Arti Unlimited and Professional members can use our new AI-boosted ARTIAssist to enhance their stories and memories with historical and factual details about the items they Artifct.
If you want to simplify your life and maybe enjoy some of the reported benefits of a minimalist lifestyle without adopting a minimalist lifestyle, you may be asking yourself (or Google): “Where do I start?”
Inspired by an article from the LA Times published in March 2024 in which professional organizer Regina Lark claimed that the average US household has 300,000 items, we thought the easiest place for some to start is there – with the excess, the unused, the damaged, the forgotten, the just-in-case from 20 years ago. We think this approach is valid even if in all likelihood your home, like ours, has far fewer than 300,000 items inside.
The relevant point is finding simplicity in less. From the clutter and chaos, you can gain clarity as to what 'stuff' matters to you, a theme near and dear to us here at Artifcts. You can reduce time-consuming decisions you make every day, too. If you have 5 pairs of pants to choose from, how hard can it be for you or your kids to get dressed in the morning? And just maybe you’ll also stop yourself from spending money on things you already own but can’t find, like items number 78 and 83 in our list below.
We invite you to take a stroll around your home with this wildly varied home decluttering list to see where you find opportunities to simplify by reducing the volume of stuff that’s claimed a place in those drawers, closets, and shelves. Here and there we’ve added some commentary where we simply couldn’t resist. Like anything, decluttering takes practice, like building up a muscle. Enjoy, and good luck!
If you’re looking for a Decluttering or a Collections Checklist from Artifcts—or any of our dozens of additional checklists—to inspire you as you also seek to capture the stories, CLICK THE IMAGE. Our checklists are free to download with a free Artifcts.com account.
108 Objects to Declutter from Your Home
Why 108 objects? Author Jeff Greenwald, in his book 108 Beloved Objects: Letting Go of Stuff, Keeping Our Stories, explains, “The number is deeply significant in Eastern spiritual practice, and beyond… the number of prayer beads on a malla (a Buddhist rosary), the number of yoga postures in a full cycle,” and so on. Because of the deep global resonance of this number and the efforts here at Artifcts to help change our relationships with our ‘stuff’ and each other, we think 108 is the perfect number for our decluttering list.
Enjoy some story telling from Jeff Greenwald, who shared with us some of his 108 beloved objects.
We’re breaking away from a room-by-room approach with our list. In doing so, we hope to unleash creative and unexpected freeform association of items that might help you declutter items that did not make the list or have been very much “out of sight, out of mind.”
Ready? Here we go!
1. Lightbulbs – You don’t even have a socket for that one anymore!
2. Boxes, the cardboard variety; and no, it doesn’t matter if it’s a “really nice box”
3. Bins, the plastic kind this time
4. Rugs
5. Fidget gadgets
6. Suitcases – If your kid isn't even a teen yet, and you think they are packing up for college in those, reconsider how else you could use the space.
7. Picture frames
8. User manuals
9. Candles
Candles are wickedly easy to accumulate because they are easy to gift and even available in end caps at grocery stores!
10. Cookbooks
11. Party decorations
12. Pens and markers – Do they work? How many 100s do you need?
13. Remotes from gadgets you no longer own
14. Pots for plants
15. Decorative pillows – Well, maybe keep the pillow, rehome the case?
16. Baseball hats
17. Pads of paper / notebooks
18. Cleaning supplies and tools
19. Retired and retirement-ready linens
20. Bottle openers
21. Koozies
22. T-shirts and sweatshirts
23. Chapsticks
24. Coasters
25. Glassware
26. Scrunchies – If you know, you know.
27. Old sports equipment
28. Ice packs
29. Rubber bands – Beyond the fun aesthetics of a rubber band ball, how many do you need? And you know they will become brittle and break.
