I live alone in a small 2 bedroom condo without a garage. I define my walls not my rooms. One wall in my "living room" has a couch. The opposite wall is my woodshop. All my tools reside on their shelves on that wall. My second bedroom has a library wall with 5 bookcases. The opposite wall is my sewing station. The entire closet is my yarn storage. I have multiple knitting machines and have donated over 100 sweaters to "knit for kids". As a retiree I can do woodworking, reading, sewing and knitting all in the same day. I realize I am not your target audience and appreciate this focus on defining the room, but I productively define and use the walls 😊

@lauriepowell3959

5 ай бұрын

@24carrotgold8 What a great idea! 👍

@amandacurtis7245

5 ай бұрын

Love this!

@NasusMiniatures

5 ай бұрын

That is so helpful! As an aspiring minimalist, I don't necessarily WANT a whole room for each activity/purpose. Will be using your wall technique for sure!

@serenakoleno9338

5 ай бұрын

I live in senior apartment and love your idea. Sewing wall, craft wall, power tools closet, library/videos/TV corner. My priorities are actually a large area for yoga and lots of plants in front of windows. Plus I enjoy cooking/baking. My clothes closet is the smallest closet, since I don't need large wardrobe. Everyone has different priorities, we need to think outside the box for our storage solutions. TFS 😊

@BobCreel

5 ай бұрын

Dear @24carrotgold8 I would love to pictures of your walls. You sound like a very talented and interesting person. Also kind. Thank you for donating and knitting all those sweaters.

I live in a two bedroom apartment, so the second bedroom is a multi functioning space. Office/craftroom/cat room. In the take your house back course you said get rid of the 'slash' and give the room a main function, so I did. Decided it would function as an office primarily and wanted it to feel like a well designed room, not a utility craft space. I upgraded the folding table to a table and drawer combo (basic ikea white pieces) matching the one table I already had. I moved the furniture around to have the working surfaces along one wall (not seen when in the other room) got rid of the ironing board in favor of a repurposed kitchen island, I covered it in a favorite fabric (much nicer to look at, less invoking work to do, more so, potential space to sew and create). I moved my laptop, office accessories, and the filing drawers from the living room to the spot near the window. It faces east, I appreciate sitting there in the mornings. I got a pair of old wood chairs, one to sit at the desk portion and one to sit in front of my sewing machines on the other side. They go with my antique family rocking chair. I added a rug in the center of the room to anchor the chair, a small table for my tea cup (although it morphed into a spot for my orchids), and the cat loves to sleep on the cushion when I'm in the room. I had a bookcase with the remaining books I kept after a purge. The bottom has doors, and that is where the extra office supplies go. The closet has been outfitted with shelves for crafting materials and gift wrapping supplies. I covered the litter box with another white piece from ikea to minimise its appearance (another spot for plants!) My daughter used to call this room the dump. Now, when she visits and needs to mend a garment, we can sit together and chat. It is a cozy place to be in. Before I avoided it unless I needed materials and worked on the kitchen table, now I go in every day, even if it's to journal or make a plan for tomorrow. Finding its true purpose made it so I took away all the unessential stuff and uncovered how functional it could become. Thanks for all your insight!

Thank you for sharing all your lessons. My basement is almost done being decluttered. The guest room is close to being done. This is the year for my bedroom, closet and attic. I love the no mess method. "Going in" for trash first is so helpful for overcoming overwhelm. I have to continually reminding myself that the master bedroom is not for storage. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

@veronicageorge7820

5 ай бұрын

How exciting! Congratulations 🎉

"...because I'm too afraid to get rid of something," I'd never actually thought of fear being part of the equation, but you are so right! Obviously, the level of fear varies, but the decision to get rid of something often does involve a moment, at least, of bravery.

The definition itself is also a container! Your container concept has revolutionized my life. Not to be dramatic.

