THANK YOU for watching! We greatly appreciate it!!! You can find the series on simplifying kids toys here: th-cam.com/play/PLZ-AWUEixtg0_kCqOMGfC2f_KmP5xwQBK.html
The Minimal Mom, we have an old wooden piece like that too. My plan was to mount rustic painted clouds of different sizes on it as decoration and then use it as matchbox/hot wheels storage for my five kiddos! That’s my free advice! Love the channel. It has helped motivate me to purge my own home. God Bless! ❤️
I have been working on minimizing our home and loving it, thanks to you!! Part of my editing has come by painting the rooms in my home. After I take everything down to paint I only put back the things I truly love.
Not only were we not taught how to simplify our lives, we have been taught to accumulate and we get constant encouragement to do that. It is so refreshing and inspiring to watch your videos.
Tom's recliner is not bad at all. Thirty years ago when my husband and I married, he had a bright orange one. Big squishy thing! And he loved it! It took me about ten years to redo the whole room in blue so that the ratty orange stuck out like a sore thumb. He finally agreed it had to go..............to the basement where it sat for another ten years before he could part with it for good. All is well that ends well.
My husband has a tan Lazy Boy recliner that he loves. It doesn't really fit the decor. However, he works really hard and deserves a comfortable chair to relax in!!
Your videos are always so uplifting and encouraging. Thank you so much! Your motivation keeps me going. I recently found out I have an illness which may impede my progress and maybe we will slide back a few steps. There are days of frustration when I look around at what needs to be done. I don't want to have visitors when it looks like this! I'm hoping this weekend we can finish the living room. I know that it will get done and when it does it will be calm, peaceful, and healing. I also know that there are seasons in our lives where we have to say we did the best we could and that needs to be good enough. Beating ones self up only makes things worse and then motivation is lost. We're trying to simplify every task or area we can. Keeping my eye on the prize! Thank you for being a role model and inspiration to so many of us!
I love the concept of editing. As I went through my process I realized after living with a simplified version of my kitchen I saw new spots where I could simplify and had new solutions to implement. I think we need to do the decluttering in stages so that our emotional and psychological selves can catch up with our new space and see things in a different way
You're so right! I would never expect an author to be ready to print after their first brainstorm or brain dump onto paper, yet...I totally expect myself to get things right the first time, including setting up a room. We're going to be moving soon, from my mother in law's formerly hoarded out home (now just super cluttered, with as much of our stuff as hers), into a larger, nicer home, and I've been going nuts trying to pre- plan e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.- right down to what should go in which kitchen drawer and so forth. *head slap!* I can plan it out if I want, but it's totally OK to change my mind. As many times as I want to! DUH! Thank you so much!!!! This is JUST what I needed to hear today!
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25 I thought of this verse before I clicked on you video. It is so true of you. Thank you for refreshing us yet again.
Thank you for pointing out that the final version takes multiple shots of trial and error!!! I always felt like the first time should be the final and perfect version. Whew, what a relief!
I think the succulent piece is gorgeous! Well done! And you’re absolutely right! The editing process takes rounds, and thought, and time, and input, and also a little bit of failure sometimes! Thanks for sharing.
If you want to add more plants into your life I would recommend sanseveiria aka snake plant. Very easy care and high impact visually. Don't be afraid of plants! :)
Loved this! I've been feeling like I was constantly changing my things around and adding and taking away and I was feeling frustrated and like a failure, or that I couldn't make proper lasting choices but your way of looking at it has made me feel so much better and I feel like its okay now. Thank you Dawn I absolutely love your channel, you are such an encouragement and inspiration to me.
Omg me too! I’ve been actively decluttering for the last 3 months on a weekly basis. 7 months total but with breaks, well, LIFE. And I see no end of it. Felt like a total failure. This video definitely gave me hope. 🥰🙌🏻🤩
1. I love your hair 2. Love the succulents. 3. Thank you! This is so encouraging. I’ve been trying to purge my house and it just feels like I haven’t made any progress. The “editing” idea makes so much sense.
Thought your hair flattered you most when flat-ironed, not wavy. Changing my mind...love it like this! Straighter at crown, waves around your face...so fresh looking!
I bounce between being a recovering perfectionist and an actual perfectionist. I absolutely LOVE the concept of editing. It is such a simple idea, but has been so powerful and liberating for me!!! I have been applying this to every part of my life. It is really helping me to slow down and live in the present. It's amazing what a simple shift in perspective can do for you. Thank you so much! I haven't been a subscriber for very long, but love watching your videos and always feel inspired.
I noticed the grate with succulents at the beginning of the video, & thought how much I love it!! LOVE LOVE LOVE your videos and your sweet spirit!! You are inspiring!
Great analogy. I think of my decluttering/simplifying as being done in layers. So this just supports that. Interior designers use that description in their work too - as in adding the layer of a rug or accessories. And also that too much stuff in a room distracts from the focal point (another good term to keep in mind when decluttering).
