10 Minimalist Tips to Transform your Living Space

‘Less is more’ is the motto minimalists live by. Minimalism is a growing trend that promotes simplicity, prudence, and sustainability. Millions of people are living greener and more meaningful lives after adopting the minimalist lifestyle. If you think about it, excess of anything leads to chaos. Limited options make life easier, whereas managing too much of something is always burdensome. Letting go of possessions that serve no fundamental role in your life is a key component of minimalism. 

If lately your home feels too ostentatious and overcrowded, a minimalist makeover is exactly what it needs. The following tips can help you transform your living space from a potential junkyard to a place where you feel at ease:

1. Exclude the Extras

Eliminating the unwanted items is the first step to making your place look practical and decent. Organize a backyard sale if you have a lot of stuff that doesn’t have a place in your home anymore; your trash could be someone else’s treasure.  Not to mention, auctioning old stuff can earn you some good cash that may contribute to renovation ideas. 

2. Rely more on Sustainable Resources

Since minimalism was built on the principles of sustainability, it makes sense to use renewable energy and refrain from wasteful practices. For instance, you can cut down electric power consumption by utilizing natural sunlight as much as possible. Installing wider windows and glass ceilings can help illuminate the home without artificial lighting during the day. It also helps to use energy-efficient appliances and prefer recyclables. 

3. Prefer warm or neutral pigments

White and other pale colors are frequently employed in minimalist home décor, as they enable a clean and spacious look. Neutral and warm color screams exhibit elegance, which matches the minimalist aesthetic. Implementing colors that are too pigmented, bright, and contrasting give rise to the ‘caving in’ effect, i.e. the space looks congested and convoluted. Mild and earthy tones are easy on the eyes, and project calmness onto the atmosphere. 

4. More Texture, Less Pattern

Once you’ve mastered the color palette, you can move onto textures and patterns. There is no restriction to textures by the minimalism approach, but patterns are a different story. Minimalist designs tend to create diversity with few colors and a variety of textures, but complex patterns rarely fit into the concept. If you are not satisfied by keeping everything plain and understated, introducing some pattern is totally acceptable. However, make sure that this pattern blends with the solid colors employed in the room and complements the overall décor. Using a range of conflicting patterns in one room is a big ‘NO’. 

5. Try Compact and Lightweight Furniture

Outdated furniture, such as couches, chairs, beds, and tables have a common flaw - they are unnecessarily huge and heavy. Modern furniture is designed to occupy less space and enhance functionality; it is also surprisingly more sleek and affordable, so a few replacements won’t drive you to Chapter 7 bankruptcy. 

6. Learn to Accessorize with Logic

Once you’ve successfully de-cluttered your living space, do the same with walls, counters, table tops, and other surfaces. Too many things on a vertical or horizontal surface create haphazardness, which is against the principles of minimalism. When you accessorize with purpose, you refrain from exhibiting objects that have no connection with primary elements in the room. 

7. Implement Smart Storage

We all have several storage spaces around the house, and sometimes these spaces interfere with our interior décor. Cabinets, racks, and shelves must be installed in a way that doesn’t compromise our free living space. A few examples of smart storage spaces are cupboards under the stairs, drawers under the bed, or shelves built inside walls rather than protruding from them. 

8. Let there be room to stretch

If stubbed toes, bumped elbows, and knocked knees are too relatable, this is proof that your living space lacks enough room to move freely. Perhaps you have too much furniture, but insufficient square feet to house it. Many of us cannot let go of old stuff because of its sentimental value, and thus we sacrifice our comfort instead. Minimalists do not keep things they don’t need and this drill allows maximum vacant space around the house; the purpose is to improve day-to-day functionality and create ease of access.

9. Choose Quality over Quantity

Minimalism is not about roughing it out or living a life of poverty; in fact, minimalists are people of high standards who only want the best. They invest in quality pieces, i.e. things that provide good value for their price. Even though a minimalist’s home has lesser material objects, you can bet that each of them is way more refined and classy than all the stuff most of us hoard.

10. Welcome Change

Change is always good, as it help us grow and learn. Minimalist décor is all about innovation, modernization, and creativity. Do not live in the same setup for decades, as this can lead to a monotonous and stagnant life. Never hesitate to redecorate your home every now and then; following latest trends in interior design and updating your place regularly is a good thing. Just remember that when you buy something new, give away something old.

