Since buying our new home in August 2022, we've filtered our two homes' worth of belongings and decluttered the spaces we used to store it all. Decluttering is apparently such a complex thing that there are thousands of DIY stories, social media groups, and creator content videos about how to get it done and its benefits. I love decluttering because I have too much stuff. I still haven't found myself to be the least bit materialistic. There are a few items, however, that hold some sentimental value. The objective is to create spaces where we're happy and at home.
 

Before moving into a house for the first time, I considered moving from one apartment, townhouse, or condo into another over the years as the best way to filter all the stuff I didn't need or didn't want to take with me. When I graduated with my doctoral degree from UNC Charlotte, I carefully planned my escape to a new job in Iowa City by measuring the interior volume of my Kia Sportage to fill with as many bankers boxes worth of stuff as possible. I also filled two large sturdy bins my mom bought me from Fleet Farm in Waupaca, WI, when I had started college. I strapped them to the roof of my Sportage one exciting morning, loaded the staged pile of bankers boxes from my living room into the back of my Sportage, locked my apartment door, and didn't step foot in North Carolina again. I drove 100 miles north on I-77 to the northern border and stopped at a rest area for a personal celebration. The Sportage shocks were bottomed out and the car was limited to 85 mph, so it took a while to get where I was going. It was one my favorite cross-country drives because it meant a new start. Filtering out my junk was psychologically the best thing I could do. In all, I estimate that about 80% of my belongings were donated, given to neighbors, thrown out, or piled up on the curb from where they disappeared overnight.

Back at our new house, we initially stored almost everything in the garage and a back room. The back room was apparently used by the previous homeowner as a home office, so it was the only room in the house with a locked door. The garage looked like a scene from the Hoarders TV show.

We slept in the back room for about a week while we tore out all the old wall-to-wall carpeting to expose the underlying hardwood floors throughout our new two-story house and then had the hardwood floors refinished. Now our belongings are limited to the art room, home office, and basement -- our living spaces carefully populated with only things we love or need for now. Both of our cars fit nicely in the garage and most day to day activities are done in comfortable spaces. The room we call Fireside is becoming a favorite space this winter as we continue to design the space in a way that matches the ambience of our fireplace and baby grand piano.

Many decluttered items are "gifted" to our local Buy Nothing group on Facebook or sold wherever we can find a buyer. Our objective is a truly comfortable home. Our mantra to achieve it is "less is more."

Declutter your life. Filter out stuff you don't need when you move. Apply this to home and work. You'll be happier. I promise.