5 Misconceptions That Ruin Your Minimalism Experience
Although Minimalism is no longer a trending topic, it sure is alive and well. It continues to be helpful, especially for those who seem to have a toxic relationship with consumerism.
However, I fear some misconceptions, that were spread in the course of the last couple of years, might drive some people away from it. They focus more on the aesthetic aspect and if people follow this logic, Minimalism will just become a sour experience.
I consider myself a minimalist and, as such, I figure the key aspect of Minimalism is to make the most of our lives with less possible. Therefore — and take it with a grain of salt, as this is my opinion on the matter — if you want to experience Minimalism, avoid the following misconceptions.
Clutter is a sin
Surround yourself with only what adds value to your life. That should be the focus. But not only what you use on a daily basis is to be considered valuable. Clutter is not a problem. Too much clutter is.
A living room should not be composed of only a couch and a TV stand. Some decoration is always a good addition and adds some life to your surroundings. You can be a minimalist and still have some paintings on the walls and plants all over the place. Plus, and as much as people choose to say otherwise, it shows a bit of your personality.
No labels
This “rule” addresses the supposed problems with visual clutter. The idea behind this is to transfer everything to label-free containers, such as mason jars and plastic soap dispensers.
This serves no purpose other than to guarantee a more clean aesthetic to your surroundings. This is just inefficient and plain wasteful. Just think about it: you’ll be changing from a package to an arguably fancier package. And what do you actually achieve with it? Unnecessary work and waste production.
The only way this is viable is if you already have containers from previous products, like peanut butter jars, and you choose to reuse them to store berries you bought in bulk, for example.
Plates and cutlery to a minimum
The kitchen is arguably the most used division in a house, on a daily basis, so, as a minimalist, you should reduce the number of items in it as much as possible to make it more practical, right?
First and foremost, sure you should consider having what you only deem necessary, but that doesn’t mean only having a single pan, cup, and a set of plates and cutlery. There is no problem at all in having a bit more plates in the cabinets, even if you don’t use them all in every meal.
Also, if you tend to have guests, it kinda sucks to serve them in paper plates or plastic cutlery — and don’t have me start on the environmental footprint! Sharing meals with friends and family is one of the best things in this life. It’s always a good time guaranteed, so having a bit more plates and cutlery is always a good idea. Plus, you’ll need to wash them less frequently.
As a person who likes to play mad scientist with food, I refuse to accept this as a rule.
Nothing but neutral colors
I can’t stress this enough: Minimalism is not about aesthetics!
Minimalist environments and wardrobes are always depicted as neutral, with a predominance of black, gray, and white colors — therefore lifeless. You are not supposed to live in a dull and lifeless place, you are supposed to live in a home that is meaningful to you, and if you need colors in your life, by all means, go for it.
Choosing to change that ugly orange couch for a high-end gray one won’t solve the real issue. The same goes for your wardrobe: having 30 different branded shirts is the same as having 30 plain white ones. For this one, look up Courtney Carver’s Project 333 and learn how to stylize 33 pieces of clothing for a period of 3 months.
Spend more money on fewer things
This one drives me insane! Minimalism is not supposed to ruin your finances.
The idea here is to choose quality over quantity, however, quality doesn’t need to be expensive. For instance, you might choose to purchase two 25$ t-shirts, that supposedly last more, instead of ten 5$ ones. The thing is those two expensive t-shirts might last as much as the 5$ ones since you’ll use them more often.
Also, and like plates and cutlery, you’ll indirectly waste more money, since you’ll need to wash them more often.
For example, I bought 14 black t-shirts, for 2$ each, almost 2 years ago and they’re still in good condition.
As I said above, Minimalism is about making the most with less, in order to live a more meaningful life, with those you love the most.
It depends on and teaches you about discipline and moderation, as you’ll find yourself shopping with consciousness and clear intent.
Try and apply the capsule concept to as many things in your life as possible and don’t be afraid of a little clutter.
It’s fine if you also care about the visual aspect as long as you don’t fall victim to it.