Author Bio

John Adams is a paralegal and lifestyle blogger who concentrates on health/fitness, self-development, family law, and home-improvement. He inspires readers to live the life of their dreams, but at the same time encourages realistic and practical thinking. He loves to share his experiences, and contributes on various online platforms in the same niche.

Health Benefits of a Well Organized Home

Nowadays, it is not uncommon to hear that more and more people are affected by stress, anxiety, depression, phobia, etc. Although factors such as school, work, and relationships are the main triggers for these mental health problems, our homes can be the ones pulling the strings too. Namely, we spend almost 2/3 of our days inside, and if the inside of our home is chaotic, well, the chances are that our minds will be too. Moreover, unorganized homes are often unclean, so they present a health hazard for everyone living in them. So, if you want to preserve your physical and mental health, you know what to do - clean and organize! However, we understand that you need to be persuaded a bit more. And that is why we are here. Thus, today we will share with you some health benefits of a well organized home that will make you start your vacuum instantly.

Not Living in a Hazardous Home

Okay, one of the most significant health benefits of living in a well organized home is its cleanliness and organization. When homes are too messy and cluttered, the dirt inside your home is living its best life. However, dirt is not the biggest problem. The problem appears when that dirt turns into mold, bacteria, fungi, and who knows what else. Moreover, dirt can also turn into urban pests that will soon ruin your home and your health!

Mold, bacteria, and fungi can cause many health problems not only to you but also to your family members, especially children, and pets. You may all get an infection, develop asthma, prompt allergies, or increase your chance of getting some severe illness. The same applies to pests - you don't need us to tell you how dangerous they can be! Thus, don't put yourself into these troubles - clean and organize your home!

Being Less Stressed

Maybe one of the biggest health benefits of a well organized home is stress relief. Just think about it - how many times were you unable to relax because of that endless list of chores? How many times have you sat down to drink your first cup of coffee in the morning but couldn't because you were surrounded by one big hot mess? The answer to both of these questions is probably ONE TOO MANY TIMES!

This is because you can't organize yourself properly so that you can organize your home. And that causes you stress! When you finally learn how to manage your day, your head, and ultimately, your home, you will feel like an enormous weight has been lifted off your chest!

To get rid of stress from an unorganized home, you have to start with baby steps. Trying to maintain your whole home from top to bottom right from the start will be a mission impossible. Thus, start small. Organize your bedroom first. Then, move on to the area you spend most of your time in. Once these areas are clean, trust us, waking up and drinking that first cup of coffee in the morning will be a stress-free delight. 

Sleeping Better

According to recent research, people who sleep in cluttered and dirty rooms lose a lot of sleep at night. Some people don't want to go to bed until their entire space is well organized, and they stay late. Others can't seem to find peace in all that clutter and dirt. But, all those people wake up in the morning, leave their rooms as they are, and face the same problem at night. This is why you have to learn how to be organized. 

Again, being organized is not something that you can learn overnight. However, a thing that would help you with that is to remove all the excess stuff from your room. Remember - the fewer things you have, the easier it will be to keep your home organized. 

So, for instance, if you recently moved in, put everything in its place and get rid of all the packing material - of course, don't throw it away but find a way to reuse it. Then, take a look at your room. If you have a lot of stuff that is still cluttering your space, take the packing materials, pack up what you don't need, and place it in storage (or donate it, or even sell it). Leave only the things that you need, and organizing your home will be a breeze.

Leading a More Productive Life

In the last couple of years, we all spent most of our time inside (because of the corona-virus situation). We were forced to study from home, work from home, and even have fun from home. People who had organizational problems found this rather difficult. Why? Because it was almost impossible to study and finish all the work in all that mess. It is no secret - clutter, mess, dirt, and all other distractions at home keep us from getting the job done. This, in return, leads to stress. And, of course, stress leads to health problems. 

So, once again, try to minimize clutter-related distractions. Declutter your home and try to keep it as clean as possible. Once you do this, you will see how studying, working, and doing pretty much anything else in your home is going to be easier. And, you will see how less stressed you are because you can do anything without distractions. 

Leading a Healthier Lifestyle 

Yes, one of the most significant health benefits of a healthy home is the ability to lead a healthy lifestyle. You may find this strange but just think of those times you couldn't work out because your gym equipment was who knows where and your workout clothes were in the hamper. And, think of the times you were unable to eat healthily just because your fridge and kitchen were all over the place. 

We understand - having to clean and organize your home first so that you can eat healthily and work out (or do pretty much anything) makes us want to skip everything. But, we mustn't! Doing this can make us lazy and, ultimately, unhealthy. This is why we have to keep our homes organized - sometimes, that is the only thing that can motivate us to stay healthy. 

