Minimalist folk - help please with Mammoth declutter

[SilverSixpence]

We are redecorating and I'm having to move the contents of our living room. It is a nightmare, boxes and boxes of stuff! Please can you all advise me on how to get a more minimalist feel. This is what we have in here:

In expedit cases (2 2x4, one is used as a tv stand), by compartment:
Magazines x1
|Toys in ikea box x3 (2 lots of small toys, 1 of jigsaws, board games etc)
childrens books x1
craft stuff x2 boxes (wool, fabric)
Camera equipment
Other electricals eg cables, boxes for cameras etc
2x units with box files (3 in each - manuals, work stuff, other documents)
3x units with books
1x unit with pretty decorative stuff and framed art (lost amongst the general chaos)

Small shelf with decorative items - small boxes, reels of ribbon, painted tins etc. One shelf is currently given over to a pile of books and magazines to get rid of.

Also in the room:

2 sofas
A jumperoo and a walker
Small coffee table (piled with paperwork)
Magazine box (filled with paper)
A small wooden chest
A printer (does not fit on shelf)
A small cabinet with lamp on it
Box of scrapbooking stuff
A moroccan pouffe
Another toy storage box thing, overflowing like this
A waste paper bin
A chalkboard

Help please!

I'm not that keen on the Expedit shelves as trying to 'upgrade' the look of the room, but nowhere else to put them at the moment. Eventually they will go in one of the dc's bedrooms

Bump

I'd bun three quarters of that list.

That'll help you de clutter

Thanks, short and to the point

I can get rid of the pouffe, craft stuff (that's 3 of the boxes) and maybe one box of toys but don't think I'd get away with any more toys at the moment.

Get rid of the magazines - they're junk surely?

indeed. When did you last read any of the magazines? Give to doctor or dentist for waiting room.

books are good but need to be culled if they don't get read. Do you do any of the craft? If not, get rid of it.

BTW had a lovely vision of a mammoth walking out of your house, tossing its mane and trumpeting loudly...

You don't mention DVDs or CDs.

I binned all their covers, and put them in something like this which saved about 4 shelves worth of space.

Kept the inserts and put them inside the front cover of the case.

Is any of the craft stuff fabric? Vacuum bags are your friend - I got 2 Expedit units full of stuff into 4 flat bags that now fit in the airing cupboard - and as they are transparent, I can find my fabric much more easily now.

Oh and if the magazines are craft/interiors ones, find Pinterest or Craftgawker instead - takes up no room but you can have links to all the articles/tutorials you like.

Ah thanks that is much more helpful

I have given away a lot of magazines some are about to be collected via freecycle. The rest are craft type magazines which I do look at (around 20 or so) , I never buy or keep fashion mags. I will stop my subscriptions I have 2 at the moment for The Simple Things and mollie makes.

I already use Pinterest but still like real paper! DVDs we have reduced a lot but some DH won't let me charity shop.

In general, things will look more streamlined if you can group similar things together eg one decent storage unit rather than lots of different bits of furniture. Books and magazines together, all craft stuff into similar storage boxes. Can you get some inserts for the Expedit which have doors to hide some stuff?

Whole room will look tidier if you can keep the coffee table clear.

Go through your electricals, cables etc - you don't need to keep the boxes still.

"Small shelf with decorative items - small boxes, reels of ribbon, painted tins etc" This doesn't sound very minimalist - I think you have to decide if you want a happy but more organised muddle..!

Get a decent basket with a lid instead of your toy bag thing which looks too temporary, like a shop carrier. The walker won't be with you forever, but you could sort some toys to have out and some away and rotate them fortnightly. That way you have a constant check on which ones are outgrown or don't get used. Put away toys that you are not ready for yet ie. that are developmentally too old.

I would also try and put the printer into another room, or at least out of sight.

I have rearranged the room a bit to make it a bit neater - there is now an area with sofas facing each other, 4x2 expedit on its side as a tv stand and rug on floor. This leaves enough space for a play area with a small rug, and the other expedit unit and shelf at opposite ends. Not sure if I'm describing it well.

I am going to get some nicer boxes for the expedit (have the cheap fabric ones at the moment and don't look that good). Craft stuff (most of which does get used eventually!) needs downsizing so I am trying to reduce it by half. Fabric is not kept downstairs but will try the vacuum bags thanks for the tip.

The trunk is a good idea, DH will probably think its a waste of money but it will be good for my sanity!!