3 minute read
Making Space
Minimalist Living: Everything Has Its Place
Want to get more out of your home by having less? Minimalist interior design is all about creating a space with plenty of breathing room. You’ll find only what you need in these organized and balanced rooms. So, if your unused objects or stacks of corner clutter have you feeling claustrophobic, a minimalist approach to your home might give you the freedom you need.
“Clean, crisp, and with not a lot of things going on,” is how Crystal Mains defines her clutter-free home. She explains there isn’t one book or magazine that influenced her design aesthetic, but it’s more about her enjoyment of a space that only houses necessary items. “Everything has its place, like in the kitchen the utensils have their place, and I don’t have extra,” Crystal says.
Crystal’s kitchen showcases clutter-free countertops, with only regularly used items like olive oil, butter, and pepper conveniently stored near the stove. A custom dog crate sits underneath the wall clock, offering a unique space for simple decor.
Minimalists have big feelings when it comes to scaling down and keeping it simple. This is because they know a secret: living with only your essentials can boost feelings of well-being. Research is showing there are psychological advantages to living a minimalist life, and Crystal says her clutter-free space makes her feel more productive. She recognizes that a living space with more stuff leads her to feel sedentary, but when her house is organized, she’s energized. “It gives me more energy and that’s awesome,” she says.
If you’re thinking about taking your lifestyle from maximum to minimum, Crystal has a few helpful tips. “I’d recommend going through one room at a time.” Start with one room and then divide that room into smaller sections. This will make your project more manageable and less overwhelming. Crystal says to ask yourself these questions: Do I need this? When was the last time I used this? If you decide your go-to can opener is a must-have, then make sure to find a permanent place for it. “Don’t just throw it anywhere,” Crystal advises. This will help you stay organized.
Knowing they would never use the dining room as intended, the “Pub Room” was born. This entertainment space has plenty of seating and an indoor shuffleboard.
Maintaining a minimalist lifestyle is a family affair for Crystal, and she suggests asking your loved ones for support. “I think it helps to have your family on board and to know what the expectation is because you can’t keep it up yourself,” she says. Together, Crystal and her family have found designated places for things like coats, shoes, and all the stuffed animals one can imagine, and it’s in this way they work as a team to keep the house orderly.
One last tip Crystal offers when it comes to living simply is to tidy up when necessary. “Don’t let things pile up.” When you let your unopened mail take over your kitchen or watch those shoes multiply under your couch, the clutter piles up quickly and becomes easy to ignore. So, Crystal suggests organizing as it happens to keep your house feeling spacious. “It’s great to be a minimalist and have things in order,” she says, “but it doesn’t have to be perfect.” And with that, she adds, “I’m doing my own journey of minimalism.” And you can, too.
Crystal only uses the pots and pans pictured here. Lids are stored on top of appropriate pots, and handles face the same direction for easy access and orderly storage.
By Tonilyn Hornung | Photos by Melissa Donald
Winter 2022-2023 / TodaysTransitions.com
