Minimalism. It’s not only a buzzword in interior design and decorating, but it’s also a full-blown lifestyle. Netflix’s “Tidying Up,” a new series that revolves around the importance of de-cluttering your home, has been making waves in the news recently. Even long before this show came into existence, people started welcoming the idea of living the minimalist lifestyle with open arms. And it’s no wonder why, as living with less stuff has immense benefits for your mental health.
Today, we’re going to talk about those benefits, as well as 10 tips and tricks to help you embrace minimalism in your home, especially in homes where space is hard to come by.
The Benefits of Going Minimal
What makes people stressed out? Clutter. That’s why many psychological experts say that keeping your living space clean can help keep your mind free of stress.
Think about it this way. If you’re trying to have a productive workday, whether in the office or at home, which environment are you more likely to thrive in? A messy, cluttered space where you can’t find a pen to jot notes down, or a neat, tidy space where you can easily get what you need when you need it without any unnecessary distractions?
In addition to this, minimalism allows you to keep your space cleaner, easier. When you have less stuff in your home, the less you have to keep clean and the less complicated it is to clean around everything. Now, you don’t have to live in a home with no furniture or decor, but sometimes getting rid of a few of your accessories around the house can bring a whole new feeling and vibe to your home.
Tips for Embracing Minimalism
Clean Out Your Wardrobe
Going through your closet and getting rid of clothes that you don’t wear anymore is the best way to get in the minimalist mindset before moving on to your home as a whole. Yes, it can be tough to get rid of that sweater that has sentimental value, but if you don’t wear it, then all it is doing is taking up space. Donate or sell it and move on. The best way to go about this is to organize your clothes into three piles: ‘must haves,’ ‘maybes,’ and ‘don’t need.’ Once you have these three piles, go through the maybes and get rid of 1/3 of those. What you have left should be more than enough, and you’ll feel refreshed with your new wardrobe and extra space in your closet!
Only the Essentials
Moving on to your home, go through your space and try and eliminate anything that doesn’t bring value to your life. In other words, find the non-essential items and get rid of them. For example, a lamp that you never use or dishes that never leave the cabinet. Anything and everything is fair game for this one. Again, don’t be afraid toss the sentimental items, especially if you never use them.
Create a Neutral Base
White, grey, and beige are some of the most common choices for homeowners who want to minimalize their home. This is because these colors, and others like them, create a sense of calm to go with the clean, fresh look that they give off. So, break out those brushes and a new can of paint.
Fewer Pieces of Furniture, the Better
As you’ve noticed, a common theme of minimalism is getting rid of things you don’t need. That giant L-shaped couch that no more than two people use at a time? That can go. Any other piece of furniture that takes up space and doesn’t get used a lot should be taken out of your home. Remember, the less furniture, the better.
Multi-Functional Furniture
Multi-functional furniture is the perfect furniture for those with the minimalist mindset. It allows you to take up less space in your home while knocking out two birds with one stone in terms of functions. For example, check out this coffee table created by Daniel Pearlman that seamlessly incorporates a side table and armchair.
Store Stuff Out of Sight
Out of sight, out of mind, right? Storing your leftover items, such as your books, in places that can not be seen unless you open a door, will help create that simple, limited design that you want with minimalism. Even if you still have a decent amount of stuff (which is fine, because you shouldn’t get rid of everything you own when going minimalist), by storing it out of sight, you can still give off the appearance of limited stuff and clutter.
Bare Walls
Bare walls are another feature that you will constantly see throughout homes that embrace minimalism. Similar to the neutral base, bare walls help exude clear, calm, and simple feelings when in the home. Of course, for those of you who love to decorate your walls, you can still do that. Just make sure you use simple artwork and decor. Along with this, you should still leave a few walls completely bare.
Work With a Professional Remodeler and Designer
Sometimes it’s best to get some assistance from the pros, and at construction2style we can help bring your dream home to life. Contact us today to get started and check out some of our past projects for inspiration! We love helping homeowners get the most out of their living spaces and our passion for creating exceptional homes is rivaled by few.
Cover photo by Roman Bozhko on Unsplash
