The minimalist aesthetic is in full swing as an in vogue lifestyle and fashion trend. When I think minimalism in fashion, I think clean lines and solid colours. By my thinking, this isn’t necessarily about getting rid of everything you own in life, but becoming an essentialist.
I read Marie Kondo’s book a few years ago, and it really resonated with me in a lot of ways. I’ve used every house move to part ways with things that don’t immediately make me happy. I’d say an entire bag of clothing was donated to a local charity shop in one afternoon alone. And the beautiful thing was that I didn’t run out with the insatiable urge to shop now that I had less. I actually felt like I had more because I really liked the pieces that I had left.
Some people seemed appalled at Kondo in the wake of her Netflix show. (How could you? She’s such a calming presence. She has the aspect of an angel.) But she wasn’t encouraging people to throw away things that they loved, or not own books at all; she was just asking you to check if something actually added value to your life. I can be a minimalist and still own hundreds of books. Books are something that add value and bring joy into my life. That said, I don’t keep books around that either I won’t read again or that I wouldn’t lend to someone else. If I didn’t enjoy a book, why would I keep it around taking up precious shelf space that could hold a book that I love instead?
Minimalism gets a lot of flack as something that is unaffordable. That it’s something for the wealthy and the comfortably middle-class. And the focus on quality over quantity can definitely feel that way. But in reality, my shopping habits didn’t change in terms of price-point. I just shopped a whole lot less. The second that I started doing that, I stopped coveting things a whole lot more. Unsubscribing from store mailing lists definitely helps as well.
I know that bare spaces and white walls definitely aren’t something for everyone. But walking around a house that is un-cluttered makes me feel so much more at ease. When there are fewer things in the house, I genuinely feel less stressed. (It also makes it a lot easier to tidy the house when necessary.)
I strongly believe that your surroundings can affect your state of mind. I find working amidst loads of clutter to be extremely stressful, and I know that I sleep better when my room is tidier. I also enjoy getting dressed in the morning more when I know that I’ve decluttered my wardrobe a bit and I genuinely love and can wear every piece I own.
I don’t really think of minimalism as having less stuff, per se, but as having more space to enjoy the things that you love. In some ways, getting rid of things that you might have slightly toxic feelings about can be very healing.
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Breaking Free From the Claws of Fast Fashion
Documentaries to Inspire Small Changes
Cutting Down on Plastic Usage
Cruelty-Free Beauty
Simple Ways to Embrace Slow Living
