More and more people are embracing a minimalist lifestyle for the good of the home and the mind. Anyone can introduce more minimalist habits into their home; it doesn’t have to be a huge shift, as even the smallest efforts can make a whole load of difference. Being minimalist doesn’t mean that you deny yourself treats or rewards for working hard and earning your money. It simply means you only buy the things that truly matter, rather than wasting money impulsively.
What Does it Mean to Be Minimalist?
Embracing minimalism isn’t about sacrificing anything you need or making huge cutbacks. It’s about living with only the things you need, rather than indulging in every whim to buy everything you want, regardless of whether you truly need it or not.
When it comes to the home, living in a minimalist way can make an extraordinary difference, both to your bank balance and your everyday state of mind. It’s easy to get bogged down by material things and buy more than you need.
Living in a minimal fashion at home means spending money only on those areas you need and embracing less is more by having quality and attachment with the things you do have. It means putting yourself first, rather than a wealth of material possessions.
So if you’re finding that you have a full home cluttered with items you would rather live without, or maybe you just want to strip everything back and learn more about how to be minimalist going forward, then let this guide help you.
8 Tips for Making Your Home More Minimalist
01 Don’t Try to Do Everything at Once
It’s great if you have made the decision to go more minimalist. However, this can be a hugely overwhelming task and your home won’t be transformed overnight.
Start with one room at a time, or with small decisions as you go along. If you have a room you would like to redecorate or declutter, then this can be a great starting point.
You can sort through your belongings and decide which items you want to keep, while donating unwanted items to charity. You could even hold a yard sale to raise money.
02 Invest in the Structure of Your Home
A minimalist lifestyle is about looking after yourself before material things. When it comes to adopting this mindset for the home, it can be said that investments in the structure of your property as a whole lead to safer living and better peace of mind. Instead of spending money on a large number of possessions which you don’t need, quality investment in making sure that the structure of your property is cared for means peace of mind in the long run, and no excessive bills for constant repairs.
This means seeking a roofing contractor for any roofing updates that need carrying out, making sure that the walls of your home are protected against damage or mold, and being sure that the exterior of your property is protected against bad weather. These are sounder investments for the good of your own health and safety, rather than material items.
03 Think Carefully About Every Purchases
Impulsive buying is a minimalist’s worse enemy. Impulsive buying can lead to a host of possessions and material items that in a few months’ time you might wonder why you bothered to buy at all.
When you’re considering your next purchase, take some time before you commit. Sleep on it and see how you feel the next day. Do you really need the item? Are you still thinking about the item? Try to question every purchase you make and its role in the home. Consider whether it is something which is really needed and what type of reaction it would bring out in you to have in the home.
04 Reduce the Number of Specific Items
Going minimalist doesn’t have to mean eliminating a lot of items which you enjoy. It could be simply reducing their number. For instance, if you have a lot of artwork or paintings, you could think about investing more in one quality piece which you love more than other smaller pieces.
Perhaps you have too many items like kitchen gadgets, couch cushions, ornaments or anything which is cluttering your home. Try to eliminate excessive numbers so you’re left with one or two quality pieces of items you really want and need.
05 Leave Only the Essentials When Furnishing
Excessive amounts of furniture can easily clutter a home. Think about what you absolutely need when it comes to furniture. If you live alone and only have the occasional guest, think about a two or three-seater couch only, instead of a large corner unit and two armchairs, for example.
For the bedroom, invest in a comfortable bed and only the essentials you need, such as a dresser or one lamp.
For the kitchen, there’s no point outfitting the space with every example of kitchen equipment and gadget if you simply don’t use everything, or don’t need it.
Think about exactly what you need for your furniture and household items.
06 Think Quality Over Quantity
It’s better to invest more in dependable home pieces which you’re going to absolutely love, rather than risk constantly replacing items which aren’t up to standard, or which you weren’t fully certain about in the first place. Then you’ll be stuck with more items of low-quality nature, and perhaps items which you no longer want but don’t have the time or energy to get rid of. Quality in the first instance is always better than quantity.
07 Think About Storage
A minimalist living helps surfaces and floors to be clear so that it’s easier to manage and to clean. Storage is going to be a great help for the items that you do have and want to keep, as they can then be placed out of sight, leaving a clearer room.
08 Consider Plain Décor
A lot of minimalists embrace more neutral color schemes and less frequent patterns. Heavy upholstery, dark colors and excessively decorated features could serve to work against the clearer and cleaner space you’re trying to create.
There’s not much Lucy doesn’t know about her two passions: fashion & interior design! Having worked in the fashion industry for six years, she has a keen eye for all things on-trend, with a focus on new developments in both the interior design world and on the world’s catwalks.
