Good morning! Today I have a great guest post from Tony who blogs over at You Only Do This Once. Enjoy!
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My family has been on a journey towards minimalism and simplicity in many regards; financially, work-wise, and with our home. With two kids (and the stuff that comes with them), this has been a challenge, but we have done a pretty good job.
We have gone through our home, one room at a time, and decluttered over the past few months. What’s left is a pretty “streamlined” and simple home with nothing in it that we don’t need. Since I believe that clutter actually takes up space in our heads as well as our physical space, I have found that a minimalist home has had a profound effect on my family’s life thus far. Here’s how I did it:
How to Begin to Create a Minimalist Home
Although I numbered these, there are no “steps”, per se. You just have to decide that you are going to pare down as much as possible. I don’t think I will ever quite “get there”, but here are some tips for anyone dabbling with the concept of minimalism:
- Try one room at a time. It’s overwhelming to try and simplify an entire house at once. Focus on one room, and then “spread the wealth” to others. I started with my bedroom; especially the closets. Use this room to inspire you to simplify the next room, and onward!
- Start with furniture. The fewer pieces of furniture, the better, for the most part. Think of which furniture can be eliminated without sacrificing comfort. Is there a piece of furniture you don’t even use? Consider removing it.
- Only what you need. When looking at stuff in a room, ask yourself if each item is truly essential. If you can live without it, get rid of it. Try to strip the room down to its essentials — you can always add a few choice items beyond the essentials later.
- Clear floors. Your floors should be completely clear. Once you’ve gotten your furniture down to the bare essentials, clear everything else on the floor — either donate it, trash it, or find a place for it out of sight.
- Clear all surfaces. All flat surfaces should be clear as well. This alone makes everything much more minimalist.
- Clear your walls. Clear your walls except for one or two simple pieces of beautiful artwork or mirrors.
- Store your stuff. Store everything you need out of sight, in drawers and cabinets. Bookshelves can be used to store books, but not much else. As you are storing stuff, this may be a good time to donate, sell or trash it!
- Investigate simple window treatments. Bare windows, or simple, solid colored curtains, or simple, wooden blinds are good.
- Subdued colors. Most of the room should be subtle colors – white is classic minimalist, but any solid colors that don’t stress the eyes is good. Throwing a tiny splash of bright color to create accent in small places is fine, of course.
- Edit and eliminate. After a couple of days, look at everything again. Ask a friend to take an objective look at the room. Most of the time you will find that there are things you can simplify even more.
- Find a place for everything. In a minimalist house, there is a place for everything. Designate a spot for everything in your home…even the coffee maker!
- Sit in the room and celebrate. Once you’ve simplified a room, sit and simply stare. Notice how peaceful the room is? It’s really a wonderful feeling.
As I said, I am on a journey toward minimalism; I certainly have not arrived! For instance, my dining room is the busiest place in our home. With homework, toys, and work stuff, I am long way from a minimalist dining area! My living room, however, is as simple as can be after I followed my own advice above.
Try one room at a time, and have fun simplifying your home!
About the author: Anthony MazzocchiA native of NJ, trombonist Anthony Mazzocchi has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, New Jersey Symphony, San Diego Symphony, San Diego Opera, Riverside Symphony, Key West Symphony, in various Broadway shows and numerous recordings and movie soundtracks. Mr. Mazzocchi serves as faculty or guest lecturer at The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Montclair State University, NYU, Mannes College of Music, and Kean University. He is director of Fine and Performing Arts in South Orange/Maplewood NJ, as well as serving as Executive Director of the Kinhaven Summer Music School in Weston, Vermont and Professor of Trombone at Montclair State University in NJ. Visit Anthony at weonlydothisonce.com.
A 30 something French girl embarking on a journey towards Financial Independence. I blog about money, travel, simple and deliberate living, freedom and choices.
You can find me on Twitter, Google+, or Reach Financial Independence's Facebook Page
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I had the opportunity to start fresh with my furniture when I left grad school. Nothing I had was worth the expense of moving, so I moved to my next location with nothing and bought all my furniture new (and as cheap as reasonable). Most of the above list fits how I bought things. One room at a time, a few pieces of furniture at a time starting with the most important ones. Overall trying to keep rooms clean and as open as possible. I didn’t achieve minimalism (I wasn’t striving for it), but I wound up with much less clutter and a much nicer looking place than I had in grad school.