You are so right! The 'editing effect' has happened to me today and I have to say thank you so much for the free link to Joshua Becker's book too, I have binge listened to it for the last 2 days, wearing headphones with my phone in my pocket even gardening. Whilst listening to Joshua I began to clear my bedside cabinet and the box of stuff (junk!) I had tucked down the side... then as I moved things from there to my chest of drawers I started to clear that off and then the wardrobe but I'd actually had a 'clear out' a month ago when I folded everything the Kon Marie way, yet today I have got rid of 2 large boxes and 3 bin bags more of clothes etc and haven't finished! I feel so liberated I just don't want to stop 😊
Dawn, thank you for being you and for sharing you with us. Your videos & kind spirit are appreciated! I am in the process of editing. As a minimalist at heart, I became overwhelmed by “stuff”, non of which made me content. Each time I make a big donation I think in my mind: “This “stuff” is not doing me any good and it’s not doing anyone else any good if it’s stuck away in storage, or my closet, or cupboards.” I agree with you Dawn, I miss NOTHING that I have donated or gotten rid of. It has actually had the opposite effect; it has made me feel happier! So much happier.
I love that analogy! It does help me to know it’s ok to get done what I can now and know that I can go back later and make more improvements. Thanks for all your tips!
This is such a great analogy and made the most sense for me when figuring out what the kid's room was for. It was for sleeping four kids. And once I decided that, everything else had to go! It was just so clarifying! And they still LOVE their room. Now my garage could use some SERIOUS post-winter editing just as soon as the weather warms up again...
I just found you and I love how your home looks. I’m just starting the process, so I can downsize. I’m at the other end, empty nester and just lost my husband and the home we have now is just too big. However, to downsize there are many things that need to go and need to even if I were to stay. I can’t wait to check out some of your other videos. Thank you.
Wow!! you are so young and wise you are right what matters is your family and a few friends not all the stuff. I really didn't enjoy my children enough when they were young but now I seem to have a second chance with this "flu" we are together again they are young adults and they know everything!! All I know is time is precious and it goes fast enjoy it. God Bless from Ireland you are a lovely lady a beautiful soul , thank you.
Dawn, this couldn’t have come at a better time! Thx. Been feeling kinda stuck lately and this video is a great idea and way to look at things. Thx again, love your videos. :)
Great ideas, Dawn! I've been going through this process over the past year as well. The grays and muted colors definitely make everything feel more soothing.
Hi Dawn, I love your videos and I' m enjoying my family life and my home and chores so much more since I started simplyfying!!! We are a german-spanish family with two rambouncious sons and one calm West Highland terrier living in Madrid. Just this morning I edited our living room getting rid of an old IKEA Kallax storage unit. The great thing is that you call the townhall and they tell you a date and time to put it in the street right in front of your door, and they take it away for free ( and then recycle it). Best wishes from Madrid!
LOVE THIS VIDEO! The color palette in the room looks great! I had over the years built up a whole wall of family pictures I was finally almost done with exactly how i wanted it, and this March was my daughters party and the only wall to decorate the way we wanted to, was THAT WALL. So we took it down and i have not put it up since. I love the wall bare, with only a large clock. Sure I miss the picture wall but this gives me so much more peace.
Isn't that funny! And SO true!! Every time I paint a room I only put about half of the things back up on the wall...you kind of get used to the plain wall and it really grows on you!!!
I grew up with family photo walls. Everyone in my rather large family has one, or two, or five ... I dont! In our last house we had a few fav photos in our hallway, but in our new house we have been here 5mon, and the only things on the walls are our 4yr olds art work. Eventually we want some artwork, or wildlife photos. But we are just living with the walls until we happen across the perfect thing. The longer they are bare, the less I look for something to put in them! My photos are just as beautiful in an album, and require far less dusting when they arent on the walls. :) I love the editing analogy!!! After 5mon we are still unpacking and sorting. And purging. And really still deciding exactly how we want our home. It was unfinished when we moved in, so we are learning what we dont need, as I refuse to unpack things just to move them around constantly! If I have my way, over half of what we moved with us, will end up at the flea market sale my husband is doing this summer. :)
What a great video! We recently moved into a new home and I was feeling so much pressure (self-induced)to get it right the first time. I can't change my mind too often because in this city in Australia is insanely expensive and not as much variety as in the US. However your video was very helpful! Also I really appreciate the part about not having a 4 year degree and trying to piece everything together on the run. This is so true! Thank you! ☺️
I was wondering for a long time where your TV was! Just as I thought it ... you showed us the cozy relaxing room! I think you did a spot on job, girl! Cozy is the first thing you think of when you see it! I just love all yours and Tom’s hard work to really make your home into a Family Home! And I’m getting to watch my favorite Comedy Show and seeing all what your doing while being entertained! lol Love You All!🌹
Needed to see this today. I have been working on decluttering for months and I'm still not finished. Up next is my basement storage and a second round over our finished side and I have had so much trouble finding the motivation to do it! It is such a process. Looking forward to when it is done and I can just declutter small areas here and there.
