My minimalist home doesn’t look anything like the aesthetic images you’ll find on Pinterest or Instagram. I don’t have white walls, modern furniture or neutral colored decor.
To me, a minimalist home isn’t about achieving a certain aesthetic or adhering to a set of design rules. It’s about curating a space that brings you a sense of ease.
In this post, I’ll be sharing my tips for creating a minimalist home that is both practical and comfortable, regardless of whether it fits into the picture-perfect aesthetic that is often associated with minimalism.
Let’s get into it!
How Can I Make My Home More Minimalist?
You can make your home more minimalist by simplifying your space to prioritize function and reduce unnecessary clutter.
The tricky part is that the words ‘function’ and ‘clutter’ mean different things to different people. You’ll need to think about what a functional, clutter-free space looks like to you.
Here’s my definition:
- Things are easy to find. There’s nothing worse than tearing apart your entire home every time you need to find something. To me, a functional space is one where everything has a place and is easily found.
- Areas have intended purposes. A functional home is one where there are intentional spaces carved out for relaxation, work and sleep.
- Space to boogie. I like to do an at-home workout every once in a while and don’t want to rearrange my furniture in order to create space. Having empty space in my home is crucial.
- Easy to clean: Like most people, I don’t want to spend hours a week cleaning my home. To me, a functional space is easy to up-keep.
- Less stuff: Clutter-free doesn’t just mean less visual clutter. Keeping surfaces cleared off and things tucked away in drawers doesn’t constitute as a clutter-free space in my book. A clutter-free space means owning less stuff.
With this in mind, let’s get into 15 actionable tips for creating a minimalist home!
15 Actionable Tips for Creating a Minimalist Home
Achieving a minimalist home can be challenging for those who are used to living with excess. My hope is that these 15 tips will make it a little simpler.
Whether you’re an aspiring minimalist or simply looking to streamline your living space, these tips will provide you with practical and effective ways to create a minimalist home that reflects your values and personality.
1. Embrace Negative Space
Embracing negative space in your home will have a big impact on how it feels and functions. Intentionally creating empty space will promote better flow, reduce visual clutter and crate a sense of spaciousness.
For example, clearing your kitchen counters of unnecessary appliances will leave more room for cooking and meal prep. Leaving open areas in your living room will make it easier to move around and use the space as intended.
2. Focus on Function
By prioritizing functionality in your home, you’ll curate a space that’s not only pretty to look at, but thoughtfully designed with items that you use and appreciate daily.
When creating a minimalist kitchen, it’s important to prioritize functional appliances over trendy, decorative items that take up counter space but have little use. When putting together your living room, you’ll want to hold onto furniture pieces that you enjoy using, rather than ones that are purely decorative. Yes, I’m talking about that funky accent chair you never sit in. Get rid of it!
3. Invest in Quality
While it may be tempting to purchase cheaper alternatives, investing in quality furniture pieces is key to creating a minimalist home.
Quality items tend to last longer, meaning you won’t have to replace them as frequently which will save you money, time and lessen your environmental impact.
Think about how much maintenance it takes to keep an old washing machine running. When you have high-quality tools and appliances in your home, they tend to work better and require less maintenance. This means less time spent fixing or replacing broken items and more time spent doing the things you love.
So, choose furniture pieces made from durable materials such as solid wood, metal, or leather will last for years to come. Avoid furniture made from fiberboard, pressboard, particleboard, or thin plywood.
Think of investing in quality items as a form of self-care. When you surround yourself with items that you love and are of high quality, you’re creating a space that reflects your values and priorities.
4. Stop Replacing
In a society that promotes constant consumption, it can be hard to resist replacing things, regardless of the condition they’re in. Creating a minimalist home will require you to rewire this conditioning by focusing on the quality and longevity of the items you already own. When creating a minimalist home, you want to close the revolving door that our homes and closets often are. Make it your goal to break the habit of donating and getting rid of perfectly good items, to buy new ones you don’t truly need.
Doing so will save you time and money. Plus, by making a conscious effort to hold onto the items you own for as long as possible, you will develop a profound connection to them. This fosters a sense of gratitude for what you already have.
5. Create Systems
Creating a minimalist home is a two step process: decluttering and maintaining.
