Minimalism

By Ellen Samsell Salas

 

Do you often stand in your closet, paralyzed by the glut of choices? Does your two-car garage, chock full of sports equipment, tools, and boxes, have no room for vehicles? Is your basement so full of decorations, mementos, and old furniture that you rent extra storage space? In short, does it seem like your once spacious home has shrunk, as item after item has invaded cupboards and closets and filled every flat surface? If one (or all) of these scenarios rings true, you might discover that peace and joy can be found in changing from a conspicuous consumption mindset to a mindful minimalist lifestyle.

While experts in how to adopt minimalism differ in approach — some advocating a no-holds-barred, cold-turkey assault on one’s stuff and others suggesting a gentler ousting of clutter, starting with only one or two items a day, slowly accelerating to a more aggressive mode — all agree that owning less actually creates more freedom, greater happiness, and less stress.

 

Reduce by Category

Marie Kondo, author of the bestselling book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, brought minimalism to the forefront of the American psyche. She advocates reducing your belongings by categories. Why? Many people have so much stuff that it ends up stashed wherever there is a spare inch. Clothes end up in guest closets and linen closets. Craft supplies invade laundry rooms. Pots and pans and dishes migrate from the kitchen to the basement. So, using this method ensures that all clothes, books, and other categories are found and tackled at one time.

Kondo also recommends that you place all items in a category on the floor, then hold each item. Does it “spark joy” when held? If not, do not keep it. “Surrounding yourself with those things that speak to your heart is the route to achieving happiness in your surroundings,” she writes.

In Kondo’s method, clothes are followed by books, papers, miscellaneous items (gifts, buttons, discarded light fixtures), and mementos. For each category, the process remains the same: All items in the category must be retrieved, and each item must be held. Thanking items that have served you well eases the hesitancy to let go. Taking photos of items can ensure that they are not forgotten.

 

Declutter Room-by-Room

This approach appeals to those who want to feel the sense of accomplishment that comes by checking each completed room off the list. Advocates suggest starting with your bedroom, then moving to guest bedrooms, and lastly — kids’ rooms. One caveat is that while decluttering children’s rooms, you should respect other family members’ things. You may not be interested in horses, but your daughter may be a budding equestrian who loves her many figurines and models. After bedrooms, the kitchen and dining rooms should be tackled, followed by the home office.

In each of these spaces, it is key to remember that every drawer, shelf, and room has a specific purpose; every item has its place; and every surface should be clutter free. This means “unitaskers” and duplicates must go, and all but essential documents (e.g., birth and marriage certificates, deeds, etc.) should be shredded. Organizing the items that remain in each space is crucial. That includes categorizing food in the pantry and creating a logical filing system for key papers.

Whatever the approach, the credo of minimalism is that your home should be your sacred space, not a stager’s or decorator’s version of what your home should look like. Only when your home reflects who you are will you feel serene and happy in it.

America — Home of the Cluttered

• Americans use 20% of their “stuff” 80% of the time. (Francine Jay’s The Joy of Less. a Minimalist Living Guide: How to Declutter, Organize, and
  Simplify Your Life)
• The home organization industry has exploded into a $12 billion a year behemoth. (ClosetFactoryFranchise.com)
• Hiring someone to organize a 10X12-foot closet costs an average of $3,500. (RealHomes.com/us/advice/closet-remodel-costs)
• The U.S. has approximately 50,000 storage facilities. (Statista.com)
• 10.6% (13.5 million) of American households rent storage space, fueling a $40 billion/year industry. (SpareFoot.com and GetOneDesk.com)
• The average American woman wears only 20-30% of the clothes she owns. (SWNSDigital.com)

 

The Perks of Minimalism

It’s easier to find everything.
Get ready for work in a stress-free environment.
Spend less money and incur less debt.
Teach children to value what is truly valuable.
Focus on what really matters.
Stay true to who you really are.

 

Minimalist Quick Tips

1. Avoid impulse purchases.
2. Keep only those items that enrich your life.
3. Get rid of duplicate items.
4. Do without an item for a month or three months, then decide if it is a keeper.
5. Practice the one in, one out rule.
6. Digitalize photos, souvenirs, high school awards.
7. Keep only ONE size — the size that currently fits!
8. Believe: Less stuff = more peace and happiness.