The saying 'tidy home, tidy mind' rings true, as living in a minimalist home is likely to improve your mood and productivity. However, it can be difficult to create simplicity in your home, especially if you've collected tons of belongings over the years. However, with a little help from handyman services in London and by following our hacks, you can achieve a minimalist home in no time.So, what is minimalism? The meaning differs between person to person but for many, it means to remove all excess clutter that doesn't add any value to your life. Hayley from Simple Joy, a smart living blog, tells us: "As soon as you mention minimalism to others, they assume you live in an empty home with stark white walls. It doesn't mean that at all. Don't worry about what anyone else is doing. Minimalism for me should be very personal. Only have things in your life what you need and want in your life - it doesn't matter about x numbers of possessions. So, focus on yours/your family's needs alone, eliminate what is excess and you can't go wrong!"Keep your countertops clearIt's tempting to place your keys, letters or any miscellaneous items on your countertops, especially in the kitchen, but eventually, the clutter builds and makes the whole space look untidy. To help avoid the temptation, sort through your cupboards and assign a place for each of your belongings. Whenever the item is not in use, make sure to place it back in its spot!We spoke to Stephanie from Mama Minimalist, a home and food blog featuring top tips for minimalism, who revealed her advice: "Many homeowners want the aesthetic of a minimalist home but don't have the time to perform a full-house declutter. In these instances, my best hack for instant minimalist benefit is to clear off the counters. Remove unnecessary appliances from the kitchen counter. Clear countertops provide visual relief. They are the perfect solution to the sensory overload that many of us face on a daily basis, too."Cut down on your belongingsOne of the easiest ways to achieve a minimalist home is to, of course, keep the amount you own to a minimal. Sometimes this can be easily said than done, especially if you have kids who are constantly creating items you want to keep as a memory. Stephanie from Mama Minimalist suggests a way to tackle this scenario: "Digitize what you can. Scan important paperwork. Digitize photographs. Take photos of your child's artwork and keep only the best originals (not all of them!)"If you're prone to saying 'but I might need this one day' when decluttering, try storing everything you're unsure of throwing away into a storage box. Stephanie explains: "Enact a quarantine box. If you worry that you'll need an item later, don't rush to donate it. Instead, put it in a box (aptly named a quarantine box) that's out of sight in the basement or garage. If after six months you haven't used the item(s), it's time to then go ahead and donate them."As well as sorting through the things you already own, make sure you're strict when bringing new items into your home. Stephanie adds: "Stop buying new stuff. Today's 'it' item is tomorrow's clutter. Ask yourself whether you really, truly, absolutely need an item before you buy it. If you can borrow the item from someone else and return it after you've used it, even better!"Choose your colour scheme wellColour plays a key part in creating a minimalist home. Focus on creating a base of neutral colours; greys, whites, browns and light blues work well. However, you don't have to avoid bright colours altogether, as once the walls have been painted a neutral palette you then have a 'blank canvas' to play around with bright colourful accents in your decorations and furnishings.Focus on décorInstead of covering your walls with photo frames and art prints, choose just one or two of your favourites to hang on the walls. A feature art piece is a great way to add some life and a splash of colour into a minimalist home.Stephanie from Mama Minimalist continues: "The possessions you own - the decorations you display - make your home unique. They make a statement about you, too. The trick to having a minimalist home that also retains your family's collective personality is to display fewer items."Putting just your favourite decor items on display enables them to shine. In this way your most treasured pieces will no longer have to compete for your attention with mediocre pieces; indeed, displaying only the best highlights them and - by default - you, as well."Hayley from Simple Joy tells us how she decorates her minimalistic home: "I am a big fan of memories on the walls. Family photos, scrapbook collages of family holidays, pieces of art that have a purpose or a meaning (such as a landscape of your favourite place). No matter how simplistic your style is, these little pieces of your heart will always add a homely feel. You don't have to go overboard either - one or two pieces in a room can really make a difference."To help create a calming interior, add some natural elements into your rooms with houseplants. Not only does this work brilliantly with minimalistic styles, but the plants will help clean the air in your home.Some great decoration ideas for a minimalist home include:Feature art pieceStatement clockHouse plantsCandlesPatterned throws and blanketsFloor lampsDecorative bowls and traysCoffee table booksColourful cushions Smart storageThe trick to having a minimalist home is to be smart about storage. Make sure you're optimising the space in your home that's hidden from view. Add some boxes under your bed or some extra shelves in the cupboards and hide as much clutter as possible.Set realistic goalsNo matter what your dream home looks like, it's unlikely that you'll be able to make it a reality in one day. Make sure you set realistic time frames and goals when decorating or decluttering, as when done properly, it can sometimes take longer than you expect.Stephanie also adds: "When decluttering, start small. Work in 10-15-minute bursts and don't attempt to tackle your entire home at once. You'll do your best work when you break an enormous task into manageable portions. You'll make better decisions, too."Hayley from Simple Joy also believes setting realistic goals is key: "Don't stress yourself out by trying to do it all at once! Start by decluttering the easier areas of your home first - the bathroom cupboard, the sock drawer, the medicine cabinet, then once you have the decluttering practice nailed move on to the harder things - the wardrobe, the sentimental items. If you feel yourself getting overwhelmed, take a break, don't put pressure on yourself to complete things when you are not in the right frame of mind. If you do that, you will always be hitting a brick wall. Go easy on yourself and enjoy the process - it is very therapeutic! Good luck!"If you need assistance in achieving your dream minimalist home, don't hesitate to contact us to find out how our handyman service can help.image:
