{"id":26506,"date":"2025-09-26T15:15:14","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T22:15:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/?p=26506"},"modified":"2025-09-25T10:02:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T17:02:17","slug":"minimalist-decluttering-works-best-with-a-plan-set-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2025\/09\/minimalist-decluttering-works-best-with-a-plan-set-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"Minimalist Decluttering Works Best with A Plan &#038; Set Rules"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">While spring cleaning gets all the glory, consistent decluttering sessions seem to get the job done better than anything. It\u2019s much easier to keep on top of clutter with regular cleanouts, and this is especially true if your primary goal is to maintain a minimalist aesthetic at home.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Even if you\u2019re not creating a wholly minimalist space, there\u2019s much to be learned from the people who do. We turned to a few of our favorite designers and home decor pros to find out which minimalism principles are best for anyone looking to do a major declutter.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Turns out, their top tip was the same across the board.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Minimalist&#8217;s Top Tip : Have A Plan<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">As it turns out, the overwhelming advice can be boiled down to one key phrase: have a plan. Decluttering can feel like a huge task without one, but if you follow a few key minimalism tips, it&#8217;s much more manageable.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Don\u2019t Get Overwhelmed<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you\u2019re looking around your space and already feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of decluttering, we completely understand. Luckily, Laura Mountford, the cleaning, laundry, and home organization expert behind Laura Cleanaholic, knows exactly how to combat this: by facing it head-on.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cBe realistic about the challenge of decluttering so as not to get overwhelmed,\u201d she says. \u201cFocus on one area at a time rather than the whole home.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">One way to tackle this potential issue is to make a list. According to Mountford, you should start at the top of the house and work down. As you go, tick each space off your checklist.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Save Select Seasonal Items<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">As most of our clearing out and decluttering seems to happen during the shoulder seasons, Artem Kropovinsky of Arsight gave us a great tip. Rather than shop with the trends and only add to your future clutter problems, Kropovinsky suggests keeping a small but select rotation of well-curated seasonal items in storage.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8220;This refreshes the space without adding permanent clutter and keeps design elements in tune with the seasons,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you\u2019re not sure what to display and what to store, Kropovinsky says to pick a few statement pieces that are bold and also hold some kind of meaning.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cThis not only declutters but also lets you genuinely appreciate what&#8217;s on display,&#8221; he says.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Create Your Own Rules<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There&#8217;s a lot of advice on what to clear out and how, but Mountford suggests creating a list of your own rules. Of course, there\u2019s the most famous rule from the Marie Kondo method (only keep things that bring you joy) but there are plenty of other options.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to Montford, one is to assess the last time you used certain items. \u201cIf an item was not used last year, then does it truly deserve to have space in my home this year?\u201d she asks.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another approach is to ask yourself some key questions before bringing anything new home. For example, Mountford says she only buys new items of clothing if she can think of three different ways or events where it can be worn.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Similarly, she follows the 2-for-1 approach whenever she\u2019s considering buying something new for her home.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cIf I buy an item, I pledge to recycle at least two others by either donating to charity or selling it,\u201d she says. \u201cI then save any money made from selling items to treat myself to experiences rather than any material items.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Consider Multi-Use Pieces<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another way to minimize your clutter is to buy furniture and decor pieces that serve multiple purposes, says Kropovinsky. By going for things that can adapt to various needs, you\u2019ll need less, which automatically results in a cleaner, more simplistic overall aesthetic.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kropovinsky specifically recommends considering things like extendable dining tables and beds with storage underneath. Often, these items also exemplify quality over quantity\u2014another tenet of minimalism.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cInvesting in fewer, high-quality pieces means your spaces remain uncluttered and the items you do have will stand the test of time,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Invest in Great Storage Solutions<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Of course, how your home is designed and decorated will convey a sense of minimalism\u2014but as Mountford points out, how you store and stash your items is just as important.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">She suggests using slimline hangers in your closet and dividers in everything from your dressers to your kitchen drawers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Storage boxes also make it much easier to maximize your space, and Mountford is a big fan of adding hooks inside cabinets and making the most of hidden areas as storage spots.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cUnder-bed storage is ideal for organizing bulky items like bedding and towels,\u201d she says. \u201cVacuum bags are ideal for storing bulky items like winter duvets, blankets, and coats as they take up less space.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Use Color Intentionally<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you\u2019ve shied away from identifying yourself as a minimalist because you love color, we get it. Often, the aesthetic is shown using only whites or neutrals. But according to Kropovinsky, you can still have a love of color while maintaining a minimalist, clutter-free home.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cIt&#8217;s about choosing colors with purpose and ensuring they harmonize with the space and each other,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Create Visual Interest Without Clutter<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">One major thing that can cause a ton of clutter is a plethora of tiny accents and decor pieces. If you get rid of them all, though, you run the risk of a sterile, boring space.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">That\u2019s why Kropovinsky suggests incorporating more textures instead. \u201cThink a plush rug, linen curtains, or a smooth wooden bench,\u201d he says. \u201cThey add depth without clutter.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespruce.com\/decluttering-tips-minimalists-wish-you-knew-11811517\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">We Asked Minimalists for Their Best Decluttering Tips &#8211; and We Wish We Thought of These Sooner<\/a> by Ashley Chalmers | The Spruce<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While spring cleaning gets all the glory, consistent decluttering sessions seem to get the job done better than anything. It\u2019s much easier to keep on top of clutter with regular &hellip; [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2025\/09\/minimalist-decluttering-works-best-with-a-plan-set-rules\/\">read more<\/a>]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26506","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-home-lifestyle","category-real-estate"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Minimalist Decluttering Works Best with A Plan &amp; Set Rules &#8226; Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2025\/09\/minimalist-decluttering-works-best-with-a-plan-set-rules\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Minimalist Decluttering Works Best with A Plan &amp; Set Rules &#8226; Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"While spring cleaning gets all the glory, consistent decluttering sessions seem to get the job done better than anything. 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