To maintain a clutter-free home, it’s important to have systems in place. Systems can streamline your daily routines and ensure that everything in your home has a designated place and purpose. They can also help with upkeep.
One system you could implement is a “one in, one out” system. This means that for every new item you bring into your home, you must get rid of something in its place. This can prevent the accumulation of items, and ensure that you only keep things that you truly need or love. But remember, only replace things if they can’t be repaired!
Another system to consider is grouping items by category. Keep all your cutlery in one drawer, your toiletries in one cabinet, and your office supplies in one desk drawer. This makes it easier to find things when you need them.
6. Notice What Your βGo Toβsβ Are
When creating a minimalist home, taking stock of your “go-to” items can provide valuable insight into what is truly essential to you. Consider, for instance, the collection of mugs in your cupboard. If you find yourself consistently reaching for just your favorite, it may be a sign that you only need one.
Taking note of your “go-to” items can also help you uncover patterns and habits in your consumption. Armed with this knowledge, you can make more mindful and intentional choices about the things you choose to bring into your home. For instance, if you find yourself continually drawn to your darker linens, it’s clear that you’ll want to invest in more of those in the future, rather than hoarding unused white linens.
By becoming attuned to your “go-to” items, you can create a home that is both functional and mindful of your needs.
7. Don’t Stock Up
When creating a minimalist home, avoid stocking up on things you won’t actually end up using. Stocking up may give you a sense of security and preparedness, but in reality, it often leads to clutter and waste. Plus, the items that you aren’t using are taking up valuable space that can be used for things you actually need!
Instead of stocking up, focus on buying only what you need, when you need it.
8. Stop Collecting
It’s time to let go of the collectable trinkets that have been occupying precious space on your shelves!
The act of collecting can become a habitual behavior, and before you know it, you may find yourself surrounded by all sorts of things you don’t need or use regularly.
One way to break this habit is to let go of the idea that physical possessions are the only way to remember special moments. Instead of buying souvenirs or holding onto concert tickets, find alternative ways to remember these memories. Taking photographs or keeping a travel journal is a great way to preserve memories without cluttering your physical space.
9. Don’t Buy Multiples
When creating a minimalist home, it’s important to resist accumulating multiples of things. While it might be tempting to buy every color of your favorite sweater, in reality, you’ll probably end up wearing just the one in your favorite color anyway.
Before you make a purchase, take a moment to consider if you really need it. Is it worth the extra expense and clutter? By adopting this mindful approach and avoiding the urge to buy multiples, you can cultivate a minimalist home that is free from excess and clutter. You’ll be left with only the things that truly bring you joy and serve a purpose.
So next time you’re about to make a purchase, think twice. Challenge yourself to only buy what you truly need and what you know will add value to your life. This way, you can create a home that feels intentional, comfortable, and uniquely you.
10. Break the ‘Single Use’ Mindset
Creating a minimalist home is about more than just reducing the number of possessions you have; it’s also about rethinking the way you use the items you do have. One way to do this is to break the ‘single use’ mindset and opt for items that serve multiple purposes. By doing so, you can streamline your possessions.
When we fall into the trap of only using an item for its intended purpose, we limit its potential usefulness and end up buying more than we actually need. For instance, a water kettle is designed for one purpose only – to boil water – and while it may be convenient, it takes up space and adds unnecessary clutter to your home. Instead, consider using a pot on your stove to boil water.
Another example is the bath mat. Bath mats are notorious for becoming moldy and dirty over time, and often need to be replaced frequently. By using a small towel instead, you can easily wash it and even use it for other purposes in your home.
By breaking the ‘single use’ mindset, it will encourage you to get creative with how you use items in your home. This will make a huge impact on the number of items you own.
11. Get Rid of Furniture That Encourages Clutter
Certain furniture pieces can become sneaky clutter culprits in your home. Nightstands and coffee tables are especially notorious for becoming dumping grounds for various items, from half-read books to random trinkets.
Instead of clinging to these pieces out of habit, consider if you can live without them. Can you replace your nightstand with a simple wall shelf that only holds the essentials? Or perhaps you could swap your bulky coffee table, which has become a catch-all for magazines, remote controls, and other clutter, for a simple side table or ottoman?