My Financial Independence Journey recently posted..Recent Assignment – Annaly Capital Management (NLY)
I hear you! MY big moves have been incredible times to purge my stuff. It’s hard to totally achieve a truly minimalistic home, but it is very rewarding to try! Thanks for the comment!
I really like this post and the idea of living a minimalist lifestyle, the problem is that my wife really likes her creature comforts and won’t even entertain the idea of a simple camping trip.
Also, I won’t show you a picture of our sons nursery as you will never think of me the same way again :s
Glen @ Monster Piggy Bank recently posted..How Much Does it Cost to Have a Baby?
Glen, with 2 kids of my own it is sooo hard to do! My kids luckily like very small toys, so every few weeks we pack up large bags of stuff and bring it to the thrift store to trade for the tiny things. It’s awesome!
Tony@YouOnlyDoThisOnce recently posted..Guest Post: A Beginner’s Guide to a Minimalist Home
Good post Tony! We’ve actually got to do a bit of this ourselves once it becomes warmer. We have three little ones and the crap just grows exponentially when you have little ones. We’re devoting a good part of the Spring to go through and de-crapify the house and garage.
John S @ Frugal Rules recently posted..5 Easy Ways to Save Money Lost Due to the Payroll Tax Increase
“De-crapify”. I should have named my post that! Pauline would have been cool with it….Good luck this summer man!
Tony@YouOnlyDoThisOnce recently posted..Guest Post: A Beginner’s Guide to a Minimalist Home
I’m trying to minimize my life. Easy since I just broke up with my bf and he kept most of our household items, but I am trying not to acquire too many things in the process. The thing about living minimally, is that it takes awhile to get to the point where you don’t have anything to get rid of anymore. Great post!
Lauren @ L Bee and the Money Tree recently posted..House Guest Rules: Who Pays for Dinner?
When you have no more stuff to get rid of, you know that is your “enough”. It’s a very cool feeling! I have a couple of rooms like that right now. They are my happy place! Thanks for commenting!
Tony@YouOnlyDoThisOnce recently posted..Guest Post: A Beginner’s Guide to a Minimalist Home
It gets more complicated when you inherit heirloom ‘stuff’ that has been in the family for generations and feel a responsibility to pass it along – some day…..
Marie at FamilyMoneyValues recently posted..Top Three Reasons Wealth Transfers Fail
I hear you about the sentimental stuff. I finally got over it knowing that it is just stuff. The memory never goes away….
Tony@YouOnlyDoThisOnce recently posted..Guest Post: A Beginner’s Guide to a Minimalist Home
Great tips! I try and minimize the stuff we have and I am constantly trying to de-clutter.
Mackenzie recently posted..Healthy Stuff…
Keep going, Mackenzie! It is a constant battle, but if you get rid of 2 things every time one comes in, you are golden!
Tony@YouOnlyDoThisOnce recently posted..Guest Post: A Beginner’s Guide to a Minimalist Home
Great posts. I love living the minimalist lifestyle although we have slacked some since having children. There are a million and one toys/dolls we have but do not need. Fortunately we acquired them through friends and family.
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The toys are the toughest part…my wife and I cannot wait to be done with tham!! That said, we don’t have a lot, and kids don’t need a lot to be happy. Thanks for commenting!!
Tony@YouOnlyDoThisOnce recently posted..Guest Post: A Beginner’s Guide to a Minimalist Home
Great post! Our home follows all of your tips! I love walking into a room that is only furnished with a few key pieces, and where everything is clean and organized. The less the better.
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The less, the better indeed! When you think about only what you need, minus all the little trinkets, the rooms look a lot better! Thanks for commenting!
Tony@YouOnlyDoThisOnce recently posted..Guest Post: A Beginner’s Guide to a Minimalist Home
I have been doing some of the things you mentioned in this post. My home office had begun to be the place in my house where things began to pile up. I have been getting rid of the stuff I don’t need slowly but surely. It has made it a much better environment to get work done.
Ian recently posted..Sell Your Used Stuff! Craigslist Edition: The Exercise Bike!
Home offices are tough. If you check out my posts on “Getting Things Done”, there are a lot of ways you can streamline your home office in order to simplify and declutter!
