I read a study that said the average American home has over 300,000 items, which honestly makes me think minimalism is unrealistic for most people.

I found that stat in a book from the local library, and it made me feel like the 'keep only what sparks joy' advice ignores how much stuff we actually have to manage, so what's a more realistic first step for a normal, cluttered house?

4 comments

4 Comments

the_linda3mo ago

That "300,000 items" number is wild, right? I heard a podcast that said trying to declutter everything at once is why people quit. They said a realistic first step is just to pick one small drawer and finish it completely. Getting that one win makes the whole project feel less impossible. What kind of stuff fills up most of your space?

ninaowens3mo ago

Totally wild, and that podcast advice is spot on. My junk drawer victory last month was a single kitchen spatula and about forty expired coupons, but man did it feel good. Honestly most of my space is just clothes I haven't worn since 2019 and the weird cables for gadgets I don't even own anymore.

charlescraig1mo ago

Ha, I mean is it really that deep? It's a drawer full of junk, not a life crisis. I get that finding a spatula in there was a win and all, but are we really acting like a few cables and old clothes is something that needs a whole strategy? I've got a closet that's basically a museum of bad fashion choices from 2015 and I just close the door. Nobody's coming to audit your house, you know?

the_wendy3mo ago

That 300,000 number is actually from a book by a professional organizer, not a formal study. I'd start with just the weird cables since you already know you don't own the gadgets.