Minimalist realignment

[Ultralight]

I have been a minimalist since about 2009, though I did not get serious until 2014.

From 2009-2011 my then wife and I practiced what is now referred to as "Comfortable Minimalism."

(This link is an excellent example of Comfortable Minimalism:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZC3D82MTOo)

From 2012 and 2013 she and I sort of backslid a bit. She was not into minimalism nearly as much as me, though she was as anti-clutter as I am.

Then in the middle of 2013 she divorced me and I was suddenly a bachelor again with no one to answer to. So on Jan. 1st 2014 I went whole hog on minimalism. And from 2014-2016 I was an "extreme minimalist" and got my total number of worldly possessions down to 150 (I was counting almost everything individually too!).



After moving to my own apartment in 2016 I slowly went back to Comfortable Minimalism and my number of possessions has reached north of 250. I needed more kitchen items, I needed some household cleaning items, I needed a couple exercise equipment items, I needed this-and-that. You get the picture.

As I have noticed my apartment feeling more "busy" and that many items have fallen into non-use I decided it was time for a minimalist realignment.

I somehow accumulated about 20 pairs of underwear. So I downsized about half of them. I also had a little collection of books that I thought I wanted to read but probably did not. So I tossed them. I am also going to go through my clothes, as I would like to eliminate the need for dry cleaning my work attire. And in the kitchen, several items I thought I would need I actually have not used at all.

If you have any suggestions, let me know! Thanks.

[happystuff]

No suggestions as I am on the "still decluttering" side of minimalism. I'm also living with other people, so it's hard just keeping things clean, let alone decluttered. Good luck with your minimalist realignment. I hope it goes well.

[Ultralight]

No suggestions as I am on the "still decluttering" side of minimalism. I'm also living with other people, so it's hard just keeping things clean, let alone decluttered. Good luck with your minimalist realignment. I hope it goes well.

How many people do you live with? Are they not on board with keeping the place clean?

[catherine]

Nice video!

I have been given the opportunity to practice comfortable minimalism in my house in VT. I'll go from being an "intern" to a "pro" as soon as I can purge the contents of the house in NJ. But at least I'm living minimal for half the year.

Here's what I've found & also some of my strategies:

Multi-function is important to me. I bought a metal bistro table and two matching folding chairs. I use the table as an end table in the house, and the chairs are desk chairs, but when people come and we sit outside, I just bring the foldable table/chairs outside.

I have an ottoman that functions as end table/extra seating. I have a butcher block island that functions as food prep, dining table, card/game table/ironing board.

Even though all my clothes fit in two dresser drawers and maybe 18" of closet space, I still feel I have too much. Not that it's too much, but I feel there are clothes I'm not using much, so I can get rid of those. And my DDs boyfriend works at a major sports shoe company, and while I only brought two pairs of sneakers (one "nice" and one for the garden) he increased my sneaker load by 100% by giving me two new pair. I have to figure out what to do with at least one of the pair. I'll probably downgrade my "nice" sneakers to "garden" sneakers and throw out the oldest pair.

Toiletries: it's so nice to have practically none, except for the basics. All my make-up fits in one small make-up bag, and I can simply pick it up and throw it in my suitcase for business trips.

In the kitchen, I also use jars for grains, rice, nuts, etc. And I have little magnetized spice jars on the fridge. My utensil draw is sparse. We only brought a couple of knives and a peeler and a few other things.

I'm doing my work on an old table the previous owners left behind. I'll replace it someday, but it's working now. It's the only thing in the second bedroom. I bought an organizer with 4 wire baskets for $10 at a second hand shop--I put it in the closet for work-related stuff mainly.

We have place settings for 4. I've found that the nesting bowls that I bought for $20 at Goodwill are amazing--they serve a multitude purposes, and when nested, they take up hardly any space.

We did not bring any gizmos except for the immersion blender. I did buy an electric kettle and French press which is working beautifully.

All I have in my bedroom is the bed with white bedding and curtains (no distracting patterns), one dresser, clear of clutter except for the little tiny porcelain dish that my DIL gave me for Mother's Day, in which I put the rosaries that I pray with every night. I have my phone charger hidden behind the bed, and I charge every night--the phone goes on the window sill. No need for nightstand.

