Living a stress-free life through minimalism
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written by Kasey Lettrich
he concept of minimalism, or extreme spareness and simplicity, has grown more popular in our society throughout the last few years. Minimalism is not simply a style of design, but a lifestyle because it is centered on cutting out the bulkiness in your life. “I think of (minimalism) simply as design which provides mental clarity to the inhabitant of a space,” said Stephen Shutts, an interior designer in Morgantown, West Virginia. “Minimalism is a lifestyle, not just a design style. In order to live in minimalist spaces, you must be of the same mindset.” Not only is minimalist decor physically appealing, it can also be mentally soothing. Surrounding yourself with a clean and minimal environment can do wonders on relieving stress. “I don’t do well with things being out of place, or with too much clutter, it gives me anxiety. I feel much more ‘zen’ when my environment is clean and organized—both literally and visually,” said Shutts. Minimalism is a style of design that can be conveyed in many different components of your life. It is a well-kept, organized way of life that can be built with clean spaces, crisp lines and constant attention to storage and organization. “To have a minimalistic space, it must carry through to your daily life, otherwise it’s easy for things to become cluttered,” said Cyd Mello, an interior designer at Weisshouse Furniture. “I remind myself not to consume beyond my needs and apply that to a room and to my grocery list.” A clutter-free life is a minimalist life. Minimalism will not only keep your space clean and organized, but it will also free up your mind. To maintain a “zen” life, Shutts edits regularly. “I keep a few (catalogs and magazines) here and there, but I generally try to recycle or throw-out swiftly so as not to accumulate.” There are many ways to maintain a minimalistic room as well as a minimalist life. According to Mello, less is more when it comes to minimalistic design. “For example, having an ottoman that looks beautiful and can act as a seat or side table is the perfect edition to minimalist decor.” If you can find this same, practical ottoman with a storage element included, you’ve found the perfect minimalist decor. “I keep my space minimalistic by furnishing with smart designs that have a dual purpose,” Mello said. “The things we have must be simplistic in form and silhouette while performing to their highest function.”
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