10 Creative Ways To Start Living More Minimally

Minimalistic living is all the rage, but can it be for everyone? Most people strive to be the type of person without clutter, but it’s simply unavoidable in some cases. Here are a few ways you can cut down on some of the clutter in your home and strive to live a sustainable, minimalist lifestyle.

1. Downsize Your House 

If you’ve been looking for a sign to move, this is it. People with large houses may often find themselves thinking that it’s so much to clean for space they don’t need. If you believe your home has outgrown you, selling it and finding something smaller and more comfortable might be worth it. In addition to a cozier space, you’ll find that your mortgage payments will likely be lower, and you may pay less for expenses such as maintenance and utility costs.

2. Clean Out Your Kitchen 

Your kitchen might be the most cluttered place in your home. Many people even have a “junk drawer,” a drawer dedicated to the things that don’t fit anywhere else. Decluttering your kitchen can help you get in the right headspace to tackle the rest of your home. 

If you’re not sure where to start, simply stand in your kitchen and look around. Do you have any appliances you don’t use? Some households have both a toaster and a toaster oven — but how often has having both of them paid off? You can also declutter your fridge f you don’t know where else to start. Many people have things they didn’t think they had at the back of their fridge.

3. Create a Flexible Wardrobe 

If you find too many clothes, the best way to deal with them is to go through them and look at what you like and which ones you have worn often. You might have a specific dress code for work that you must uphold, or maybe you just have a bunch of clothes that have never seen the light of day. In any case, you should cut down on how many outfits you have. 

Make it a rule for the future to only buy pieces you need and could go well with others you already have. By creating a sort of mini-wardrobe full of neutral elements that match well with others, you’ll have endless possibilities while keeping your wardrobe relatively small.

4. Declutter Your Home 

Once you’ve taken care of the more significant issues like decluttering your kitchen and giving away clothes you don’t need, you’re ready to worry about the rest of your home. You can start room by room and go through everything — knick-knacks, paperweights, appliances and more. Don’t rush through any one room. Take your time and consider whether you need something or if you’ve even used it at all. You may find yourself with quite a bit to donate.

5. Declutter Digitally 

Phones, computers and other technology aren’t serving you by just lying around your home. Choose to go through your old devices and save what you need and wipe what you don’t. Afterward, you can donate them to people who will use them.  

Even if you don’t have devices to donate, you can still declutter those you actively use. Consider starting with your photos, then moving on to notes and apps. By going through and deleting things you don’t need from your phone, you’ll free up space and even allow it to run better, in some cases.  

While you’re decluttering your devices, set up two-factor or some other form of secure authentication on your precious accounts so that you can rest assured only you have access to them and that hackers don’t stand a chance.

6. Buy Secondhand 

Instead of buying everything you want new, you can likely find pieces of the same quality at a discounted price because someone else owned them first. Thrift stores are great places to find excellent bargains on clothes, furniture and more. Furthermore, going to antique shows can provide you with new houseware. Antiques can help you find interesting pieces with untold stories and rich histories from around the country or even the world.

7. Invest in Your Community 

It’s more environmentally friendly to support your local businesses and others in your community. Attending farmers’ markets can introduce you to local farmers and crafters. You can pick what you want at these markets and fairs, meaning you won’t be paying extra for items you don’t need. It can help you cut down on your food clutter and support your neighbors in their livelihoods.

8. Cut Down on Paper Clutter 

If you have too many papers lying around, consider thoroughly digitizing them. Scanning the important documents could allow for valuable PDFs you can send off in an email when anyone needs them.  

You should gather all of your loose papers together and sort through them. You may find that you have duplicates of some papers that can be recycled or shredded. For the papers you need to keep, don’t leave them scattered about. Instead, find a file folder or cabinet that can house them, so you know where they are in the future.

9. Purchase for Quality, Not Quantity 

When you buy new clothing, appliances, or items in general, choose the more quality one, even if it has a higher price tag. Quality items tend to outlast those that aren’t very quality. When you buy more of a lesser quality item just because it’s inexpensive, it could add up to cost more than the quality one. You may end up blowing your budget and cluttering your home up with useless items if you aren’t careful and discerning.

10. Start Small 

If you have a home and life plagued by clutter, it might be difficult for you to switch to minimalism automatically. When you declutter, try to take it room by room rather than attempting to sweep over your home all at once. By starting small, you’ll feel more motivated to work and avoid feeling overwhelmed with all the tasks you have to complete.

Minimalistic Lifestyles Lead to Happiness 

How do you feel when you have too much clutter around? Most people feel stressed in that situation. Little by little, you can work to change it and have a more satisfying life by buying knowledgeably and sustainably. Know that you’re having a more significant positive impact with every article of clothing you give away and every local food item you purchase.