Dear Dawn, I found you some weeks ago through Diane in Denmark and have been binge watching your videos since then. You have motivated me so much and I cannot believe how much progress I have achieved. I am still in phase one but do get some very exciting glimpses of pahse two each day. Thank you so much for the peace you bring into my and my family's life. You are truly awesome 💝. All the best from Germany and stay safe! 🌷
Another great video. However, I was sidetracked by the grate as you were talking because I couldn't figure out what those succulents were. I thought they were pics of army tanks. 🤣
Wow! Thank you for this. I find myself not starting because I know it won't be the way I want it the first time. I love the idea of "making edits" it takes so much of the pressure off of doing it 100% the first time.
First off, the plant grate is, well, great! I actually paused the video in the intro when it came up just to see it up close, not knowing it would be a video feature! :-) Secondly, the video is very well-timed, thank you! I finished "phase 1" in January, giving myself permission to be done and come back again in the spring. Now I'm starting phase 2, but, as you so beautifully put it, it's more like editing than all-out purging this time. I'm expecting to make a strong effort in a few areas which still feel cluttered, and small efforts of "yeah, I really haven't used this one item" in others. Thanks for all your sharing of ideas, encouragement, and grace!
I agree 100% we need more moms in this minimalist space - as I personally don’t relate to a 23 young hipster that can afforded to only have a backpack and travel the world so I would definitely buy and read your book 😉👍
Hi! I know this is an older video and maybe you won't see it buy I need to say thank you. Thanks to you and Clutterbug channel I've finally gotten most of my house in order. It's not perfect yet. The master bedroom closet is a disaster but other than that any cupboard or any drawers in my house are tidy and clean. I can pick up my home in 20 minutes. It definitely wasn't like this 3 years ago. You guys gave me the motivation and the tools to get here and I thank you.🤩
I just discovered your videos today and have been binge watching :) I listened to some while I went through a pile of mail on my cluttered kitchen table a.k.a. my desk. I’m enjoying very much and getting inspired to do more. I have to say though that you talked really fast in this one. One of the reasons I watched so many is that you are easy to listen to, not boring and not too fast. So take more breaths please! I love your husband too!
Your words are helpful for all of us, even if we aren't in the minimalizing mindset right now. When you talked about finding the purpose of your room and then decorating it accordingly you reminded me of Emilie Barnes. She wrote about finding the purpose of the room and encouraged outside the box thinking on how to achieve those purposes. Have a blessed day.
My hobby is quilting. Do you know how much leftover fabric there is from a quilt project? After all the time, money, and dedication put into a quilt, it is super hard to get rid of the leftovers. They might come in useful someday! Quilters have bins and drawers of fabric scraps of all sizes and colors often sorted by size and the color wheel. All that inspiration and toil! I recently donated many yards of high quality fabric because if it was in storage, quilts weren’t getting made! I freed up a whole closet! I kept only the fabric that made me happy to look at waiting for my next project (Quilts for Kids). Now I am contemplating finding a home for the leftover pieces that I keep in zipper blanket storage containers for the time that I MIGHT use some for a last minute gift. Wait a minute! It takes way more time to sort through fabric leftovers and make a quality item than it does to buy exactly the right fabric for a project right now.
Finding your channel has certainly given me a lot of encouragement the past two days. I love how you clearly lay everything out in your videos. Plus, the teacher is my loves the analogies to writing and character development.
Plants....you can look up low light, low water plants. I am not good w plants, but I have several now that don’t require a lot of maintenance. Huge difference!!!! And so easy!!!!
So inspiring! I have been on my minimalist/decluttering journey for 2 years now, and now its more just about maintenance of it. Its videos like these that keep me focused!
Thank you so much for sharing!!! We’ve (I’ve 😆) purged through everything in the living areas of our homeand feeling a bit deflated that our house doesn’t feel as “complete” as I was hoping it to. Still need to get to our holiday and hobby storage in the basement but hoping for our living areas spur us on and encourage us to work on the stored things that are out of site and out of mind. So again thank you!!!❤️
I think Dawn's questions "what is the purpose of this room" and "what do I want it to feel like?" are useful after you have been decluttering to complete the work.
I. Love. This. It is so hard for us to be kind to ourselves! Why do I cut other people so much slack and give none to myself?! I'm working on editing/ doing a setting wave of decluttering in our school room/ play room and it's so fun and kind of difficult. This video helps me understand why. I'm afraid in going to mess up, but I'm doing my best and it'll probably turn it great... And even if it doesn't, it will definitely be better and less cluttered than when I started! I have already thrown away four garbage bags and have a give away basket (I have friends coming over on Sunday to share curriculum ideas) and a give away bag for donations. Baby steps😁
Thank you so much for this video! It was exactly the message I needed to hear today. I have started the minimalism journey and I am a couple of months in. We have spring clean up days in my neighborhood this week where we can put items on our curb that we no longer want and they will be picked up with our regular trash collection. I was bummed because it was raining and I was not feeling the best so we were not able to get as much out as I wanted. BUT, hearing your message about how this is a process and it will take time and to be okay with that is exactly what I needed. Love, love, love your videos and look forward to them every week!
Your toy storage bin you have is my dream toy bin. In the mean time we use the vertical rubber maid drawer units. I have two kids and I have two of the drawer units. They were both free so I use them while I save up for another one. One drawer is one type of toy and I am a lady bug so it's good for me.
