I love looking at images of minimalist spaces—so clean, fresh, and inviting. Of course it helps when these images are from expensive spa interiors or million dollar homes where professionals use materials, design, and expertise to create these havens.
Luckily, there are things I (and you too) can do, to create a calming minimalist aesthetic and these 5 minimalist lifestyle tips will lead the way.
Here are 5 Minimalist Lifestyle Tips to create a home that feels nurturing, calm, and inviting no matter how big, how fancy, or how expertly decorated your home is.
Notice Random Things
This is the first tip for a good reason. If you can train yourself to notice random items that are lying around your house, you will be able to get rid of things on a consistent basis. The more you get rid of stuff, the easier it becomes and the more stuff you’ll want to get rid of. A wonderful cycle of shedding what you don’t need or want has begun!
Eventually you may get to the point where you only have what you need and want. When you get there and you see that you aren’t accumulating more stuff—congratulations!
But until then, notice random things and take note of how they made their way into your house.
Did someone give you a gift?
Are your kids bringing home stuff from school and just leaving them wherever?
Do you have stuff you are giving away but don’t know where to store it until you can drop it off?
If you have kids, you will probably find a lot of items lying around that you want to keep but simply aren’t in their proper place. Notice these things too, so you can retrain your kids or come up with a different solution.
Use Plants Wisely
There are many reasons to decorate with plants, from better air quality to a sense of peace that many people feel when a piece of nature is in their space. And you’ll certainly see plants in beautiful images of minimalist houses online.
If you’re going to decorate with plants, keep a few things in mind.
- Choose plants that grow well indoor.
- Think about how you will potentially move them to get more/less sunlight if needed.
- Check to see that the plant will not harm any animals you have if they eat a leaf.
- Make sure to choose a pot that is the correct size that you really like. Think about how you will catch water if your plant needs frequent watering.
- Come up with a plant watering schedule so that your sweet plant doesn’t die.
Keep Flat Surfaces Empty(ish)
An easy tip to keep your space decluttered and clean is to treat flat surfaces like high rent property. Sounds weird, right?
Flat surfaces are clutter magnets.
After all, you can’t put a stack of mail on the wall or throw your sweater on the ceiling. Flat surfaces like counters and tables are also “perfect” for displaying decorations. From picture frames to figurines to candles, flat surfaces can hold them all.
This makes cleaning flat surfaces difficult. It also means that it’s easy to put way too many things on them. And that can easily make our space feel cluttered.
Make flat surfaces off-limits so that your space stays organized and looks good. What do you do with all the stuff that currently lives on your counters and tables?
More than likely most of the items will disappear when you:
a.) put stuff back where it belongs
b.) dedicate space to something that doesn’t currently have a designed spot
c.) Get rid of things you really don’t want.
When you’re done, you should just have a few things on your flat surfaces. Items you have intentionally placed there. To keep it that way, train yourself to notice random things (sound familiar) that end up hanging around these areas and take care of them right away.
Actually Decorate
Some people love to decorate. And then there is the rest of us.
If you fall into the later camp—that’s where I live—this tip can make a big difference in your life. I don’t really decorate. I may haphazardly put up a picture or put something that kinda works on a shelf.
But I seldom purposely go out and buy or make things that I love to put in my house. If I really feel like I need something I usually grab the best thing I can find at Target. And I seldom even do that.
The nice thing about minimalism for us non-decorators out there is that you don’t really have to do much decorating. If there are a few places in your house that feel empty in a not-so-good-way, take time to think about what you would like to put there.
Do not do as I do and rush to Target.
Actually take some time to find something that adds to your space, something you love.
When you do this, you are being intentional about what you allow to be in your home. You may also find that you are more eager to get rid of things you don’t love because you are now motivated by the joy you get from the items you have purposely surrounded yourself with.
Focus on your Kitchen
Since the kitchen is a central hub of the home, keeping this area minimized will give you a big boast. It may take a while to get into the routine but having a kitchen that is organized, clean, and ready to be used at all times will give you a minimalist high!
Tips #1 & #2 are from Joshua Becker, a well-known voice in the minimalist world, and it has revolutionized how I take care of my kitchen.
Follow these tips:
- Put away all appliances when not in use.
- Wash, dry, and put away dishes right after using them.
- Wipe down counters after each use.
- Train your kids to load all dishes in the dishwasher—no dirty dishes by the sides of the sink.
- Refuse to let clutter live in the kitchen—see flat surfaces above.
- Take stuff off the refrigerator so the doors and sides are relatively clear.
One thing to remember is that the key to success for many of these minimalist lifestyle tips is routine. You want your house to feel fresh and warm everyday, not just on housekeeper days or on the days you declutter.
Try out these minimalist lifestyle tips and work on making them routine in your life. See if you enjoy your space more and continue to build on this success.
Did you try any of these tips? If so, which ones made the biggest difference?