Minimalism at other people's expense

Ben84

I don't own loads of stuff, so somewhat minimalist. I'm probably in the clear though as I'm not storing piles of stuff in someone else's house

There's no multiples of items or things I don't use. Definitely not a collector of anything. I've hung paintings on some walls, but this isn't Buckingham Palace, one good size painting on each wall has plenty of presence. Tables and windowsills mostly have a decorative item on them, maybe a large vase - I like West German art pottery, or a house plant. I like a small number of big items much more than lots of little ones all over the place. I think lots of little things aren't ever really seen, they're just 'there'. Everyday items can be decorative too, a nice table lamp for example is also decorative. There's a lot of just space here. Got a few books, but not a huge amount. I like reading though - I've been using the kindle more, so I only buy paper books that aren't on the kindle, or that do something special the kindle can't do. Regular paperbacks aren't special in any way to me, so I don't miss them. No paper magazines either, just read them on the kindle or computer. No DVDs any more either, I can get films and programs through a set top box that's connected to the internet. Physical media is increasingly obsolete I think, so the less I need it the less I have around the house.

I wonder about the people who get fanatical about minimalism though. Seems like another way to be stuff-focused, just at the other end of the scale.

If however anyone wants to try minimalism, I can highly recommend getting a cat. They will purge your house of all smashable ornaments and trinkets (most are smashable) in no time

boliston

I quite like the idea of minimalism and only having things I need - I actually quite like bare walls, no nick nacks, no books (there is more than enough to read online), no physical media as all digital, and the beauty is that you can buy a small home in a good location instead of a bigger home in a not so good location for the same outlay.

barbiedoll

A relative of mine died recently. She was 96 and had been consciously decluttering for many years, partly because it was easier to keep her small flat clean but mostly because she didn't want us to have to dispose of loads of stuff eventually.

She had a few knick-knacks on display, and some family photos but even so, we were surprised at just how much stuff she had, even though she had a lot of storage space that was practically empty (cupboards and so on.) Crockery, cutlery, cooking utensils, and even things like Christmas decorations....we still have a lot of stuff at my poor Mum's place, to sort out at some point.

She didn't have loads of clothes but when we had to clear her flat, I put all of her clothes in a pile on the floor, to sort out for charity shops, and recycling. It was amazing how much stuff accumulates. There was another huge pile of sheets, towels and other textiles, most of which ended up at an animal sanctuary to be used for bedding.

It has made all of us think about how much junk we end up living with (especially my sister and brother, both of whom have a definite hoarding tendency!) and we have all promised to have a clear-out and to start donating our spare goods. Although I'm not holding out much hope for my sister, she's planning to move from a tiny flat to a house soon. By the time she moves all of her stuff, including the rubbish stored in my loft, my mum's spare room and my brother's garage, she'll need to start thinking about building an extension! :rotfl:

glasgowdan

There's an element of the typical modern lifestyle hippy in minimalism, where there's a reliance on other people and very little given back! I have a bit of Cartman in me when it comes to these people.

Having a declutter isn't being minimalistic.

Personally, I've got a mother eff ton of stuff. I do sports (sea fishing, mountain biking - the family has 6 or so bikes), run a garden maintenance business (think a whole array of tools and ancillaries), have 2 kids and all the family who keep giving us stuff for them. The house is quite big, the garden's big, so even though the rooms don't appear cluttered, I know there's a lot of things.

I don't care, however.

System

In my experience, people rarely want minimalist living, what they tend to want is a load of storage space to hide stuff!
The clients I've had who think they want to live a minimalist lifestyle generally have too many coffee table architecture books and don't understand the consequences properly!

Hermia

Doozergirl wrote: »

True minimalism is the exact opposite of having an empty house to show off. We attach ourselves to material possessions and we end up geographically and financially bound to those things when we have to fund bigger houses and can't travel etc.

It's also about living in smaller spaces. People buy bigger and bigger houses to put all their stuff and have so many places to sit with different functions, but you can only sit in one place at a time. Big houses feed the ego, not the soul.

We have two more rooms in this house than we reasonably need. I've designed our new house to be 'just right' when I eventually get round to building it. I'm not ready for minimal but I am ready for organised.

I agree. IME minimalists aren't really into showing their homes off. They see their home more as a base rather than a showcase. I expect the people who are boasting about their minimalist homes like that are probably people who got into it because it has been seen as trendy.

Your comment about being "geographically and financially bound" really resonates with me. I got into minimalism because I felt so tied to my stuff/house. I think having stuff is a positive thing for some people, but it really does pull other people down. I know people who would love to travel or move house or downsize, but they just can't do it because they can't let go of their stuff. I also know people who are constantly stressed by how much they own. The whole purpose of minimalism is making your life better. For example, owning 200 items of clothing can be stressful if you can never decide what to wear and can never find the item you want. Having a well-chosen small capsule wardrobe may seem like a sacrifice at first, but it is not if it means you can put together a great outfit in 30 seconds every day. If some aspect of minimalism does not work for you than you don't do it!

Hermia

glasgowdan wrote: »

There's an element of the typical modern lifestyle hippy in minimalism, where there's a reliance on other people and very little given back! I have a bit of Cartman in me when it comes to these people.

I don't understand that comment. Can you explain? The minimalists I know are just as kind and compassionate as other people. They do community work and they help out their friends/family etc. Their minimalism really does not mean they take from other people. My having little stuff does not mean I rely on people. Do you mean they are more likely to borrow things because they don't own them? I don't see how having stuff means you are giving back. Yes, I know selfish minimalists, but I also know plenty of selfish people who have houses full of stuff! In fact I know a lot of minimalists who have a policy of buying any items they need from local businesses because they try to buy items that are well-crafted and will last.

glasgowdan

Hermia wrote: »

I don't understand that comment. Can you explain?

You DO understand it, you've just not experienced it yet.

getmore4less

Doozergirl wrote: »

.......
It's also about living in smaller spaces. People buy bigger and bigger houses to put all their stuff and have so many places to sit with different functions, but you can only sit in one place at a time. Big houses feed the ego, not the soul

There is a limit on how low you can go.

I think we are at 4

Big TV seat
Proper table to eat at( although many meals are lap tray)
Computer/office desk.
Outside.

Doozergirl

I don't need a separate office desk. The admin side of our company would fit into a box.

I have definitely achieved minimalism on the work front.