Minimalism seems to be such a buzzword lately. And for good reason, there are so many benefits of a minimalist lifestyle which I talked about in this video. Today I want to talk about what minimalism is NOT and some common misconceptions of minimalism.
RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT YOU CAN OWN
One of the main misconceptions of minimalism is that you are restricted to owning a certain amount of things. We’re told a minimalist is someone who owns 30 items that fit into a backpack. While that person absolutely IS a minimalist, owning only 30 items is not a prerequisite to being a minimalist.
I believe that minimalism is less abut the things you own or don’t own. And more about living with intention. I realize this may be controversial in the minimalism community, but I believe that if each item in our home is there out of intention, either because it is something we use regularly or it is something that brings us a sense of joy….then that is a form of minimalism.
PLAIN WHITE WALLS
The next misconception that I’ve heard is that minimalists have to live in a home with plain white walls, a small amount of furniture and very little decor.
This one I very much disagree with.
There are no restrictions on what colour your home has to be, or what your decor style is limited to. I love a boho, eclectic style, which is pretty much the opposite of extreme minimalism. But I can still achieve that style while reducing clutter and ensuring that each item is intentional. If you want to pursue minimalism, you don’t have to give up the home decor style you love. You don’t have to paint all your walls white, or get rid of your couch and just sit on the floor.
GET RID OF THINGS YOU LOVE
The next misconception of minimalism is that if you want to become a minimalist, you have to get rid of things that you love.
In my opinion, this is exactly the opposite of what being a minimalist means. You should never feel like you have to get rid of the tings you love.
Instead, minimalism allows you to enjoy the things you love even more. Book collections seem to be a common concern for people wanting to pursue minimalism. Instead of getting rid of your book collection, minimalism and decluttering would allow you to enjoy your book collection and maybe even find a beautiful place to display your collection where you can enjoy it every day.
YOU CAN’T BE A MINIMALIST IF YOUR SPOUSE ISN’T
Another misconception about minimalism is that you can’t be a minimalist if your spouse isn’t, or if your roommates aren’t. While it may be true that you may not be able to purge as many household items used by other people, you can absolutely still pursue minimalism with your own things or in specific spaces.
If you live with roommates who do not want a minimalist kitchen, you can still declutter and purge your own bedroom and closet. If your husband isn’t on board with minimalism, maybe try to find ways to compromise. And maybe eventually they will be drawn to the example you are setting
MINIMALISM IS ABOUT PHYSICAL ITEMS
Another misconception about minimalism is that it’s about physical items. While physical items is a large portion of minimalism, it isn’t the only area of your life that can benefit from minimalism.
We can pursue minimalism in our relationships, our work life, on our cellphones, and in so many ways. Minimalism is a lifestyle that goes way beyond just decluttering your home.
So those are the misconceptions I often hear about minimalism and my thoughts on them! I’d love to hear your thoughts on these, or any other misconceptions you’ve heard about minimalism.
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