One thing about packing up your home and moving to a new place is that you’ll eventually come to a realization you’ve been dreading to admit: you have way too much stuff you DON’T need.
These items (or clutter, if you want the hard truth) weigh us down in our day-to-day lives, and it’s no surprise that most people strive to follow one of the biggest trends in home decor the past years have come to known, Minimalism.
Yes, Minimalism has grown to so much more than just a design style. In fact, it’s a full-on lifestyle change that has earned a worldwide following. And, thanks to Marie Kondo’s KonMari Method and the rise of tiny houses, the “living with less” method can be incorporated into our homes through minimalist living!
Are you ready for a new, simpler way of living? Here are nine easy tips on how to create a minimalist home!
Most often than not, the hardest part of minimalist living is not knowing where to start. It can be overwhelming to try to tackle the whole house at once, so it will be best to focus on one room at a time.
Have a go at the easiest rooms first, then use them as an inspiration for the other areas as you go through the rest of your house. You’ll find this to be the easiest way to start living less for sure!
Have you already chosen the room to focus on? A good approach is to start with the visible areas first. Large items like shelves and furniture, and clutter on the floor, should be on top of your list before moving onto hidden parts of your room, like drawers, cabinets, and closets. Doing so will help you monitor your progress as you go along and feel less overwhelmed with the number of items you’ll have to go through.
If you’re starting to declutter, a good rule of thumb is to keep only the items that you truly need and those that are meaningful to you. Move through your home and carefully assess each item, choosing which ones bring value to your life or distract you from it. Once you’re done, you’ll have lesser items and more space at your disposal.
It’s easy to get carried away with adorning your home, especially if you’ve been scouring local home goods stores and malls for beautiful items on sale. But, if you’re committed to a minimalist home, it’s best to limit your decorations to ones that hold value or meaning.
Effectively transform your home to a minimalist one by tidying up regularly. Remember that your home is a space continuously being lived in, so it’s inevitable to make a mess after a while. Develop good cleaning habits and do them religiously. It’s all about tidying up the spaces you have and knowing which ones need daily, weekly, or seasonal attention.
We know, we know. Buying fewer things in an age of constant and pervasive advertising can be a difficult feat. While doing so doesn’t require superhuman strength, fighting the urge to add “cool” stuff to your collection can be unbearable but possible, nonetheless.
Turn down advertisements as much as you can, whether it means unsubscribing from emails, watching less television, or throwing away junk mail. Rejecting materialism is one of the most important steps to a minimalist home, and it also lets you focus more on the items that are actually meaningful to you. Figure out what your taste is and what makes you happy in your space.
Despite the previous tips, minimalism doesn’t mean you can never go shopping for new stuff. It just means you’re more intentional with your purchases. Invest in quality home pieces that will last you a long time, even if it means it holds a higher price tag. Remember that quality items will help you save money in the long run by cutting down on frequent purchases, not to mention you’ll cut down on waste, too!
Do you have any products that could be reused? A simple change you could do is swap out your disposable water bottles for reusable glass bottles to cut down on single-use items. Using cloth wipes instead of tissues and kitchen paper towels is also a good practice to observe in your home.
Once you get into the right rhythm, it’s time to start giving every item a place. Get creative with your storage bins and organizers to ensure you’re able to store everything you need. If you start to notice that you’re losing space for your extras, it may be the right time to consider if these items are ones you need to keep. As your minimalist home falls into place, hold yourself accountable for putting away stuff once you’re through using them.