The following contribution is from another author.
Making your home minimalistic is a struggle, even for the most clutter-free of people. Your house is a place where you put all of the stuff that you’ve collected over the years, from fridge magnets that you’ve purchased during your time abroad (and those fridge magnets you’ve received despite never having visited said place) to all of those clothes that you haven’t worn in the last three years. In short, our homes are full of things that define us, and we create spaces that reflect our personalities.
However, there is something to be said for minimalism. If you’ve ever moved house, you will know exactly what we mean, as you are packing your belongings into boxes whilst also questioning a) where was that hiding for all of this time? and b) do I actually need all of these things? We’ve put together a simple list, for those looking to live more simply, without all of those belongings that aren’t serving a purpose anymore!
Keep the essentials
The first step – and undoubtedly the most important one – for anyone looking to implement a little bit of minimalism into their homes, is to go through all of your stuff, and decide what you actually need. A good way to do this is to ask yourself whether the item is an essential, and whether you have used it in the past month or so. If you haven’t, then you’re probably not going to need it. We get caught up in this idea of keeping things because we think that we might need them one day, but more often than not, this just isn’t the case. If it isn’t an essential, and you don’t use it, it may be time to say goodbye!
Stick with classic decor
As human beings go, we can be a pretty materialistic bunch. We end up buying things that we put in our homes for a few months, and when we decide that they are no longer fashionable, we’re more than willing to just stick them in the trash. Trends change so much that we are constantly buying new things, and filling our homes with the latest obsessions that line the magazines (or your Instagram feed). Instead of doing this, stick with a timeless look throughout your decor, so that you don’t feel inclined to keep changing it up. Some looks just never age, and they will look great in your home for years to come.
Buy resilient pieces of furniture
When you’re looking to decorate your house on the cheap, you sometimes spend your cash on pieces of furniture that aren’t of very good quality. The leather may be peeling away from your couch, and your desk has taken on that unique look best known as ‘wonky’. If you want to ensure that you have a minimalistic home, with no need to keep buying more and more stuff, you could benefit from taking a trip to a local furniture store and asking them which pieces will last for many years, whilst also carrying a timeless look with them. Don’t go for cheap things if they’re no good; invest in something that is good quality, and will last.
Get rid of the ornaments
OK, hear us out on this one. There is nothing wrong with having a few ornaments on your window sills and shelves, but some people out there have taken paperweight hoarding to the next level. The most annoying thing about having too many ornaments is that you will always be dusting, and it just makes your home look like it is a lot smaller than it actually is. Decide on a few things that really have meaning to you, and give the rest to a thrift store. You really don’t need to keep all of these things if they are just collecting dust, and they may not look great with your decor, either, so don’t just keep them all!
Have a one in, one out policy
We’ll give it to you, this sounds a little authoritarian. But if you’re going to keep your home as minimalistic as you want it to be, you need to have some control over how many new objects you are bringing into it. Sure, you just got rid of a lot of stuff, but as you walked around the thrift store, you found another ornament that would look just great in your home. It’s OK to buy this if you want to, but only do so if you’re willing to say goodbye to something else. Stay on top of these things, and be strict with yourself if you can. You’ll live to regret it if you’re having another major declutter only a month or so down the line.
Invest in some houseplants
We know what you’re thinking, ‘should I really be bringing anything new into my home?’ However, houseplants are definitely worth investing in, as they will clean the air in your home, and they also make great focal points for any minimalistic space. You can get rid of a lot of your stuff and have a bit of a crisis, as your home looks like nobody actually lives in there, but houseplants are a great way to keep up this look, without bringing in something that is just going to collect dust and bring nothing to your home. Sure, they take a little bit of maintenance, but this should be OK if you stick with the ones that are easier to look after.
So…
If you’re looking to make your home a minimalist haven, there are many ways that you can do this, from sticking with some classic decor and furniture to having a one in, one out policy. The best thing to do, though, is to ask yourself whether the items in your home are really bringing you happiness, and whether they are useful for your day-to-day living. There is no use in keeping things that aren’t bringing anything to you, so be strict about this! Enjoy your minimalist home, full (well, kind of) of those things that you love.
