Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed by the clutter in your home? Are you constantly searching for things you know you own but can’t seem to find? If you’re nodding your head in agreement, embracing minimalism may be the answer to your woes. But here’s the thing: trying to turn a cluttered space into a minimalist home overnight can be just as overwhelming as living with all that clutter!
Fortunately, there are ways to sample a minimalist home before making a full commitment. Whether you’re new to minimalism or have tried an ‘all in’ approach that ultimately failed, these 15 ideas will help you simplify your space in a mindful and sustainable way.
What Makes a Home Minimalist?
Imagine a space where every item serves a purpose and brings you joy. A minimalist home is just that – a space that is clutter-free, intentional, and designed with simplicity in mind.
It’s not about living in an empty house with just a chair and a lamp (unless that’s what you’re into!), but rather, it’s about curating a space where you can recharge, relax, and connect with your loved ones without any distractions.
Benefits of Sampling a Minimalist Home
As nice as it may sound to free your home from distractions, committing to a minimalist home can be intimidating, especially if you’re used to having every kitchen gadget and piece of home decor under the sun. The good news is that you don’t have to go all-in right away. In fact, taking small steps to sample a minimalist home has tons of benefits.
Here are the benefits of sampling a minimalist home before you fully commit.
1. It’s More Sustainable
By sampling minimalist living before fully committing, you can find what works for you and be sure that it’s something you can sustain for years. Plus, it’s more sustainable for the planet too!
When you blindly follow a list of “minimalist essentials” and toss out everything suggested, you may get rid of something you actually still need. This could result in rebuying items, which uses up precious resources and adds to landfill waste.
So, instead of a hasty purge, declutter mindfully. Savor each moment of space you create and each item you let go of. It’s the sustainable and mindful way to a minimalist home.
2. It’ll Save You Money
Rebuying items is not only unsustainable, it’s also pricey! But by taking a slow and mindful approach, you can make more intentional decisions about what to keep or donate. By taking the time to evaluate what truly brings value to your life, you’ll be less likely to regret something you decluttered.
3. It’s Less Stressful
Picture this: you’re staring at a mountain of stuff, feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. You’ve set aside a weekend to declutter your entire home, but where do you even start? Don’t panic! Sampling a minimalist home instead can help make the process far more manageable. By experimenting first, you can avoid the stress.
4. It’s a More Personalized Approach
When it comes to simplifying your home, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. By trying out different approaches, you can find what works best for you and your lifestyle. These little experiments will allow you to test out different aspects of minimalism in a personalized way. Maybe a minimalist wardrobe makes you feel empowered, but getting rid of all your kitchen appliances makes you feel like you’re missing out on some serious culinary creativity. No problem! By sampling a minimalist home, you can tailor it to fit your lifestyle and preferences.
15 Ways to Experiment With a Minimalist Home
Ready to take the first step towards a minimalist home? Great! Here are some simple and actionable ways to experiment with minimalism in your own space. From decluttering your collections to simplifying one small area of your home at a time, these strategies will help you discover what works best for you.
Let’s dive in!
1. Focus on Not Accumulating More, First
Minimalism isn’t just about getting rid of things, it’s about changing your relationship with stuff altogether. If you’ve decided that you want a minimalist home, resist the urge to start tossing things out immediately. Instead, shift your focus to your shopping and collecting habits. If you don’t, you’ll find yourself right back where you started in no time.
Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do to change your shopping habits for good. For one, try experimenting with the “One In, One Out” rule for new purchases. The rule is simple – for every item you bring into your home, you must get rid of one its place. This can really help you get a handle on your collecting and shopping habits! I mean think about it – will you want to buy that new top if it means you’ll need to let go of one that you love in its place?
You can also take on a No Buy Challenge or try out a new money saving method! Saving more each month will leave you with less money to spend frivolously. Here are 10 money saving methods to try!
Remember, the first step to creating a minimalist home is to focus on not accumulating more in the first place.
2. Start a Decluttering Challenge
Starting a decluttering challenge is a fun and easy way to sample a minimalist home before fully committing.
Here’s how it works: challenge yourself to get rid of a certain number of items each week, whether that’s 10 or 20. This will help you build momentum and see the impact of decluttering on your home and your life. As you get more comfortable with the process, you can increase the number of items you declutter each week.