30. Shorts (or other clothing) long out of style, stained, or otherwise in disrepair
31. Belts
32. Coins – Cash it in!
33. Musical instrument lesson books
34. Fine silver, you never use
35. Fine china, you also never use
36. Pottery
37. Bookmarks
38. Greeting cards
39. Business cards, too
40. Rechargeable batteries, because they stopped holding a charge
41. Regular batteries in sizes you haven't used in decades
42. Foam rollers and massage devices
43. Coffee making apparatus, including pods that are long-since stale
44. Coffee mugs
45. Hygiene products (spares and expired, from consumables like cosmetics to tools like toothbrushes, hairbrushes, and combs)
46. Socks
A friend of Artifcts kindly shared this picture. Can you relate to her dilemma?
47. Keys
48. Craft supplies, the should’ve, would’ve, could’ve never started, unfinished or dried up
49. Handbags
50. Fishing tackle
51. Nail polish
52. Aprons
53. Magazines and pages torn from them
54. Dog toys
55. Pet beds
56. Lamps
57. Baby blankets
58. Spare buttons and thread
59. Kitchen appliances you never use and utensils, too – What’s jamming that drawer?
60. Spices, so old they may not poison you but they certainly won’t add the flavor you’re expecting
61. Travel-sized everything
62. School report cards – Scan and Artifct them first!
63. Awards, professional and childhood
64. Games and/or pieces left from them
65. Take-out containers and utensils
66. Blankets
67. Stuffed animals
CLICK THE IMAGE to read about why you should declutter stuffed animals with care, according to research.
68. Boxes of tea – Added to this list, with love, on request of both of the husbands of the cofounders of Artifcts.
69. Holiday stuff, the one off, the past it's prime, the "when did we celebrate that?"
70. Kid artwork, don't forget to Artifct first so you can declutter without guilt
71. Magnets
72. Unmatched socks
73. Décor that is outdated or no longer on display
74. VHS and cassette tapes – Say it with us: digitize, digitize, digitize.
76. Miscellaneous home repair and renovation materials (tiles, bricks, etc.)
77. Books, but Artifct the ones that mean something to you first
78. Blenders – True story, our cofounder Heather found SIX of them at her dad’s house.
79. Record player
80. Reusable shopping bags, consider donating to your local food pantry, they can always use extra bags!
81. Plastic shopping bags, recycle if you can!
82. Costumes
83. Reusable water bottles, yes, we know they're lurking in the back of your kitchen cabinets
84. Windshield wipers, for the car you don’t even own anymore
85. Vases
Collections can take on a life of their own. What's in yours? One of these vases pictured is not like the others. Take your guess, and then click here for the answer on Artifcts.
86. Watches that no longer work or are no longer worn
87. Travel pillows
88. Gift bags
89. Costume jewelry
90. Placemats, tablecloths, and chargers
91. Extension cords - Who are you, Clark Griswald?
92. Eyeglasses
93. Old computers, consider donating or recycling before tossing in the bin
94. Postcards
95. Cutting boards that are long past their prime
96. Key chains
97. Dried (and dusty) flora
98. Membership cards to places you no longer visit/no longer have a membership
99. Cameras, bonus points for selling them for the point-and-shoot obsessed Gen Zers
100. Cords, cables, and chargers
CLICK THE IMAGE for more tech inspiration from our Tech Detox checklist.
101. Unused swag from your employer AND previous employer.
102. Paint
103. Travel mementos from who-remembers-where
104. Sunglasses
105. Cake pans of all varieties, especially if you don't bake!
106. Shoes you no longer wear
107. Covid-era face masks
108. Ticket stubs, playbills, brochures – ephemera of life. Artifct them first, along with the memories!
Your reward for reading all 108 is this free download to take with you around the house. As always, if you’re having trouble letting go, "Artifct that!" to keep the memories. You can download our DIY checklist to jot down all the items you want to Artifct as you declutter, too.
And please remember to recycle, upcycle, rehome! Download Artifcts' Going Green guides to inspire and support you. Depending on where you live, you may have a reuse center where you can donate goods in addition to traditional charities.
