The Heart Behind Minimalism: Beyond Aesthetics

Dive into the true essence of minimalism beyond the typical aesthetic, focusing on an intentional lifestyle and core values. Discover how the right mindset can positively impact you and your family.

L JY/Pexels.com

There is a growing appeal nowadays to have modern, minimalistic homes. Oftentimes, houses are even designed specifically to complement this style. But what does minimal living really mean?

Whether you’re drawn to minimalism or cringe at it, there’s a good reason to stop and think about what it means. My husband doesn’t like the term “minimalism” because it makes him think of the stereotype: white walls, sparse decor, and modern art- a “psych ward,” in his words. That’s understandable, considering the trends we see in ads, social media, and elsewhere. Even the crowds attracted by “minimalism” are often hyper-focused on aesthetics only.

Having a minimal home shouldn’t mean your house is white, bland, and ugly. It should be about your lifestyle and values: living simply and clutter-free; keeping only the things you need and love. Having a minimal home allows you to thrive in a peaceful, cleaner space while having freedom from living in a messy environment. It leaves you more room, and more time for people and activities that are important to you.

For those of you with kids, it means teaching them how to care for the things they have and love too.

First, let’s talk about the Freedom in minimalism:

It may sound funny, but there is freedom in owning less stuff. With less clutter around you, naturally there are less distractions, usually resulting in less stress. Have you ever been so surrounded by stuff that you’re constantly looking around, thinking of all the things you have to do and getting overwhelmed? I do it all the time! I see one thing, and it reminds me that I still need to put it away, then I see something else that needs to be taken care of. It goes on and on. I’ve found that living with only the things I need and love helps me stay mentally on track with my activities and it allows me to better rest when I need to.

You might be saying: “But isn’t always realistic to have a minimal home”. I get it, but I would argue that it depends on what your needs are. If you’re single and live alone, minimalism will look a lot different than if you’re married with 6 kids who all enjoy lots of hobbies. Minimal living isn’t meant to stifle your way of life, but to suit you best for your current lifestyle and what’s needed in it.

Keeping a minimal home takes discipline and it won’t always be flawless! It takes baby steps to create a clutter-free home. Your home should be practical, but it should also be your peaceful place- your oasis. How important is it that your home be a place that’s ready for your family’s rest?

Aesthetics:

Keeping a minimal home does have its perk of being cleaner-looking and not so hard on the eye. If you’re into the clean white and beige look, that’s great. If not, remember that a minimal home is about living simply, not a stereotypical look.

Tatiana Syrikova/Pexels.com

Practicality:

Think about how many things you clean up every day, over and over again. Owning less stuff means less cleaning, tidying, and packing if you have to move. Less maintenance overall. It’s crazy how many things we clean up every day, multiple times! If you have more possessions, then there’s more to look after (and more to pile onto your to-do list).

If you’re having company over, you don’t need to do as much to fix things up and make the house look presentable.

Values:

As you reflect on what a minimal home and lifestyle looks like for you, take a moment to reflect on your values. I’ve grown a lot since realizing how much value I put in my possessions. I used to be so sentimental that I didn’t want to part with old jewelry (that I didn’t even like or wear) or outgrown clothes, simply because someone special gave them to me. Don’t get me wrong- being sentimental isn’t all bad, and it’s special to have things that we cherish and use from loved ones. But it’s easy to take that sentiment too far and hang onto things that eventually just become clutter.

When we choose to live simply with less possessions, we’re teaching ourselves that our value isn’t in “stuff”, but in the people we’re close to and the activities shared with them. Then, we can pour more emotional energy into those things instead.

There’s also something to be said for getting “quality” over “quantity” when it comes buying and owning things. If you choose to live minimally, sometimes it’s worth it to invest a little extra in quality items that will last longer than lots of cheap things. (For example, you might want to spend a little more on durable, nice clothes rather than an excessive amount of cheap clothing).

Like I mentioned earlier, including your kids is important too! Get them involved by teaching them about values and how to take good care of the toys and books they love.

Take the First Step: Clear the clutter:

This part may seem overwhelming at first, but take it one step at a time. Go room-by-room, getting rid of things you don’t use or like and reorganizing the things you want to keep. You could even bless somebody else by gifting or donating your unwanted items.

While trying to decide what to keep and what to get rid of, ask yourself these two questions:

Is it useful? (Do I use it regularly?)

Do I enjoy or like it? (Be honest with yourself)

This process may take a little while, but don’t lose heart. Once the decluttering is done, it’s much easier to stay on top of. A practical tip for management after decluttering is if you buy an item, get rid of an item. Especially if it’s not something that’s absolutely necessary.

In conclusion, minimalism is a lifestyle and a mindset, not just an aesthetic. No matter your style, think about the heart behind living minimally. It may not look the same for everyone, but you can embrace it in your own way and choose where to focus your values.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ~Matthew 6:19-20