If you’re feeling up for a bigger challenge, give Project 333 or the Minimalism Game a try. Project 333 challenges you to live with only 33 items of clothing for three months, while the Minimalism Game has you decluttering one item on the first day, two on the second, three on the third, and so on for a month.
These challenges provide a great opportunity to see just how much you can let go of!
3. Experiment With a Capsule Wardrobe
Speaking of Project 333, another way to sample a minimalist home is to experiment with a capsule wardrobe.
A minimalist capsule wardrobe is a small, carefully curated collection of versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched to create countless outfits. By streamlining your wardrobe in this way, you can simplify and declutter your wardrobe.
If limiting yourself to 33 clothing pieces sounds too intense, no worries! There are many other ways to experiment with a capsule wardrobe. You can try embracing a “work uniform” or choosing your favorite article of clothing and wearing it all week long. Looking for 10 ways to sample a minimalist capsule wardrobe? Click here!
4. Experiment With a Capsule Pantry
Our wardrobes aren’t the only areas in our home that are susceptible to clutter. Our kitchen pantries can become serious clutter culprits too! By experimenting with a capsule pantry, you can see what it feels like to have a minimalist kitchen.
A capsule pantry is a pantry stocked with a limited selection of staple items that can be used to create a variety of meals. It’s all about simplifying your food choices and reducing waste. By focusing on staple items such as rice, beans, and pasta, you can create a variety of meals with minimal ingredients. This not only saves time and money, but it also reduces food waste since you’re using up ingredients before they go bad. Looking for other ways to create a more eco-friendly home? Here are 16 Expert-Approved Earth Day Tips for Going Green at Home.
5. Declutter One Room (or Area) at a Time
Decluttering your home can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be! Instead of trying to tackle your entire home at once, why not start with one room or area at a time? By focusing on one area, you can get a sense of how it feels to live with less without getting overwhelmed.
For example, you can start by reducing your kitchen clutter. Experiment with a capsule pantry, get rid of duplicates (like that second blender you’ve been holding onto), expired food, and items you no longer use. Simplify your cooking space by only keeping the appliances and utensils that you use on a regular basis. Clear your counters by getting rid of unnecessary appliances and utensils. These small changes will make a huge difference in the way your kitchen looks and feels!
Once you’ve tackled the kitchen, move on to another area in your home. Simplify your closet by letting go of clothes you haven’t worn in years. In your workspace, get rid of all the paper clutter!
Remember, decluttering your home should be a process, not an event.
6. Let Go of Things That Don’t Serve a Unique Purpose
If you’re curious about what it’s like to live in a minimalist home but not quite ready to fully commit, letting go of things that don’t serve a unique purpose is a great place to start. By narrowing your focus to this one category, you can start to experience the benefits of a clutter-free home.
You may be thinking, what items in my home don’t serve a unique purpose? One example may be your toaster! Sure, it’s convenient, but it only serves one purpose – toasting bread. And if you have an oven with a broil function, you can easily toast your bread without the need for a separate appliance. You’ll save counter space and have less crumbs to clean up!
The same principle applies to other items as well. Do you really need that fancy avocado slicer when a simple knife will do the trick? Do you need a separate blender and food processor when a high-quality blender can do both?
7. Limit Your Decorations
Decorations add personality to a space, but they can also add clutter. That’s why it’s important to be intentional about the ones you choose to keep. Keep only the ones that hold the most value and that you truly love.
Maybe you have a favorite piece of artwork that brings you joy every time you look at it, or a special vase that reminds you of a loved one. Focus on those items and let go of the rest. By limiting your decorations, you’ll create a more streamlined, peaceful living space. Plus, having fewer decorations means less dusting and cleaning!
Not sure where to start? Try limiting yourself to five decorative items per room. This will force you to be selective about the pieces you keep and ensure that each one adds value to the space.
8. Let Go of Decorative Furniture
Speaking of decor, letting go of decorative furniture is a great way to sample what it’s like to live in a clutter-free space.
A minimalist home is all about function and practicality. So, if you have furniture pieces that take up space and don’t add any value, it’s time to let them go.
Take a look around your living room. Do you have a coffee table that’s only purpose is to hold a book you never read? Maybe you have a large armchair that no one ever sits in or an ornate table that’s more of a dust collector than anything else. Whatever it is, if it’s not serving a practical purpose in your home, let it go.