Love your videos! We recently (well in the past 5 years) remodeled our kitchen / living room and added a garage, mudroom / office / and a walk in pantry that I absolutely love! But our bedroom is the room that needs editing...thanks for the inspiration and knowledge! Since watching your videos I have paired down quite a bit of "stuff" most of which I kept just because I thought I "might" use. Well I have not missed anything yet. Thanks and looking foward to your future videos!
Love this idea and inspiration! I wanted my living room to inspire feelings of creativity and quietness. In the process I got rid of my TV. That was on the 2nd edit! Never thought I'd do it but here we are :) I should back up and say I did at least half a dozen edits on my living room before I moved. So maybe you could say I got rid of my TV on the 8th edit/draft!
Hahaha, love this!!! I imagine ours will hit the road in a few edits, it doesn't get used that much and I know the kids are more than capable of finding other things to do! ♥️👍
Pathos and snake plants are SUPER easy houseplants that are totally charming. Pathos will give you the nice drape, and the snake plants give some height and drama. They both also propagate so easily, so you can buy one of each and slowly divide them to fill your home.
As always, you are so inspiring and make simplifying feel doable and simple, by breaking it down. I love your channel; it has taken me down the path of simplifying my family's life as well, and recently past a decluttering slump. 😁👍 I love your new space! Looks cozy, relaxing, and so pretty!
Hi Dawn 😊 Listening to you for some normalcy while we wait for our cancelled plane To reschedule hope we can go home soon stuck in Fort Dallas Airport. Who's we could just click our heels to get home 🏡
Your videos have so much value packed in them I love it! We are in the process of moving and I'm so excited to see what we end up getting and what we do with it
Thank you for reminding me that everything doesn't need to be "perfect" in a day. I used to be the odd person 30+ years ago who was always neat, tidy, cleaning and a place for everything. (My military years) Now the last 4 ish years of being a disabled Veteran, I find it hard to do allot mentally and physically. It may take me 3 times longer than I wish, but I keep on trying as much as I can. It's mostly excess of everything from 50 years of life and all the seasons. Also sentimental (maybe, not sure yet) since I have very little family alive now. I'm not giving up though! Glad to find your page from @Frugalfitmom
THANK YOU for watching! We greatly appreciate it!!! You can find the series on simplifying kids toys here: th-cam.com/play/PLZ-AWUEixtg0_kCqOMGfC2f_KmP5xwQBK.html
The Minimal Mom today’s video didn’t show up in my feed - seems it’s back to only every other one showing up 😞
The Minimal Mom, we have an old wooden piece like that too. My plan was to mount rustic painted clouds of different sizes on it as decoration and then use it as matchbox/hot wheels storage for my five kiddos! That’s my free advice! Love the channel. It has helped motivate me to purge my own home. God Bless! ❤️
Hmmmm... I may have to make a video for that idea! Lol!
Thanks for your strategies and ideas. I noticed you are talking faster and faster as it gets near the end of vlog. Lol! Thanks, I appreciate you!
Hi - totally OT question here- where did you get the grey hanging air plant holder in the background? I love it!!
I have been working on minimizing our home and loving it, thanks to you!! Part of my editing has come by painting the rooms in my home. After I take everything down to paint I only put back the things I truly love.
Yes! I live that about painting!!! ♥️
What a splendid idea!
Not only were we not taught how to simplify our lives, we have been taught to accumulate and we get constant encouragement to do that. It is so refreshing and inspiring to watch your videos.
Editing...I like the sound of that! It takes some of the scariness out of it for those of us who are recovering perfectionists!
Yes, well said!!!! ♥️
Tom's recliner is not bad at all. Thirty years ago when my husband and I married, he had a bright orange one. Big squishy thing! And he loved it! It took me about ten years to redo the whole room in blue so that the ratty orange stuck out like a sore thumb. He finally agreed it had to go..............to the basement where it sat for another ten years before he could part with it for good. All is well that ends well.
Just like Frasier's dad's recliner. 💜 Some things deserve some love. :)
My husband has a tan Lazy Boy recliner that he loves. It doesn't really fit the decor. However, he works really hard and deserves a comfortable chair to relax in!!
My ex husband had a bright Orange sofa that was as ugly as homemade sin.
Your videos are always so uplifting and encouraging. Thank you so much! Your motivation keeps me going. I recently found out I have an illness which may impede my progress and maybe we will slide back a few steps. There are days of frustration when I look around at what needs to be done. I don't want to have visitors when it looks like this! I'm hoping this weekend we can finish the living room. I know that it will get done and when it does it will be calm, peaceful, and healing. I also know that there are seasons in our lives where we have to say we did the best we could and that needs to be good enough. Beating ones self up only makes things worse and then motivation is lost. We're trying to simplify every task or area we can. Keeping my eye on the prize!
Thank you for being a role model and inspiration to so many of us!
