10 Ways to Test Drive a Minimalist Home Before You Commit

Are you tired of mess?  Tired of clutter?  Tired of searching for things you know you have – somewhere?  If you're nodding in agreement, you may be ready to try minimalism.  (Take my Minimalist Quiz to find out for sure.)

This isn't about living in a mostly-empty space with a chair, a lamp, and a mattress on the floor.  Rather, it's about curating a home that lets you relax, recharge, and reconnect with your loved ones.

Imagine a space where everything serves a purpose.  A space that holds items you like and use.  A space that's comfortable and meets your needs.  If that sounds desirable, you probably want to create a simpler home right away.

But turning a cluttered space into a serene minimalist home probably won't happen overnight, and before you put in the time and effort, you might want to know "Is it really worth it?"

Fortunately, there are ways to give minimalism a tryout before you make a full commitment.  Whether you're completely new to the idea, or tried it before and gave it up, read on to discover how to sample a simpler space in a mindful, sustainable way.

10 ways to experiment with minimalism

1.  First, control the inflow.

Minimalism isn't just about getting rid of things.  It's about changing your mindset and relationship to things.  Even if you feel like clearing stuff out right now, don't skip this step.  Begin by examining your shopping and collecting habits.  If you don't, you won't stay decluttered.

There are at least two ways to do this:

• Practice one in, one out.  For every new item you acquire, you must remove a comparable item you already own.  This really helps to change your shopping and collecting habits!  After all, will you still want those new shoes if it means you have to let go of another pair?  You'll start being more thoughtful and less impulsive about purchases.

• Try a Buy Nothing challenge.  Choose a period of time (you can start with as little as a week) to stop shopping for everything but groceries and gas.  No lattes, no makeup, and definitely no Amazon shopping sprees!  This isn't some new form of torture.  You have three essential goals:  become aware and take charge of your habits, experience the difference between needs and wants, and practice patience and resourcefulness.

2.  Start a Decluttering Challenge.

Here are three good ones:

• Try The Minimalists' 30-Day Minimalism Game.  It's more fun with a friend.
• Check out my 15-Day Declutter Challenge.  It provides a bit more structure as you investigate 15 areas where clutter accumulates.
• Set a timer and spend just five minutes on one of 31 different decluttering tasks.

3.  Experiment with a capsule wardrobe.

A capsule wardrobe is a small collection of versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched to create a large number of outfits.  It helps you streamline your closet, access your confidence and creativity, and wear the pieces you like more often.  There are several ways to start dressing with less – I describe ten of them in this post.

4.  Create a simple meal routine.

Our wardrobes aren't the only area where clutter accumulates.  The kitchen pantry can harbor tons of clutter too!  One way to change that is to focus on a few simple ingredients as the framework for a less varied, but still delicious, diet.  I describe why and how my husband and I did this here.  Not only did we enjoy our favorite foods daily, but we also saved money, time, and energy, reduced waste, stayed healthy, and even lost a little weight.

5.  Declutter one area at a time. 

Instead of trying to conquer all the clutter all at once, adapt to less clutter in one area at a time.  For example, if you start in your kitchen, consider these tasks:

• Immediately calm the space by clearing off the refrigerator door.
• Experiment with simpler meals (see #4).
• Get rid of duplicates like the third set of dishes or the second slow cooker you've been hanging onto.
• Make your kitchen larger by clearing counters.
• Set a limit on things like mugs, water bottles, storage containers, utensils, gadgets, etc.  Choose your favorites, and declutter the rest.

These and other small changes will make a huge difference to the way your kitchen looks and how easy and pleasant it is to use.

Once you've decluttered the kitchen (or wherever you decide to begin) and practice keeping it that way, you can move on to another area such as your desk, bookshelf, clothes closet, bedroom, or play room.  Decluttering becomes a process and a lifestyle, not just an event.

6.  Reduce décor.

I used to buy new décor all the time.  I had multiple collections and always felt I could squeeze in something new.  I never simply hung a picture – I designed a ten-foot-long, floor-to-ceiling display system, had it custom-built, and filled it up.  But it was a money-pit and a dust collector, nothing more.