9. Embrace Multi-Functional Furniture
Replace those decorative pieces with multi-functional furniture!
If you’re in the market for new furniture, look for pieces that serve multiple purposes – like a sofa bed or a coffee table with built-in storage. It’s the perfect way to maximize your living space.
Not only will multi-functional furniture save you space, but it will also help you simplify your home by reducing the need for excess furniture. Instead of cluttering your space with tons of furniture that only serves on purpose, you’ll make the most out of each piece.
10. Limit Your Storage Space
With this being said, it’s important to be intentional about the amount of storage space you have in your home. The more places you have to store and hide things away, the more stuff you’ll collect. Think about it this way – if you’re packing for a trip and have a huge suitcase you’ll inevitably find things to put in it. However, if you bring a small backpack instead, you’ll bring less simply because you don’t have the space for more.
Storage space in your home is the same way. If you have multiple dressers and tons of keepsake boxes, you’ll find things to fill those areas. By limiting your storage space, you’ll be forced to hold onto only the things that you truly need.
11. Let Go of Duplicates
Letting go of duplicates is a great way to sample a minimalist home. It’s an easy way to simplify your belongings with very little sacrifice. I mean, will owning 1 blender instead of two really upturn your life? Probably not.
Start by identifying the items that you have multiples of, like kitchen utensils, clothing pieces, or even books. Next, decide which ones you use the most and which ones are just taking up space. Avoid holding onto duplicate items ‘just in case’ the original one breaks. Instead, focus on taking better care of your belongings.
12. Declutter Your Collections
Instead of decluttering your entire home, start with your collections. Take a look at your bookshelves, closets, and other storage spaces. Do you have hundreds of books that you haven’t reread in ages? Maybe a collection of vinyl records you can’t even remember the last time you listened to.
By decluttering your collections, you’ll free up valuable space in your home. Plus, you’ll use the the things you chose to keep more, since they won’t be buried under a pile of clutter.
13. Cut Down on Paper Clutter
Piles of paper can quickly accumulate, taking up valuable space and making it difficult to find what you need when you need it. By digitizing important documents and files, you can reduce your paper clutter and streamline your life. Not only will you save space, but you’ll also be able to access your documents from anywhere, at any time, with just a few clicks of a button.
Consider investing in a scanner and paper shredder and start digitizing your important documents (the ones you don’t need physical copies of, of course). This can include everything from tax documents and medical records to old photos and sentimental letters.
Now, I know what you’re thinking – isn’t minimalism about owning less? Why are you suggesting I buy a paper shredder and scanner? You’re right, minimalism is about owning less! But, if owning a scanner and paper shredder can help you declutter hundreds of folders and papers then it’s worth it.
14. Digitize Your Media
Digitizing your media is another great way to sample minimalism in your home. Plus, in today’s digital age, it’s easy to replace physical media with digital alternatives. Whether it’s converting your DVDs, CDs, or books to digital formats, doing so will free up physical space and reduce clutter in your home. Plus, you’ll be able to easily access your favorite movies, music, and books from anywhere!
15. Simplify Your Cleaning Routine
Cleaning your home can feel like a never-ending task, with a dizzying array of cleaning products and appliances that complicate the process. By letting go of bulky appliances and replacing some of your cleaning products with a few multipurpose ones, you can simplify your cleaning routine and make it more efficient! No more cluttered cabinets overflowing with half-empty bottles and outdated gadgets – you’ll have just what you need to get the job done quickly and easily.
Consider replacing your bulky vacuum cleaner with a lightweight one that takes up less space. Or, get rid of your vacuum cleaner altogether and go old school with a mop and broom. Swap out your collection of specialized cleaning products for a few multipurpose ones that can do the job just as well. For example, a simple all-purpose cleaner can be used on a variety of surfaces, from your kitchen countertops to your bathroom tiles, and can save you both money and storage space.
In Conclusion
Creating a minimalist home doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing endeavor. By sampling minimalist living, you can find what works best for you. Whether you decide to declutter your wardrobe, simplify your cleaning routine, or downsize your furniture, every step you take towards a more intentional and simplified home will make a huge difference.
Natalia says
Love your article! So inspiring! Great ideas! Thank you!
barefootminimalists says
Thanks for reading 🙂