Being a minimalist is easier said than done. The basic concept of minimalism is reducing your possessions to focus your attention on belongings and activities that bring you value. If there’s an area in most people’s lives that’s cluttered; it’s their house. Drawers, storage containers, and closets are packed with unwanted, unused items. So, how can you minimize it?
To become a minimalist in your home, try the minimalist game. All you have to do is remove an item per day. On day one, toss one item; Day two, two things, and so on. Next, find a decor scheme and throw away everything that doesn’t match. Get rid of anything that doesn’t bring you value.
Throughout this article, you’ll learn the following details about how you can become a minimalist in your home:
- Three steps to declutter your life at home and add value
- Tips to get over the inevitably worry of losing something you might use
- How to keep your house feeling homey without adding clutter
1. Try the 30-Day Minimalist Game
Minimalism is a cakewalk for some people, but for others, it’s one of the most challenging problems in their life. Nobody enjoys clutter; It seems to find us before we know how to control it. However, there’s a quick trick that you can try to keep your home life contained and entertaining at the same time: The 30-Day Minimalist Game.
The Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn, and Ryan Nicodemus are two of the main figures behind the mindset. They have a website, books, seminars, and all sorts of helpful information to allow new and old minimalists to achieve their preferred lifestyle. The 30-Day Minimalist Game is their most basic, relaxed, and easy-to-follow process for anyone’s home.
Here are the rules:
- You have to get rid of one item around your house for every day of the 30-day challenge. Try to get everyone in your family involved in the process. It’s easy for the first few days, but it gets much more difficult as time goes on. For example, day five requires you to get rid of five items; day twenty requires twenty things, and so on.
- Figure out how you can sell, trash, or donate every item. The goal isn’t to hoard everything in a storage unit. You have to get rid of it while trying to help people in your life or those in need. Selling and donating are the best two options since other people get to benefit.
- See who can make it the furthest. Make a prize for whoever gets to 30 days to incentivize the game. Remember that the reward shouldn’t be a material possession. Consider trips, gas gift cards, and other prizes that bring value without adding more clutter to your home.
- When you’re finished, share your journey on social media. Take before and after pictures. Show people that they can declutter their lives and enjoy minimalism around their home and throughout their workweek. Who knows? You might become richer, financially, and emotionally.
As you can see, it’s a simple game that anyone can try. While you’re supposed to get rid of everything you don’t need, you must keep the belongings that genuinely bring you joy. For example, if you enjoy playing instruments, keep them! Minimalism should be used to highlight your hobbies and passions by decluttering everything else.
2. Find a Decor Scheme and Stick with It
Most people who are concerned about trying minimalism worry because they don’t want their house to look dull. You’ve probably seen countless pictures of minimalist interior decor schemes that are covered in gray and white. If you want more color and flavor in your home, you can still be a minimalist.
The best way to get around the problem is to come up with a decor scheme. What minimalist colors do you prefer? Do you like certain houseplants? Figure out what suits your style, and don’t stray from the path. It’s easy to find a few extra items that you think you need, but they’re a waste of time, money, and space in reality.
If you’re not able to change your entire house (which is a common issue, so don’t worry), Be More with Less suggests that you create a clutter-free zone. Whether it’s a table, room, or half of the building, you could start by making sure that nobody allows clutter to show up. Keep it clean, and you’ll soon see how easy it is to spread minimalism throughout your home.
Some of the nicest, fanciest, and most beautiful homes in the world incorporate minimalism. By removing extra bookshelves, beanbags, side tables, and other items that get in the way, it brings attention to the rest of the things.
Think of at-home minimalism as a painting; The fewer items there are, the more attention people pay to each structure. It’s easy to get lost in the clutter, but when there are only five or six pieces of furniture in a room, it’s much more relaxing and enticing.
If you want to learn the final (and perhaps the most useful) step of becoming a minimalist at home, proceed to the next section.
3. Only Own What You Use, and Use What You Own
The core of minimalism, regardless of where you are, is to focus on what you enjoy. If you’re worried about minimizing your belongings at home, you should start by finding the few items you never use. Everyone knows something around their house that’s always in the way.
Here’s a list of possibilities to get you started:
- Look through cabinets and drawers. These places are often the most cluttered. You could begin with paperclips, old sticky notes, unused mugs, and so on. Cleaning and decluttering these two areas is the #1 suggestion by countless long-term minimalists.
- Clean every room in your house. This step might sound silly, but you’d be surprised how easy it is to declutter and reduce your belongings when you see a fresh slate. Make Space points out that a clean room shows you where you can reduce to find out what you really need.
- Get a garbage bin and fill it up once per week. You could choose a day, like Sunday, when most people are off. Focus on one room, fill the bin, then go to the next room the following week. Don’t leave or do anything else until the bin is full. It’ll motivate you to get rid of what you don’t want and get back to enjoying the weekend.
- Commit to a designated number of items. If you’re a shoe fanatic, then commit to tossing two or three pairs. You’ll be forced to choose which ones you truly enjoy and which ones aren’t at the top of your list. Here’s a helpful tip: If you have a pair of shoes that only match one or two outfits, they’re not worth your time!
So… Essentially Here’s Where You Can Start
Becoming a minimalist at home is easier than you might think. You don’t have to toss everything you love. Minimalism allows you to concentrate on what you enjoy, so get rid of everything else. Start with small drawers and work your way to the closet, garage, and office space.
Here’s a rundown once more… just in case you skipped it 😉
- Consider the 30-day minimalist game to make it a bit more entertaining.
- Create a decor scheme to match your preferences. It’ll highlight the beauty of your home.
- Don’t buy anything that you won’t use. What’s the point in spending money that you earned?
