With so much recent talk about boosting your mental health and focusing on self-care, it’s hard not to mention minimalism. Less to focus on brings a greater sense of peace and freedom. Less to clean, less to organize, and even less to move if the situation arises.
Some of the most prevalent benefits to living minimally are reduced overwhelm, increased energy, and it inspires less comparison. With benefits like these, how can you not want to transform your lifestyle? Keep reading to find out how to get started.
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Set Your Ground Rules
Minimalist living can look different for everyone. Maybe you choose to have a set number of belongings or maybe you choose to downsize your home to take up less space in the world. Or, maybe you just want to clean out the clutter and call it good. Whatever you decide, make your rules and stick to them so you can focus on achieving your own goals, not trying to hit the goals of others.
Eliminate Large Furniture
Large furniture quickly takes up space and makes a room feel small. Use smaller furniture and the least amount possible. You’ll also want to stick with solid and plain patterns that are cohesive with your other furniture and decorations.
Remove Items from Surfaces
It’s easy to collect knick-knacks and store them away on the coffee table or fireplace mantle. Minimalists do the exact opposite. Clear your surfaces of such clutter to make the space feel clean and simple. The less there is for your eye to look at, the more minimal your space will become.
Get Rid of Anything Unnecessary
Are you holding onto items “just in case”? These are the items that you should probably get rid of. Especially if you can’t remember the last time you used them. By going through the KonMari method, you can easily get rid of the items that aren’t necessary for survival.
To do this, Mari Kondo recommends going through one category at a time and placing everything from that category into one room. You can then look through to find duplicates, making it easier to get rid of things.
Simplify Your Decor
Bulky decorations aren’t your friend when trying to create a peaceful, minimal living space. Try minimizing the number of decorations you have, while sticking with the simple ones. This can be a few pictures hung on the wall or a plant or two to give your space some life.
Avoid Patterns + Use a Color Palette
In no time at all busy patterns can make your space feel cluttered. Opt for plain designs to keep your space cohesive and simple. Choosing and following a color scheme can help you determine what will look good with each other. A minimalist color palette should help you feel calm, so choose colors like blue and green, while avoiding oranges and reds.
Use Out-of-Sight Storage
Similar to having clutter on your surfaces, bins or baskets filled to the brim can make a space look messy if not placed properly. Cleaning up a shelf with some bins may be a good idea to make the shelf look more simple, however, if you can see inside the bin it won’t help you much. Instead, invest in some out-of-sight storage like under-bed compartments or shelving for your closet.
Creating a minimalist living space has lots of benefits. Not only are you able to spend more energy on things that matter like family and friends, but you also can spend more time doing things you love. Eliminating clutter gives you time back in your day to do the things that count. You also leave yourself with fewer small decisions throughout the day, giving you the brainpower to make the big decisions better.
