A clutter-free home makes it easier to lead a less stressful life – and adopting a few (or many) minimalist principles is one of the best ways to accomplish this. Best of all, it’s an easy and affordable style to maintain! So, if you’ve been looking to simplify your life and feel a little more “zen”, we have a few tips.
Get Clutter Off All Your Surfaces
If you check out the surfaces in a room at any given time, chances are there is a lot of needless clutter. Decide what items don’t need to be out in plain sight and what you could get rid of because it’s non-essential. Also, identify some of the most common contributors to cluttered surfaces:
- Sinkfuls of unwashed dishes – Washing your dishes right after use will eliminate a lot of kitchen clutter. You’ll also feel better coming home to a clean kitchen, rather than stacks of dirty plates.
- Piles of unread mail – Having to sort through a week or month’s worth of mail takes a lot more work than dealing with it on a daily basis. Scan and make digital copies of essential information and recycle or dispose of what you don’t need.
- Too many unnecessary impulse items – Buying things you don’t need on impulse and letting others unload their unwanted stuff on you contributes to a lot of clutter, often very quickly. Giving yourself a minimum of 24 hours to decide whether to buy something that’s not necessary and drawing a line against people “gifting” stuff to you will eliminate a lot of needless items in your life.
Use a Neutral Base Colour
Subdued, neutral colours and even the buzz-generating greige are good choices to consider. The more light the room boasts, the more your choices will stand out. Consider enhancing the overall look with solid shades of any of these colours:
- Green
- Tan
- Blue
- Earthy tones such as brown, copper etc.
Make the Quality Matter More Than Quantity
One of the challenges and advantages of the minimalist design is having to think through every purchase a lot more carefully. Because you’ll be putting more thought into what you add to the space, you’re less likely to make rash decisions. The result is a space that is far more satisfying.
The pieces of furniture that you buy should also fit into this mindset. After all, you want anything designed to go with this look to stand the test of time. You’ll have less motivation to fill your valuable spaces with things that are not worthy of the time or attention.
Apply the One In, One Out Rule
This practical philosophy suggests that something should go out for every one thing you bring in. One way this rule is especially helpful is when you’re trying to keep clutter out of smaller spaces that tend to fill up quickly. Also, consider designating a specific day out of each week to get rid of clutter in one area like a closet shelf, kitchen cabinet, or junk drawer.
Make Use of Different Textures
Using a variety of textures will add plenty of personality to the neutral tones for any room in your house. Keep the colours used within the same range as your base colour, using different shades. Some examples of different textures that can work nicely include:
- Velvet decor items
- Sheepskin or cowhide rugs
- Beaded throw pillows
- Knitted or crocheted throws
Keep Your Storage Attractive
Even in the most orderly house, you’ll still have countertop areas that have some straggler items sitting around. Nice-looking storage options not only add to your home’s minimalist look, but can also serve as a motivator to start putting things away when you’re not using them. After all, you don’t want to let an attractive cabinet or organizer go to waste by piling a lot of stuff in front of or on top of it.
The central premise of minimalism is keeping things simple, and this is more than a good decor style. It’s also a good philosophy for life in general. The main thing to remember is that it isn’t about making life or your home boring, it’s about making sure you get the most enjoyment out of everything by eliminating what adds little or nothing to your life.{{cta(‘3e68da81-ffb4-406e-994d-8d9c95a15e9a’,’justifycenter’)}}
Photo credit: woman chair, minimalistic room interior