Want to get more out of your home by having less? Minimalist interior design is all about creating a space with plenty of breathing room. You’ll find only what you need in these organized and balanced rooms. So, if your unused objects or stacks of corner clutter have you feeling claustrophobic, a minimalist approach to your home might give you the freedom you need.
Minimalists have big feelings when it comes to scaling down and keeping it simple. This is because they know a secret: living with only your essentials can boost feelings of well-being. Research is showing there are psychological advantages to living a minimalist life and Crystal Mains says her clutter-free space makes her feel more productive. She recognizes that a living space with more stuff leads her to feel sedentary, but when her house is organized, she’s energized. “It gives me more energy and that’s awesome,” she says.
If you’re thinking about taking your lifestyle from maximum to minimum, Crystal has a few helpful tips. “I’d recommend going through one room at a time.” Start with one room and then divide that room into smaller sections. This will make your project more manageable and less overwhelming. Crystal says to ask yourself these questions: Do I need this? When was the last time I used this? If you decide your go-to can opener is a must-have, then make sure to find a permanent place for it. “Don’t just throw it anywhere,” Crystal advises. This will help you stay organized.
Maintaining a minimalist lifestyle is a family affair for Crystal and she suggests asking your loved ones for support, too. “I think it helps to have your family on board and to know what the expectation is because you can’t keep it up yourself,” she says. Together, Crystal and her family have found designated places for things like coats, shoes, and all the stuffed animals one can imagine and it’s in this way they work as a team to keep the house orderly.
One last tip Crystal offers when it comes to living simply is to tidy up when necessary. “Don’t let things pile up,” Crystal suggests. When you let your unopened mail take over your kitchen or watch those shoes multiply under your couch, the clutter piles up quickly and becomes easy to ignore. So, Crystal suggests organizing as it happens to keep your house feeling spacious. “It’s great to be a minimalist and have things in order,” Crystal begins, “but it doesn’t have to be perfect.” And with that, she adds, “I’m doing my own journey of minimalism.” And you can, too.
By Tonilyn Hornung
P.S. You may also like these home design tips.
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