Many of us are starting the new year off with goals in mind. Specifically, lots of people are looking to finally master the art of minimalist living. If living minimally is one of your goals for 2020, good news — we can help. However, before getting started, it’s important to remember that minimalist living isn’t a simple switch. Instead, it’s a lifestyle defined by the culmination of small steps you take every day to live minimally. Here are our best tips for getting started to help make minimalist apartment living work for you.
Minimalist Apartment Living: Declutter
Declutter Every Sunday
When it comes to minimalist apartment living, it’s best to choose one day a week to declutter every room in your home. It doesn’t have to be Sunday, that’s just the day we choose to do it ourselves. If there’s a day that works better with your schedule, then go for it. No matter what day you choose to declutter, sticking to a weekly schedule can help you keep things tidy. It’ll help you stay ahead of any mess instead of waiting weeks and then having to sort through the build-up of clutter.
Minimalist Apartment Living: Do Your Dishes Immediately
Do Your Dishes Immediately
We highly recommend doing your dishes right after you eat as opposed to letting them pile up in the sink. While this is good practice for anyone, it’s an especially helpful habit for people who live in a minimalist apartment. When you live minimally, messes show up more quickly, so it’s even more important to stay on top of them before they get out of hand. It may feel a little annoying at first, but it won’t take long for this to become a habit — we promise.
Minimalist Apartment Living: Have A Place For Everything
Have A Place For Everything
Similarly to decluttering and doing your dishes immediately, it’s essential that all of your belongings have a place in your apartment. Minimalist apartment dwellers have less “stuff” than the average renter, so every item they do have has a home. Determining a designated spot for each of your belongings will help you keep your home orderly, and it will also help you sort out which items are worth holding onto long term. If you can’t find a place for something in your apartment, it might be time to part ways with it.
Minimalist Apartment Living: Make Wise Purchases
Purchase Wisely
Think long and hard about every item you want to purchase before bringing it into your home. Is it something you’ll use often, or will it just add to the clutter? Will it last, or will you have to replace it shortly? These questions are crucial to minimalist apartment living. If you can’t answer these questions, chances are that it may be best to pass on the purchase for now.
Minimalist Apartment Living: Reuse What You Can
Reuse What You Can
This tip may sound counterintuitive. The goal is to get rid of stuff, not hold onto more, right? While a minimalist lifestyle is all about embracing the less is more way of life, it’s also about minimizing waste. One of the best ways to do this is to reuse and repurpose things that you can use for other tasks. That doesn’t mean you should hold onto everything. Instead, approach this the same way you approach your purchases. Ask yourself how much use you’ll get out of an item. Consider how you’ll use it, and for how long, in order to make an informed decision on whether to toss it or keep it around for future use.
Want more advice on decluttering your apartment in the new year? Check out some of our previous posts below:
Marie Kondo’s KonMari Action Plan For Decluttering Your Home
The Simple KonMari Solution To Home Organization That You’ve Been Missing
How To Organize Your Apartment According To The Five KonMari Categories
