It’s been said that the less material possessions you own, the happier you will be. With the current trend of the minimalist movement, people are getting rid of items that do not bring them joy and getting rid of the clutter that consumes them. It isn’t an easy process to create a minimalist home, but it can be done with patience and determination.
The first step is to fully commit to living a minimalist lifestyle. That means going through all of your possessions and thinking seriously about what you need and what you can do without. To achieve a minimalist home in your new lifestyle, there are five things you should do.
Start With Just One Room
Now that you’ve committed to creating a minimalist home, it’s time to get to work. No matter how big or small your home may be, it’s intimidating to go through every single thing you own. So, take that overwhelming feeling and tuck it away. Start with just one room and go on from there. It may take a few days or a few weeks, but you can achieve a minimalist home.
Clear Off All Surfaces
When you walk into a minimalist home, you’ll notice that there isn’t clutter sitting on tables and countertops. That means getting rid of those decorative knick-knacks you found at a flea market and the candles you never burn. Take each object and consider if it truly makes you happy. If it doesn’t, get rid of it!
Now, that doesn’t mean your surfaces have to be completely empty. That would just be boring. Take a note from some minimalist decorators and add a simple lamp or bowl to your coffee table if you feel so inclined.
Go Through All of Your Belongings
While working on your designated room for the day, go through all of your belongings that live in that room. That means clothing, books, DVDs, pictures, notes, etc. Leave no stone unturned when it comes to creating a minimalist home. This is the time to get rid of things you haven’t used in months and things you forgot you even owned. This is not the time to get sentimental about that pet rock you made in kindergarten, unless it truly brings you joy.
Going through your belongings is a great time to start a donation pile to give to other people who could use those items. When you purge a lot of the things you own, you will feel a weight lifted from your shoulders. You’ll breathe easier. You’ll more at peace.
Simplify Your Space
After going through all of your little knick-knacks and belongings, it’s time to think about your space as a whole. A minimalist home should be simple and only contain the essentials. That may mean getting rid of unnecessary furniture like hallway tables and cluttered wall shelves.
For example, your living area would have a couch and maybe a loveseat, an end table and possibly a coffee table. The entertainment unit should be very simple, small, and only hold your television and maybe some items on a single shelf. Get rid of those large decorative pillows and wobbly end tables. This will make your space feel bigger and achieve a minimalist home.
Add Accent Decorations
After going through your house and getting rid of probably more than half of what you own, it’s time to put together your new minimalist home. You may have to rearrange some furniture and rooms to make it look great and feel comfortable. However, it may feel a little empty now.
While a minimalist home doesn’t have a lot of clutter, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have any decorations at all. Add a large piece of wall art or simple lamps to end tables to spruce up your space. Decorate with light, neutral colors with accents of black or brown. This will provide a calm and clean effect to your new minimalist home.
Keeping Up with a Minimalist Home
The hardest part of achieving a minimalist home is over. Now it’s time to keep it that way. When you come home from a long day, go through your mail immediately. Don’t leave it sitting on the counter for days. Clean your dishes right after you use them. Clear off your counters before going to sleep each night. Lastly, think critically when buying something. Ask yourself if you really need it.
With these practices, you’ll keep up with your minimalist home and live a happy life.
About Agent Lady: Cherise Wynne is a leading real estate agent in Philadelphia, helping home buyers and sellers navigate the City of Brotherly Love, with a special focus on first time home buyers. To chat about getting started with your first time home buying experience, call 215-518-5193 or click here.
