I've lived in a 325-square-foot tiny home for 6 years. It's helped me stay clutter-free, and I have no plans to move.

• I moved from a 500-square-foot apartment to a 325-square-foot tiny home.
• Living in a small space has forced me to embrace the minimalistic lifestyle I always aspired to.
• Here are some of my tips on how to stay organized and clutter-free.

My life was upended when the compound I lived in was sold to developers. I'd been in the same apartment in West LA for 10 years and was given four months to move myself and a decade's-worth of belongings elsewhere.

Finding a similar-sized apartment for a similar price, however, wasn't an option. Rent prices were double what I'd been paying in my rent-controlled place.

Instead, I landed on a tiny home nestled in a canyon against the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. There was a big trade-off though: I was downsizing from living in a 500-square-foot space to 325 square feet, so I had to do an aggressive purge.

The process wasn't easy. I had to let go of some of my favorite treasured thrifted pieces of furniture, dozens of books, and my entire record collection.

Six years later, I'm still in the same tiny home. I do think about moving to a larger space, in the end, though, I have no plans to immediately move because this home helps keep me honest about what I truly need and has taught me how to declutter and fully embrace a minimalistic lifestyle.

Here are some of the tricks I've learned to keep my life clutter-free.

I make a point to declutter throughout the year

To avoid small mountains of stuff, I purge year-round to keep my belongings to a reasonable amount.

However, a few years ago, I was having problems locating items in my closets and cupboards. My home was also feeling smaller after getting into sticker collecting during the pandemic.

So, I worked with a professional organizer who tasked me with going through all of my belongings — clothes, books, bathroom and toiletries, and sticker collection — to make room for the items I truly love and enjoy. I don't think I have much stuff, but it adds up quickly.

The organizer gave me great suggestions on how to keep my items more visible, such as using clear, stackable containers for storage.

She also recommended I use a black, opaque bag when purging clothing. That way, I won't hesitate to donate clothing I no longer want or need.

I implement the 'one in, one out' rule

Another one of my minimalistic strategies is the "one in, one out" rule where for every item I bring in, I try to give or get rid of a comparable item.

For example, if I purchase a few pieces of clothing and a pair of shoes, I'll commit to getting rid of the same amount of old clothes and shoes taking up space in my home.

To help me get rid of items more freely, I regularly offer my stuff on my local Buy Nothing Group, where members can gift and receive items for free. It gives me joy to know that the things I no longer want are used and enjoyed.

I keep my collecting hobbies to a minimum

Over the years, I've tried to squeeze a small drum kit, electronic piano, and makeshift YouTube studio (complete with lights and a greenscreen backdrop) into my tiny space.

Long story short, it didn't fit but the attempt made me more realistic about my time and capacity for hobbies.

So, when my neighbor offered me their used guitar, I was able to say no, knowing that I didn't have the space for it nor the time to learn how to play.

I try to avoid stress shopping

I tend to shop when I'm feeling bored, stressed, or anxious. To curb the urge, I'll shop for groceries that I know I'll use up quickly over retail items that'll just take up space.

I also try to avoid browsing online at my favorite retailers while working on my computer.

I've aspired toward living a minimalistic lifestyle for years but it wasn't until I moved into my tiny home that I fully embraced it.