I'm so sorry to hear that Kristin, but sounds like you have the right attitude! THANK YOU for the kind words and ALL my best to you! ♥️
Yes to think of it in layers- I might not get rid of some stuff the first time, but I can go back and get rid of it later :)
I love the concept of editing. As I went through my process I realized after living with a simplified version of my kitchen I saw new spots where I could simplify and had new solutions to implement. I think we need to do the decluttering in stages so that our emotional and psychological selves can catch up with our new space and see things in a different way
You're so right! I would never expect an author to be ready to print after their first brainstorm or brain dump onto paper, yet...I totally expect myself to get things right the first time, including setting up a room. We're going to be moving soon, from my mother in law's formerly hoarded out home (now just super cluttered, with as much of our stuff as hers), into a larger, nicer home, and I've been going nuts trying to pre- plan e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.- right down to what should go in which kitchen drawer and so forth. *head slap!* I can plan it out if I want, but it's totally OK to change my mind. As many times as I want to! DUH! Thank you so much!!!! This is JUST what I needed to hear today!
ALSO WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOUR SISTERS HOME AND HOW SHE SIMPLIFIED !
Oh yes, I'm sure she'd love to do a tour!!
I'de love to see that to.
Me too!
Yes please! 😊💕
Me too!
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:25
I thought of this verse before I clicked on you video. It is so true of you. Thank you for refreshing us yet again.
Your content is always so original! You are absolutely the best TH-camr for de-cluttering and minimalism!
I love how you talk about allowing ourselves to give ourselves Grace. Love your channel
Thank you for pointing out that the final version takes multiple shots of trial and error!!! I always felt like the first time should be the final and perfect version. Whew, what a relief!
Thank you for reminding me to have patience with myself! 🙂
Great attitude. There are no perfection “arrivals”... just progress. That’s life! Your smile is contagious!
I think the succulent piece is gorgeous! Well done! And you’re absolutely right! The editing process takes rounds, and thought, and time, and input, and also a little bit of failure sometimes! Thanks for sharing.
If you want to add more plants into your life I would recommend sanseveiria aka snake plant. Very easy care and high impact visually. Don't be afraid of plants! :)
I like the idea of simplifying rather than ‘being minimalist’. Thank you for your voice. Your words make trying to simplify easy.
Loved this! I've been feeling like I was constantly changing my things around and adding and taking away and I was feeling frustrated and like a failure, or that I couldn't make proper lasting choices but your way of looking at it has made me feel so much better and I feel like its okay now. Thank you Dawn I absolutely love your channel, you are such an encouragement and inspiration to me.
Oh I'm with you!!!! SO glad this was helpful!!! ♥️
Omg me too! I’ve been actively decluttering for the last 3 months on a weekly basis. 7 months total but with breaks, well, LIFE. And I see no end of it.
Felt like a total failure. This video definitely gave me hope. 🥰🙌🏻🤩
Totally off the topic.. pls do a video on how you style your hair. Great video
I LOVE the blue curtains! So sick of gray. Blue and white are my faves.
1. I love your hair
2. Love the succulents.
3. Thank you! This is so encouraging. I’ve been trying to purge my house and it just feels like I haven’t made any progress. The “editing” idea makes so much sense.
1. Thank you!! 2. Thank you!!! 3. SO glad to hear! Keep it up!! You'll get there and be SO glad you stuck with it!!!!! 😘
Thought your hair flattered you most when flat-ironed, not wavy. Changing my mind...love it like this! Straighter at crown, waves around your face...so fresh looking!
I really like the tv room. But even more, I appreciate the way you explain the process you are undertaking. Very helpful.
I bounce between being a recovering perfectionist and an actual perfectionist. I absolutely LOVE the concept of editing. It is such a simple idea, but has been so powerful and liberating for me!!! I have been applying this to every part of my life. It is really helping me to slow down and live in the present. It's amazing what a simple shift in perspective can do for you. Thank you so much! I haven't been a subscriber for very long, but love watching your videos and always feel inspired.
I noticed the grate with succulents at the beginning of the video, & thought how much I love it!! LOVE LOVE LOVE your videos and your sweet spirit!! You are inspiring!
Great analogy. I think of my decluttering/simplifying as being done in layers. So this just supports that. Interior designers use that description in their work too - as in adding the layer of a rug or accessories. And also that too much stuff in a room distracts from the focal point (another good term to keep in mind when decluttering).
You are so right! The 'editing effect' has happened to me today and I have to say thank you so much for the free link to Joshua Becker's book too, I have binge listened to it for the last 2 days, wearing headphones with my phone in my pocket even gardening. Whilst listening to Joshua I began to clear my bedside cabinet and the box of stuff (junk!) I had tucked down the side... then as I moved things from there to my chest of drawers I started to clear that off and then the wardrobe but I'd actually had a 'clear out' a month ago when I folded everything the Kon Marie way, yet today I have got rid of 2 large boxes and 3 bin bags more of clothes etc and haven't finished! I feel so liberated I just don't want to stop 😊
A simplied house is so much easier to keep clean. I wish I had a better eye for colour. Definately need to edit the colour in my little kitchen.
Dawn, thank you for being you and for sharing you with us. Your videos & kind spirit are appreciated!
