Everyone has a different idea of what minimalism should be. With that in mind, what are your personal rules regarding colors, consumption, or anything else you do?
Consumption not aesthetic. I don’t follow the MCM or Scandinavian design style. My home has wallpaper and color and texture. However, everything we own we need, use, or love. That’s it. No excess.
I see minimalism similar to this. I have many hobbies to cycle around and i make sure that the materials for those hobbies i use are just enough and not excessive (ex. Paints, brushes, yarns).
I feel like Scandis are minimalist but they don't say it. They created "Swedish death cleaning" and it's like Marie Kondo but a white typa culture. Clutter can be inherited. I don't like Marie Kondo tho, cuz what if clutter gives me joy? That's just straying away from making my life easier, and my allergies easier. NGL, clutter can be aesthetically pleasing. Those vintage this or that, dusty and outdated, broken lamps that can set your house on fire, etc..
Decor such as a:
pretty vase - i use it to hold flowers as well
Throw blanket - keeps me warm as well
Decorative lamp- provides ambient lighting as well
Plants- provides cleaner air as well
Wall art is the only exception where it lacks "function" so my rule is it must invoke emotions and not just be a wall filler. For example, I have two paintings in my entire home - one I painted myself on a gloomy Sunday (I call it the "Sunday Blues") and the other my husband and I painted together.
Minimalism for me is about not letting your stuff weigh you down and the clarity of mind a clutter free home brings. I feel I have everything I need. Everything must have a place in my small home. Currently a 72 hour wait for new purchases, 6 month pause on new clothing items. No nick nacks, little gadgets or duplicate items.
I’m still materialistic. I feel that my belongings have lasted through multiple evaluations, and the things I have left I really love. I have learned I love functional antiques, that house plants can make a room cozy and that 12 cardigans is just the right number.
The only “rule” I follow is to be very sure before I bring something new into my house. Other than that, I’m undefined. I organize or go through the things I own when I feel like it and find more to get rid of each time, but that’s about it.
I own:
A benchmade 940, a Rolex submariner, a kindle, a MacBook,iPhone and a headset.
I have two jeans. Two shorts. A dozen tshirts.
A pair of boots and two sneaker pairs. One for workout. A bomber jacket. A trenchcoat and a hoodie. That’s what I own. I do have some jewelry
My version of minimalism is just not being weighted down by your belongings. And I honestly find it so easy. When I want to buy something I just have to answer these questions- where will I put it? and, Will I actually want it there or would that annoy me? But I have been into having an uncluttered space since I was a child so it’s a mind frame that comes naturally to me.
Same here! I've been this way too since childhood. Reddit kept recommending me to the maximalist subreddit... I thought these weren't my people and I wondered if there was a minimalist subreddit, so here I am. I dislike clutter and keeping things just because. My cats truly bring me joy though so I'm not minimal in that area.
Aim for a peace of environment in order to facilitate a peace of mind.
That's it.
It's not an aesthetic for me -- and tbh I don't think this sub is for the minimalism aesthetic, but I may be wrong. My walls are cluttered with decorations...but those decorations are orderly and reflect things I enjoy -- and because they are on the wall, they are not in my way when I move about my home.
When it comes to other objects, I have a bad tendency to hold onto things based on what I could do with them. It's an uphill battle to force myself to think, "but will I do this?" Most of the time, the answer is 'no' when I'm being honest with myself.
I have life plans based on those personal values and health standards
I have daily routines based on those life plans
I have shopping guides based on those daily routines
I have a list of things I need, to organize and not forget about stuff (everyday and vacation)
I have list of chores based on those list of everything that I truly need to do, not some "addition of unnecessary work"
Reserves
So it was a system I created for myself, for my own minimalism. These systems are all connected to my shopping guide.
Based on what I said.. it affects my purchasing decisions. So I wouldn't really have a lot of inflow because I have deducted what I truly need and want. Everything else is, I'd say, unnecessary or probably "an extra stuff I'd want" for awhile. Or maybe, for a long time? But if it's not on my list, prolly wouldn't. Maybe temporarily. Maybe temporary clutter for me to have around.
These are my personal rules. To shorten in, what I want, need and what I truly use. I do not deprive myself of this or that.
If it doesn't sit in "your yearly routine", it prolly ain't relevant. Like paper gift bags will always have a space in your area bec we celeb xmas once a year.
Interesting question! As Im dealing with mental health clutter accumulates quickly sadly and being perfectly minimalist becomes near impossible. But it helps keep somewhat if my sanity. Heres my hard and fast rules I live by because otherwise Id go crazy:
Colors: black, white, bleak. Maybe greys and beiges. A pop of red as its my favorite color. But man just the white clean empty space or black thibgs are so calming and quiet. I cant handle too much visual stimulation. At least Ive overcome my dislike for green and am a proud plant mamma.