Love the idea of defining rooms!! I recently walked through every room in the house, and made myself admit (and record) what the actual usage of that room currently was. Not the "purpose" or "function" of the room, because I tried those first, and got caught up in all the ideas and dreams I had for each room, and it was frustrating and overwhelming. Being honest about what I was currently using that room for right now really helped. For example: our "Living Room" we never actually lived in. We walked through it, and sometimes played the piano, but almost never sat on the couch, or spent time in there, etc. I relabeled it the Music Room, and now I actually go in there and practice piano and violin. I set up a chair especially for playing the violin, with plenty of space to still walk through the room, as it is also essentially a passageway to more used rooms like the Family Room and Kitchen. Our "Guest Room" is currently being used for family storage, so relabeled it the Family Storage room. Will it someday be a guest room? Maybe, but for right now, calling it what it actually is being used for is really helpful. I can focus on better ways to store things in there, and whittle down (decluttering, and getting things to their proper homes that are currently being decluttered elsewhere in the house) bit by bit. I'm not scared I will never see that room as a guest room in the future, because we have seen decluttering methods reclaim other rooms in our house this last year (when we started the process), and I know that room can be reclaimed also. I know the steps, we have a plan, it's going to take time. But, giving the room an honest label for right now really helps me. And, the great part is, everything newly stored in the Family Stirage Room has been through an initial declutter and consolidation, so I already know it will be soo soo much easier to go through it all again. It's not perfect, but it's working for us, and giving us breathing space in the rest of our home for fully functional daily use rooms. Soo thankful for your method and ideas, Dana!!

I stay to the end for Reid’s credits, every single time 😂

@asmamiller

3 ай бұрын

Me too. 😂

Dana, Definng the priority function of a room and following through is BRILLIANT. Suddenly, with me whacking my forehead, I knew why my yoga/office/plant/ extra guest room was not working and never worked. It’s so obvious. And you are so brilliant!!!! Tytyty 🌞

💡moment for me, too! I just realized I am subconsciously turning our never-used formal dining room into my craft room.....I just haven't declared it before today! Once those donations are all out, there will be nothing left except for my desk for crafting, an armoire for storage and ONE tote full of craft supplies that will now have to fit inside the armoire....or they have to GO! Defining that room/space as my craft area instantly clarified for me the items that do not belong in there! 😊

My dining area also doubles as a computer work space/office. So every package and lots of printouts ended up on the dining room table. I started to declutter the dining room table this week. I went through all the packages and 80% of the papers there. I. Have made progress: one dining room chair completely empty and only 4 piles 8 inches deep instead of piles 3 feet deep. I am not done but am happy with progress thus far. Small steps.

Love, Love, Love this message, Dana. Whenever I have about an hour drive, I listen to your "podcast" on youtube. My house has changed TREMENDOUSLY, for the BETTER, since I found you. I had already been listening to Dawn and Cas. You complete the Terriffic Trio. 💚💙💜

It helped get more storage out of my "dining room" when I realized we wanted it for crafting. We have books, memories & my desk/office stuff in there. Still a work in progress, but knowing that THIS is the space I have for those things, helps so much as I pickup & take things where I would look for them. The table we have in there, is our dining table we would use for guests. I used to struggle to keep it clear, as I would put things there I wanted to "process". But my crafty daughter hated having to work around stuff, so I promised her I'd keep it clear. So far, so good 👍. Been almost a year. Now my struggle is to get enough stuff donated that our processing area (part of kitchen & living room) doesn't always look like a cluttered mess.

Dana, I need to keep watching your videos! I am very grateful for them, as they keep me motivated. I have a guest room that since covid has become a storage room. My husband keeps reminding me, "what happened to the guest room?". So I really need to redefine this room and try to return it to its proper function. Please continue to produce thus content, as we all need it!! TFS! 💕🌴😎

This is the second time that I have heard this. People using that space are priority. Thank you 🙏

Just read your book Giving God the Worst of Me. It was the best ever. I used it to find my word for the year. My Sunday school teacher has us find one each year. Mine is purpose. It came from the part of the book where you talk about us being a letter from God and His light shines out of our cracked pottery. So my purpose this year is to let others see Christ in me. I passed it on to others in my class and they are also being touched by your book and buying it for daughter in laws and grandkids. Thank you for your witness and sharing with all of us who have brains like you and didn’t understand how to keep a house in order ❤❤

@beverlyrussell8034

5 ай бұрын

Thanks for shouting this one out. I just ordered it.

