How you can create a minimalist family home? Here are some tips that are so easy you will want to get started right away!
But first, why am I passionate about having a minimalist home for my family?
Benefits Of a Minimalist Family Home
You have heard phrases such as live simply, be a minimalist, live without clutter, etc. but sometimes its hard to take a step back and see just how much stuff you have that you don’t need.
From my own personal experience, I lived in my first home for 9 years.
There were parts of my home that were cluttered and I felt like I was always spending time organizing stuff!
I have always been the type of person that is overwhelmed by clutter.
When we went through the process of selling our home, it was very eye opening to me.
You can read more about our home selling process here.
During that process, we purged and necked down to the bare amount of stuff that we needed.
The minimalist definition is actually different for everyone but ultimately the goal is to live in your home in a way that makes YOU happy.
Here is a great quote about clutter:
“Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”
— William Morris
You can also check out this article about why decluttering is great for self care!
My Minimalist Home
Fast forward two years later in our new home which is two times the size!
While we have been good about trying not to accumulate a lot of stuff and continually purging, it does take time and its hard.
I am determined that a bigger house doesn’t mean we need to fill it with more stuff.
So this post is partially for me too!!
Minimalist Home Tips
Here are some simple & easy tips for you to be on your way to creating your minimalist house!
How to DeClutter Your Home
Don’t Get More Stuff
This is a good one.
What I mean by this is every time you buy something, ask yourself – when will I get rid of this? Do I really NEED this? Can I resell it later? Those types of questions.
Now I must admit that this is especially hard with children because they out grow out of clothing and toys so quickly!
In fact, if I am being honest, most of my clutter problem is not my stuff, its theirs!
I sometimes wonder – how do you have a minimalist home with kids?
A lot of what I buy though is what I’ll call consumables – food, paper products, personal care products – these things are fine so long as you actually use them and don’t have a corona virus stock pile of toilet paper!
Declutter Like a Mother
Always have a donation bag set up.
Keep it out of sight in a closet but that way when you come across something you don’t want/need – you can immediately put it in your bag.
For me, it’s easier to get rid of things in a slow trickle vs a big bang.
Do I have a hoarding problem in this sense? I get it from my Dad’s side of the family!
Anyway, I don’t have time to do this next part as regularly as I would like but pick one space in your home per month and go through it.
I LOVE this idea!
Don’t just look at it – take every single thing out and put it back in.
Something about that approach is WAY more effective.
You may have things you want to sell and things you want to donate or give to family/friends.
Decluttering Hacks
Decluttering My Closet
Hanger trick – I love this trick.
I think I picked it up on Pinterest somewhere along the way but when I moved into my new home, I turned all the hangers around backward!
That way I know what I have worn in two years and what I have not. Now a month after moving here, I got pregnant and that obviously changed what I could wear so I am just now at the point where I have been through each season and know what I wear vs what I don’t by the hangers!
But you don’t need to be moving to do this – go turn them around right now and in three or six months see for yourself what you don’t wear!
Decluttering My Pantry
Pantry Trick – I thought of this one on my own!
When I moved, I put little yard sale circle stickers on the bottom of all my spices to date how long I have them post move!
This would also work for other things like canned goods or other non-perishable pantry items.
Declutter By Selling or Giving Away
If I know something would be helpful to a family member or friend, I’ll offer to them first.
Otherwise, I sell everything I can and have a lot of success doing so.
I will say that it takes a lot longer and causes more stress.
It also just takes up precious and valuable time but it’s what I do.
There are certain things that I know are not worthwhile and I don’t sell them.
Instead, I give them away or donate them.
If I list something and it does not sell, then I remove the listing and donate it.
Where To Sell Stuff And Which Platforms To Sell Stuff?
Note: this is just what works for me – could vary from person to person.
Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist – great for large items that are expensive to ship. I listed Facebook marketplace first because it is my go to selling platform. It’s easy and has zero fees! I have also heard that Facebook yard sale groups have success too!
Mercari – I have sold a few things here. This site is great for kids stuff! They do charge fees.
Poshmark – I only sell higher end, name brand clothes here but have had success! Fees involved but its the right platform for these types of items.
Ebay – I use Ebay for collectibles, electronics and make up of all things! I would love a report of how much I’ve sold on Ebay over the years!
Minimalist Style Home
Have you heard of the concept of living in a staged home?
This does require me to buy some more stuff but it also looks pretty and so long as it’s totally functional – to me its money well spent.
I have always loved going into a staged model home! And have also always wanted my home to look like one.
Related: Best Console Tables
Living With Less Stuff And Decluttering
Well, if you have too much stuff, you’ll never have a minimalist home so that is why the tips and tricks above are very important.
You can also reference my how to stage a home post and implement those décor tips to help you set up your home to be like a model home!
I do have a passion for organization which helps – I mean come on I alphabetize my spices for pete’s sake!
I have a number of organization posts that you can check out on my DIY page.
I love this FREE “Alexa Fold The Laundry” sign for your laundry room!
You can download it for free here.
I hope this post was helpful!! If you have any other tips, please share them with me through the comment box below or through my contact page here.
Happy purging friends!!
I like the pantry trick with spices. I also have tried to pay attention to dates on canned goods and arrange shelves (lowest to highest) with cans whose expiration dates are this year vs. 2021 for a highers shelf.