There is a reason why more and more people are striving to incorporate minimalism into different areas of their lives. Simplifying commitments, decluttering your home, and living with fewer possessions can bring wonders to your life. It is especially beneficial for people who have high levels of stress that is due in part to living in a cluttered, disorganized house.
While a minimalist lifestyle looks different for everyone, there are certain habits that can help ease your journey towards this lifestyle. If you are looking to incorporate minimalist aesthetics into your own home, this article is for you.
We outline pointers to help you effortlessly blend minimalism into your home:
Get tidy and organized
Minimalism is not only about keeping your material possessions to a minimum. It’s also about simplifying routines so that you are able to complete tasks without spending a large chunk of your time doing the chores and draining your energy in the process. When it comes to cleaning your home, the guiding rule is to care for the items you currently have and to keep them in top condition so you avoid buying new items to replace them every year or so.
A great way to simplify your home cleaning routine is to allow at least 10 minutes of your time per day to do a quick wipe of the kitchen countertop, to remove mildew from the shower curtains, or get rid of splatter in the bathroom sink. These tasks will not take you all day to finish, and yet you are able to maintain items at home and prevent buying new stacks every year to replace them. Another option is to seek the services of professional cleaners to supplement some of the work you do on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. For minimalist homes with fewer areas to clean, the rate for maid services can be lower, compared with huge residences with plenty of things to wipe clean, and more items to organize.
Evaluate your space
Take a look at the current space you have and try to imagine what can fit into this space without creating a cramped feel. While you’re at it, consider what minimalism means to you – does your goal revolve around doing a hardcore decluttering and consuming as little as possible, or do you simply want to live with intention by owning less material possessions? Ideally, the space you create will provide you with everything you need, and will exclude the things that you don’t. Use your individual definition of minimalism to guide your decisions on which items you dispose, and which ones you keep.
Experiment with colors
The conventional wisdom for choosing a color palette for a small space is to go for light colors to give the illusion of a larger room. While the myth about dark paint making an area look tight is not entirely true, you want to play around with new colors to see which colors are best to open up a room. As such, be smart about choosing colors for your living space, and evaluate whether deep colors in the interior make space look cramped.
If you want a minimalist feel at home, but is also a fan of dark colors, you can still make it work for your space. How do you do it? Simply choose a wall or one element in an area that you will paint with dark colors. You can paint a bookshelf with dark blue paint for example, and because dark colors give the impression of a larger space when done correctly, you are able to add depth to an otherwise tiny living area.
Curb your desire to hoard items
How many homes are cluttered with piles of old dresses, skin care products that are nearing their expiry date, and other items that just add to the mess? Minimalism involves living simply, and with fewer material possessions. As such, it does not only entail getting rid of items you don’t need, but also taking control of your impulse to buy and consume things just because they are on sale, or you think they are a cute addition to your house. One way to stop hoarding things is to do an inventory check of the items you already have. If you are going to a party and are convinced that you need a new dress, look through your wardrobe first, and ask yourself, “When was the last time I wore that dress?”. Chances are, you already have all you need in your closet, and you just need to be creative in the way you put together an outfit to fit the theme of the event you will be attending. Keeping a stash of basic style pieces will allow you to mix and match, and will help you avoid buying a new set of clothes every time.
Minimalism can be challenging when you come from a lifestyle marked by impulsive buying, and keeping a huge assortment of things you don’t really need. But once you develop an understanding of the peace and convenience that comes with simplifying your life, you may just find yourself having no desire to go back to your old lifestyle.