I am in the process of editing. As a minimalist at heart, I became overwhelmed by “stuff”, non of which made me content. Each time I make a big donation I think in my mind: “This “stuff” is not doing me any good and it’s not doing anyone else any good if it’s stuck away in storage, or my closet, or cupboards.” I agree with you Dawn, I miss NOTHING that I have donated or gotten rid of. It has actually had the opposite effect; it has made me feel happier! So much happier.
I love that analogy! It does help me to know it’s ok to get done what I can now and know that I can go back later and make more improvements. Thanks for all your tips!
Amen!!! 👍♥️
This is such a great analogy and made the most sense for me when figuring out what the kid's room was for. It was for sleeping four kids. And once I decided that, everything else had to go! It was just so clarifying! And they still LOVE their room.
Now my garage could use some SERIOUS post-winter editing just as soon as the weather warms up again...
I just found you and I love how your home looks. I’m just starting the process, so I can downsize. I’m at the other end, empty nester and just lost my husband and the home we have now is just too big. However, to downsize there are many things that need to go and need to even if I were to stay. I can’t wait to check out some of your other videos. Thank you.
Thank you so much for sharing- you have such an awesome positive vibe 💖
This made so much sense! I never thought of it that way! Thank you for the inspiration!
Wow!! you are so young and wise you are right what matters is your family and a few friends not all the stuff. I really didn't enjoy my children enough when they were young but now I seem to have a second chance with this "flu" we are together again they are young adults and they know everything!! All I know is time is precious and it goes fast enjoy it. God Bless from Ireland you are a lovely lady a beautiful soul , thank you.
I love your contented uplifting attitude !
I have watched 100 of your videos. This is the first time I have seen u in a black t shirt and u look fabulous!!!!!!!!!!
Dawn, this couldn’t have come at a better time! Thx. Been feeling kinda stuck lately and this video is a great idea and way to look at things. Thx again, love your videos. :)
So glad to hear this Lori!!!! ♥️
Great ideas, Dawn! I've been going through this process over the past year as well. The grays and muted colors definitely make everything feel more soothing.
As a decorator with all things vintage and antique farmhouse, I love that grate in the wall especially because it came from your property!!
Hi Dawn,
I love your videos and I' m enjoying my family life and my home and chores so much more since I started simplyfying!!!
We are a german-spanish family with two rambouncious sons and one calm West Highland terrier living in Madrid.
Just this morning I edited our living room getting rid of an old IKEA Kallax storage unit. The great thing is that you call the townhall and they tell you a date and time to put it in the street right in front of your door, and they take it away for free ( and then recycle it).
Best wishes from Madrid!
LOVE THIS VIDEO! The color palette in the room looks great! I had over the years built up a whole wall of family pictures I was finally almost done with exactly how i wanted it, and this March was my daughters party and the only wall to decorate the way we wanted to, was THAT WALL. So we took it down and i have not put it up since. I love the wall bare, with only a large clock. Sure I miss the picture wall but this gives me so much more peace.
Isn't that funny! And SO true!! Every time I paint a room I only put about half of the things back up on the wall...you kind of get used to the plain wall and it really grows on you!!!
I grew up with family photo walls. Everyone in my rather large family has one, or two, or five ... I dont! In our last house we had a few fav photos in our hallway, but in our new house we have been here 5mon, and the only things on the walls are our 4yr olds art work. Eventually we want some artwork, or wildlife photos. But we are just living with the walls until we happen across the perfect thing. The longer they are bare, the less I look for something to put in them! My photos are just as beautiful in an album, and require far less dusting when they arent on the walls. :) I love the editing analogy!!! After 5mon we are still unpacking and sorting. And purging. And really still deciding exactly how we want our home. It was unfinished when we moved in, so we are learning what we dont need, as I refuse to unpack things just to move them around constantly! If I have my way, over half of what we moved with us, will end up at the flea market sale my husband is doing this summer. :)
What a great video! We recently moved into a new home and I was feeling so much pressure (self-induced)to get it right the first time. I can't change my mind too often because in this city in Australia is insanely expensive and not as much variety as in the US. However your video was very helpful! Also I really appreciate the part about not having a 4 year degree and trying to piece everything together on the run. This is so true!
Thank you! ☺️
Isn't it amazing the pressure we put on ourselves!!! 😉♥️
Editing takes practice in any area that you implement it. Great tips!
LOVE LOVE your channel!! Im totally hooked and on board with a more minimal life style!
Thank you and SO glad to hear!!
I was wondering for a long time where your TV was! Just as I thought it ... you showed us the cozy relaxing room! I think you did a spot on job, girl! Cozy is the first thing you think of when you see it!
I just love all yours and Tom’s hard work to really make your home into a Family Home! And I’m getting to watch my favorite Comedy Show and seeing all what your doing while being entertained! lol Love You All!🌹
Love thinking of it as a process. It doesn’t have to be perfect the first time because in time you will be revisiting it and that’s ok!
Needed to see this today. I have been working on decluttering for months and I'm still not finished. Up next is my basement storage and a second round over our finished side and I have had so much trouble finding the motivation to do it! It is such a process. Looking forward to when it is done and I can just declutter small areas here and there.