Reid's commentary always gives me a giggle. Good luck with the renovation. My only issue with 'define the room' came in March 2020 when "I would like a home office" became "I am REQUIRED to have a home office!" with about 48 hours notice LOL. Ends up a home office can be a home office corner - no problem.

This concept quickly taught me to recognize and say, "This item does not belong in this room," rather than try to figure out how to make it fit in the space! Also helps family members understand where things do not belong! Very helpful video!

I also find it helpful to invite me most judgmental family member or friend when it comes to cleanliness and home presentation over to stay 3-4 times a year. They keep the pressure on me to keep up with the guest room and we always end up having lots of fun

@sharpcanines3347

5 ай бұрын

nightmare 😂

omg Dana! "This is a storage room with a bed in it". Finally! My brain gets it! "Define the room", was not enough for me. But this right here! I'm ready. My guest room is about to be reborn! Thanks Dana!!!

@temi4116

5 ай бұрын

Dana, love it. I appreciate your clarity, specific words and messages which seals the lessons you present!!!!

As I was watching I kept thinking: no way I can remove the / / of my office, because I just don't have space for my crafts and my... duh. What if I keep decluttering and remove only one /? 🤔 Thank you Dana, 1,000 times, for helping me rethink the purpose of my office/craft/guest room!!! ❤ Oh, and from now on I'm gonna call it "my office", sometimes guests stay in it because there is a comfy couch there, but all the other stuff will go through the screening process of the no mess method, YAY! ✨️ Cheers from Brazil!

I cant believe I stumbled upon your channel ❤❤❤ i’ve listened to your podcast, but watching you is so much better!!

Wow!!! 💡💡💡💡💡Lightbulb moment!! I am the queen of / . In fact, after you pointed it out, EVERY ROOM in my house has slashes in it except the bathroom!! This is going to be an absolute game changer for me!!! So exciting 🤗 Thank you!

@cynthiaewing6584

5 ай бұрын

Oh, took me a minute… Guest rm/ Storage room/…

@lazygardens

5 ай бұрын

You don't have a bathroom / library?

@marthaosborne9625

5 ай бұрын

@@lazygardens 😂

@AllieAtkinson

4 ай бұрын

Even my bathroom is also the laundry 😂

I have a room that I have no choice but to call it the "laundry/closet" room. It's a walk in closet with a washer and dryer greeting you as you walk in. Using your excellent idea, my solution going forward is to imagine that slash as a specific boundary line to divide those functions. Laundry items will not be allowed to cross the / border into the closet side and vice versa. Clothing and bedding meant to be cleaned will remain behind the laundry / area until they're ready to be put away. Each item will be put away in "the first place I will look for it" on the / closet side of the room 😸 of course 😸 Now I will work on that kitchen that wasn't designed by anyone who actually uses a kitchen 😹 Update The Laundry/Closet has now become the Laundry/Closet/Office I needed the Office/Pantry room to move my Sister into our Family. As a result I also now have a Master Bedroom/Pantry. Mrs White's advice here is amazing at helping me create order and organization. Space priority keeps everything looking quite peaceful in the chaos I call my happy life. Thank you so much Dana

@susanprice3377

5 ай бұрын

Oh, the pain of absurdly badly designed kitchens. I wish you all the best with the fight to make the space work for you!!

We have a dual purpose room. It's the spare bedroom and the pantry. I have a mini store in that room. It was becoming a mess. I cleaned it up the other day and now you can see the bed. :) I used your method. "Where would I look for this?" So much came out of that room to another space, Duh! Donate, or trash. We don't have people who would come for more than a night. I have an area for a night guest. A clean bed, and drawer to use. Now when I walk by that room, I smile. I see the clean, organized room instead of "Yuck! I gotta get in there." Love your method, love your videos!

