Have you considered downsizing to a smaller home, or just clearing the clutter and living more simply in your current one? Then adopting a minimalistic mindset may be a wonderful option for you!
Minimalism is the process of cutting any of the extra stuff around your home in order to maximize peace, tranquility, productivity, and living with intention. Incorporating minimalistic elements into your home helps reduce stress, makes cleaning easier and quicker, and helps you regain control of your life in a way that is best for you. You may be imagining cold, white-washed, bare walls and negative space, but in reality, you can make a minimalist impact in your home that suits your preferred color and design preferences. This still gives your home character and personality, without the feeling of a sterile, unlived-in home.
Keep reading below for a guide on how to get started!
To start your minimalism project, there are a few things you need to consider, as well as questions you should ask yourself to determine if minimalism is right for you. Note that the minimalist aesthetic varies somewhat from the personal ideology of minimalism, however, they can be used together to clear the clutter from your home, and in your life. As a plus, cutting the clutter and putting the practice into action can make selling your home easier when it’s time. It can also help greatly if you’re someone who tends to lose things a lot, or if you’re renting and ready to move and find a permanent home, making packing up and going easier and less time-consuming.
Questions and Tips You Should Consider:
• Why do you want to start on a path to minimalism?
Are you moving soon? Soon to be an empty-nester or downsizing your space? Opening up your world to frequent travel and world experience? A hectic and busy work schedule where all you want to do at the end of the day is come home and relax without worrying about cleaning everything up or seeing clutter in your peripheral? Spend some time pondering the WHY of adopting a minimalist aesthetic and lifestyle to ensure it works with your unique personality and life goals.
• Are you willing to let go of nearly everything you don’t need to have a fulfilling, wholesome life?
Can you part with certain sentimental items you hold dear, or at least pare down that which no longer serves you or brings you joy?
• Consider your partner, spouse, and children. Are they on board with your choices and decisions?
Can they stick to minimalism, or at least put some tactics into place? If not, you may need to start by adopting a minimalist lifestyle within yourself and what you own, and understand that other family members may not be as dedicated to the cause as you are. You can still practice minimalism for yourself, such as clearing out clothes, papers, clutter, and other things you own that you’re ready to part with.
• Can you commit to spending a little time each week to clearing the clutter from your home?
This means creating a regular tidying-up schedule and taking baby steps on your path to freedom from material items. Don’t try to do it all at once or you may find yourself overwhelmed and have a difficult time starting the process.
• Determine how much you want to clean and how to maintain it.
Consider your current schedule, lifestyle, family needs, and needs and determine if it’s realistic for you to begin. It’s okay to take it a little at a time; the goal is to de-stress and de-clutter your home, not make it an overwhelming project that gives you anxiety! Be kind to yourself and realize that you don’t have to do it in a strict and set way and that it’s okay to do what you realistically can. You’re only human after all!
• Be intentional about adding and removing items to your home.
It’s not necessary to give up everything in one fell swoop. Strategize and hold yourself accountable; ask yourself if you really need something before you buy it. Consider removing one item you no longer use anymore and replacing it with a new item. Be intentional about how you want to use or enjoy a particular item. For some tips and ideas on setting intentions for your new lifestyle and aesthetic, click here.
• Browse social media or décor and organization blogs or magazines to help you develop and showcase your personal minimalistic aesthetic.
If traditional minimalism is too cold and uninviting for you, consider bending a couple of styles and choosing your favorite elements. For example, consider crossing boho and minimalism to create a combination of both; warmth, personality, and a de-cluttered, well-intentioned space. Another way you could bend the aesthetic is by crossing it with rustic farmhouse and minimalism. The possibilities are endless!
• If your budget allows, consider downsizing furniture and replacing current pieces with pieces that feature additional storage or features that can help unclutter your home.
In addition, opt for timeless, high-quality furniture that will last many generations. An example is investing in a trundle bed with storage and ditching the bedroom set that doesn’t offer you a place to put your things. Another example of this in practice is replacing a side table in your living room that only has a surface and replacing it with one that offers hidden storage and ports to charge devices or a pocket to put small items such as remotes or video game controllers.
• Create a system for managing paper clutter.
Paper clutter is arguably one of the most frustrating, and common sources of clutter in our lives and homes. Consider making the switch to electronic bills and credit card statements, and have a dedicated space to place mail so it doesn’t pile up on the desk in your home office. This can help cut down more clutter than you think and is often safer than leaving papers with identifiable information such as social security numbers, bank account numbers, or other sensitive personal information that an identity thief could steal from you.
• Get started!
For more information on how to begin your minimalist lifestyle, click here for a great resource to help you get started.