Dear Dawn, I found you some weeks ago through Diane in Denmark and have been binge watching your videos since then. You have motivated me so much and I cannot believe how much progress I have achieved. I am still in phase one but do get some very exciting glimpses of pahse two each day. Thank you so much for the peace you bring into my and my family's life. You are truly awesome 💝. All the best from Germany and stay safe! 🌷
Another great video. However, I was sidetracked by the grate as you were talking because I couldn't figure out what those succulents were. I thought they were pics of army tanks. 🤣
Oh I forgot to say I love the grate with the plants. Great idea!
Wow! Thank you for this. I find myself not starting because I know it won't be the way I want it the first time. I love the idea of "making edits" it takes so much of the pressure off of doing it 100% the first time.
First off, the plant grate is, well, great! I actually paused the video in the intro when it came up just to see it up close, not knowing it would be a video feature! :-) Secondly, the video is very well-timed, thank you! I finished "phase 1" in January, giving myself permission to be done and come back again in the spring. Now I'm starting phase 2, but, as you so beautifully put it, it's more like editing than all-out purging this time. I'm expecting to make a strong effort in a few areas which still feel cluttered, and small efforts of "yeah, I really haven't used this one item" in others. Thanks for all your sharing of ideas, encouragement, and grace!
It is so fun to see this other room!!! It’s true, we’re constantly editing. And as our children and we change and grow, our spaces can morph with us.
Yes! Just keep moving forward!
Loved this, found it so inspiring! You need to write a book!!!!
That's very kind! I've never thought of myself as a writer, but maybe someday!!! 😘
I agree 100% we need more moms in this minimalist space - as I personally don’t relate to a 23 young hipster that can afforded to only have a backpack and travel the world so I would definitely buy and read your book 😉👍
The Minimal Mom you are so gifted with words when you speak, I can see it!
I would buy your book.
Hi! I know this is an older video and maybe you won't see it buy I need to say thank you. Thanks to you and Clutterbug channel I've finally gotten most of my house in order. It's not perfect yet. The master bedroom closet is a disaster but other than that any cupboard or any drawers in my house are tidy and clean. I can pick up my home in 20 minutes. It definitely wasn't like this 3 years ago. You guys gave me the motivation and the tools to get here and I thank you.🤩
I'm a writer, working on trying to get published. I can confirm, no one wants to read first drafts, and editing takes rounds.
Just have it say, you are awesome! I love your sister too. Oh ya, and Tom! Keep these videos coming!
Hahaha, THANK YOU!!!! 😘♥️
I just discovered your videos today and have been binge watching :) I listened to some while I went through a pile of mail on my cluttered kitchen table a.k.a. my desk. I’m enjoying very much and getting inspired to do more. I have to say though that you talked really fast in this one. One of the reasons I watched so many is that you are easy to listen to, not boring and not too fast. So take more breaths please! I love your husband too!
Thank you for always uploading new content that is useful and relevant 🙌🏼
Thank you so much Dawn for keeping me going through the ‘messy middle’ of decluttering today. It was so great to have your help and support :)
Wow, this totally changed my perspective! Love your ideas and tips. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for your words of reassurance & encouragement. Your hair looks super cute, by the way!
Thank you!! 😘
Great tips! I am constantly editing my home 😁
You do an awesome job if keeping it real Shannon and taking us all along through the process, love that about your channel!!!! ♥️
Thank you!!!! This is a great way of looking at simplifying our lives and spaces.
Your words are helpful for all of us, even if we aren't in the minimalizing mindset right now. When you talked about finding the purpose of your room and then decorating it accordingly you reminded me of Emilie Barnes. She wrote about finding the purpose of the room and encouraged outside the box thinking on how to achieve those purposes. Have a blessed day.
My hobby is quilting. Do you know how much leftover fabric there is from a quilt project? After all the time, money, and dedication put into a quilt, it is super hard to get rid of the leftovers. They might come in useful someday! Quilters have bins and drawers of fabric scraps of all sizes and colors often sorted by size and the color wheel. All that inspiration and toil! I recently donated many yards of high quality fabric because if it was in storage, quilts weren’t getting made! I freed up a whole closet! I kept only the fabric that made me happy to look at waiting for my next project (Quilts for Kids). Now I am contemplating finding a home for the leftover pieces that I keep in zipper blanket storage containers for the time that I MIGHT use some for a last minute gift. Wait a minute! It takes way more time to sort through fabric leftovers and make a quality item than it does to buy exactly the right fabric for a project right now.
Finding your channel has certainly given me a lot of encouragement the past two days. I love how you clearly lay everything out in your videos. Plus, the teacher is my loves the analogies to writing and character development.
You are such an encourager! I love it! This is a great video. Will be watching again and again!
Plants....you can look up low light, low water plants. I am not good w plants, but I have several now that don’t require a lot of maintenance. Huge difference!!!! And so easy!!!!
So inspiring! I have been on my minimalist/decluttering journey for 2 years now, and now its more just about maintenance of it. Its videos like these that keep me focused!
