We spoke to three minimalists about the most common misconceptions people have about decluttering. Below, our experts dispel six myths you may have heard over and over again. Get ready to change your perspective forever!
Minimalism means only white and beige
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When you imagine a minimalist home, what colors immediately come to mind? If white and beige are your favorite answers, you may want to reconsider your approach.
“You No need to whitewash your space Becoming a minimalist,” says Dana Rader, founder of Winnow & Bloom.
After all, she says, what’s more important is that your home reflects YouBloom explains that you should always try to create a space that matches your personality, style, and culture.
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Minimalism requires getting rid of everything
Rader says your home doesn’t have to be completely barren by any means to consider yourself a minimalist.
“Minimalism is more of a mindset than anything else,” she says. “It’s about considering what you have, what you need, and what you can give up.”
minimalist Don’t live in empty shoe boxesRather, Rader explains, they are thoughtful about what they bring into their home, prioritize sustainable shopping, and live by the idea that quality is better than quantity.
Products make everything better
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Although many people enjoy shopping for home organization products, taking this step won’t solve everything forever. Shira Gill, organizing expert and author lifestyleExplains how fancy bins, baskets and organizers won’t solve the basic problem if there’s too much stuff to tidy up.
Ultimately, the main step you’ll need to take is to pare things down, Gill says, and adds that it’s better to wait until after your decluttering session to shop for organization items.
“Chances are that once your load becomes lighter you’ll find you don’t need most of those products,” she says.
You will regret losing your luggage
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Many people assume they will have difficulty separating items in their home, but many times that is not the case, explains Gill. Gill says most people often feel relief once the clutter is gone – not regret.
Gill encourages people who are concerned about getting rid of certain items they no longer use often to put those items in a box out of sight for a while. She says, if three to six months go by and you haven’t accessed these items, you can feel confident about donating them.
Francine Jay, founder of Miss Minimalist, is also a proponent of this strategy. Jay explains how once you declutter something, it’s very unlikely you’ll ever think about it again, so don’t let it deter you.
You can’t get rid of sentimental items
Not all sentimental items are things you have to keep forever.
“It’s possible to honor memories without keeping everything,” says Gill, adding that there’s no way anyone can keep everything.
She suggests prioritizing the most important tangible items and getting rid of the rest. Gill shares that you can always take pictures of what you’re discarding.
clutter is stressful
If you are procrastinating your work clutter session Because you worry about the feelings it will produce, it’s time to change your tune, notes Jay.
“In fact, it’s the clutter that increases stress levels by making you feel distracted, overwhelmed, and out of control,” she says.
You’ll be surprised at how much a good decluttering can change your day-to-day, she adds.
“The less stuff you have to clean, maintain, repair, insure and organize, the less stress you’ll have; it’s like taking a magic wand and eliminating a ton of worry from your life !”