Thanks again dear Dana. Decluttery greetings from the Netherlands🤗🌟💫

Thank you for being the only butt-kicker that makes any sense to me.

Dana, as always love watching and listening to you. You have helped me in so many ways ❤

Thank you! I've been a fan for years! My craft room was also a storage room, thankfully with concerted effort, I'm down to photo albums and one tub of memorabilia, that don't fit that definition. We moved in September 2022, still de-cluttering, and we are getting really close to my clutter threshold!!! Soooo grateful for you teaching me, and cheering me on.

Your videos and decluttering method makes more sense to me than anyone else's. I'm so glad I discovered you!

This post changes my whole outlook. Thank you.

Some of these comments are genuine gold.

Great mindset shift... We often put things in our guest room to deal with later. This new perspective is super helpful!!! Thanks for sharing 😊

I explained your system to my daughter and said it was working for me (slowly). She did not jump on board with the system but instead when she has to look for something she notes and remembers the first place she looked and when she finds the item it goes where she looked first. So she's coming in the exit but she's getting there

Dana, this is one of the most valuable videos in your collection! Thank you so much for hitting home these points... as I realize what has crept into my own guest room

🎉 Thanks Dana. Your video showed up on my feed and this is actually very helpful. I’m in a 1 bedroom apartment and need to declutter to remove my grad school paraphernalia. I finished and now need to remove papers, research, books, move shelves and define the space so I can return to inviting my niece to visit and entertain. 😊

@gretchenphillips9787

5 ай бұрын

Congratulations on finishing up grad school! I've got 2 classes left then I will be in a similar position.

@temi4116

5 ай бұрын

Nice work grad school grads!! I'm including the person who is only 2 classes away!!! You got this!!

This is so empowering! I’m feeling excited. Going to get started with this now.

My sis in law did a beautiful guest room. Bed w/ goosedown linens, small side table, dresser kitty korner, and a rocker. Beautiful and very restful. Very few items in room

So much gold in this one!❤ Thank you!

I found your channel while convalescing with a suspected broken wrist. I now have a notebook crammed with things to do (left handed scribble). I can do them one handed too. Your advice is brilliant and so easy to understand and do. I can’t wait until my wrist heals and I can do the big stuff. Your no mess method is brilliant for us folks unable to deal with huge declutter messes etc.

Even something like a bathroom, which seems like an obvious defined room, can have a specific purpose. In my case, one of my bathrooms is for the cats--litterbox, etc. I also find that if I keep doing something in an area, like crafts in the "dining" area because the lighting is better, then I don't fight it, I go with it. Never mind what the architect thought the room should be. THANKS once again, Dana! P.S. You can get verified, now. Takes a coupla minutes, but then people know it's the REAL you and not that other Dana White. ;-)

This makes a lot of sense to me - thanks 😊

So I hav a room that for years was my daughter’s room… she’s now 30, but when her and her husband come to visit that is where they stay, since 2020 I’ve been working from home so it is my office, and of course it is also my craft room/happy place. So until watching this it’s called Jessica’s room/office/craftroom… I still need it to function as all of those things… but I am going to try to change my mind set and start calling it my craft room…. hopefully that will help me get it under control but still knowing that it needs to occasionally (not as often as I like) act as a guest room, and at least for a few more years be an office for 40+ hours a week…. Oh dear way to much pressure for one little room😢

I am currently working on the bonus room in my home. This info helps solidify my needs and priorities for that room.

Love the color of your paint!

You explain concepts so well! As always, it boils down to the Container Concept. Function first.

This was so helpful I can’t even tell you. After learning about your container concept a year ago, I’m finally starting to put that into practice but this helps me even more with that goal. Thanks and thanks to Reid for the editorial comment at the end 😂

Great advice as always. I like the new "look" of your last ten or so videos. Very professional.

I am doing this with my sewing room/ studio/ doll room. I identified it as a doll room and I've started outfitting it as such ( I moved into my house with basically a twin bed and dresser and a bunch of Steriite storage bins), so I need furniture that supports it's purpose. My sewing and art supplies can live here and be done here, but only in the space left from displaying my dolls. I have trouble understanding 'the container is the limit' when it comes to room size containers. So I will put up the shelving for my dolls, put my fabric and art supplies in drawers and whatever doesn't fit has to go (or one in one out with current supplies). It's a work in progress, but having a goal makes decision making easier.

