Nowadays, minimalism is one of those famous words that is being thrown around everywhere.
Some people hype it so much, that scares other people into thinking that they may not be able to achieve minimalism in their life.
It is not that complicated and anyone with the right mindset can achieve minimalism. Whether in their home or in their minds 🙂
Okay, so what is minimalism?
To put it simply, minimalism means "letting go". Yup, that's about it. Letting go of the unwanted and keeping only the bare minimum that is required to pursue your life without major inconveniences.
It is psychological as much as physical. We get attached to a lot of things in life and hold on to them so dearly without realising the negative effects they are having on us.
Whenever my husband said why can't we change the couch into a smaller one, I would say, well others might think we couldn't afford to have a nice couch, that's why we have got a small one.
I would hang on to a really old purse that I bought on vacation when I was 15 years old. Thinking those are memories and I must hang on to them. Trust me, you don't need to hang on to any of them.
In fact, when you finally let it go and get rid of them, you will feel as if a huge weight has been lifted off your head.
Alright, now let's get into the five simple steps you can take to achieve a minimalistic home. It worked for me and I hope it will work for you as well.
Take one step at a time
The whole point of minimalism is to destress you. So take it slowly, one step at a time. Some people get over-enthused about minimalism and get rid of a lot of things so quickly and then regret it. They usually go back to the old ways pretty quickly, as getting rid of things very quickly is not sustainable. Achieving a minimalistic home will take time. Slow and steady, wins the race 🙂
Get rid of the extras
Start with getting rid of the extras. Now the most important point here is to mark something as "extra" truthfully. You will have to put the emotions to one side and think logically when determining which one is actually extra, that doesn't add any value and just occupies space that can be utilised in a better way. Get rid of those ones first. It doesn't matter how big or small the thing is. Holding onto a top you've had since high school can be sentimental, but trust me, you do not need it.
Utilize storage
Think of all the empty spaces in your home that can be utilised in a better way. Like under the bed, guest room or space in the garage. Get some clever storage options like rolling storage bins and shelves to put things out of sight. If you don't use it every day, it must go into some sort of storage.
Pick brighter colours
Sometimes a minimalistic home might look empty. A good way to trick the eyes into thinking that a room has more space is to use bright colours wherever possible. Whether it is by choosing brightly coloured paint for the walls or bright coloured quilts and cushions.
Don't think about what others might think
This is the most important point of all. Do not ever think about what others might think. It applies to a lot of things in our lives, not just when it comes to having a minimalistic home. A lot of times we make decisions based on what others might think when in fact, no one has the time to think about anything else other than themselves. And even if they do, who cares.
Do what makes you happy and do not worry about what others may or may not think.
Switch down to a smaller house or a car if need be. Replace expensive, bulky furniture with something that is useful and elegant. Don't buy things just to keep up with the Joneses.
Be simpler and lighter when it comes to both physical and mental things. Let it go.......
P.S. If you are looking to refresh your home with some handmade quilts and cushion covers, please check out our products by clicking here
