind of thing and I do and it has worked really well for years. Now I’m at the point of decluttering and downsizing and I’m loving it. Thank you for the inspiration to declutter!
It makes me so happy to learn you have a “kitchen overflow.” I do too. I just can’t minimize any more and there isn’t quite enough room in our small kitchen!
Also, use your rug right there in the basement! Then you won’t have to stand on the cold cement when you run down without shoes on!
We also get overwhelmed with winter inventory, so a few years ago I bought some of the vacuum sealed storage bags at the Dollar Tree. That helps compress the winter wear and keep it more categorized. There are 7 in our household, but I can now get all that winter gear in just 2 totes.
I think matching containers help minimize visual clutter and it looks fantastic!!
Dana's container concept is everything.
Love how your basement turned out. The fresh coat of paint was the cherry on top. I hope our garage can look this organized someday.
Yes. Tell me more about the paint, is that painted directly on concrete floor? What kind of paint is it?
Painting garage walls is also a game changer! You will love it.
@@hollymarcus7284 , there is special paint made for concrete.
Great video; love the final product. I'm done apologizing for wanting my storage areas to look as neat and attractive as the rest of my home. We may have been taught that this preference is shallow, but it's actually extremely helpful cognitively. And even if it weren't, there's nothing wrong with appreciating nice-looking spaces and things. Brava! (Edit: Oh, and I LOVE those labels!!)
I agree completely... what good is having a storage area to sore your stuff if you can't find what you need when you need it?!?!? Not shallow at all!
Store the aluminum pans upside down to eliminate dust out later. Looks great Dawn!
I'm happy to see that you have a small stock of your grocery and household staples! You don't need it to clog up your kitchen, but a well managed back up supply to rotate through is smart!
Love it! Wish I had a basement !
I have been binge watching all of your videos while purging my house!! We are moving to a new house and I'm trying to go more minimalist, again. I tell myself I can't watch any videos unless I'm decluttering, or washing dishes, while doing so! Lol! I can always use more advice on kids toys... ugh 😩 Thanks for all the awesome content! You're the best!
Yes, Dawn is very encouraging and very easy to listen to - a real help during your house move. Very best to you in the venture. Trust your instincts. I like Dawn's line "The past is a guide to the future- if you haven't used it up to now, chances are you won't". Also Dana of A Slob Comes Clean: "Is it worth putting in a box and paying for it to be transported to your new house?" G Ire
It's called GROWTH! Priority was reducing inventory so that you could organize what you have. Yay for beautiful storage! I'm still working on labeling things.
I LOVE matching bins. When I have tried to use mismatched bins to use what we already had, it just ends up looking so disorganized to me.
I think the same for see-through bins! G Ire
Agreed!
Having matched bins might be a good reward for all your decluttering.
Another great video! My tip for you is to purchase a small box of 8.5" x 11" clear sheet protectors and tape a sheet protector to the inside of your storage container. Then you can easily slide a page in and out, as well as replacing them if you change how the container will be used. It will save time and tape since you won't have to re-tape the page every time.
I LOVE how this turned out at the end! The matching bins, the organized food storage, the newly painted floor. Love, love, love!
I LOVE the way that you show all of the details in your process with even the smallest items. This is perfect for me to understand how to organize. Thank you so much for making these videos.
Like others…glad to see food storage. I haven’t watched for several months and have watched several in the last week. Interesting to see some changes. We do all change, hopefully for the better by gathering more knowledge, understanding and wisdom. She on a good road for sure.
Oh my gosh, Dawn! What a difference!! This video was SO inspiring, thank you!! I have the world's crappiest basement, so I reallllllly need to get down there and rework everything! I have been DREADING it, but you have just given me the hope I can do it!! Thank you!! Sending a big hug from WI!! (And you're right...stillllll winter-ish here, too!)
The winter inventory lists inside the bins are such a great idea!!