Consumption: difficult currently, ideally as little as possible. Sometimes however I need certain comfort and buy stuff. Like if I find really pretty pillows because having a comfy bed is important and I dont wanna do without my pillows anymore. Usually stuff Ive been wanting for a loooong time. I sat on the decision of getting an airfryer for two years… i foubd one in a really good sales deal and said well, nows the time and I havent regretted it. It felt impulsively, but I dont think it really was.
Otherwise, recently I went shopping for necessities. Tempted to buy more stuff but decided to stick with the necessities. „Do I really need this? Whats the top priority? Can I live without this? Did I cone to this store for this?“etc.
Otherwise I try to focus on the stuff I have. Especially when I (doll collector) get a bit obsessed with a certain doll I see and start daydreaming about that ONE thing to pour some love into. Because that actually comforts me. You know, making pretty things and bonding with it. Truth be told, most likely I wont bond with it. I got ino my little pony and sylvanian families last year. I collected the whole bullrush frog family which has been my dream since I was 4. My friend made me ultra awsome clothes for them. I LOVE them. They are proudly on display and on some hard days I take one of them with me because they are happiness feogs. You cant feel depressed when holdibg them I SWEAR! The my little ponies? Well guess what. (I only bought three I really missed MINE from childhood but have no access to them) I only kept one of them. Shes pretty and I like her but shes been in a box for a few months. Otherwise I found that instead of trying to stuff the hole or void with a new shiny promising thing… well what ACTUALLY helps is circling back to what you already have. And often the dream is nicer than the thing itself. Lemme say that again:
THE THOUGHT OR DREAM IF THE THING IS BETTER THAN THE THING ITSELF.
It was an important realization in my behavior and spending habits and I stopped trying to get into new shiny things. When I first started collecting dolls I got massively obsessed with a certain doll that was way out of my budget. No, no. Properly obsessed. For years. I dreamed SO much about that doll, I made up a whole ass character to justify the inevitable purchase and that really pushed the overall story and world building forward. When I got him finally I basically proved the point I just made to myself and had a hard time with him. But you know, hes my little baby, I love him to bits and pieces and over the years now I bonded so much and am quite attached that no shiny new thing could every fill my heart with the same level of joy that making something for him gives me. I just find the bond grows stronger is more meaningful than jumping from one new thing to the next. And it has the same kind of magic as chilhood stuffs have. And before you roll your eyes at me, well welcome to the dollcollector world we all talk like that and yeah sure Id be upset if the doll got severely damaged or lost, but at this point he is so much of a character of my self built story in my heart and brain that loss of the doll wouldnt and couldnt take that away from me and would be half as bad :)
Tldr
But as a collector and more materialistic leaning person I foubd that having ONE nice thibg you like and building a good bond with it over a long period of time of use bring vastly more joy with every use than the short lived dopamine hit of a new shiny thing.
Wardrobe..must be in the colors best for my skin tone, must fit appropriately for my shape and must be comfortable and decent quality (which is getting hard to find). That eliminates a lot of "oops" purchases" which I've had in the past.
Food..low carb, mostly clean. This helps with maintaining health and weight which affects other areas like finances, time, wellbeing.
Home...slow to decorate, not too much, mostly mix and match neutrals for the large pieces. Quality over quantity.
Donate...don't bother trying to sell unless a major item.
Don't buy appliances when the oven or stove top will do the job.
Preplan meals and use grocery lists
Keep a monthly budget and watch the spend and investments
Mine is keeping only what I actively use or turely enjoy. Fewer items, clearer routines, and intentional purchases reduce decision fatigue and help me focus more energy on health, learning and relationships.
Everything I have, I use it. If I don't use it/ it doesn't has a function anymore, I usually donate it.
No second favorites
Only favorites
Love this
damn i hope those favorites are cost effective and last thereby serving you well while allowing you freedom.
Consumption not aesthetic. I don’t follow the MCM or Scandinavian design style. My home has wallpaper and color and texture. However, everything we own we need, use, or love. That’s it. No excess.
I see minimalism similar to this. I have many hobbies to cycle around and i make sure that the materials for those hobbies i use are just enough and not excessive (ex. Paints, brushes, yarns).
I feel like Scandis are minimalist but they don't say it. They created "Swedish death cleaning" and it's like Marie Kondo but a white typa culture. Clutter can be inherited. I don't like Marie Kondo tho, cuz what if clutter gives me joy? That's just straying away from making my life easier, and my allergies easier. NGL, clutter can be aesthetically pleasing. Those vintage this or that, dusty and outdated, broken lamps that can set your house on fire, etc..