As far as entertainment, I rely on Alexa. She's barely noticeable on my shelves. We do have a small TV which we need to mount.

I'm loving this minimal lifestyle. Really.

[Teacher Terry]

UL, just because you live with others doesn’t mean they have the same house standards and I can assure you kids certainly do not. Small kids are little mess makers:))

[iris lilies]

Boy, I should take photos of our living/ dining room (one room) in Hermann. It has quite a bit less than these minimalists.
i am purposely keeping crap out of this house because it will undergo a big renovation and I will have to move every piece of crap. Also, it is just nice to not have lots of crap around.

[SteveinMN]

Small kids are little mess makers:))
As I'm discovering with our grandkids, there is, at least for most people, no minimalism attached to caring for small kids. Toys; special eating utensils; bottles; car seats; lots of diapers and/or clothes, out of which they grow rapidly; and the items it takes to clean up after them...

I've given up trying to be "green" and minimalist at our kids' house when the GKs are there. It just does not work.

[Teacher Terry]

Enjoyed the video. When I sold my curio cabinet and replaced it with a small table with a lamp everyone noticed and remarked that the living room felt much bigger. I don’t like bare furniture so for instance the coffee table has one decorative item on it. I give away books when done reading and lately have just bought ones for my iPhone.

[Teacher Terry]

Steve, once I had kids my parents bought toys for their house, crib and high chair because we visited a lot. They ended up buying a extra tv and a video game system once my boys got older. We definitely created clutter for my parents. Plus kids books.

[Float On]

I recently sold sofa and loveseat combo and we are loving just having comfy chairs to sit in and i can rearrange the chairs to my hearts content. The sofa/love-seat only fit one way...boring. Sofas are really only good for napping. I hate going to a meeting in someone's house and being expected to squish 3 people on a sofa. Wasted space! Personal space!

[iris lilies]

I recently sold sofa and loveseat combo and we are loving just having comfy chairs to sit in and i can rearrange the chairs to my hearts content. The sofa/love-seat only fit one way...boring. Sofas are really only good for napping. I hate going to a meeting in someone's house and being expected to squish 3 people on a sofa. Wasted space! Personal space!

In our Hermann house we have only upholstered chairs, no sofas. I may carry on that tradition once the renovation there is completed.

I do have a sleeping-appropriate sofa at home, and I got one that supports sleep (one with removeable back pillows) because my bulldog will someday be too old and sickly yo climb the stairs to bed, and I will stay downstairs to sleepwith him. I wont want him trying to climb stairs when that day comes.

[rosarugosa]

Would anyone be willing to share photos of living rooms with chairs only? I like that idea, but cannot quite visualize the execution and would love some inspiration.

[iris lilies]

Would anyone be willing to share photos of living rooms with chairs only? I like that idea, but cannot quite visualize the execution and would love some inspiration.
Oh, a high end house here in our neighborhood had four upholstered chairs in a circle in their living room. These were functionally the same as teo loveseats. It was a striking arrangement!

In Hermann I have two chairs flsnking the fireplace, and two chairs against the wall opposite the fireplace. Dont have a photo, sorry. Maybe later.

[catherine]

Would anyone be willing to share photos of living rooms with chairs only? I like that idea, but cannot quite visualize the execution and would love some inspiration.

I am seriously considering replacing my new couch with two chairs, so I went on HOUZZ to check out pictures. https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/447449/list/could-your-living-room-be-better-without-a-sofa

[Teacher Terry]

DH and the big dog would cry without having a sofa to lay on:)). The rooms looked good.

[happystuff]

3 others at the moment and it certainly does feel or like like they are on board.

[Ultralight]

I have a small couch from IKEA. But it is Harlan's. I don't use it. It is one of his ten possessions that he is allowed to have as a minimalist dog.

[Ultralight]

3 others at the moment and it certainly does feel or like like they are on board.
???

