How to Create a Minimalist Home

Co-authored by Kathryn Cherne and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: September 12, 2021 References

Minimalism isn’t just a personal aesthetic choice—it’s a streamlined, organized, and refreshing way to reorganize your home so you’re only holding onto the essentials. If you have a lot of different odds and ends lying around your home, creating a minimalist living space might seem a bit daunting. There’s no need to worry! There are plenty of easy, stylish ways you can simplify your home, even if you’re on a budget.

Here are 14 tips for creating a minimalist home that you love.

1

Simplify your home one room at a time.

Break things down so you don’t have so much to do at once. Creating a minimalist house or apartment is a really big undertaking, and it’s understandable if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed. Take a deep breath, and focus on 1 room a time. There’s no deadline for reorganizing your home, so give yourself as much time as you need to get your home exactly the way you’d like it.^{[1]
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- It might help to target your messiest room first, and then branch out from there.
- You might also reorganize your rooms in the order that you usually walk through them. For instance, you might start in your bedroom, then move on to the bathroom, living room, and kitchen.

2

Get rid of anything you don’t need.

Start with the biggest items and work your way down. Look at each piece of furniture, and ask yourself if you really need it or not. Then, work your way down to smaller items, like household appliances, pieces of decor, books, and other personal belongings. See if your home really needs the item, or if it’s just taking up space—this can really help narrow things down.^{[2]
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- For example, you might have an old armchair that you never use or sit in. You can donate this to charity, or resell it to a new owner.
- You might have too many lamps in 1 room, or lots of books and magazines that you never read. These are things you can get rid of to simplify and “minimize” your space.

3

Discard any duplicates.

Donate or toss out any extra items that you don’t need. Look through your drawers and cabinets to see if you have any duplicate items lying around, like measuring cups, extra silverware, throw pillows, blankets, extra cosmetics, and more. Ask yourself if you’re using these extra objects frequently—if the answer is no, then it’s probably safe to throw them out.^{[3]
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- For example, if you have an extra tube of lipstick that you never use, consider throwing it out (or giving it to a friend if it’s unopened).
- If you have 5 or 6 throw pillows on your couch, donate most of them so you only have 1 or 2.

4

Donate your items regularly.

Sort your belongings once a season and donate some of them to charity. Set a time during the year to go through all of your things, whether it’s clothing, kitchen tools, books, or anything else. If you don’t actively use the item any more, set it aside in a donation pile.^{[4]
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- Charities like Goodwill and Volunteers of America are great to consider. You can also sell your old, unwanted items and donate the profits to a charity.^{[5]
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5

Clean your home often.

Try to clean up clutter as soon as you notice it. Get in the habit of putting everything away as soon as you’re done with it, so your home can be really clean, open, and streamlined. Set aside a few minutes every night to clean off the surfaces of your home, so it doesn’t start to stack up.^{[6]
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- For instance, you can recycle any old receipts and papers laying on your countertop before you go to bed.
- You can wash your dishes right after each meal so they don’t collect in your sink.

6

Scan paper files into digital copies.

Search for any loose receipts or files lying around. Ask yourself if you need them, or if they’re just taking up valuable space in your home. To be safe, scan the documents to your computer or phone so you can have them on hand if you need them. Then, recycle the leftover paper to get rid of the clutter!^{[7]
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- You can use a regular scanner, or a special scanning app, like Dropbox, Evernote, Adobe Scan, or Piksoft TurboScan Pro.^{[8]
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7

Hide any unused items in storage.

Keep everything out of sight unless you’re actively using it. Find a place in your home for all of your leftover items, whether it’s a cabinet, dresser, ottoman, or some other form of storage.^{[9]
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- For example, you can keep a few DVDs stored in an entertainment center, and your basic toiletries stored in a bathroom cabinet.
- You can keep your clothes organized in a dresser or wardrobe, depending on what your closet space is like.

8

Opt for just a few meaningful decorations or accents.

Decorate with a few accents you really love, then get rid of the rest. Chances are, you don’t need dozens of pictures or pieces of art hanging up on your wall or cluttering up your counters and surfaces. Look through each decoration—does this art, photo, or decor item hold a lot of personal value, or is it just taking up space? Focus on the decorations and accents that really add a personal touch to your home, instead of hanging up random paintings and photographs.^{[11]
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- For instance, you might hang up a piece of art that a friend or family member made instead of a random accent you bought at a store.
- You might prefer hanging up a tasteful family photo instead of a bunch of random nature photos.
- Limit 1-2 accents for each room, so your home isn’t overwhelmed with odds and ends.