I just did this same thing to “dry pamtry”. I have two pantries in my home- one for food and one for kitchen gadgets, canning supplies, laundry, household goods, etc. it was getting way out of hand so I went to town and organized. I threw away a ton, added stuff to my donation pile and used bins to organize like things. It worked like a charm. I love your idea of adding a check list for windier clothes. I’m going to do this for my herb box. I always forget what I have. We use herbs quite a bit so I have a ton for herbs but I forget all that’s in there and it would help with what I actually need and use. Love this video!
I like the beige bins for most things! Looks so much organized! Excellent job
It’s nice in MI for one day, so I took advantage of it! I finally painted the trim around the windows that I had put in my mobile home almost three years ago. Then I came in to relax and watch this video. You inspired me to declutter the two Rubbermaid sheds outside my home, putting stuff to donate in my car for tomorrow. Now I’m going to try to find a relaxing YT video that will inspire me to relax as well. Your storage bins look great, and I love the shelving units. When you started labeling bins my first thought was that you’re spending too much time with Cas ! 😂
I was wondering if Tom could use the storage bins in his shop. He could also label them for easy access.
Dawn, I think your house is lovely. What you and Tom have done to the place is wonderful.
I absolutely love the idea of making a list of what’s needed for the following winter, then ‘thrifting’ throughout the summer! Genius!!
I loved it when you threw the paint roller! LOL 😆
That's something I would do!
I love all of the projects you have done to your sweet home, including this one! Great job! Super functional now, and looks awesome!
At the end you snuck in 10 seconds of painting your basement floor. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see more on how you do that.
me too!!
Great session!!! I too don’t always like to see it all. The peace of a unified look is so calming. The label is enough for when I have to find something.
I love when I get to what your after looked like...I then sit there for like a good 20 minutes smiling just looking around....same goes with any cupboard I purge. I keep opening and closing it just smiling. Such a great satisfaction!
Oh, please, please,please show us basement tool storage- all the odd screwdrivers, random nuts and bolts,bits of old plumbing and electrical projects-I know we have at least one of everything- somewhere
You would be so proud of my husband and I. We took a vacation and decluttered our entire house. We took 10 black bags to goodwill and tossed out a truckload of stuff. You and Cas have helped me already so much over the years and this week we went fully ruthless in our decision making . Even got rid of too small clothes and shoes that were cute but hurt my feet that I have held onto for years. Thank you for all you do!
My favorite type of storage system ARE the shelving units you bought.
I've used this type for several years, now...they are sturdy and durable...and at least 2 of those have been thru 2-3 different moves.
Back in the Spring, I bought the most durable one I could find like that, and was not disappointed.
My daughter who is SO HANDY with tools put it together for me....I think each shelf holds 800 lbs each ....that unit is there to stay!😅
The QUALITY makes such a difference.😅 ❤
Dawn, that was an awesome transformation! It’s so pretty to look at now! 😍 I absolutely love what you did for the kids winter bins inventory - BRILLIANT! 🌟I was just thinking that if it works well & you will be reusing them, you could reprint them and either laminate or put them in sheet protectors. Your chalkboard tags are gorgeous! The painted floor completes the look. Now it’s a much happier place! Job well done! TFS 🥰 TIP: Sharpie marker ink wipes off easily when covered first with a dry erase marker, or with hand sanitizer (going back to the checklist idea 🤣)
This was one of the FIRST videos I watched from The Minimal Mom, about a year ago. I sent it to my husband and it made a positive impression on him. I've been decluttering for decades but have become a minimalist in the past year. Our house is so delightful and our basement is progressing! I recently told my husband that the chalkboard tags were too expensive (in Walmart they were $0.50 each!) and I've learned that I can put clear tape on the bin and write on it with a wide black Sharpie. If I change what's in a bin, there's no erasing, just pulling off the clear tape!!! I change my linens and decorations twice a year (our bedroom color scheme in spring and summer is blue and white; in fall and winter it's burgundy and dark green), so my bin labels change twice a year. But Amazon has the chalkboard labels for $0.18 each, which is much more reasonable! Maybe I'll get a gift card for Christmas or my birthday (January) and get matching bins and/or chalkboard labels.
It really helps to hear you talk through your decluttering! Then it sticks in my head when I go declutter thankkkk youuu
This video motivated me to run into the basement (before work). Grabbed all my camping gear I hadn't used in about 8-10yrs and donated them. I was holding on to it because of the what if scenario.
When I came back from work, someone picked it up. So glad I finally did this.
Great tips Dawn! For canned and other food storage, I mark the 'best by date' on the item with a Sharpie and rotate so the oldest is up front. I put flour, rice, pasta, beans, oats, etc. in recycled half-gallon and quart jars, label with name, date, and rotate those as well.
i'm still in the process of helping my parents declutter their hoarder garage. we made massive progress last weekend and i am just hoping the garage will look close to this! can't wait to get to the part where I can get shelves and bins to organize it all but first we have lots of decluttering to do still! 😌
Reading this, I thought you were describing my basement. Unfortunately we are not allowed to declutter things that are not ours… otherwise I could have made a bigger difference in it - because I can’t access my clutter right now.
I feel you! Our basement was like that until I started digging into it. You can do it, I promise! Remember to take mental breaks when your brain fuzzes over from constant decision making. One thing that helped me (this might sound crazy) at the beginning was each delivery I made to donate I envisioned that as the space I freed up and smiled all the way home. :-)
I roughly calculate cubic footage for each trip to donatation center or recycle/trash center. So at the end of the trip I can say, "That's ____ cubic feet outta here!"
@@j.m.7056 Love it!
How did you convince your parents to declutter???
Please don’t apologize for your dream home! I love your home and every family needs to figure out what works for them and y’all have done it. I think it’s adorable!
Great video Dawn! I love when you show that a minimal person has to continually declutter and organize. It gets better and better, but its not a one and done forever thing.
I really like the winter bin inventory. Nice job Dawn!
Your handwriting on those labels is amazing! It looks printed
I've so enjoyed your transformation over the last 3 years. This new system reflects where you are in your journey and your values as well. I love the upgrade! Clear totes stress me out too. Your new winter gear storage is genius. I love everything about this video! ❤
Area Rug could go out into your new office in your out building with guest room.
Dawn, you are continually inspiring me and I love that your content has real value. Every video of yours has lessons and teaching and tips and not just filler like some creators tend to do. I really appreciate the thought and time you put in. And I love how simple everything is. No complicated systems or fancy gadgets. Just back to the basics of getting ahold of our homes and items in order to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life. THANK YOU.
Aww Dawn, you are the best. What a super video and what a super person. I love the little extra details that makes everything so special. What a glorious transformation. The labels are awesome. it must be a treat having you for a mom. I wanted to hug you so many times during the video. Wonderful. Thank you sooo much.
For seasonal decor, I like to get stuff that "wears out." For example, on your open shelves during the fall, buy some small pumpkins/gourds, then toss!
I have to say. Using the container method has helped me a lot. Now I'm trying to change my husband to putting things back in their (home space )... Lol 😂
That's where the labels are handiest! Hubby can just read where they go!!
Good luck 🤞, my husband is useless at knowing where anything goes 🤦.
I like those labels!
I’ve been decluttering, sorting, container-ing, and labeling in our 2,000 sq ft basement. It’s a semi-finished basement without finishing touches, so it gets used as office, workout zone, rec room, lounge zone, and storage. It’s all one big open space, no dividing walls, so EVERYTHING is visible. Ugh. My personal things, and things used by all the family are pretty small. But the university-age daughters’ and the husband’s things are overwhelming! I’m 56 and husband is 62, and I am in more of the Swedish-death-cleaning mindset, but mostly, I don’t want to be corralling, inventorying, and organizing so much stuff. My motto is, “Will it fit in the Airstream?” to determine its value to me. I don’t even have an Airstream, 😂, (yet) but it keeps me moving toward a goal of less stuff, more energy and mental bandwidth for other things in life!
I like your "Airstream standard", Ellen! Very helpful! G Ire
Love the Airstream mentality! When we move out of the house my mom gave each of us one year to take ALL our stuff or she would give it the ol' heave ho!
@@infjandcoping4614 You have to be careful with Ikea cubes. They have the ability to tip over if you have climbing kids, or if you brush by them. They often need to be tagged to a wall.
@@infjandcoping4614 We have huge, industrial strength shelving, plus 4 large rolling shelving units. I hung curtains across a part of the space to conceal part of the storage area. It’s that I live among people who want to save almost everything. I have binned and boxed, but things go into disaster mode too easily.
@@infjandcoping4614 My girls won’t climb the shelving, no grandkids, and the shelving has a super wide and deep base. We have no wall material to connect into. It’s poured concrete with very deep insulation and vapor barriers over it. Our home seems like more of a dorm/business office/Airbnb. 😂
The basement is the last place in my house to be decluttered and I'm so close! This looks mint, great job!
That was so satisfying to watch! Let me know if you come to California ... I would love to borrow your handwriting to label my bins!
When I get new bins, the first thing I do is take the store labels off. It makes the bins look tidy and they are harder to get off the longer they stay on.
Thank you for another great video! You are such an inspiration to me!
I love how you go into detail of why labels are good and not just pretty. I have held back on labels as I’m worry it’s going to mess up and I need to redo them. So washable is fab. For now I’m using masking tape. (Painters tape equivalent in the UK which you can write on.) I didn’t actually know you weren’t always minimalist, so thanks for sharing.
I've always wondered why it's called "washie tape." Short for washable?
@@kateyare4708 Kate, Google washi tape for a good explanation. It is mostly decorative I think!
I always have masking tape on hand to label stuff too! No worries about messing it up that way lol
We have masking tape, painter's tape, and washi tape in the US. Painter's tape is papery like masking tape, but more adhesive to make sure paint doesn't get under it. Washi tape is also papery but less adhesive, and used for decorative purposes.
I've learned to use wide clear tape and label with a thick black Sharpie. If I change the contents of the bin, it's easy to pull off the clear tape!
I like that you painted the floor and made it look pretty.
This looks amazing! I think that’s the key of organizing - when a space functions well and you have the bandwidth to make it a little more visually appealing, these spaces become more enjoyable to access and maintain. Love those labels - and your handwriting!
I love how you are changing as you are in a situation where you can manage what you have!🙂 I'm still in the whole house decluttering process but I've already gained confidence in my ability to make decisions 🙃 with the areas that are decluttered to the point that I know what is in those spots!
I think this looks totally awesome. The end shot of all that space and underneath the stairway all cleaned and everything put away it looks really nice. And I like the labelling idea because then you know what’s there and where things belong. Thank you Dawn. Love ♥️ you too 🙋🏼♀️
Dawn, you have inspired me to work through minimizing my entire house. I look forward to each and every video- thank you so much! I love the idea of adding the list to the bin. I tape plastic sheet protectors to the cover - that way I can update the list, slide the old one out and add the new one! It keeps them clean and neat!
PS Easter blessings to you and your family! 🐣
I have 6 bins for Christmas Decorations and do not go beyond that! I am amazed you have only one bin- wow!
I started using the rolling pantry shelves that Dawn uses, and they are fantastic, I use them in my laundry area, garage and basement. So versatile, an easy to clean under, plus it keeps everything high and dry.
I love that you move over a bin's contents straight over to an empty one to go through it vs dumping it out. Efficient!
I can tell this organizing and labeling has made your heart happy ❤️
It does the same for me !
Talk about eye candy! Love it! Your handwriting on the labels looks like a computer font. ❤ Great idea to be looking for winter gear at garage sales this summer!
The container concept was a game changer for me!
