More and more people are embracing minimalism as a way of life. Faced with a world that as a result of consumerism is becoming increasingly unsustainable, daring to lead a lighter life is even a political position. And looking for a minimalist home is a big step towards a happier life.
But it is not always easy. Where to start? Implying?
If you want a minimalist home and a life less surrounded by things, this post is for you.
A quick guide to help you make the famous saying “less is more” a reality:
1. Stop hoarding
Before you get rid of the leftover things in your home, you must change your point of view. Otherwise, it will only be changing one thing for another.
Really think about what is essential for you. What things make you happy, and what things do you buy out of habit. From there, she begins to have a different attitude towards things.
If you see something you like in the store, ask yourself before you buy it: Does it really work for me? Does it have to do with what I want for my life? Is it something essential for me?
If the answer is “no”… Well, don’t buy it! It also applies to things that you find or are given to you. Yes, it’s ugly to refuse a gift, but if it really isn’t something that adds to your life, it doesn’t make sense to accept it either.
It’s not just about spending less: it’s also about having a less hoarding attitude towards things.
2. Get rid of what is useless
Once aware of the above, comes the second step, which is to start getting rid of things.
Everything that you have “just in case” but you never use, that old object that you are embarrassed to throw away “because you have had it for so long”, etc.
Also think that getting rid does not mean throwing away in all cases. That shirt that is like new but you never wore can serve someone else.
Everything that is recyclable can be reused (you or someone else can do it). Even expensive things that do not add to your life can be sold.
The question is to abandon all the things that take up space in your life and that really do not serve you at all.
3. Go one thing at a time
Here you have two options. The most classic is to go from one room at a time. Start with one area of the house, and start removing things from it until only the essentials are left. So, continue with the next.
Marie Kondo’s famous book, “The Magic of Order”, proposes another logic: start one thing at a time. That is, first the clothes, regardless of where they are stored in the house, then the books, and so on.
Use the method that seems most convincing to you, but be clear about one thing: having a minimalist home is going to take some time.
You do not want to do it all together and everything already, because it may not work.
4. Floor and furniture
The idea of a minimalist home is that it is well cleared. Therefore, you have to have the essential furniture and the floors well cleared.
It is no use having the floors clear and having a house that appears to be very free of things, if in reality you have a lot of furniture full of things. Therefore, for a minimalist home, having the right storage spaces is very important.
And so is having a visually clean space, so you must take care not to have a lot of things “stored” on the floor, whether in boxes, stacks, etc.
5. The decoration
Once you have achieved a home in which only the essentials remain, you can start thinking about decorating with a minimalist style. After all, minimalism isn’t just a way of life; it is, above all, an aesthetic expression.
Prioritize white and contrast with it, use straight lines, highlight geometry and look for furniture with simple designs.
If you want more ideas, you can read this post.
6. Embrace a minimalist life
Now yes, you have more or less the keys to start changing your life, and have a minimalist home.
But remember that this process is constant. All the time you will be receiving stimuli that lead you down the path of consumption, there will always be things that make you doubt.
Don’t torture yourself; this process will take a lifetime. Remember this and assume that, at some point, you will have to re-analyze how things are going.
But be sure of one thing: if you embrace the minimalist life, you will be much happier.
Sources:
The world
wikiHow