Minimalism tips

When you get something new, something old has to go. This is a great rule for clothing, but can work well for other items too.

Don’t overcrowd your beds and couches with throw pillows. Maybe one or two for decoration, maybe none, definitely not twelve. Same goes for blankets – have a few available for movie nights or guests, but keep it reasonable.

Think ottomans, coffee tables with lift-up tops, or beds with drawers on the side.

Reduce clutter by using pegboards, wall mounted baskets, hooks, and other methods that will allow you to utilize your wall space for neat, organized storage.

Do you keep a whole bunch of plastic grocery bags for future use? Stop that! Get rid of them, invest in a few reusable tote bags for shopping, and don’t clutter your home with plastic bags.

If you have boxes of old photos that you don’t want to get rid of, see if you can scan them and store them digitally instead.

Does your kitchen table double as a home for mail, bills, and other documents? Invest in a filing cabinet and create file folders that will help you organize your life. Next time you get your credit card statement, you can just drop it into the file folder specifically designated for credit card statements, rather than letting it sit on the kitchen table for weeks.

If you don’t want to bother thinking about where you’re going to put it, chances are you don’t need it.

This one can feel overwhelming at times, and can even get emotional depending on how many sentimental items you have. You don’t need to get rid of the vase that belonged to your great-grandma who passed away. The key here is to look at each knick knack through the lens of whether it brings value to your life. If it does, keep it. If it doesn’t, you might be amazed at how much meaningless stuff you had lying around, and how much space you’re about to free up.

It’s there for a reason, and part of that reason is preventing you from having to buy and store every book you want to read. Rent your books and then return them. Or if you want to own them, buy them electronically.