The minimalist lifestyle continues to gain popularity as more and more people find freedom in living with less. The trendier the lifestyle becomes, the more questions people have. One of those questions being, can you be a minimalist in a big house?
Can You Be a Minimalist and Live in a Big House?
Yes, you can be a minimalist and live in a big house!
Sure, minimalists have a reputation for living in busses and tiny homes. But, you don’t have to live in a small space to be a minimalist.
Minimalism is not one size fits all. The lifestyle can suit any living situation.
If you do live in a big house, you’ll just need to be more intentional with what you bring into your home. You’ll have to be mindful not to fill the space you have with things you don’t need.
Someone with a small house simply doesn’t have space for a lot of stuff. This limiting factor can be super helpful when living with less.
Here’s another question people have about minimalism: since minimalists don’t need lots of space for their stuff, why would they live in a big house in the first place?
Why Would a Minimalist Live in a Big House?
There are plenty of reasons why a minimalist would choose to own a bigger home.
I currently live in a 1,008 sqft, 2 bedroom 1 bath house with my partner. This might not seem like a big house at all, but considering we were living in a 306 sqft apartment just a year ago, the new space feels massive.
Why did we choose to upgrade? His job.
My partner works as a night nurse which means he works all night and sleeps all day. We needed a spare bedroom where he could sleep so that I would still be able to access our main bedroom during the day. Plus, I’m apparently a ‘loud walker’ and we figured the larger space would help with the noise.
A job is just one reason why a minimalist would want to live in a bigger house.
Some minimalists choose to live with roommates and need a larger house to accommodate everyone. Some have a family or plan to have a family and need the extra rooms. I’ve even heard of minimalists living in large houses because they got a really good deal or they fell in love with the location of it.
Needless to say, there are many different reasons why a minimalist would want to live in a big house.
Whether you’re a minimalist thinking about moving into a big house or someone living in a big house considering becoming a minimalist, here are some tips and tricks to help you with your minimalism journey.
Let’s get into it!
How to Live in a Big House as a Minimalist
Below are 10 simple tips for how to live in a big house as a minimalist.
1. Set Minimalist ‘Rules’ for Yourself
If you’re moving into a big house as a minimalist, set some rules to keep yourself accountable.
For instance, limit the amount of home decor you buy, purchase all of your furniture at a thrift store or only own appliances that have multiple uses.
Setting rules that limit the amount of stuff you own is a good way to keep your space minimal.
2. Embrace Empty Space
Resist the urge to fill every empty space in your home with stuff. It’s okay to keep your walls bare or leave a room empty.
If you’re having a tough time embracing the empty space, try to change the way you view it.
Instead of viewing a bare wall as boring or unwelcoming, notice how spacious and open it makes your space feel. If you see the beauty in owning less, you’ll want to keep it that way.
3. Don’t Feel Pressured by Family and Friends
When a small space is minimal, most people overlook it. They’ll see the space as tidy or put together.
However, when a big space is minimal, it’s a lot more obvious. The bigger your house is, the more obvious it’ll be that you’re a minimalist.
When people start to notice that you’re a minimalist, you’ll inevitably get some negative reactions.
Some people in your life will think minimalism is weird. They’ll question why you chose to leave rooms empty or why you don’t own certain things that most people have. Ignore them!
Don’t feel pressured by family and friends to change your lifestyle.
Over time, people will stop commenting on how minimal your space is, but initially, you’ll have to do your best not to let the comments get to you.
4. Limit Your Decor
When decorating your space, limit the decor to functional pieces and pieces that lye flat against a surface (like a rug or print).
Decorating your space with things that you use but also find beautiful is a good way to liven up your space without having to own things that are purely decorative. I leave my guitar out on display in my living room for this reason.
I also decorate my space with rugs and prints because they don’t add any clutter.
Limiting the type of decor you allow yourself to bring into your home is a good way to stick to your minimalist goals.
5. Limit Your Furniture
When furnishing your place, limit the amount of furniture you own.
Avoid owning furniture that encourage clutter, like nightstands, bookshelves or coffee tables.
Only own furniture that you actually need. Don’t own a desk just because you feel like your space won’t be complete without one. Only buy one if you know you’ll use it regularly.
Lastly, if you own your home, consider installing built in storage. This will help you limit the amount of furniture you’ll need.
Need some more inspiration? I wrote an entire blog post about owning furniture as a minimalist and the benefits of furniture free living. Click here to read it!
6. Only Own What You Need
This point is simple but often neglected. Only own what you need.
No matter how big or small your house is, make a conscious effort to let go of the things that you aren’t using.
I had a major reality check when I moved across the country last year. Even as someone who strives to live minimally, I still accumulated so much stuff that I didn’t know I had.
When packing up all of my belongings, I had to clear out cabinets and drawers full of random trinkets and keepsakes. I’d held onto festival wristbands, concert tickets and old grocery lists.
The bigger your house is, the more places you have to put things and forget about them. That’s why it’s important for you to be conscious of what you hold onto.
7. Audit the Influencers You Follow Online
If you’re taking to the internet for home inspiration, make sure that the social media accounts and Pinterest boards you follow inspire minimalism.
It’s easy to get caught up in the latest home decor trends. And it can be tempting to buy stuff you don’t need because your favorite accounts are sharing it on their feeds.
Audit the influencers you follow online and unfollow any accounts that make you feel like you don’t have enough. It’ll make a huge difference!
8. Change Your Collecting Habits
I touched on this point earlier, but you’ll want to change your collecting (and shopping) habits if you want to maintain your minimal space.
Stop shopping impulsively and be conscious of collecting things that you don’t need. If you don’t change your shopping and collecting habits you’ll find that the amount of belongings you own will continue to grow.
9. Don’t Accept Gifts You Don’t Need
Sometimes, accumulating stuff isn’t a matter of shopping impulsively. You may be accumulating stuff because you are receiving gifts you don’t need.
If you want to be a minimalist, you’ll have to tell your friends and family not to give you materialistic gifts. The hard part is, this may upset them. Telling them what you would like to receive instead may help.
Ask them to donate to your favorite charity, take you out for a nice dinner or buy you a concert ticket instead.
10. Don’t Compare Yourself to Other Minimalists
Lastly, don’t compare yourself to other minimalists!
The minimalist lifestyle is for anyone who wants to live with less. Don’t compare yourself to van life minimalists, minimalists who live out of a single backpack or live in a tiny home.
If you live in a large house, know that you can be a minimalist too! There’s no universal minimalist rulebook. So long as you are consuming intentionally, you can call yourself a minimalist.
To Wrap it Up
Yes, you can be a minimalist and live in a big house. It’s all about being intentional with what you choose to own.
Are you a minimalist out of necessity or is it a choice you make? Let me know in the comments!
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