Yes, You Can Make Your Minimalist Home Colorful and Comfortable

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If you spend any time looking at minimalist lifestyle blogs, you've probably had your fill of images of white walls, white furnishings, and modernist decorative items that look meticulously arranged for their designer photo shoot.


The rooms look like no one lives there.  Certainly, no one sits comfortably or does any entertaining.  The beautiful table settings are arranged for guests to ooh and aah over.  No one has actually eaten a meal there.


And you can bet those rooms aren't open to pets or children.  If any toys are photographed, they're handmade, artisanal, all-wood items arranged one or two per shelf.  What's missing is color, variety, personality, and anything that looks like it's been used or enjoyed.


monochromatic home - photo by Brian Zajac on Unsplash



The happy truth


I have some great news:  A minimalist life doesn't have to be this way!  It doesn't have to be colorless and matchy-matchy.  If you've been worried that becoming minimalist requires boring conformity, you can stop right now.


When my husband and I downsized our belongings, we kept everything that was important to us.  I kept my collection of English blue and white ironstone, Jon kept his favorite geodes and polished rocks.  We kept beloved books and artwork, a few family antiques, and even some Christmas ornaments that have special meaning to us.  All of these carry memories and make our home look like our home which we've created together for nearly 42 years.


We didn't keep things just because they were usable or pretty if they were going to crowd our space or steal attention from items we preferred to keep in the spotlight.  For example, we let go of numerous tchotchkes that had been purchased just to fill a blank space.  We let go of holiday-specific dishes that made an attractive table but didn't enhance the food, conversation, or togetherness of a gathering.  We let go of an extra desk and a collection of quilts.


Our home is not an all-white tableau.  We have a 33-year-old navy couch (reupholstered twice over the years), my parents 60-year-old maple dresser, and wooden dining chairs painted apple green.  As we became minimalist, we didn't need to replace our sofa and chairs with new white ones, or our old wooden tables with new ones made of metal and glass.  We just kept less of what we already owned.  In fact, replacing our current functional stuff in order to emulate a social media post would be the opposite of minimalism.  We'd be buying things just to have something new and trendy – opening us to the need for additional purchases as styles change.





Less isn't boring.


Less is peaceful.  It reflects contentment with what you have.  And it can certainly be colorful, pretty, and personal.


Owning less doesn't have to mean "stripped down."  You don't have to do away with photos of your loved ones, active hobby supplies, or meaningful travel finds.  What you'll want to remove is the stuff that simply gathers dust, the stuff you have to keep organizing and reorganizing, and the stuff you're always moving out of the way just so you can sit down or put your feet up.


Never think that your minimalist home can't be full of comfort and character.  Far from being cold or soulless, minimalism can expose what you treasure and what you're really all about.  Instead of letting your favorite things be buried in clutter, minimalism helps you choose what makes your heart sing, and then make it a feature.







GOODBYE, CLUTTER book
When our homes are cluttered, we feel stressed and guilty about all the chores that demand our attention.  We feel irritated when we're unable to find what we need amid the chaos.  It's hard to focus or relax when we have piles of things with nowhere to belong.


We want something different and better for ourselves, and that's where decluttering comes in.  It's a form of self-care.


But you'll be happy to know that decluttering doesn't require stripping down to a bleak existence.  It's about finding that just-right mix of ease, comfort, and beauty.  It's about finding room for your life – your family, your friends, and your activities – and a comfortable place to rest and recharge.


The true beauty of a decluttered home is that what remains will reflect the best parts of you.  The things you choose to keep will be the most useful, suitable, and highest quality items – your treasures.  You'll want to maintain the beautiful order you create by decluttering.  The simple, daily habits you practice will be worth it for the enjoyment your clutter-free home provides.


Let my book Goodbye, Clutter* inspire you and give you the practical advice you need to say goodbye to clutter and hello to the freedom of owning less.


* This blog is reader-supported, with NO ADS.  If you make a purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission.


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