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5 Reasons Why I Am Not a Good Minimalist

May 27, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 16 Comments

Apparently I’m not a very good minimalist. I was told, on more than one occasion, that my lifestyle is not minimalist. And yet my bio includes "minimalist' as the first descriptor. Plus, I share minimalist practices on my website and with clients. The concern comes from the size of my house, two cars, and a vacation home. So it got me thinking. Good Minimalists Who counts as a good minimalist? Maybe Colin Wright is a real minimalist. He carries all his belongings in a backpack. Or perhaps Joshua Fields Millburn? After all, he and Ryan Nicodemus started THE Minimalists. Joshua Becker must count since he documented his family's journey at Becoming Minimalist. But what I know from reading their work is that minimalism looks different for each and every one of us. Our families are different. So are our jobs, houses, and the areas where we live. We have individual passion projects and goals. These differences are unique to our minimalist journey and yet common ground …

5 Effective Habits of Clutter-Free Families

May 6, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 10 Comments

Fighting clutter can feel like a losing battle. After all, there are 300,000 items in the average American home. But decluttering is more about habits than ones ability to get organized. My first piece of advice for clutter-free living is to stop shopping. Stop the inflow. Consider a Shopping Moratorium for 30 days. Experimenting with less reveals how little we really need. Living with less also creates a peaceful sanctuary in our homes. A calm environment at the end of a workday and a place where our eyes can rest, clutter-free from distractions. If you'd like to calm the chaos in your home, start with these 5 habits. Protect Flat Surfaces Flat surfaces attract clutter. And clutter attracts more clutter. The largest flat surface in your home is the floor. Don’t mistake it for storage. Adopt the habit that only furniture belongs on the floor. Pick up trash when it falls. If you have hardwood floors keep a dust mop handy for a quick sweep. Go through the mail outside by …

Why a Disorganized Garage Costs Time and Money

May 6, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 25 Comments

I love a neat and organized garage. But in the US, 82% of homes have two-car garages or larger, but only 15% park the car inside. We use our garage as intended, to house and protect cars. Vehicles are typically worth more than anything stored in messy garages. Let's consider for a moment that our last car purchase, a used SUV, was valued at approximately $25K. This alone motivates me to keep our garage clutter-free but there are other benefits too. 3 Reasons to Clean and Organize Your Garage Curb Appeal - Spring is home buying and selling season. Extra cars and trash cans visible from the street ruin curb appeal and decrease property values. Do you have a neighbor selling their house? Help their sale and your property value by moving trash cans inside. And a late-night trip to the trash can in your pajamas is easier too! Protection from the Elements - In the mid-Atlantic, winters can be cold, rainy, and snowy. Cars parked inside are …

6 Habits to Live Like a Minimalist Family

April 28, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 5 Comments

We are a minimalist family and yet we have some stuff. But minimalism is more about habits than stuff. However, I've been told I'm not a real minimalist. I guess I missed the memo on who can join the club. And while the "average American home has over 300,000 items,” we do not. So that's a good place to start. Of course, no checklist works for everyone. But as I studied our home, there are six habits that make a difference. You will find these habits helpful as you declutter and simplify. Trash Throw away trash immediately. I’m not talking about messy stuff. I mean annoying stuff that accumulates like receipts, wrappers, mail, and packaging. We pick stuff up off the floor, immediately. I recycle as much as possible including junk mail, toner cartridges, and plastic bags. Trash will clutter a flat surface quickly. Guard your flat surfaces because clutter attracts more clutter! Don't forget about the largest flat surface in your home, the floor. Strive to store …

7 Tips for How to Declutter Sentimental Items

April 22, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 7 Comments

The most common question I answer is "How do I declutter sentimental items?" As I learned the hard way, memory-laced stuff is the most difficult to let go of. And many people don't realize they are having trouble letting go because the item is sentimental. Through conversations with my clients I can quickly spot an item that is being held onto for sentimental reasons. What not to do I had a few childhood items that were sold without my permission. Understandably, the seller expected I would not want them. While this is true, we all need time and space to process sentimental items. Time to reminisce about the memories and take photographs. And the opportunity to decide where the items should go. Perhaps passing them on to someone or somewhere specific. So, I won't be selling my husband's Hess Truck collection anytime soon. I'm also accused of not being very sentimental which is completely untrue. I am just very intentional about the sentimental items I keep. The items that …

How to Set Up Your Spring Capsule Wardrobe

April 8, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 2 Comments

Now is the perfect time to set up your spring capsule wardrobe. As you figured out, the "in-between seasons" make it difficult to decide what to wear. Right now, are you searching two closets or digging through bins of off-season clothing? Instead, consider how much easier it will be to get ready, if everything lived in one closet? I use one closet (no dresser) but that wasn't always the case. Here's how I downsized my wardrobe into one simple closet. Experiment with Less First, I challenged myself to wear just 7 pieces of clothing for an entire week. This exercise was inspired by Jen Hatmaker’s book 7 Experiments Against Excess. During this week, I still left the house for work, church, and social engagements and always in clean clothes. Second, I developed a spring (and then winter) capsule wardrobe of a limited number of seasonal pieces. By following Courtney Carver’s Project 333, I selected my favorite spring items. And moved the rest to our guest closet. I dressed …

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