Thank you so much for sharing!!! We’ve (I’ve 😆) purged through everything in the living areas of our homeand feeling a bit deflated that our house doesn’t feel as “complete” as I was hoping it to. Still need to get to our holiday and hobby storage in the basement but hoping for our living areas spur us on and encourage us to work on the stored things that are out of site and out of mind. So again thank you!!!❤️
I think Dawn's questions "what is the purpose of this room" and "what do I want it to feel like?" are useful after you have been decluttering to complete the work.
Everything you’ve said was helpful so far but THIS was exactly the concept i needed for where i am in organizing THANK YOU 🤩👏🏻👍🏻
I wish we were neighbors 😊💗you inspire me soo much!! ❤️
Great new way to look at decluttering!
I. Love. This. It is so hard for us to be kind to ourselves! Why do I cut other people so much slack and give none to myself?! I'm working on editing/ doing a setting wave of decluttering in our school room/ play room and it's so fun and kind of difficult. This video helps me understand why. I'm afraid in going to mess up, but I'm doing my best and it'll probably turn it great... And even if it doesn't, it will definitely be better and less cluttered than when I started! I have already thrown away four garbage bags and have a give away basket (I have friends coming over on Sunday to share curriculum ideas) and a give away bag for donations. Baby steps😁
Wow! What an inspiration! Just what I needed this weekend 😊 Thank you
This was very informative and I liked your analogy with the writer and editing ...and editing our things. Great video! Thanks so much. 👍🏽
Thanks so much for the incentive!
The ugly recliner 😂 I have been there!!! Love your videos. They help motivate me.
Thank you so much for this video! It was exactly the message I needed to hear today. I have started the minimalism journey and I am a couple of months in. We have spring clean up days in my neighborhood this week where we can put items on our curb that we no longer want and they will be picked up with our regular trash collection. I was bummed because it was raining and I was not feeling the best so we were not able to get as much out as I wanted. BUT, hearing your message about how this is a process and it will take time and to be okay with that is exactly what I needed. Love, love, love your videos and look forward to them every week!
Thanks! This was exactly what I needed to hear!!
Love, love the succulent wall and I love decorating ❤️
I love your videos but they are not coming up in my notifications either. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for letting me know Lisa!! 😘
Your toy storage bin you have is my dream toy bin. In the mean time we use the vertical rubber maid drawer units. I have two kids and I have two of the drawer units. They were both free so I use them while I save up for another one. One drawer is one type of toy and I am a lady bug so it's good for me.
Thank you so much. I needed this. I have known what I want my house to feel like. But hearing this gave me an 'ahha' moment.
Love your videos! We recently (well in the past 5 years) remodeled our kitchen / living room and added a garage, mudroom / office / and a walk in pantry that I absolutely love! But our bedroom is the room that needs editing...thanks for the inspiration and knowledge! Since watching your videos I have paired down quite a bit of "stuff" most of which I kept just because I thought I "might" use. Well I have not missed anything yet. Thanks and looking foward to your future videos!
Thank you for the ‘‘tips and the process continues
Love this idea and inspiration! I wanted my living room to inspire feelings of creativity and quietness. In the process I got rid of my TV. That was on the 2nd edit! Never thought I'd do it but here we are :) I should back up and say I did at least half a dozen edits on my living room before I moved. So maybe you could say I got rid of my TV on the 8th edit/draft!
Hahaha, love this!!! I imagine ours will hit the road in a few edits, it doesn't get used that much and I know the kids are more than capable of finding other things to do! ♥️👍
Pathos and snake plants are SUPER easy houseplants that are totally charming. Pathos will give you the nice drape, and the snake plants give some height and drama. They both also propagate so easily, so you can buy one of each and slowly divide them to fill your home.
I completely agree!!
I can't live without my house plants 💚🌱
Thank you for your encouragments
I love your TV room and the blue kitchen, which makes me feel happy
My fav part of this video--when you said each room should have One Purpose. Hmm. And I have been doing the opposite. I plan to try it your way soon.
As always, you are so inspiring and make simplifying feel doable and simple, by breaking it down. I love your channel; it has taken me down the path of simplifying my family's life as well, and recently past a decluttering slump. 😁👍
I love your new space! Looks cozy, relaxing, and so pretty!
I like the editing idea
Hi Dawn 😊
Listening to you for some normalcy while we wait for our cancelled plane
To reschedule hope we can go home soon stuck in Fort Dallas Airport.
Who's we could just click our heels to get home 🏡
Your videos have so much value packed in them I love it! We are in the process of moving and I'm so excited to see what we end up getting and what we do with it
Thank you for reminding me that everything doesn't need to be "perfect" in a day. I used to be the odd person 30+ years ago who was always neat, tidy, cleaning and a place for everything. (My military years) Now the last 4 ish years of being a disabled Veteran, I find it hard to do allot mentally and physically. It may take me 3 times longer than I wish, but I keep on trying as much as I can. It's mostly excess of everything from 50 years of life and all the seasons. Also sentimental (maybe, not sure yet) since I have very little family alive now. I'm not giving up though! Glad to find your page from @Frugalfitmom