[razz]

Would anyone be willing to share photos of living rooms with chairs only? I like that idea, but cannot quite visualize the execution and would love some inspiration.
2426

The fan in front of the fireplace keeps both dog and me cool along with AC. I can add the dining chairs and card table chairs for a larger group. Some people like the upright occasional chairs with arms better and some prefer the Lazy Boy designs. It works!

[Teacher Terry]

My princess dog that passed was not a minimalist. She would get cold because she only weighed 5 lbs so had a complete wardrobe. She loved clothes so much that you could wave one in front of her and she would immediately lay down on her back to be dressed like a baby. I gave her clothes away to seniors with little dogs that were low income. I kept one dress to drape her urn. My big dog is a minimalist.

[catherine]

2426

The fan in front of the fireplace keeps both dog and me cool along with AC. I can add the dining chairs and card table chairs for a larger group. Some people like the upright occasional chairs with arms better and some prefer the Lazy Boy designs. It works!

That's so pretty!!

[jp1]

Our cats are definitely minimalists. They seem to be happy hanging out just about anywhere. One of them's favorite thing is to sit on a square shopping bag. Even if it's just sitting in the middle of the floor.

My favorite part of the video was her description of the kitchen "We absolutely love it." ... "It has running water, which is very different from the van!" Only a true minimalist would consider running water in the kitchen optional.

[Teacher Terry]

I noticed the comment about the water too. Razz, your living room is beautiful!

[iris lilies]

2426

The fan in front of the fireplace keeps both dog and me cool along with AC. I can add the dining chairs and card table chairs for a larger group. Some people like the upright occasional chairs with arms better and some prefer the Lazy Boy designs. It works!

Thats nice, it looks cozy.

[rosarugosa]

Thanks for sharing, Razz. That looks very nice and inviting.

[happystuff]

???

Sorry for the typo, that should say "or look like they are on board". I am currently married with older children at home and suffice to say I it's not exactly the living conditions I would prefer. Doing what I can, so I guess that will have to do for now.

[Ultralight]

Sorry for the typo, that should say "or look like they are on board". I am currently married with older children at home and suffice to say I it's not exactly the living conditions I would prefer. Doing what I can, so I guess that will have to do for now.

"Hell is other people" -- J-P.S.

[Teacher Terry]

Older kids are mess makers too:)).

[Lainey]

Thanks for posting, Ultralight. One thing I noticed is the lack of paper clutter, the bane of existence for us older folks. I'm wondering if their parents are keeping any boxes or file drawers of things like diplomas, birth certificates, school papers, tax returns, etc.

And as has been noted, kids can easily increase the amount of possessions 10-fold. Will be interesting to check in with this couple in a few years to see if any kids or pets are in the household, and what it might look like then.

But I'm very admiring of their lifestyle and it definitely seems to be working for them.

[Teacher Terry]

I thought the video said that they had some stuff at their parents but I could be remembering it wrong. I have really been throwing out the paper clutter that I have. Came across a folder of college and work awards so looked at it one last time and threw it away.

[rosarugosa]

I just watched the video and it inspired me to declutter some more books, bringing me up to 76. Thanks for sharing UL, although I'm not sure it's fair to blame the sofa on Harlan!

[Teacher Terry]

I don’t think Harlan went shopping:))

[jp1]

I don’t think Harlan went shopping:))

You never know, with amazon, it's super easy. Even a dog could do it. A while back a friend posted on facebook that she has her computer set up to snap a photo with the webcam and email it to her if there are 3 failed attempts to log in from the lock screen. The computer had just sent her a photo of her cat, obviously standing on the keyboard...

[Teacher Terry]

Too funny!

[ApatheticNoMore]

In related news:


"She searched for the ideal tidying boxes here in America but could not find any that brought her and her clients joy," said the KonMari team.
..
Kondo collaborated with Apple's head of packaging materials Cecylia Ferrandon on the design of the Hikidashi Boxes, according to FastCompany.
https://www.dezeen.com/2018/07/27/marie-kondo-hikidashi-boxes-shoeboxes-declutter/?li_source=LI&li_medium=bottom_block_1

lol, with Apple's head of packaging materials. I told you this spark joy philosophy was potentially about as materialist as it comes. But you get expensive shoe boxes! Remember those shoebox diorama projects from elementary school ...

