As I sat in my living room last weekend scrolling through Netflix, I came across a documentary about minimalism and thought I’d give it a go. Ironically, I spent the entire duration of the film with my computer on my lap browsing for home décor....…LOL. But even if you’re a lover of objects and pretty things like myself, that doesn’t mean we can’t benefit from a few minimalist teachings.
1. De-cluttering is good for the soul.
You may have heard of the Japanese organizational guru, Marie Kondo, and her best selling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. The biggest takeaway from her teachings is that you should only hold onto items that bring you joy. Joy with a capital J. Imagine walking into your clean home, only to be surrounded by things that make you genuinely happy, and nothing else. Talk about a serious mood booster!
My advice on this one – start small. Go through your closet where I’m sure you have tons of clothes you haven’t worn in three years. If that ratty top that’s too small for you doesn’t bring you joy, donate it! You could be bringing someone else joy by doing that, which is a win-win. Once your closet is done, start with your kitchen counters. Leave only pretty appliances sitting on the top, or nothing at all. Put away the ugly dishtowel and well-used cooking utensils.
Here’s how I’ve styled mine – even my darn toaster brings me joy, okay? It’s the little things!
I love the SMEG brand. The name is...iffy....but the style is undeniable.
I'm a coffee-holic, so my coffee grinder and copper airtight grounds container definitely bring me some serious joy.
Examine the tops of your dressers and other surfaces in your home. Do you really need everything that’s managed to pile up on there? Are there things you can put away in drawers? As you make those decisions, you’ll have to start to go through those drawers and organize them, all the while asking yourself, “Do these things bring me joy?” - and throwing out the rest. Pour yourself a glass of wine on a Sunday evening and get to work!
2. Size matters.
Sometimes we hold onto small objects that have meaning to us, and we want to display them. And there is nothing wrong with that, especially if they bring you Joy. But here’s something important to note: your brain translates most objects that are under six inches tall as clutter. Limit the tops of your counters or mantles to larger items that have more of a substantial presence for a cleaner feel.
But don’t throw out your precious keepsakes just yet! Consider bending the rule and displaying them prominently on pedestals or in cloches, on their own floating shelves, or in gallery-like shadow boxes. This will make them feel less like clutter and appear more intentional. Here are some ideas:
Check out these cloches in varying sizes from Restoration Hardware.
In these display boxes, small decorative items read like larger works of wall art for a cleaner effect. And they help free up your counter space!
BRB, dreaming of all the ways to customize these......
3. Uniform = calm.
I am ALL for individuality and uniqueness, but in an organizational sense, sometimes our outliers create chaos. One of the best ways to bring a sense of organization into your home is also the easiest: switch all of your hangers to the same style! No brainer, right? Don’t keep those wire hangers (cue Mommy Dearest clip) from the dry cleaners or have mismatched old plastic hangers. Instead, treat your eyes to a visual paradise and invest in something like these babies. They’re inexpensive, good to your clothes, and look like luxury.
Love the velvet texture. Doesn't come off on your clothes, holds loose tops place, and makes putting laundry away way more fun.
Think of other ways you can implement this lesson – do you have mismatched silverware? Can you transfer items in your pantry into cute matching sets of containers? The possibilities are endless!
Like most philosophies, even if it’s not 100% for you, minimalism holds golden nuggets of life lessons that can benefit anyone – even the home décor obsessed. Besides, streamlined is in. Have fun with it!
Xo, RAD