Over the last several years, there has been a movement in technology called the “Internet of Things.” This is the growing interconnection, via the internet, of computing devices embedded in everyday objects. At some point in the future, all our home and business technology are expected to be seamless and interconnected.
In the past, estate planning has been solely or almost completely concerned about passing a person’s assets at death. It has not been connected to other parts of life and especially not connected to the parts of all our lives that have no monetary value: family history, legacy, values, etc. If the IRS does not value it, we often ignore it in estate planning.
If the IRS does not value it, we often ignore it in estate planning
We need to start thinking about Interconnected Estate Planning to make estate planning more wholistically connected with our lives. Especially in this age of downsizing and decluttering, we need to start thinking about how we plan to transfer our things to our children, families, and friends in a way that transfers not just the title and ownership, but also transfers the “Why” so those people and others will understand the importance and the stories behind those assets. We also can think about making those transfers during life when we have the chance to assure the best stewardship of the items for the future.
You can watch the full episode of Evenings with Artifcts: Modern Estate Planning here.
How do we start Interconnected Estate Planning? Many of us are paralyzed or overwhelmed and do not start estate planning until late in life, or – at worst – when it is too late. Among the negative thoughts I have heard are:
“I’ll just leave this to be handled after I am gone.”
“My children/grandchildren/friends/family all know what I want and they will divide everything fairly.”
“I do not want to make any decisions that might make people mad after I am gone.”
“I don’t want to dwell on my own death.”
In my experience, it is much better to make a plan than to leave the disposition of your estate to chance. Many estate planning attorneys, accountants, insurance professionals, and others who help to manage assets for estates have stories of families broken apart because the person who died was not clear about disposition. There are lawsuits that have dragged on literally for decades where beneficiaries argue about these assets… and not always the most expensive items.
In my experience, it is much better to make a plan than to leave the disposition of your estate to chance
Fortunately, there is a solution. Creating an interconnected plan can start with considering just a few items, and without even going to an attorney. By considering these items, you have the chance to answer the most important question your beneficiaries will have after you are gone: Why? Why are these items important? Why did she save that? Why does it matter?
In one of the episodes of Evening with Artifcts, Jeff Greenwald said, “When you are giving an object away, it motivates you to tell the story. Stories don’t take up much space at all.” So, start with a small list of items you value. Title the list “Personal Property Memorandum” and state at the start that you intend this to be included in your current or any future Will, and date it. Make the list and consider why you think those items are worth giving away, what they mean to you, name the beneficiary, and describe what the item might mean to the beneficiary.
Artifcts can be a great way to start organizing your thoughts. Once you have the items in Artifcts, you could print out the items, and use the printout as part of your Memorandum. With Artifcts, you can also write directly in the "In the Future” field that the object in question is to be given to a particular person.
By considering who should get the items, you can decide whether to wait to give it away now, or make it part of your estate. As you make these decisions, just update your Memorandum (and Artifcts!) at any time.
This is a simple way to pass along items with the most meaning in your life to those who can most benefit.
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Looking for additional tips to help you tackle the estate planning of things? You might also enjoy:
Across the US, homeowners are watching their insurance premiums skyrocket. According to an analysis of insurance industry reports, average premiums have risen over 20% in the last year alone, with no signs of slowing. And when disaster strikes — from hurricanes and wildfires to floods and theft — insurance payouts can take three to six months or longer to be fully processed and received.
Even when claims are approved, homeowners are often left grappling with another harsh truth: some things can be replaced, but many cannot. And often the things that cannot be replaced are the ones that we value most. They may not be the ones that hold the most financial value, but they certainly tend to hold a lof of what we call “heart value.”
What’s a Needlepoint Pillow Worth?
Let’s say your insurance company writes you a check for the fair market value of your damaged or stolen items. Refrigerator? Check, that’s easy. Sofa and loveseat, double check.