Decorations add personality, but they also add clutter.  When you choose fewer items, you figure out what you really like and what is truly meaningful.  Display those pieces and let go of the rest.  You'll create a more peaceful space that lets you focus on a few treasures, plus you'll reduce the time it takes to clean!

Not sure where to start?  Try limiting yourself to five decorative items (or small groupings) per room.  This will force you to be selective and make each piece valuable.

7.  Limit storage space.

In the same way that work expands to fill the time allotted for it, so does clutter.  That's how drawers, cupboards, closets, garages, basements, attics, and off-site storage spaces become packed with stuff we don't need, use, or even remember.  The more places you have to store and hide things away, the more things you'll collect.

Even though it seems like less storage will make your space more cluttered with items that have nowhere to belong, the opposite is true.  The optimum amount of storage will keep your items organized and out of sight, but excess storage always becomes what cleaning expert Don Aslett* called "junk bunkers."

Time to remove extra dressers, desks, shelf units, baskets, cubbies, and more that have simply become places to stick your stuff.  Remember – storing something "for later" means you don't have a plan to use it.

* This blog is reader-supported, with no ads!  If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.

8.  Corral paper.

Back in the 1970's and 80's, the office of the future was imagined to be paperless, and while it may be extremely difficult to find a printed newspaper today, other paper still enters our offices and homes all the time.  Many of us struggle with actual piles of the stuff, which clutters counters and tabletops and causes frantic searches for a particular receipt, warranty card, permission slip, or bill to pay.

Here are tips for how to manage mail, school papers, important documents, and more.

Remember that the advice to "digitize everything" means that you still have to:

• keep up with scanning and shredding documents
• create and manage a digital storage system so you can easily access what you need

Also consider that getting emailed receipts for all purchases means that you have a full inbox to deal with on a regular basis (although buying less can help with that – see #1).

So this particular issue – which is not just a matter of controlling paper but of managing your finances, your activities, your life – is not something that will ever just take care of itself.  The goal here is to get in the habit of taking the few minutes each day to care for these things, rather than letting the job pile up and become a huge and daunting problem.

9.  Streamline entertainment.

I've noticed that since my husband and I began using a couple of streaming services, we almost never watch our DVDs and Blu-ray discs.  We own several complete sets of TV series, and there's really no need, because we can stream them if we want.  The same is true for a lot of the movies we own.

So my next decluttering project is to remove what's available for streaming, and keep only what's not – and that I know we'll enjoy watching again.  It will be a good way to identify our ultimate classics.  I think we'll wind up with a very small number.

The same can be done with books, games, music, and hobbies.  You can replace or convert physical copies to digital ones, but don't forget that digital clutter is still clutter.  This is a chance to free up physical space, but it's also a chance to clear out the things we no longer care for and discover what we will truly use and enjoy.  Ask questions like these:

• If I had time, would I watch/read/play/listen/create with this item today?
• Would I spend money to acquire this item today?
• If I didn't have this item, how would I entertain myself instead?

10.  Simplify cleaning.

Enjoy any newly-cleaned spaces, because they sure don't stay that way!

It's true that cleaning chores never end – that's just life.  But consider the typical large house with lots of furniture, piles of knickknacks and other stuff in every corner, huge numbers of clothes, and plenty of specialized gadgets and appliances.  Add the dizzying array of modern cleaning products, and you've turned a fairly straightforward job into a nightmare.

Cleaning doesn't have to be so complicated.  By letting go of extra furniture, clothing, appliances, and devices, finding homes for the items you need and use, and sticking with a few simple multi-purpose cleaning supplies, your routine can become much more efficient.  Say goodbye to piled-high laundry baskets, crowded floors, and cluttered cabinets overflowing with half-empty bottles.  By owning just what you need, you'll be able to take care of it faster and easier.

Small steps to big change

Creating a minimalist home doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing endeavor.  By sampling minimalism, you can discover what works best for you.  Whether you decide to simplify your wardrobe, your meals, your décor, or something else, every step you take toward a simpler space will make a big difference.