You know the expression ‘the more the merrier’? Well, throw it out.
There are so many reasons why minimalist living is trending right now, particularly among millennials, the generation currently aged between 18-34. For starters, living in a minimalist environment will automatically make for a less stressful life. Clutter and disorganisation are inadvertent stressors while white space is the visual equivalent of having room to breath; a way to still your mind and produce calm thoughts.
Because they are calming, minimalist homes are also more aesthetically appealing. Consider the images see in an interior design magazine. Regardless of how the rooms are actually decorated, much of their beauty comes from the use of space as opposed to ‘stuff’, with clean lines and just a few key pieces of beautiful furniture and artwork. So, no, you don’t need to throw out all your vintage pieces and replace them with sleek and modern furniture because any kind of home can be minimalist, it’s just about living without extra weight.
Living without extraneous material items can, for many, be like losing an anchor you never knew was tying you down. Minimalism has even been linked to having positive effects on one’s mental health, including lowering levels of stress as well as a providing a heightened ability to appreciate life. Whether you approach minimalism as a complete lifestyle or just as an interior design aesthetic, embracing it will reap positivity on your everyday living.
And finally, minimalist homes are easier to maintain. The more stuff that you stuff into your home, the more objects you will have to dust, hoover around, sweep behind and dig through when looking for something you need.
Keep it light
While dark colours are a little trickier to create a minimalist effect with, that doesn’t mean you need to paint your rooms light. White and light earth tones automatically create a sense of openness but if you have dark walls don’t worry, you can create ‘white space’ even with the darkest shades.
Effectively, you can create ‘white space’ by making space that is bare and clear of extraneous visual noise.
Find the white space in your home by having a spring clean and ridding yourself of everything that you don’t love, need or use on a regular basis. And make sure to utilise windows and natural light to your best ability.
Keep it small
Another key to minimalist living and interior design is to keep things as compact as possible. Don’t try and cram a super king bed into a relatively small bedroom and expect it to feel airy and spacious. Minimalism is small by definition so don’t let any individual pieces of furniture overpower the space. Try and find the balance between all the room’s players whether that’s a potted plant or a piece of artwork on the wall.
Keep it essential
‘Essentials only’ is the key to minimalism. Once you’ve made your rooms as simple as possible by utilising white space and keeping it small, you’ll be better able to determine what should be stored away and what should be on display. A good tip is to return to a room every few days with fresh eyes and a ruthless determination to get rid of one more item.
Except for the furniture, keep your floors bare. And except for one (maybe two) pieces of choice art, clocks or decoration, keep your walls as bare as you can too.
Keep it stored
Invest in some hidden storage units and get organising. Unless you definitely use something on a daily basis, for example, the toaster in your kitchen or the lamp on your bedside table, then put it away until you need it next.
For bedrooms, storage units that slide in and out from under the bed are very useful. For the rest of the home, minimalist baskets, boxes and shelves as well as drawers and cupboards should all be utilised in your decluttering efforts. Not only will your home look clean and tidy, it will keep you more organised and allow you to determine what you actually need to keep and what you could live without.