My "AHA" moment was when I read about your container method and that a room, drawer, shelf, etc. is a container. I never figured that out by myself. I just kept shoving more stuff into the unfortunate space. I'm still working, slowly, through my mountains of junk that I have built up over 4 decades of living in my house. TY, Dana, for giving me my "Aha" moment.

The elimination of certain options has really helped me with the where would I look for it first. If this space where I’ve always dumped it wasn’t an option, where would I look for it first.

My "fantasy self" has a craft storage room...my current self is determined to turn it back into a functioning craftroom where actual crafting will take place, by decluttering supplies that I no longer want/like & projects I'm no longer interested in making/trying!! ❤️🙏🏼

I guess if you live in a studio/loft type of open plan space then it becomes defining the zone/area instead?

@llllllllllilillii

5 ай бұрын

Who knows, they never talk about it and their houses are like 5 times the size of my place so it's easy to "define the room".

Excellent message, as always!! Thanks for your time and energy to help us!!!

My spouse keeps calling one of our bedrooms "the guest room" and I call it "the quilting room." Since I'm the one doing the organizing, cleaning, and decluttering, it's pretty clear what the room's function is 😂 Side note: Dana, your guest room is lovely! The pale blue walls and white chenille bedspread are very inviting!

This video really helped me realize that I have OVER assigned my tiny guest room. Also, that it can’t be a craft room because I don’t have room to do the crafts IN it. Thanks Dana!

aha, time to change my guest room use 😄

This lesson came at the most perfect time for me, thank you! I have two "/-rooms" which (no-surprise) are my biggest pain points in decluttering. This is a fantastic mindset shift which already started working in my mind as I finished watching this KZread vid! Thank you!

Thank you for being in my head talking to me while I determine what to do with stuff. You tell me, this is the space I have, this is the house I have, is this item more important than the items already in that space etc etc. Mind you I still struggle, but most of the time you help me get there. Thank you for sharing real, and helpful tips.

Since watching your videos. The emotion of getting rid of stuff and decluttering. I have more more time to do the things I love. Painting pictures on canvases. My art studio still needs help. I just defined it right now. I would love to become one of your decluttering coaches.

Wonderful advice! Thank you Dana I really needed this. 🤗

Thanks! That makes so much sense, but I never heard it that way before. I’m going to redefine the playroom/ guest space to just a playroom.

This was great. Dealing with a guest/sewing room. Haha It needs quite a bit of help. Working on it using your methods. Thanks, Dana.

Thanks so much for clarifying. I kinda had an idea of where I wanted what in my new apartment, but your method should make it easier. I have a ton to sort through and use a kitchen timer to make it easier to cope with. Progress, not perfection 😊

I stayed at an airbnb that didn’t get the memo about leaving space * for the people * using the room. They squeezed a dresser into a narrow space that made it very difficult to move around the bed and get to the bathroom. No way to get past when someone else was accessing the drawers, and we stubbed our toes several times. I would’ve rather left things in my suitcase in the closet and had more space in the room to move! Good lesson.

Yes. This video is very helpful.

Awesome video! Super helpful ❤

Thanks, Dana!

We have jokingly discussed having a house fire to take care of our clutter. Following this method is a far better option. 😃

I can’t get over that your 22 year old moved out and took all of his stuff! My kids are in their 3Os, they have moved out but their stuff is still here. How did you accomplish that? 😂

@toomanymarys7355

3 ай бұрын

Tell them you will throw it away.

I am struggling with exactly this right now, but I know what I need to do first - I need sit down with my family and define my problem space. Our house had a flood in the finished basement a year ago, which led to a series of construction adventures, and now I'm finally looking at being able to use the space again. Unfortunately, we never defined the space before, so it was the play room/game room/exercise space, etc. and now it's a dumping ground for everything that doesn't have a home elsewhere in the house. Furniture that never really worked in the room before is just piled up waiting for decisions that never seem to come. But tempting as it is to start stuff-shuffling, defining the space and proper decluttering really needs to come first. Thank you Dana!