But what’s the monetary value of Nana’s handmade needlepoint cushions that sat in her living room for decades? Or the vintage charm bracelet your mom wore every holiday? How about your child’s first fingerpainting, lovingly framed and hung in the hallway?
The answer: There is no replacement cost high enough to recover the meaning of these items.And that’s why we Artifct.
There is no replacement cost high enough to recover the meaning of these items
When Disaster Strikes, an Artifct Is Your Memory Vault
Natural disasters don't give us time to prepare. But a digital record of your most sentimental belongings means you can prove ownership, document financial value (when possible), and most importantly — preserve the memories even if the object is lost.
While insurance companies assess damage and estimate costs, your family won’t be left trying to remember what that cherished object looked like or where it came from. You’ll already have a rich, secure record, and a legacy to pass on.
This October, we challenge you to Artifct the irreplaceable. Not everything in your home, just the things that would break your heart to lose. Start with:
A family quilt with generations of history sewn into its fabric
The wedding china no one dares eat off of, but everyone remembers
Click on the image to view the Artifct, one of many irreplaceable items of this family's history.
At the end of the day, no insurance policy (or AI algorithm for that matter) knows what matters most or what items have the most heart value to you and your family.
Your Family’s History Is Worth Saving
As you celebrate Family History Month this October, don’t stop at genealogy charts and old photographs. Think about the physical items that tell your family’s story. Think about the why behind them. And give yourself (and future generations) the gift of preserving not only the item, but the history, stories, and memories that go along with it.
Because in the end, your history is more than names and dates. It’s the objects you touch, the stories you tell, and the people you love.
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Looking for additional tips to help you be prepared for all of life's what ifs? You might also enjoy:
What is a family heirloom other than some object that someone decided was important in some way and decided to keep it and pass it along to another family member. That’s it. For what it’s worth, Webster’s dictionary agrees with us – and it all hinges on the word “special.”
: something of special value handed down from one generation to another
No one ever said family heirlooms have to be financially valuable or historically significant.
A family member might have an inkling that an heirloom carries with it some history. But then again, even if so, how will you gain access to that history? Usually it’s a conversation, a sticky note, a journal that’s also hopefully passed along. We can do better. We need to do better.
Artifcts and Heirlooms Go Hand-in-Hand
Each Artifct you create carries the potential of heirloom status. How you may ask? Many ways, including:
By creating awareness that this object even exists, or that it has some interesting origin or story, you increase the probability someone will care about it and claim it as their own. It’s no longer just ‘stuff.’
One of our Artifcts members thought her china set was doomed for the Goodwill bin. However, when she Artifcted it and shared the story with her family, she had children and grandchildren eagerly offering to take it off her hands. Why? Because it wasn't simply a china set that she had received as a wedding gift as long assumed. No, it was a set she purchased while stationed overseas in sub-Saharan Africa as a newlywed under instruction from the US Ambassador that, "Martha, you need a china set for 12 because you are going to start hosting diplomatic dinners." Who would have thought!
Because it wasn't simply a china set that she had received as a wedding gift as long assumed
By serving as a unique digital asset, a digital heirloom. Someday, your loved ones can inherit your Artifcts collection and the stories, memories, and more captured in each Artifct will live on. If you haven't already done so, simply designate your primary and secondary legacy contacts for your Artifcts account to ensure your heirlooms live on for generations to come.
By creating new family heirlooms from existing ones. One of the earliest examples of this that we saw here at Artifcts was Grandmom's rolls recipe from the early 1900s that was reborn and brought out for everyday enjoyment when engraved in her mother's handwriting on a cutting board.
One of our favorite tips for Artifcting future family heirlooms is to include a photo of a family member using, wearing, or otherwise enjoying the heirloom-to-be. It helps connect the dots between the object and your loved one, and adds context and visuals to the story or lore.
What family heirlooms are you the keeper of? Do you have many? Artifct them today to ensure those heirlooms and their stories make it to the next generation.
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Heirlooms on your mind? You might enjoy these related ARTIcles by Artifcts:
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