If you’ve ever wanted to live in a minimalist apartment, here’s your chance. New year, new home.
Have you looked at your closet, bookshelves and stacks of files, and thought, maybe there’s something to be said for a minimalist apartment? For many minimalists, it’s this defining moment that starts them on a journey in which less is more. Less clutter, less stuff and less relentless organizing often leads to more free time to enjoy the things that truly matter.
With spring cleaning a few short months away, now’s a perfect time to use these minimalist apartment tips to create a clutter-free environment. Less clutter, after all, means fewer things to clean.
Not only do you get a jumpstart on spring cleaning your apartment, Neuroscience News reports you’ll also enjoy the side benefits of reduced stress and anxiety. Sounds like a win-win!
Two things can sidetrack the best of intentions: perfectionism and procrastination. These tips will help you stay focused without feeling overwhelmed. And, as a brilliant, unknown author once said about perfectionism, “No one is perfect…that’s why pencils have erasers.” So, let’s get started with one room at a time.
Minimalist apartment tips for your bedroom
Peter Walsh, the international organizer and author of seven organizing and decluttering books, said, “Clutter isn’t just the stuff on the floor. It’s anything that gets between you and the life you want to be living.”
Keep that in mind as you go through the many items you’ve collected in your bedroom. And remember the lesson behind the story of the tortoise and the hare: Slow and steady wins the race. Take it room by room and one area at a time. When you’re down to that last area, possibly just in time for the big spring clean, you’ll feel a sense of renewal and freedom that’s hard to define until experienced.
The dreaded closet
Closets can quickly become storage central with clothes and shoes you never wear and boxes with who-knows-what in them. It’s time to change that.
- Every item goes into a keep, donate or discard pile.
- To help you decide, ask two questions:
- When was the last time I wore or used this? The 90/90 minimalism rule suggests you only keep items you’ve used or will use within a 90-day timeframe.
- Does it bring you joy or serve a purpose?
- Now, while you have everything out of your closet, it’s a good time to vacuum and clean the baseboards. In fact, as you go through your home pre-spring cleaning, taking time to do the baseboards gives you a great jumpstart.
- A natural cleaning solution for this sometimes hard-to-clean area is one part white vinegar to one part water plus several drops of your favorite essential oil, like lemon, lavender or pine. Note: If you have pets, these essential oils are considered toxic. Safer ones for your furry friends include cedarwood, frankincense and clary sage.
Nightstands and dresser
Dressers can be a go-to spot for objects that hold memories, which makes them one of the more challenging decluttering areas.
- Start by taking everything off the top and placing it in one of your three piles. If something holds sentimental value, put it to the side.
- Pick up each item that holds a memory and consider if you feel a sense of freedom by letting it go or a sense of loss. And remember, memories aren’t in things; they’re in you.
- Sort through your drawers. Socks with holes? Discard. Shirts you’ll someday wear but never do? Donate.
Minimalist apartment tips for your kitchen
Stand back and take a look at your kitchen. Can you see the countertop? Now’s the perfect time to consider what kitchen gadgets you actually use.
Do you have an electric wok a well-intentioned relative gave you as a gift that you’ve yet to get out of the box? When deciding which items to donate, it’s helpful to consider that there’s someone out there who may really appreciate it!
- Go through each drawer and cabinet one at a time with the same intention. Remove items, place them in one of three piles, clean the cabinet and make a specific spot for everything.
- A mixture of two parts baking soda and one part water is great for cleaning spots on painted or laminated cupboards and drawers. Let it sit for a few minutes before removing it.
- If you’re short on time, consider doing just one kitchen cabinet or drawer a day.
- For the ultimate jumpstart on spring cleaning, consider deep cleaning your appliances one at a time. A good DIY mixture to remove grease is one part white vinegar and one part blue Dawn. This task may require your favorite upbeat playlist and some elbow grease.
Minimalist apartment tips for your bathroom
Pre-spring cleaning offers a great time to go through your bathroom’s often-ignored medicine cabinet and under the cabinet sink.
- Check for expired products and items you haven’t used in the last three months. If throwing away old medicine, be sure to scratch any personal information off the label to protect your privacy, and throw the container and medicine away separately.
- Go through each drawer and shelf. Are you finding makeup you haven’t used in who knows how long? The Mayo Clinic offers some good advice on when it’s time to say goodbye.
- Mascara and liquid eyeliner: safe for three months.
- Pencil eye and lip liners: safe for one year.
- Water-based foundation: safe for one year.
- Oil-based foundation: safe for 18 months.
- Cream-based foundation and blushes: safe for at least six months.
- Lipsticks and lip gloss: safe for six months to one year.
Minimalist apartment tips for your living room
Your living room should be a sanctuary from the world, a place to relax, rejuvenate and enjoy time with friends and family. Every item should speak to the heart of the matter or be so incredibly functional you can’t do without it.
- Remember, fewer things to move means fewer things to clean. With that in mind, remove items from shelves (including bookshelves) and the tops of tables.
- One by one, ask yourself, do you really need this item in your life, or is it simply taking up space?
- Clean shelves and table tops.
- If you need a space for magazines, books and games you’re not ready to part with, lift-top coffee tables provide a great storage area while reducing clutter.
- While sorting through your living room, consider vacuuming out the window tracks and washing the windows to get an extra spring-cleaning jumpstart.
Jumpstart spring cleaning and create an intentional life
You’ll be amazed at how getting rid of stuff not only frees up your space but your mind as well. To keep things tidy until the spring cleaning session, ensure everything has a place to call home and finds its way back there after use.
The outcome? You’ll understand the sentiment behind less is more and find yourself living a more intentional life in your newly minimalist apartment.
Still looking for that clean slate? Browse our apartments and houses for rent here.
Source: rent.com