9

Invest in multi-purpose furniture.

Look for furniture that can do at least 2 things at once. Minimalism is all about streamlining your space. Shop for pieces of furniture that really help make the most of your home. Fill your rooms with furniture that double as storage, or serve another useful purpose.^{[12]
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- For example, you might have a sofa that pulls out into a bed.
- You can fill your room with small, empty ottomans that you can open and fill with different odds and ends.
- Some bed frames can double as a nightstand.

10

Create a neutral-toned color scheme.

Don’t decorate your home with a lot of distracting colors. Instead, focus on calm, neutral-toned hues that really balance out your living space. Play around with subtle tones, like whites, tans, grays, and browns. You can create a really inviting and engaging living space, even if you don’t have a lot of colorful decorations.^{[13]
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- Neutral tones don’t have to be boring! You can add a lot of life and character to your living space by adjusting the tone. For instance, you can repaint basic white walls with a warm, coconut milk color.^{[14]
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- If you want to jazz things up, choose a single, warm color to liven up your room. This could be something like a bright red nightstand or a yellow area rug.

11

Decorate with linens.

Add a couple of blankets, pillows, or drapes to your home. Your home doesn’t need to be overflowing with linens, but a few textiles can really help give your home a little personality. Hang up a few simple drapes around your windows, and prop a few floor pillows around your living space. A little linen can go a long way!^{[15]
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- You can create some warm, cozy effects by arranging linens with heavier materials, like wool. For example, you can make up your bed with linen sheets and a warmer blanket.

12

Hang up plain curtains or window coverings.

Add simple, neutral-toned window coverings to help minimize your space. Ditch any curtains or drapes with a lot of crazy colors and patterns—these are pretty distracting, and add a lot of visual “clutter” to your home. Instead, choose basic shades, coverings, blinds or drapes, which offer some privacy without sticking out.^{[16]
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- For example, you might invest in a set of window blinds instead of colorful curtains.
- You might switch out patterned drapes for simple, neutral tones.

13

Mess around with texture.

Add an extra dimension to your living space with a few textured items. Look for rugs, accessories, and other accents that add a fun, textured touch to your living space without overwhelming the room’s simple design. Pick out different materials, like wood, velvet, or leather, and see what kinds of arrangements you can create.^{[17]
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- For instance, you might have a wooden coffee table paired with a velvet chair, along with a leather couch.
- You might add a spiky houseplant to your living space as an extra touch.

14

Try out warm-toned lights.

Pick out simple lights that won’t overwhelm your living space. Cool-toned lights are really popular, but they make your living space feel cold and harsh. Instead, go for some slightly warmer bulbs—these will keep your living space well-lit, but also add a nice ambiance.^{[18]
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- Candles tend to add a lot of clutter to your living space, and aren’t a really great option for a minimalist home. If you really love natural light, invest in some uniquely shaped candles that don’t require a lantern or container.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I make a minimalist living room?

Kathi Burns, CPO®
Board Certified Professional Organizer
Kathi Burns is a board certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Organized and Energized!, her consulting business with a mission to empower people to master their environment and personal image by assisting them in taking control, making change and organizing their lives. Kathi has over 17 years of organizing experience and her work has been featured on Better Homes and Gardens, NBC News, Good Morning America, and Entrepreneur. She has a BS in Communication from Ohio University.

Kathi Burns, CPO®

Board Certified Professional Organizer

Expert Answer

Stick to one or two styles of decor to keep things consistent. It's okay to mix styles a little bit, but for a minimalist feel, you'll want to keep the majority of your decor in one style.
Question

I'm an 11-year-old girl and I'm trying to go minimalist, but my family are hoarders. What should I do?

Community Answer

You could just stick to maintaining a minimalist bedroom, but you might also try talking it over with your family. Maybe you could convince them to get rid of some stuff they don't need anymore, or at least put some things away in an attic, basement, or storage unit.
Question

What is the best color to paint a room that gets sun in the afternoon, to create a minimalist look?

Community Answer

A nice teal does wonders. It will brighten your room even when there's no sunlight.