If your parents still live in the house you grew up in then you know that over time everything accumulates. Over the years the number of boxes containing Christmas decorations grows. The specialty cookware and equipment, some of it passing fads, continues to bulge out of the cabinet doors. The knick-knacks you received as gifts, picked up as souvenirs, or simply purchased as bargains continue to own your fireplace mantle, dining table, sideboard, bookshelves, and dressers. Does all of it ever overwhelm you? For some people, it overwhelms them so much they feel it becomes a distraction.
Younger people are opting to be different than their parents and grandparents. For younger generations, a minimalist lifestyle is a path to happiness. Perhaps you’ve taken notice of this approach and are considering doing the same. If that’s the case, you have a long but rewarding road ahead of you. Here are some tips for a home free of clutter and distraction.
1. Choose a Color Scheme
Though you can choose any color scheme you desire, many minimalist homes are designed with a lot of neutral colors and pops of bright and bold. The neutral colors will be easy, but deciding which bright and bold should take some consideration, including personal preference and the look you’re trying to achieve.
Imagine beautiful beige hand knotted wool rugs adorning your floor while planters in bold yellows, blues, and reds create stopping points for the traveling eye. You want to compile a scene that is visually welcoming and comfortable.
Once you’ve chosen a color scheme, you can start thinking about what you no longer need.
2. Be Prepared to Donate
The hard part for nearly anyone contemplating minimalism is the idea of letting go. The lifestyle guru Marie Kondo would tell you if it no longer sparks joy, it’s no longer worth having around. Someone else might say put everything in boxes and pull things out as you need them. After a week, anything that wasn’t needed remains in the boxes and gets donated.
There is no simple rule for deciding what to keep and what to let go of. Only you can decide what has sentimental value and what adds value to you every day. The only real rule is that by the time you’re finished, you should have plenty of boxes to take to your local charities and thrift stores.
3. Room by Room
Don’t try to attack the whole house at once. It will take longer to see your progress and you might become overwhelmed with the effort. If you approach it one room at a time, each finished room will inspire you to continue on.
Minimalism isn’t just about less clutter. It’s also about a cleaner look. As you work on each room, at some point have the room completely empty so you no longer see the old room but can instead visualize how it’s going to look.
Be sure to apply a fresh coat of paint and give the floors a good cleaning. If you don’t plan to replace your window coverings, at least wash them. Not only will your room look better, but it will smell better, too.
It’s okay if you keep mementos from your past, but choose to display them in an arrangement that is attractive and minimalistic. One suggestion would be to build a wall of cubes so that each item is at the center of its own clean space.
Transforming your home from a style that is French country or barnyard chic into a space that is a minimalist’s dream can seem like a daunting task. But as each room is completed, you should start to feel that you can breathe and relax a bit easier.
It’ll be tempting to make more purchases that would only return your home to the cluttered haven it once was. To help you resist this temptation keep photos of your home before the renovation to keep you inspired. You want to always enjoy this new sense of freedom you have achieved.
