Here’s How to Scale Down to a Minimalist Lifestyle

Switching to a minimalist lifestyle can help improve your mental and physical well-being. It involves more than just material changes, but that’s a good place to start. Scaling down possessions and decluttering your home makes your living space more amenable to minimalism. There’s practical benefits too. It cuts down on cleaning time for one, and it makes household upkeep a lot easier. Investing in some multi-use products, along with the right storage and organization pieces, can transform your home from chaotic to minimalistic.

Clean, Tasteful Decor

Minimalist interior design is defined by clean lines, functionality and open space. The trick is to stick to essentials while finding or maintaining your own unique style. Here’s a few tips to help inspire your own minimalist design style: 

• Select neutral colors for a clean look, or choose a colour and build your décor around it for a seamless finish 

• Choose pastel colours for drapes, curtains and blinds for a lighter and more open feel 

• Add accent pieces sparingly to create a main focal point 

• A striking piece of artwork or patterned area rug can bring a room together without overwhelming it

Minimalize Room by Room

These minimalistic room tips include décor, storage and organization options for every room in your home to keep it functional and tidy.

Minimalist Bedroom

A minimalist bedroom creates a calming environment that makes it easier to wind down at the end of the day. Here’s how to make your bedroom more minimalistic: 

• Choose a simple bedframe to ensure clean lines and open space 

• Use closet organizers and drawer organizers to store everything efficiently 

• Invest in under-the-bed storage to keep items out of sight 

• Keep accent pieces and sentimental objects to a minimum

Minimalist Living Room

With a few key choices in furniture, storage and décor, you can bring minimalist style to your living room. 

• Use floating or glass shelves to display cherished photos or artwork 

• Select furniture with storage options to keep clutter to a minimum 

• Choose furniture based on the size and scale of your living room 

• Multi-purpose furniture can add functionality while opening up floor space 

• Rather than accent pieces, use a simple area rug to pull the room together and add style

Minimalist Kitchen

Paring down kitchen items and improving storage can make your kitchen more of a social hub while freeing up space to work as well: 

• Eliminate or donate worn-out or little used kitchen wares and small appliances 

• Upgrade your fridge and pantry storage to keep things organized with interior shelving, organization bins and a spice rack

• Use drawer organizers to keep utensils neat and out of sight

Minimalist Bathroom

The best way to create a minimalist bathroom is to ensure there’s enough storage for everything you need. Here are some quick tips: 

• Clear up counter space with a vanity that includes drawers for extra storage 

• If your bathroom is small, try an over-the-john cabinet, medicine cabinet or under sink storage shelving and organizers 

• Use a shower organizer or caddy to keep bath essentials behind the scenes 

• Install robe or towel hooks on the back of the door

Home Office

A clean, organized work environment is also essential to promoting a minimalist lifestyle. Easy home office upgrades include: 

• Choose a desk with drawers or shelving built-in, or use shelving units or floating shelves to keep your desk clear 

• Digitize as much as you can and use a filing cabinet for important papers 

• If space is tight, use stackable storage boxes or drawers 

• If your home office has a closet, use closet organizers or closet shelving to maximize storage space

Laundry Room

Keep your laundry room simple and functional by investing in space-saving storage and appliances. 

• Choose a stackable washer and dryer to open up floor space 

• Install floating shelves, wire shelving units or a cabinet for storage 

• Baskets, bins and laundry hampers can be used as shelf organizers for laundry supplies

Clean Up Your Closets

A minimalist approach to closet storage goes beyond mere out-of-sight, out-of-mind. You want your closets to be neatly structured and organized. From your bedroom closet to your linen closet, here’s a list of ideas to get your storerooms organized: 

• Stackable storage boxes can be used for anything from seasonal clothes to cleaning supplies to toy storage 

• Only keep the number of hangers you need to avoid clutter 

• Install closet organizers, shelves or over-the-door organizers to increase storage space

Tidy Up Your Yard

Use an outdoor storage unit to keep your front and back yards tidy. Sheds and deck boxes come in a variety of sizes to store garden or lawn equipment, pool accessories, outdoor toys, patio furniture and more. If you’re handy with tools you can even opt for a DIY Backyard Shed Kit to add more storage.

Workshop & Garage Organization

Avoid using your garage or workshop as a catchall for little used items. You want a clean space to work and unobstructed access for your vehicles. Here’s a few tips: 

• Store only appropriate items like tools, car care products, outdoor gear, and lawn equipment 

• Free up floor space by using overhead garage storage like hooks and hangers for tools, bikes and other unwieldy items 

• Install open shelves or a shelving unit to add extra garage storage space 

• A tool cabinet or chest provides an organized and dedicated workspace

Simplicity of a Smart Home

You can also take a minimalist approach to how your home functions. Smart Home automation can simplify your life while making your home safer and more efficient. Benefits include: 

• Smart Lighting allows you to control the brightness and colour of lighting in every room with a simple screen touch 

• Smart Locks and security cameras let you monitor your home while you’re away 

• Smart thermostats and air conditioners give you a set-and-forget option of controlling your home’s environment 

• Smart appliances and other devices can be operated remotely on your mobile device from anywhere

Lifestyle Minimalist Tips

• Spend less time on social media or watching TV and devote more time to cultivating relationships with family and friends 

• Scale back your wardrobe by donating ill-fitting or little worn items 

• Clean up your mobile device by deleting unnecessary apps and moving others into folders 

• Rid your home of junk food and try to adopt a healthier diet 

• Add a few small exercise items to your home because a healthy body helps promote a healthy mind

Switching to a minimalist lifestyle is a challenge. Start with your home. Discarding, decluttering and organizing will give you tangible results you can actually see. You’ll discover the benefits are reciprocal, and that the material changes you’re making are inspiring mental and emotional changes too.