It's nice to see someone with a cement basement. Nothing pretty, but tidy. Paint is the game changer.
We went to Ollie's and bought carpet runner at $1.99 a foot for the basement steps. Such happiness to walk on!
Icing on the cake for me!!
This has been a game changer for me in my new season of life.
Love the inventory, checklist. I so wish I had a basement for storage, if it was 1/2 of the size of our house. Looks really good.
I want the weather to get nicer out here so I can help my husband tackle our garage and shed spaces! This video so inspiring!
This was so helpful over all. I’ve been working on my house. I don’t have a basement but I can use this information and ideas elsewhere. I constantly remind myself about inventory. I love this thought on the labels I’ve never liked them but I think I’ll start trying to include this in my organization
Started using labels just recently, and the biggest change has been hubby!
He no longer needs to ask "where is..."
Oooh, I really like the way you manage the kids' winter gear. I need to adopt your method of assessing the inventory at the end of a season and making a list of what's needed so I can look for deals in the off season.
We are literally decluttering our store room at the moment so think I’m going to get me some of those black-board labels to save us having to sift through each box every time! Your basement looks so neat Dawn! 😊
Oh my goodness…
you were going to toss “Coat of Many Colors”!
That’s my all time favorite Dolly Parton movie!
Years ago My sister decided to choose red paper products for birthdays.. she figured she could get clearance items after Xmas and 4th of July. She would add in pink or white some years.
When the kids where growing up i kept a birthday bin. All birthday related stuff went it . i also had 1 bin for each holiday. Party supplies, wrapping, decorating, i reused everything until worn out.
Your house is very nice if it meets the needs of you and your family it is your safe place comfort zone HOME priceless
Fitting the Stock Pot in the Tote was a BIG thing. I would have been excited too.
Great transformation! I love matching containers, just can’t justify the cost at the moment. I love how containers set the boundary of what you keep from season to season or year to year.
Would a few of those plastic tubs that are left over replace the cardboard boxes in your food storage area? Not sure if it is true, but I’ve read that critters like cardboard. I’d also stick the stack of paper goods in a tote, at least for the bottom, in case of water. I grew up in a house where the basement often had water so protecting what was on the floor was always a concern.
Not sure what areas you live in, but where I am totes go on sale a few times a year for about $6 depending on the size and you could pick up a few at a time, especially in grey or tan, colors that they have all the time.
@@jessicamickles2602 yep, I was gonna say wait for the sales lol. Different items get discounted in the "off season" for them (usually just after that holiday/season has ended.)
We definitely had roaches in cardboard before! 😬 So we try to keep all cardboard out of the basement.
Dg or Walmart for containers
I love having totes on hand so I can use as needed when organizing
Glad I'm not the only one with a "kitchen overflow" area! 😄
I love the idea of putting the inventory for the kids on the bin checklists make my brain happy
Dawn, I watch 99% of UA-cam videos on 1.5-1.75 speed so that I can absorb the information as fast as possible. You’re the only one I watch on normal speed so I can enjoy every word and make the video last as long as possible 🥰
What's not to understand about it being your dream house? You've done a great job and it looks like a classic, beautiful farm house on the outside AND inside!
I agree, I love her house!!
So glad to see that you have food storage with food on your shelf s,we have learned a lot about cleaning and storage from y'all.
I use my calendar to make a note about location (e.g. Birthday decor), this helps me remember to use what I already have.
That looks so nice Dawn and your handwriting is so lovely.
At about the 2:18 mark, I totally thought you were Adaline, moving totes!!! It looks amazing…painting the floor was totally the chef’s kiss moment🥰
I love how you reorganized some of the items into bins to keep them contained and probably clean with a lid on it. I am currently going through years of stuff in my cellar. I don't get down there often, but what I have already been able to accomplish, throwing stuff away, donating, and a current keep section, it looks so much better. You encourage me to declutter. I am looking forward to a more organized cellar with a whole lot less stuff. I will feel like I have one whole floor of my house organized 😊