--

I do like the comfortable minimalist house.

[Teacher Terry]

In her book she talks about using shoe boxes. That’s sad

[Tybee]

"The boxes come in three-piece sets that feature a large, medium and small box. There are four different designs: Clarity, Harmony, Balance and Wonder."

When one begins to expend this kind of energy on defining, achieving, repackaging, and monetizing minimalism, it seems awfully materialistic. And boring.

[Ultralight]

I guess maybe what I am aiming for here, is something between the very geographically stable "comfortable" minimalist and the geographically flexible-ready to travel-aesthetically minimalistic style of minimalism.

[happystuff]

I've never actually thought about the kind of minimalist I would like to be. At this point I'm thinking I'll know it when I reach it. :)

[Ultralight]

I've never actually thought about the kind of minimalist I would like to be. At this point I'm thinking I'll know it when I reach it. :)

If that works for you, more power to you.

I try to be more strategic and think ahead. That is what has worked for me in a variety of endeavors and has worked for me so far in simple living.

[SteveinMN]

I guess maybe what I am aiming for here, is something between the very geographically stable "comfortable" minimalist and the geographically flexible-ready to travel-aesthetically minimalistic style of minimalism.
I think that's a line only you can determine.

Not suggesting you ditch Harlan, but having a dog restricts anyone's ability to just up and go someplace. You've decided the tradeoff of Harlan's company is worth the restriction he imposes. Similarly, the number of pieces of furniture you have does relate comfort levels with the ability to move those pieces from place to place.

So where is that state for you?

[ApatheticNoMore]

there's moving and there's moving as well, up and going all over the world is one thing, moving apartments is just: hire some movers to do it for you and even if you have minimal other things they can move big items like a sofa and a bed or any other large furniture. Don't stress with the cost of the movers, it doesn't matter in the scheme of things.

[Gardnr]

geographically flexible-ready to travel-aesthetically minimalistic style of minimalism.

Ready to travel or ready to run? When one travels, one does not take all "stuff" along.....

[Float On]

Son #2 left this morning for NC with his car loaded down. He wasn't even around the corner of the road and I was in his room boxing up things to move to the storage room. His messy room has bugged me the whole last year he's lived at home (it use to be my reading/quiet room). He has too much. I won't toss away (except actual trash) but I will put it all into the storage room in rubbermaid boxes until he comes home at Christmas...meanwhile it needs a deep scrub and to look like a guest room and I need to make room for a full size bed in there.

[Teacher Terry]

Float on, you sound like me. I would have done the same thing. Nice to be able to reclaim your space. It’s funny because my current 3 dogs don’t need all the stuff my past dogs did. I have sold 5 dog steps and one dog car seat. I never intend to have more than 2 small dogs so I kept the double car seat. I just remembered I have a dog stroller that I can sell. I bought it when I had a 20lb dog that would cry when I took the younger dogs for walks. So I pushed him in the stroller and he got to go. He had a issue with his back legs and was old with Cushings disease.

[Gardenarian]

Very nice!
I like that they were able to borrow a lot of things. I have found that very easy to do, just asking around, and I don't even have a ton of friends.

Cool that they are using the extra space to do meaningful stuff (sewing, crafts) that are difficult in a camper

My house is similar, though larger, and we have a lot more clothes and bedding and plants and books. (I laughed when she said the closet looked "kind of crazy". To me, that was so organized!)

Thanks for posting, it was an inspiring video.

This reminds me that I need to organize our bedding -- again. My dogs are hard on blankets and sheets, and I get new but don't get rid of the old. Yikes!

[Gardenarian]

Float on - my DD recently moved out but to a very cramped space. She is using her room here for storage, but I sure wish she had cleaned it up before she left! I figured I'd give it a couple seasons before I crated everything, but that messy room bugs me.

She's only 1/2 mile away, so I'm not having much empty nest syndrome (well, a few tears.)