Your honest and True Style. ❤❤❤

I thought I was going to be a person who “got it” immediately, but when you took me through it, I realized my habits/mindset is deeper than I thought! Thank you so much!!!

This helps! And instead of using slashes, I’m calling it my “boudoir.” 😂😂😂 Because a lady gets to use that room for WHATEVER she wants. It’s my office, studio, dressing room, & private library. With a daybed I intend to use when I occasionally turn my blissfully decluttered “sleeping room” over to guests. 😊

Yes this concept makes a lot of sense!!! Thank you thank you!!! I have a bonus room that has not had a definition for 10 years. I am almost there because I have been decluttering for 4 years but this room is always the one to collect stuff and become an absolute mess first! Now I know it’s because I never really defined it. Thank you again!!!

Thank you lovely! But how do you apply this if you live in a studio and HAVE to have multiple "definitions', not a big beautiful house with multiple rooms, basement, garage, etc etc. I'd love to see a video series where you help someone with a studio sized living space. THANK YOU!

This is THE secret to lasting change

This is so good! Now talk about kids sharing rooms and them having "thier storage space"

This made a lot of sense. Thank you!

Under the guest bed is my donations storage. :) My guest room also has 2 closets, and 1 is storage of....mostly puzzles.

I swear we think the exact same. I’m nodding my head and amening everything!!!!!! You say. You nail my thought process

Sue Wolfe- I was just watching your video from earlier today and this one popped up! Thanks for all of your tips and encouragement! 😁👌👍❤️

Your so right and embrace the slob in you! I have tooo many slashes !!! And it grew to more rooms as kids moved out and parents passed

I needed this! I have a room with "/" in the title that isn't working. Now i get to pick the function to prioritize. 😊

I needed to hear this. Thank you.

You are such a good Teacher & Explainer (is that a word?)! I am struggling with my "Dining Room" which I really don't Need anymore--so it has become that "room of shame." Watching this video I finally had a breakthrough! What I Really use this room for is an office--so Now It Is!!

This was so helpful. Thank you!

I love this concept.

Yes! This was excellent advice! Thank you so much!

This was a good one! So helpful! ❤

You are brilliant!! Love your videos!

Great video with clear definition as always! ❤

I live in a 2 bedroom trailer, and I am a re-enactor in two eras. This takes a lot of stuff. My living room is partly re-enacting, so is my closet, part of my kitchen, and part of my hallway. However, I would not want it any other way. I will not quit re-enacting, and since Re-enacting takes research, I have a library for history books. A building beside the house. Again, I would not want it any other way.

@BekkaMakes

5 ай бұрын

I'm right there with you! Reenacting brings a huge amount of stuff into my home too. But I'm not going to let it be an excuse for clutter anymore. It's helped me so much to give these things containers, even if they are in multiple places in the house - two drawers and a hanging rod in my room for garb, a corner and a shelf unit in the garage for tent and camping supplies, one shelf and a drawer in my craft space for ongoing projects. Everything new either fits in the containers, or I have to a) let something else go to give it space, or b) redefine another space and let go of whatever was there before to allow my hobby to expand. The house isn't getting any bigger, so something's gotta go.

Oops by "done" I mean it will be maintenance status and at my clutter threshold.

Great examples!❤

I just used this concept in my medical office. We had some things that were not stored properly and drove me crazy. We just managed to put all the items away where they should go and got rid of boxes.

Thank you! ❤

Very helpful. Thank you

I am finally getting my den/ office a real function. I have organized the book cases, organized pictures on the wall, and cleared my desk so I actually can work there. No longer storage central, but a place to actually get work done. No tv! Computer on the desk, wireless printer located nearby. The radio and CD player are available when needed.

Room is a container for guests but the material container in the dresser drawers that happens to live in the guest room. Just don’t get more material than that container holds! Lol😂

Love your videos🤩