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Millennials and Minimalism: Why They Don’t Want Your Stuff


In today’s fast-paced world, a significant shift in attitudes towards possessions and material goods is taking place, especially among millennials. As a professional organizer, I’ve observed this trend firsthand. Millennials, the generation born roughly between 1981 and 1996, including myself, are increasingly embracing minimalism and refraining from the accumulation of "stuff." This poses unique challenges and opportunities for both families looking to pass down heirlooms and organizing professionals helping them navigate this generational divide.


Understanding a Millennial Mindset

Millennials prioritize experiences over possessions. Our generation values travel, dining out, and technology-driven experiences more than owning physical items. This shift is influenced by several factors:

  • Economic Realities: Many millennials came of age during economic downturns, which shaped their financial habits and attitudes towards spending and saving. We tend to prioritize financial stability and are wary of accumulating items that don’t serve a clear purpose.

  • Urban Living: With more millennials living in urban areas where space is at a premium, there’s a practical need to keep living spaces clutter-free and functional. Small apartments and shared housing don’t lend themselves well to storing large amounts of stuff.

  • Digital vs Physical: Growing up in a digital world, millennials tend to favor digital assets over physical ones. Photos, books, music, and even documents are primarily stored digitally, though some items are still kept in physical form. This shift significantly reduces the need for physical storage space, but doesn't eliminate it completely.

  • Sustainability: Many millennials are more environmentally conscious and prefer sustainable living practices. We are inclined towards reducing waste, reusing, and recycling, and view minimalism as part of a broader effort to live more sustainably.


Why We Don’t Want Your Stuff

Given these factors, it’s not surprising that we often reject the idea of inheriting large quantities of possessions from our parents or grandparents. Here’s why:

  • Lack of Space: As mentioned, urban living and smaller homes mean there simply isn’t room for a lot of extra stuff. As a professional organizer, I'm helping maximize small storage spaces for everyday living.

  • Different Tastes: Styles and preferences change over generations. What might have been cherished by one generation doesn’t necessarily hold the same appeal to the next.

  • Maintenance and Upkeep: Items like antique furniture, China sets, and collectible memorabilia require maintenance and storage, which many millennials see as burdensome.

  • Sentimental Overload: While some items carry emotional value, millennials are selective about what they keep. They prefer to hold onto a few meaningful items rather than entire collections.


What to Do With the “Brown Furniture” and Other Extras

Have you heard the term "brown furniture"? The furnishings industry uses it to describe large, dated wood-finished and upholstered pieces that no one wants anymore.


The looming question: what to do with the brown furniture and other extra stuff? Start now! Don’t wait until you need to move or some unforeseen event forces you to downsize quickly. The more time you have, the more likely you can find ‘homes’ for all your extra things.


If you’re looking for some cash, consider holding a garage sale. If that’s too much work, hire a company that specializes in home sales or online auctions. I recommend finding a reputable organization with excellent recommendations. Consignment shops are another option, though they typically take 50% of the proceeds and are particular about the types of items they accept. It’s easy to send a photo and description ahead of time via email to get an estimated selling price.


Donate or Give Away

Donating is another great option, and don’t forget to track your donations for a tax write-off. Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and Savers accept many types of items. If you’re unsure about furniture, email them a photo. Note that many charitable organizations have become more particular about the furniture they accept. Check out your local thrift shops and talk to charitable organizations in your area. If the process becomes overwhelming, hire Organized By JJ, who is familiar with local resources to help.


Give away items that you can’t sell or donate. Ask coworkers, your cleaning person, or yard service people if they need anything. If your contacts don’t want your items, they might know someone who does. Use social media to spread the word! If you don’t mind talking to strangers, post on Freecycle or your local Craigslist. Many communities also have local swaps and exchanges.


Recycling and Community Events

Check out events in your community! Some towns have pick-up days where they will take anything you place at your curb. Phoenix will now pick up bulk trash at anytime when you call to schedule a pick-up. Recycling events are a great way to dispose of scrap metals, tires, paints, electronics, and other items.


How Organized By JJ Can Help

As a professional organizer, I can play a crucial role in bridging this gap. Here are some strategies to consider:

  • Facilitate Conversations: This is an important place to start. Encourage open discussions about what items hold sentimental value and why. This can help in deciding what to keep and what to let go.

  • Prioritize Functional Keepsakes: I help clients identify items that have both sentimental value and practical use. For example, if you're going to keep the family China dishes, use them instead of keeping them in a hutch.

  • Digital Memories: I can assist clients in digitizing photos, documents, and even videos. This not only saves physical space but also makes sharing family memories easier. If you live far apart, you can use a Skylight frame to send your photos directly to family to view.

  • Sustainable Decluttering: As a professional organizer, I advocate for sustainable decluttering methods, such as donating, recycling, or repurposing items. This approach can align with the millennial ethos of sustainability.

  • Creating Memory Boxes: Suggest creating small memory boxes for items of sentimental value that don’t necessarily fit into your daily living space. This can be a compromise between keeping memories and maintaining a minimalist lifestyle. Though keep going through your box periodically and if things are added, remove others.


Understanding a millennial mindset towards possessions can greatly enhance the effectiveness of professional organizing efforts. By recognizing the values and preferences of a generation, I can offer tailored solutions that respect their desire for minimalism while preserving family memories in a meaningful way. As we navigate these generational shifts, it’s important to approach the task with empathy, creativity, and a forward-thinking mindset.


Embracing this change can help not only in decluttering physical spaces but also in fostering deeper connections and understanding between generations, while creating more lasting, meaningful memories together. So, let’s get started and Organized By JJ can help create organized, functional and enjoyable spaces!

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