Decluttering Tips: Maintaining Minimalism

Maintaining a minimalistic home can be such a relaxing and serene experience, as we generally prefer a place of peace and contemplation rather than clutter and chaos. Figuring out how to stay on top of the clutter so that we can maintain a more minimal vibe doesn’t have to be as difficult as one might initially expect, either. Here are few tips for maintaining a minimalist home.

Maximize Storage 

One of the most important steps for keeping a home feeling minimalist is to maximize your storage space. Having little to no storage is a sure fire way to encourage pile after pile of clutter around your home, as you simply won’t have anywhere suitable to put your stuff! Having accessible storage in every single room is key, but finding the right balance between functionality and minimalism is sometimes a challenge. Utilizing storage pieces that double up with additional functions can be a great way to work around this issue, as you can use a storage bench that is both storage and seating, or even a mirrored wardrobe that you can use to see your full reflection and store your clothes at the same time. The more storage space you have, the easier it’s going to be to keep those clean lines, clutter free.

Don’t Forget About External Storage

It’s all well and good filling your home with masses of storage, but if you don’t actually have the space for all of these wardrobes and drawers then the simple fact is that minimalism will be an unachievable feat. Thankfully, there are so many external storage options that you can make the most of to declutter without letting go of your possessions! You can hire out a self storage unit, storing your items away from your home so that you can free up masses of space. There are lots of shapes and sizes when it comes to self storage units, but a 10x10 plot would likely be a comfortable space to start out with. You may be thinking, how big is 10x10 when it comes to storage? Well, it’s more than enough to house boxes and boxes of smaller items like decor, along with several pieces of furniture too. You can easily head to your storage unit to take out or swap any items if you feel the need to do so, as your items will be kept in great condition under lock and key. 

Quality Over Instant Gratification

A funny story - but we went for a full year once without an electric kettle because the exact one we wanted wasn’t available. While boiling water on the stove wasn’t ideal, it worked well enough for us to wait to purchase the perfect kettle instead of going out to the mall to purchase the first one we saw, which we would have most likely wanted to replace the moment the one we wanted was available. Delaying purchases for the right item is an exercise in self control, but we think it’s always worth it. From opting for a pricier piece of furniture we’ll hold on to for years if not decades instead of a fast fashion dupe that will last a season, holding off for quality not only elevates a space, but it makes it a serene place of intention.

Learn How To Let Go

This is a real, learned skill that needs resharpening every once in a while. Many people have an issue with letting go of items that they have purchased or received, and this can translate into slow hoarding that fills the home with too much stuff. Learning to let go will help to move past this issue - but can be a serious a mental challenge. Accepting that physical items hold little essential value takes time, but once realized, leading a more minimal lifestyle becomes immensely easier - natural even. Learn more about HaulNJunk to see whether you might benefit from some additional help when it comes to getting rid of items you no longer feel that you need. You can choose to sell your stuff to fund your new and improved minimalistic interior design. if you have items that are worth a little money, as it makes more sense to give them a new life rather than taking them to the local dump.

The Holiday Rule

As the holidays are a time of excess, preparing ahead of time is a great way to maintain a minimalist environment through the chaos. From selecting old toys to give away as presents to make room for new ones to requesting replacement items or experiences over new things, finding a way to balance the influx with outflow is a lovely way to keep the holidays sane - and the home in tact for the New Year.

The Weekend Rule

One rule we’ve implemented in our own home that has made a huge difference is to remove an item every single weekend from the home. Whether this be a box in storage, a few old utensils, a sweater, or a toy, staying on top of what leaves the home is a great way to balance out what new items may be entering the home.