From the outdated kitchen to the pastel-colored walls in the downstairs bedrooms, walking into my grandparents’ house was like entering a time machine. It was a world of midcentury furniture (not the kind from special art dealers or collectors; these were the default options, purchased mostly in the 50’s).
There was a desk in the hallway, reading chairs in the living room, classic rugs, houseplants, and a grandfather clock in the entryway. The sectional was minimal and left room for plenty of guests. My grandmother would always read on the couch, and stacks of magazines filled many of the nearby cabinets.
They never identified as minimalists when I was growing up—frankly, the term hadn’t been popularized yet—but everything had its purpose and place. The home felt complete with pieces that fit together like the perfect puzzle.
Growing up, I looked in their home with awe. I have countless fond memories of summer vacations and family holidays in their loving home. They seemed to have it all together. I wanted that.
When I was older, I felt this social pressure to make a complete home from day one. To leave anything incomplete seemed somehow against a cultural norm.
It wasn’t until adulthood that a simple realization clicked: my grandparents took years to purchase a household of goods. They had decades together to acquire their belongings. And their home wasn’t always like this; they consciously acquired things when needed.
Stuff was expensive, too. This was all before the cheap labor and overseas manufacturing of the Walmarts of the world (heck, they didn’t even exist back then).
My grandparents lived within their means every step of the way, depending on what was in their wallets. They carefully analyzed every purchase, and reused everything they could. Maybe that’s the consequence of being a product of the Great Depression? Who knows.
What we do know is that our world has changed dramatically since then. The rise of easy credit has allowed for ballooning consumer debt—from about $2,000 in the 1950s to $16,000 in 2016.
Now, we are instant gratification generations—swiping now and paying over time.
We expect to have everything at once, but we’re going broke in the process. Our credit cards have larger limits, products are cheaper, and buying is as easy as a click online.
We make pilgrimages to furniture stores, fantasize about spaces before we’ve set foot in a place, and browse websites that give idealized examples of carefully crafted rooms. The world is primed and expecting our consumption.
Each represents a radical departure from the lifestyles of the Greatest Generation.
I can’t help but think our ancestors knew something about minimalism that society downplays now.
When my wife and I first got married, we moved into a two-bedroom apartment and purchased only a table set for $99. Oh, and a bed—we needed that (for a number of reasons). Our living room furniture and bedroom set were hand-me-downs from her family.
We received a television set as a wedding gift. Our next purchase, months later, was a computer and desk.
We replaced the living room furniture 18 months later during a cross-country move. We used the $99 kitchen table and chairs for 13 years. And still use the bedroom set handed down to us from her grandparents.
Our home took years to make whole. And I don’t think I’d change a single thing about the process. It is a story of slow acquisition.
But outfitting a home slowly and intentionally carries a number of benefits:
1. It prevents debt. Buying home furnishings and decorations is a costly endeavor. Accumulating slowly helps prevent the danger of starting out with costly consumer debt—it can take years to overcome financial mismanagement.
2. It spurs intentionality and thoughtfulness. When we accumulate slowly, we are more likely to thoughtfully weigh the significance of our purchases. Is this really needed? If so, what is the best option and avenue for purchase? The more deliberate we are in our timeline, the more intentional we become in the process.
3. It slows the accumulation of clutter and excess. The slower we purchase, the slower we accumulate life-draining clutter.
4. It grants freedom in lifestyle. Consumer purchases inhibit freedom. They require money, time, and energy to acquire and maintain.
Therein laid my grandparents’ powerful lesson: to make our home ours, we couldn’t buy stuff immediately to recreate or mimic another’s space. Instead, we thoughtfully considered what we needed and budgeted carefully for each addition.
Despite living in a world of accessibility and easy consumption, we all need to find ways to slow down. The “perfect” item will remain or can be recreated, if necessary. Sales come and go. And your favorite big-box retailer probably won’t be going out of business any time soon.
Give yourself the opportunity to make your space yours. But as you do, don’t forget to consider the merits of acquiring pieces slowly.
Never be in a hurry to spend money you don’t have.
Bought a dining table set from Multiwood and it has exceeded my expectations. The table is elegant, the chairs are comfortable, and the wood finish is exquisite. It’s made hosting dinners a pleasure. Thank you, Multiwood, for providing such wonderful furniture
We live with my mom who has dementia. Upon her eventual passing, we plan to move and purchase our own, very modest home. We will take a few things from here and shop thrift stores for the rest of what we need, which won’t be much. The remainder of Mom’s things will be sold or donated. We will be downsizing considerably, refurbishing a few things (turn Dad’s work bench into a kitchen table). Keep what is necessary and bless others with the rest.
Before the fridge and micro and stove lasted 20- 40 years. Now they are allowed to make them break able in 2-3. Should be illegal. I have never understood buying things with credit. Never understood the point. They are not your things or your holiday if you can not buy it or pay for it.
Things were made to last in the old days. This is not the case today. It’s planned obsolescence so you have to replace everything sooner and companies get richer. Take your time to save up if possible so you can buy quality products.
This is so good! I always think back to my grandparents home as well. It was my favorite place. Not because it was decorated to match ridiculous standards from social media – like I feel pressure to do – but because it was authentic and simple. My grandmother kept her house clean and uncluttered- but still warm and welcoming. I feel I need a constant reminder to stop comparing what we have with what others have. I know none of that really matters, but this article helped to realign my thinking. Thank you.
I agree with this, but what stands out to me is that your grandparents *kept* what they owned. I have never married and did have times in my life when I have had to buy things to furnish an apartment etc., often things friends got as wedding gifts. Most of what I own is second hand and I am happy with that. But to me the important thing is I don’t see my household goods as disposable, just because they don’t fit this month’s social media “aesthetic”. Too many people and ecosystems suffer when we consume and dispose so rapidly! I think every retailer should have to take back the goods they sell when they have reached the end of their usefulness. Maybe that would slow the pace of consumption.
I love minimalism and it is at the heart of me (I always consider myself an anti-hoarder). Unfortunately it battles my creative side. Our house is our art so I am very particular about everything that goes in. We got rid of 15 bags of stuff last year. I give things away to friends or goodwill etc. I throw out greeting cards after reading them twice. I give away anything I don’t use. But our house is set up like a historical museum so I delight in recreating the past. I just make sure the past doesn’t get too crowded and each thing (mannequins and all) have their place. Too much stuff makes me uncomfortable but I do love the time travel <3
I for one would love to visit your ‘museum.’ Ultimately, minimalism is about saying goodbye to what does not serve us, or speak to us. It should never be about getting rid of those things that give us genuine pleasure, just so a “minimalist inspector” can give us the all clear.
Yes, a wise person once advised me….slow and steady wins the race…I know it really is not a race…but slow and steady is important and reinforces your thoughts.
So very true! I inherited almost everything I own now. Most of it meaningful & sentimental to me. Will need to leave it to people in my family & the rest I’m selling or donating.
Our Rotary Club raised funds with tickets to house tours in our community. One home seemed “all new, without history”. When I commented to a friend she told me it was. A single mother who had couch surfed and house sat for friends met and married someone with means who built and furnished a home for them, furnishings talk.
This was a message I desperately needed to feed my spirit. Ive been battling with this for awhile and am still battling with this mindset