By getting rid of furniture that encourages clutter, you can create a minimalist home that is both functional and practical.
12. Rent Before You Buy
Renting before buying can save you money, time, and space. When it comes to hobbies or special events, it’s especially important to consider renting as an option.
Let’s take skiing as an example. Skiing is a fun hobby, but it requires a lot of equipment. Buying all of this equipment can be expensive, especially if you only ski once or twice a year. Renting allows you to enjoy your hobby without needing to own and store bulky equipment.
Similarly, you might need a fancy dress or suit for a special event. But buying a new outfit every time can take up valuable closet space. Luckily, there are plenty of resources out there for renting special occasion clothing. For example, Rent the Runway allows you to rent designer clothing for a fraction of the cost, while also freeing up valuable closet space.
13. Know Your Spending Weaknesses
Earlier on, I mentioned the importance of maintaining your home after you’ve decluttered. The only way to maintain your clutter free space is to stop accumulating more stuff.
Knowing what your spending weaknesses are is essential to cutting this bad habit. If you can’t go into a thrift store without buying something, avoid them altogether. If Amazon is your achilles heel, delete the app to eliminate the ease of one-click purchasing. If you find yourself making impulsive purchases, don’t automate the checkout process by allowing your phone to save your credit card information. Sometimes, the simple act of typing in your credit card information is enough to realize you’re making a purchase you’ll regret.
Knowing your spending weaknesses is essential when it comes to creating a minimalist home. When you have a clear understanding of what triggers your impulse to spend money, you can take steps to address them.
14. Stop Chasing a ‘Minimalist Aesthetic’
When creating a minimalist home, it’s important to avoid fixating on a particular aesthetic. It’s easy to get caught up in the idea of a “perfect” minimalist home. But it’s important to consider if the pursuit of a particular aesthetic is worth sacrificing practicality. For instance, a white couch may look stunning in a minimalist living room, but it may not be sustainable for a household with young children.
Additionally, building your living space around a specific style can be limiting in the long run. Our tastes evolve over time, and what we find aesthetically pleasing today might not be the same tomorrow.
Instead, it’s better to prioritize functionality and practicality when creating a minimalist home. This means filling your home with items that serve a purpose and add value to your life, rather than solely focusing on their appearance.
15. Avoid an ‘Out of Site, Out of Mind’ Mindset
Let’s talk about the advice of keeping countertops clear in a minimalist home. It’s a great idea, I even brought it up earlier on, but what happens when we take it too far and adopt an “out of sight, out of mind” mindset?
When you hide clutter away in closets and drawers, you’re essentially sweeping your problems under the rug (or in this case, into a cabinet). By tucking things away you may end up accumulating a bunch of stuff you don’t need because you don’t have to look at it all the time.
That’s why it’s important to store your belongings in a way that it is visible and easily accessible, rather than just hidden away. So, go ahead and clear those countertops, but also make sure you’re not hiding your clutter away in the process.
In Conclusion
Creating a minimalist home isn’t about getting rid of stuff to make your home look picture perfect. It’s about curating a space that is clutter-free, functional and easy to maintain.
Here’s to creating an intentional living space for you and your family!
Natalia G. says
Love your website! Great content with easy to apply tips!
Always look forward to your new articles!
Thank you.
Natalia
barefootminimalists says
Hi Natalia! Thank you so much for reading π
An exception to a rule: Buying high quality furniture. When we retired we sold our high quality furniture to move into a motorhome and go traveling. (Too expensive to store it.) Years later, when we came off the road, we needed to buy new furniture. But, we are old–our furniture doesn’t have to last for years since our only child (we don’t have grandchildren) doesn’t need it either. So we bought just the pieces we needed from IKEA and had it delivered. Easiest move we ever made.
Hi Linda! That’s such an excellent point! I love that you were able to part with all of your furniture when you decided to start traveling, that’s not easy. I hope you enjoyed life on the road π
I am enjoying your posts. However the bath mat. Home goods had some bath mats on clearance 100% cotton. I got several. I use them for bath mats, dish mats etc. Re the electric kettle. We use the kettle for hot drinks, hot water bottles, to boil water for cooking, ( the electric is used is cheaper than the gas stove ) etc. I wouldn’t be without it as it’s the cheapest way to heat water.