Tony@YouOnlyDoThisOnce recently posted..Mind Like Water
Minimalist sounds an attractive option but it also goes with being well organised and knowing what to throw away. I start (regularly) to tidy up my office but always get side-tracked and then wonder whether I will need something in the future – particularly paperwork.
I have this theory that, for any one person, there is a total amount of disorder with which they can live. This is the sum of internal (ie mental) and external (ie physical) disorder. My mind is quite well ordered, I work on computers all the time so can reorganise there easily but it is my external disorder that I need to control.
Then I can address the minimalist ideals…
John@MoneyPrinciple recently posted..Don’t put your loved ones at risk: get insurance
That’s a really good way to do it, John….I can manage a lot of “internal” clutter, although it has gotten a lot better since I write all my thoughts down. External clutter takes up a lot of needless brain space as well, and we have control over that….Good luck!
Tony@YouOnlyDoThisOnce recently posted..Guest Post: A Beginner’s Guide to a Minimalist Home
Hmm.
Maybe we should call it personal entropy.
I’ve always been fascinated by entropy.
John@MoneyPrinciple recently posted..Don’t put your loved ones at risk: get insurance
Great post Tony,
We are far from minimalist but don’t keep stuff hanging around or building up in our home. Everything has a place and for the most part is pretty darn tidy. We find less is more and just less stuff to worry about, clean, and move.
Canadianbudgetbinder recently posted..CHECK OUT CHECKOUT51: Technology and Coupons in Check!
CBB I always look forward to your comments! I am sure you have done a great job in this regard. Thanks!!
Tony@YouOnlyDoThisOnce recently posted..Guest Post: A Beginner’s Guide to a Minimalist Home
I love the concept but with a five year old and our two dogs, there is always some pillow, blanket, or toy in the floor. We try to clean up before bed and not leave clutter around. I doubt we will ever be minimalists, but getting rid of clutter is a big step in having a clear mind in my opinion.
Kim@Eyesonthedollar recently posted..Reformed Spenders Adjust to Life on a Budget
It is an ongoing process, Kim…A 5 year old and a dog definitely throw a monkey wrench in things, but it is still possible for everything to have its place! Adequate storage space and containers are definitely key. Thanks for commenting!!
Tony@YouOnlyDoThisOnce recently posted..Guest Post: A Beginner’s Guide to a Minimalist Home
I think you’re right in that it’s key to break things down into manageable chunks so it doesn’t become overwhelming. One small step at a time!
Budget & the Beach recently posted..The Side Effects of Staying in Budget
Chunks, indeed! Room by room is the best way to go, for sure….
Tony @ YOTDO recently posted..Guest Post: A Beginner’s Guide to a Minimalist Home
I’ defiantly going to give you tips some thought as I’m building a new house right now and would be much easier to start now.
Chris @ Stumble Forward recently posted..What Should I Do With My Tax Refund Money – 4 Real Options You Have
I think you mean definitely, right? To do so defiantly would be too much energy…ha! Either way, ging minimalist while building is TOTALLY the way to go!!!
Tony @ YouOnlyDoThisOnce recently posted..Guest Post: A Beginner’s Guide to a Minimalist Home
Wow! I’ve been trying to do this for years. My biggest stumbling block is my children’s stuff in their rooms which are the most cluttered parts of the house! If only I could just trash all of their things, it will be one big day to celebrate the minimalist campaign in my house. They are not living with us so how to start sorting through their stuff, since I’ve been waiting for them to do this, like, forever!
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Minimalism can be incredibly refreshing, if you have everything you need. Not being bogged down with stuff all the time is freeing and really helps you simplify your life, too. Step 1 is starting with the home, so this is a great post!
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Hey, another Jersey boy! I grew up 10 miles west of Great Adventure.
There are a few places where I sometimes feel the tug for minmialism, but for the most part, it isn’t really for me. For things like seating, I’d rather be prepared for having company than base my furniture selection on day-to-day needs. Sure one sofa is sufficient most days, but not when we have 10 people over! And one place I will absolutely never, ever go minimalist is my kitchen. Personally, I wish I had a larger kitchen so I could have space for more stuff!
Edward Antrobus recently posted..Using Dedicated Income Streams for Debt Payments
I live in a fifties house and there are no closets! I renovated a room and put in a Pax wardrobe (bought second-hand) and it has solved my clothes problem. My husband can now use a small wardrobe that I use to occupy with junk!
the lack of storage actually helps keep only the essentials!