Minimalism is a movement that should be adopted by everyone. Our relationship with items and buying is not only hurting our budget, but it is also hampering our ability to be happy, and it is hurting the environment. Every time you go out and buy something new, especially if it was not sustainably sourced and produced, you are hurting the environment. It is because raw materials take up a lot of resources and then they produce a lot of waste. Our unhealthy addiction to stuff is killing our planet, and it isn’t making us happier.
Placing More Value On What You Own
Adopting a minimalist lifestyle doesn’t mean that you need to throw out all your things and live a utilitarian lifestyle. All it is asking is that you place more emphasis on what you do own. Ask yourself what truly gives you value in your life? If you have an addiction to buying clothes, take a long hard look at your closet. It is estimated that we only wear a fraction (20%) of our wardrobes. With the exception of a few formal pieces, what are you keeping the rest for? Go through your home and ask yourself if each item you are looking at gives you value. If you aren’t sure, try the sticker method. Similar to how companies determine whether a tool is useful in a workspace, the sticker method will have you place a sticker (for example, a colored dot) on the item you are unsure about. If you don’t appreciate it, use it, or otherwise forget about it during a three-month duration, you know you don’t truly care for the piece.
Fill your home with what actually matters to you, and you will be surprised at how free you can feel. Remember, however, if you can find ways to make better use of what you have you should always take it. Refurbishing an old dresser is better than buying a new one for your budget and the environment.
Preparing Your Home for a Minimalist Décor Scheme
Once you clear out the things that don’t matter to you, you might realize your property feels quite barren. This, in turn, can mean that you notice problem areas that were easy to ignore before. That is why the second step to minimalizing your life and your décor is deep clean. It means getting into every nook and cranny, using Technicare Carpet Cleaning services, and even going around your home with a paintbrush. You don’t need to paint your home white to achieve a minimalist design scheme, but you should aim to make appropriate touch-ups to keep your home looking spotless.
Living a minimalist lifestyle means looking at what you own and asking yourself if you truly value it. It means asking yourself whether you truly need something before you buy it. It means breaking up with the purchasing habit and living only with the things that matter most to you. Do this, and you will be more free, happier, and live a better life.
Delicia Warren is a freelance writer, passionate about the environment, organic farming and food production. An advocate for a holistic approach to the world’s problems, she has a particular interest in the small changes individuals can make to their lifestyle to minimize their environmental footprint.
