Michelle’s non-minimalist closet…
I wasn’t always a minimalist or interested in becoming a minimalist.
I used to love collecting things. My apartment in university was full of odd and mismatched pieces of furniture that I never used but couldn’t part with, and my closet bulged uncontrollably, belching clothing onto the floor if I dared leave the door open.
My journey into minimalism started organically. I didn’t decide one day that I was going to become a minimalist.
In fact, I didn’t even realize that I was becoming one until I was already well on my way. Here are some of the signs I recognized in myself, that meant I was becoming a minimalist, whether I meant to, or not.
Having Too Much Stuff
This was the first sign. Everywhere I looked, my apartment was overrun with my stuff. That tends to happen to university students, especially ones like me who weren’t particularly well off financially. Since I didn’t have any money to buy furniture, family members would give me their cast off furniture.
This worked well at first, but eventually it became too much, and I started to feel smothered in my apartment. I didn’t want to have all of this stuff around me, it felt cluttered, and claustrophobic, and entirely too busy. Everyone hates clutter, I always had too, but this was different. My skin would crawl at the sight of so much stuff encroaching on my personal space. So I began to purge, removing anything and everything that didn’t serve a real, genuine purpose. Once my apartment started to empty out, I felt better.
Having too Much of Everything
Even the things I needed, I started to hate having a large amount of. In university, every time a room mate moved out, my fiance and I seemed to inherit their kitchenware.
By the time we moved out of the city, we had enough glasses, plates, dishes, and frying pans for six people. While this hadn’t bothered me before, it started to irk me. Now, I’m down to four of each type of cutlery, and two frying pans. While this cookware was necessary, having so much of it was entirely unnecessary. I’ve extended this concept to my wardrobe, my linen closet, and my bookcase.
Enjoying Having Nothing
Once I’d gotten my possessions under control, I started to really enjoy the sight of bare walls, bare counter space, and bare floors. These days, I’m on a quest to always remove, remove, remove. Remove that clutter on the counter and enjoy the clean, empty space. Remove the kitchen table that we never used and enjoy the look of the extra space left behind. Remove the three wall hangings and enjoy the look of one in it’s place instead. The less stuff that’s in my home, the happier I am.
The less stuff I need to live my life, the happier I am. I will sometimes come across people who insist that they can’t live without this hair product or that type of pillow. That somehow they would be unable to function without these things in their life. I’m glad that I am needing less and less stuff in my life every day to function normally, and happily.
I’m Still a Fledgling Minimalist
I’m not a full on minimalist yet. I have a TV, I don’t strive to live with less than 100 items, and I have a cache of scented candles hidden in my laundry room. I don’t think things like this look good, and while I don’t think I could live here, I’m intrigued by the idea of it. I probably will never be a full fledged minimalist like some people, but then, I never set out to be a minimalist, so wherever I fall on the minimalist spectrum, is fine with me.
Where do you fall on the minimalist spectrum?
Do you have any of these symptoms? I want to know!
Related Posts
How To Reduce, Reuse, And Save More Cash- Learn how to downsize your home, stress free!
- Smaller Can Be Better- Maximize Your Savings With A Small House
- Are You Making Your Life Difficult? 18 Ideas To Simplify Your Life in 2023
- Less is More: Guide To Becoming a Minimalist
- Stop Comparing Yourself To Others And Live Your Own Life
John S @ Frugal Rules says
Oh, we're on the other end! 🙂 We have WAY too much junk in our house. I think largely it comes down to having three kids and having grandparents that spoil them. My big goal for the year is to majorly de-crapify the house starting in the Spring.
plantingourpennies says
Mr. PoP is definitely the more minimalist person in our relationship (though I have aspirations!). But he gets the biggest kick out of having the simplest things and definitely gets happier every time he takes a part off of his car that isn't necessary =)
Budget & the Beach says
I'm in the middle, but leaning towards minimalist. My purging goes in spurts, when I have time. I HATE cluttered homes though and mine for sure doesn't LOOK cluttered, but there are closets and drawers that could use attention. And I could never be one of these people who doesn't own a TV or some things (like candles) that make my home a home to me.
My recent post This Video Will Change Your Life/Link Love
SavvyFinancialLatina says
I don't have a minimalist closet. But I do have a minimalist home. I hate having furniture or decorations I don't need or have no use.
Mackenzie says
I am more of a minimalist than my husband. I am constantly throwing out stuff. I hate clutter, I feel like I can't breathe with too much stuff. Totally can relate to this post 😉
My recent post Link Love: Downton Abbey is Ending Edition!
Cece says
After living in a tiny studio for five years I got to the point where I hated STUFF! I barely had space for the things I needed let alone extras. Now that I have more space I'm still trying to keep a lid on stuff. I love bare table tops, organization and I hate nick knacks. I do have a tendency to hang onto certain little things without really knowing why but my husband keeps me in check by tossing it.
My recent post What I'm Not Watching and Why
@SquarePennies says
I love the idea of being a minimalist, but when I look around I see clutter! I need a clutter fairy to come and sweep it all away for me! Business opportunitye? lol
John @ Fearless Men says
My garage definitely has more in it than I'd like. I keep saying I'm going to purge it but because 60% of it belongs to my housemate I keep using that as an excuse to not get in there and go through mine. I really should though. On the bright side I am somewhat of a minimalist. I don't collect stuff and can easily throw away stuff or donate it. I love the VA trucks that come by. As a veteran I just like giving them things.
My recent post 4 Tips To Increase The Intensity Of Your Workouts
krantcents says
Although I would not refer to myself as a minimalist, I do not have a lot of possessions. This may change though, I borrowed a laptop computer from school and I like the convenience of not using my desktop computer. I may get an iPhone next year although I has resisted the change. So far, I haven't done any of thisso maybe I am a minimalist.
bluecollarworkman says
I don't even know if there is a definiton of minimalist, is there? If you think you are, then by george, you are. You certainly are more than you used to be. So congrats on that! With 2 daughters, new junk and toys always seem to be coming into our home. Maybe when they get older we can minimalize. __Of ocurse if you're too much of a minimalist, then you lose the ability to function in an emergency, and very heavily rely on everybody else. I have lots of tools, we have lots of different warmths of clothes, I have 2 generators, we do have al ot of dishes and blankets. And in an emergency, we've been glad of a lot of these things, they've saved us. A minimalist would be lost. So I think there's a balance to be had between owning almost nothing and owning what you need and what you need in an emergency.
myfijourney says
I am not a minimalist. I do live on the simpler side. Having experienced a lot of moves, a lot of stuff just wasn't worth moving.
I am currently actively acquiring more stuff, with the goal of making my new apartment look good and welcoming. Slowly, but surely, I'm adding some wall hangings, plants, etc. At some point, I will probably break down and buy a TV.
My recent post Financial Independence and Retirement – Let’s get our definitions straight
chubblywubbly says
I have moved 5 times within the last 5 years. Needless to say that I have learned how to downsize. But my hubby is a semi-hoarder so sometimes I can do nothing but sigh loudly.
My recent post Rosewater Restaurant Brooklyn
Chris @ Stumble Forward says
I use to have all kinds of junk from autographed pictures, snowmobiles, to a timeshare, and then one day I realized that I’m no happier after than I was before so I sold almost everything off but my guitars because I plan on teaching my kids how to play some day. In the end I don’t even miss any of that stuff and the less I have the better I feel because when it comes down to, it’s memories that we cherries not some snowmobile or picture we have. Great post.
Tammi says
I am drowning in a sea of stuff! Just way too much stuff! I've finally started to part ways with things that I no longer use or need at this time in my life and it feels great! Decluttering is a great relief and a way of freeing yourself from all the stress that comes with too much stuff. When I think of all the money I wasted on that stuff, it makes me ill. So right now I am turning it into cash. I am a shopaholic and my husband is a pack rat, so we have more stuff than we will ever need! This is a wonderful article and so many of us can relate!
Jose says
I need to work on being a minimalist. The only are I can remotely consider myself being minimalist is in furnishings. I have a preference for "sparse" in how I furnish a room. Everything else, well I'm afraid I'm quite the opposite! Especially when it comes to tools.
My recent post Confessions of a Tool Junkie
Cassi says
I feel like I am more on the minimalist side than not, but I still enjoy having decorations to add to the overall vibe of the room. I enjoy looking at rooms that are clean and have one single overall theme, but my room currently doesn't. I wish to redo my room soon though.
theoutliermodel says
I'm working on becoming more minimalist. It helps that Brian and I live in a 500 square foot condo now! I like having a clean space and little clutter but I struggle with letting go of possessions that have sentimental value.
Broke Professionals says
I think I'm as much of a minimalist as I can be with two young kids at home – they make it impossible to declutter completely!
edwardra3 says
I guess I'm an anti-minimalist. Especially in the kitchen, if I had more room, I'd have even more stuff in the kitchen. When I'm in full cooking mode, I'm running the dishwaster twice per day.
My recent post When You Assume… Part II