Swedish death cleaning sounded badass til I read what it actually is.
I saw something more bad ass as well..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shukatsu_(end-of-life_planning)
The Japanese culture. They're so nihilistic, it's related to SWEDISH DEATH CLEANING. Like a metal band.
Everything I own must be two things: 1. Beautiful 2. Functional
So nothing that I use but feel like it's an "eyesore" or nothing that I find beautiful but have no use for.
I also don't like to have duplicates and manage inventory of my belongings through the 'one in, one out' method.
What about wall art or decor?
Decor such as a: pretty vase - i use it to hold flowers as well Throw blanket - keeps me warm as well Decorative lamp- provides ambient lighting as well Plants- provides cleaner air as well
Wall art is the only exception where it lacks "function" so my rule is it must invoke emotions and not just be a wall filler. For example, I have two paintings in my entire home - one I painted myself on a gloomy Sunday (I call it the "Sunday Blues") and the other my husband and I painted together.
He’ll yea
Minimalism for me is about not letting your stuff weigh you down and the clarity of mind a clutter free home brings. I feel I have everything I need. Everything must have a place in my small home. Currently a 72 hour wait for new purchases, 6 month pause on new clothing items. No nick nacks, little gadgets or duplicate items.
I’m still materialistic. I feel that my belongings have lasted through multiple evaluations, and the things I have left I really love. I have learned I love functional antiques, that house plants can make a room cozy and that 12 cardigans is just the right number.
The only “rule” I follow is to be very sure before I bring something new into my house. Other than that, I’m undefined. I organize or go through the things I own when I feel like it and find more to get rid of each time, but that’s about it.
Essentialism mixed with favorites.
Extreme
Can you elaborate? The extreme minimalists are the ones that I get inspiration from.
I own: A benchmade 940, a Rolex submariner, a kindle, a MacBook,iPhone and a headset. I have two jeans. Two shorts. A dozen tshirts. A pair of boots and two sneaker pairs. One for workout. A bomber jacket. A trenchcoat and a hoodie. That’s what I own. I do have some jewelry
How do you sleep and cook/eat?
Very well. Don’t miss what I departed with. I feel free that I can toss all I need into the back of my car and leave unwanted clutter behind.
Essentialism
My version of minimalism is just not being weighted down by your belongings. And I honestly find it so easy. When I want to buy something I just have to answer these questions- where will I put it? and, Will I actually want it there or would that annoy me? But I have been into having an uncluttered space since I was a child so it’s a mind frame that comes naturally to me.
Same here! I've been this way too since childhood. Reddit kept recommending me to the maximalist subreddit... I thought these weren't my people and I wondered if there was a minimalist subreddit, so here I am. I dislike clutter and keeping things just because. My cats truly bring me joy though so I'm not minimal in that area.
Get that Shit Out of My Face ™️
Some are minimalist.
Some are extreme minimalist?
Some are micro minimalist!
Striving for the last category. That's where I am.
What is a micro minimalist to you?
Just what you need but, not quite. You learn to make do. Get by the best you can.
This list is not very minimalist.
A practice of simplicity, functionality and joy
Bullshit Free Zone
I like it.
Extreme, and everything I have I must use, otherwise it will be donated, my mind works better this way, only the essential and useful things.
Aim for a peace of environment in order to facilitate a peace of mind.
That's it.
It's not an aesthetic for me -- and tbh I don't think this sub is for the minimalism aesthetic, but I may be wrong. My walls are cluttered with decorations...but those decorations are orderly and reflect things I enjoy -- and because they are on the wall, they are not in my way when I move about my home.
When it comes to other objects, I have a bad tendency to hold onto things based on what I could do with them. It's an uphill battle to force myself to think, "but will I do this?" Most of the time, the answer is 'no' when I'm being honest with myself.
Deductively? This is how I trim it down.
So it was a system I created for myself, for my own minimalism. These systems are all connected to my shopping guide.
Based on what I said.. it affects my purchasing decisions. So I wouldn't really have a lot of inflow because I have deducted what I truly need and want. Everything else is, I'd say, unnecessary or probably "an extra stuff I'd want" for awhile. Or maybe, for a long time? But if it's not on my list, prolly wouldn't. Maybe temporarily. Maybe temporary clutter for me to have around.
These are my personal rules. To shorten in, what I want, need and what I truly use. I do not deprive myself of this or that.
Aesthetic
Distinct the high quality few items from the many low quality thing one can possess. Basically essentialism with stuff
Don’t need anything I don’t use regularly
Define “regularly”.