As you have seen, there are many health benefits of a well organized home. They are a must if we want to preserve our mental and physical health! Thus, don't wait for your home to clean and organize itself. You must be the one to do it if you want to live a more productive and stress-free life. 

Decluttering Your Home: Should You Keep, Donate, or Trash?

Decluttering is essential to your psychological and physical wellbeing. It doesn't just free up space but can do everything from reducing stress and anxiety to boosting productivity. Learning how to declutter your home to organize things correctly is important. However, what do you do after everything is organized into piles? You can do many things with them, but the most common question is, "Should I donate, sell, or trash the items I've organized as I'm decluttering?” Read on to find out what you should do in these circumstances. 

When To Keep

You should keep items that you know you'll use at some point. This includes your favorite shirts or jeans, brand-new or gently-used books, and toys your children play with often. All too often, we keep items that we'll never use or things that are broken for the sake of sentimental value. This is a serious mistake and only leads to hoarding in the long run. However, it might be worth keeping if it's truly valuable, like an heirloom or something handmade. 

When To Donate

You should donate when you find something someone else may want but can't use. This would include giving gently-used clothes to charity and canned goods to donation centers. A good rule is to imagine how someone else could use these items. If it seems pertinent, give them away. It makes far more sense to give your items to people that may use them rather than to keep them yourself and never pick them up again. You can typically find a list of acceptable items on the website of the charity you're interested in donating to. 

When To Trash

You should throw away things you can no longer use. This could be broken toys, torn books, and shirts with holes or stains that won't come out. While you can certainly donate items you won't use anymore, you shouldn't donate or keep items in such poor condition; it's in poor taste. There's only one place that you can put them—the trash. This is essential to decluttering your home when you aren't sure what to keep, donate, or trash. 

In short, learning what to keep, donate, or trash can be tricky. However, with the proper system in place, it will be much easier. We hope this article helped clarify what category your items fall into to make decluttering easier. 

Tips for Packing Your Valuables Before Moving

We partnered with a packing company for this post. The opinions in the post are honest. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views. We are excited because we know you will love it.

Are you moving soon but worried about packing your valuables? Don’t worry—we can help! Our tips will ensure that your valuables, collectibles, and irreplaceable items make it to their new home in one piece.

Make a List

Before you break out the boxes and bubble wrap, you should consider making a thorough list of all your valuables. An itemized list will help you better organize your packing and unpacking and tell you where everything is going.

Secondly, it could be valuable for insurance purposes to prove if things were lost or broken while in transit. If there’s damage on a valuable item before transit, make a note of it so that you know it didn’t happen during the move.

Pro Tip: Consider taking pictures of your valuables to go along with your list to show their condition before being packed away.

Invest in Quality Packing Supplies

If you want to ensure your valuables make it from point A to point B, you’ll need to invest in quality, sturdy packing supplies. You may have some available boxes that have been sitting in your basement—those are fine for your other things, but for your valuables, you’ll want the best of the best.

New moving boxes are the way to go, along with plenty of packing paper, bubble wrap, or packing peanuts, if needed. When protecting your most prized possessions, a dusty old box won’t cut it.

Don’t Skimp on Protection

When it’s finally time to pack your valuables before moving, our best tip would be to go all out on protection and cushioning. You’ll want the box and packing to hold your valuables without jostling or shifting, so pack as much bubble wrap, packing paper, or packing peanuts as you can.

Pro Tip: Double tape the bottoms and tops of your boxes to ensure they don’t break open while moving.

Get Backup Copies of the Irreplaceable

Not all valuables are about monetary value, but are sentimental and personal to us. For irreplaceable valuables like pictures, tapes, and films, consider getting a photo digitization service to make digital copies for you.

A digital copy may not be the same as the real thing, but at the very least, it’s insurance should anything be lost or damaged in transit. Plus, digital copies don’t fade or mold or get dusty—they stay in the same condition as the day you made them for as long as you want them.

Buy Insurance

For those incredible valuables that would mean severe financial distress should they be broken or misplaced, insurance is the best way to protect them and yourself. Things get damaged while moving, but you don’t want to be left with nothing to show for your broken valuables.

Call your insurance carrier about your homeowner’s policy to see if you’re covered before the move, or get insurance from your moving company. Some examples of valuables that should be insured include jewelry, fragile antiques, fine art, and electronic equipment.