One reason some people resist minimalism is they are afraid they will have to get rid of things that make their home pleasant and/or a comfortable place to live.
Is that true? Does minimalism make us less comfortable at home or does it make us more comfortable?
You probably know my answer already. But let me ask you some questions:
How would you rather spend a rainy Saturday afternoon?
A. Doing what your spouse has been asking you to do—straighten up the storage room where your family keeps its board games, toys, puzzles, sports equipment, and electronic games both new and obsolete—even though it seems like you just did that last week?
B. Doing something that makes you feel cozy inside, such as looking at a photo album with your kids, sitting by the fire in your recliner, or enjoying a movie on television.
Which gives you more of a sense of relaxation and peace?
A. A home that’s crowded and messy, where everywhere you look something reminds you of cleaning or repairs that need to be done?
B. A home with clean counters, floors and walls that present open vistas, and everything put away in its place?
What’s a better use of your time and prevents frustration when you’re looking for an ice cream scoop in your kitchen?
A. Peering behind leaning towers of Tupperware, pushing aside unnecessary gadgets (banana slicer, anyone?), and digging through drawers filled with such things as duplicate measuring cups and salad tongs in several styles.
B. Being able to put your hands right on the ice cream scoop because there’s nothing extraneous in your kitchen and you know right where the scoop is.
If you’re getting ready to minimize your home, let me assure you—you don’t have to immediately get rid of the things you love or use. I have found, most often, that the optimal amount of things for your home is less than the number you currently own. But it often takes some time to get there.
More importantly, realize today that after minimizing, your home will feel more like a place you want to come back to at the end of the day. It will be a home filled with more intentionality and more purpose.
Minimalism does not require you to sacrifice comfort or pleasantry. Quite the opposite, in fact. It will help you feel even more comfortable in your own home.
Well put Joshua, and it all comes down to the choices we make. On the positive side I fell once you start on this journey you don’t look back. The feeling and knowing that you have “just enough” is very comforting in itself.
Interesting about the comments on books. Although I don’t have a lot, I do treasure certain books to keep, and some that I read more than once.
The Library I think is a National Treasure. Although they had to close due to the virus, in my City they have curbside pickups, which reminds me, I ordered a book I need to pick up.
I have always aimed for minimalism and I am convinced that there are stages to that goal. My children are now grown and out and I am looking down the road at retirement. I need the last push to truly let go of many little things collected over the years. I had cleaned out my mother-in-law’s house and then my own mother moved to a smaller house and I can see I will need to empty that at some point. I do not want to burden my children with the responsibility of unwanted stuff so I am looking for inspiration. My friends think that I am there already but they don’t see what is behind closed doors and in drawers! Time to purge!
Thank you all so much for what you are doing. My path to minimalism began about 3 years ago, and last year my mother left us. Emotionally, it was very difficult to make out her things, but I am determined to make our apartment cozy for myself, my husband and Our children. Today I put together another box of books for the children of my relatives. Thank you, Joshua for the inspiration!
I began decluttering my Mother-in-laws house after she passed three years ago and found that the more I cleared out her house where my brother in law moved into the more cluttered my house became as my husband moved items he wanted to keep into our home. I am currently getting rid of everything I brought into our house to reduce what I have contributed to our clutter. After returning from a trip last week and seeing how open the living room looks without my furniture finds he has joined me in sorting through his personal items and things that came from his parents house. We are beginning to see bare spaces.
After being married for almost 39 years, I lost my husband to cancer in July 2018..he was a mechanic, could fix anything and do anything..we crammed our house with football, racing memorabilia, all types of trinkets, ect. I started this year out doing everything your blogs and books have recommended. No time limit, just when I feel like it. I discovered that so many things I thought were important are NOT important to me anymore. I needed change. I’m trying to get my clutter down to just a few photos on dressers, plants in the windows and a place to sit and sleep in my bedroom. I bought two inexpensive paintings and took down all the other things I had on my walls, with only my husbands 3 cap hat rack. That will stay forever. But it’s nice to see how clean and crisp it is. It was our home, now it’s just mine, and I’m determined to make it a peaceful, minimal (to me!) respite from the rest of my troubles. Living room done, too..tackling it as I go! Why do I need 6 sets of sheets or 4 comforters? A dozen towels? I don’t! Keep me inspired!
Hugs Margie. Thank you for sharing your story and congratulations on making your home a peaceful place!
This is so true, Joshua! So many people think “all white chrome and glass” when thinking about minimalism, and decide it can’t possibly be a lifestyle they’d enjoy. A minimalist home can be warm, inviting, comfortable, and personalized with things you love. It isn’t disorganized, packed to the gills, full of indifferent choices bought on a whim, or unusable because of piles and crap.
I love the “would you rather” aspect of your article. Would you rather spend all day purging, cleaning, and organizing, or would you rather have a life? Would you rather be able to find and use that tool you need, or would you rather be stuck without, or make yet another trip to the store to re-buy something you know you have hidden away somewhere?