If it doesn't sit in "your yearly routine", it prolly ain't relevant. Like paper gift bags will always have a space in your area bec we celeb xmas once a year.
Rebirth after the purge
Interesting question! As Im dealing with mental health clutter accumulates quickly sadly and being perfectly minimalist becomes near impossible. But it helps keep somewhat if my sanity. Heres my hard and fast rules I live by because otherwise Id go crazy:
Colors: black, white, bleak. Maybe greys and beiges. A pop of red as its my favorite color. But man just the white clean empty space or black thibgs are so calming and quiet. I cant handle too much visual stimulation. At least Ive overcome my dislike for green and am a proud plant mamma.
Consumption: difficult currently, ideally as little as possible. Sometimes however I need certain comfort and buy stuff. Like if I find really pretty pillows because having a comfy bed is important and I dont wanna do without my pillows anymore. Usually stuff Ive been wanting for a loooong time. I sat on the decision of getting an airfryer for two years… i foubd one in a really good sales deal and said well, nows the time and I havent regretted it. It felt impulsively, but I dont think it really was. Otherwise, recently I went shopping for necessities. Tempted to buy more stuff but decided to stick with the necessities. „Do I really need this? Whats the top priority? Can I live without this? Did I cone to this store for this?“etc.
Otherwise I try to focus on the stuff I have. Especially when I (doll collector) get a bit obsessed with a certain doll I see and start daydreaming about that ONE thing to pour some love into. Because that actually comforts me. You know, making pretty things and bonding with it. Truth be told, most likely I wont bond with it. I got ino my little pony and sylvanian families last year. I collected the whole bullrush frog family which has been my dream since I was 4. My friend made me ultra awsome clothes for them. I LOVE them. They are proudly on display and on some hard days I take one of them with me because they are happiness feogs. You cant feel depressed when holdibg them I SWEAR! The my little ponies? Well guess what. (I only bought three I really missed MINE from childhood but have no access to them) I only kept one of them. Shes pretty and I like her but shes been in a box for a few months. Otherwise I found that instead of trying to stuff the hole or void with a new shiny promising thing… well what ACTUALLY helps is circling back to what you already have. And often the dream is nicer than the thing itself. Lemme say that again:
THE THOUGHT OR DREAM IF THE THING IS BETTER THAN THE THING ITSELF.
It was an important realization in my behavior and spending habits and I stopped trying to get into new shiny things. When I first started collecting dolls I got massively obsessed with a certain doll that was way out of my budget. No, no. Properly obsessed. For years. I dreamed SO much about that doll, I made up a whole ass character to justify the inevitable purchase and that really pushed the overall story and world building forward. When I got him finally I basically proved the point I just made to myself and had a hard time with him. But you know, hes my little baby, I love him to bits and pieces and over the years now I bonded so much and am quite attached that no shiny new thing could every fill my heart with the same level of joy that making something for him gives me. I just find the bond grows stronger is more meaningful than jumping from one new thing to the next. And it has the same kind of magic as chilhood stuffs have. And before you roll your eyes at me, well welcome to the dollcollector world we all talk like that and yeah sure Id be upset if the doll got severely damaged or lost, but at this point he is so much of a character of my self built story in my heart and brain that loss of the doll wouldnt and couldnt take that away from me and would be half as bad :)
Tldr
But as a collector and more materialistic leaning person I foubd that having ONE nice thibg you like and building a good bond with it over a long period of time of use bring vastly more joy with every use than the short lived dopamine hit of a new shiny thing.
Keeping my life simple in every way. Having only what I use and need to be happy in my life. I’m just happy with much less stuff than most people.
For me it’s simple—I live by this: We are defined by what we don’t do.
What works for me:
Wardrobe..must be in the colors best for my skin tone, must fit appropriately for my shape and must be comfortable and decent quality (which is getting hard to find). That eliminates a lot of "oops" purchases" which I've had in the past.
Food..low carb, mostly clean. This helps with maintaining health and weight which affects other areas like finances, time, wellbeing.
Home...slow to decorate, not too much, mostly mix and match neutrals for the large pieces. Quality over quantity.
Donate...don't bother trying to sell unless a major item.
Don't buy appliances when the oven or stove top will do the job.
Preplan meals and use grocery lists
Keep a monthly budget and watch the spend and investments
Same XD
With as few words as possible.
Mine is keeping only what I actively use or turely enjoy. Fewer items, clearer routines, and intentional purchases reduce decision fatigue and help me focus more energy on health, learning and relationships.
Less but best.
Only favorites — I’d rather own fewer things I actually love than lots of “good enough” stuff.