BACK
Design

Guide to Minimalism

5 MAR 2020

This is our Beginner’s Guide to Minimalism.

We live in an era that believes in ‘more’: many of us think that the good life is found in possessing and accumulating as many things as we can. However, in a world that’s bursting with advertisements of material items, 24/7 news cycle, Whatsapp messages and social media, our minds and bodies are now overwhelmed by clutter in our spaces and information overload.

This is why we are so dedicated to curating minimal and beautiful spaces: so you can take a break from the hustle and bustle of life, and focus on enjoying your coffee experience. Benny, one of our co-founders, is a minimalist and believes in its power to help us live an accomplished life.

But what does it mean to be a minimalist? How exactly will the minimalist lifestyle benefit our lives, and how do we begin? In this week’s post, we guide you through the process and explain why designing a simpler life might help you become a happier, better version of yourself.

What is minimalism?

Minimalism is living with ‘less’, and enjoying freedom from the modern mania. It is prioritising clarity, purpose and intentionality in life, by living only with a selection of essential items that you absolutely need, and removing the distraction of unnecessary possessions.

Minimalism is more than just decluttering your things: the concept of intentionality can be incorporated into different aspects of your life. You can practise it by minimising time commitments, putting together a capsule wardrobe, using modern technology with intentionality, or even taking up compact living and moving into a smaller apartment.

Credit: keiralennox.com

What are the benefits of leading a minimalist lifestyle?

Improved physical and mental health

Studies show that tidiness of our homes and workspaces – and the lack thereof – affects our physical and mental health. When we make the effort to declutter our spaces, we are also removing excessive visual and tactile stimuli from our surroundings, which will make it easier for us to relax both physically and mentally.

Improved financial health

When you work on distinguishing between needs and wants, investing your time and money in only the material items or time commitments that are truly important, you will naturally be able to prioritise your spending and build more savings.

Credit: nosidebar.com

It’s better for the environment

Consumerism is responsible for up to 60% of global greenhouse gases emission. When you buy less and pay more attention to the quality of whatever you are buying, you are reducing the resources and energy used.

You can focus on personal growth

When you dedicate time and space for only the essentials and people you truly love, you will have more energy to practise self-care, explore new ideas, and embrace future potential and personal growth.

Tips on practicing minimalism in your daily life

Define your own minimalism

Minimalism is different for everyone. Sit down with a journal and take a good look at your life. What is your ideal lifestyle? What is keeping you from working towards your goals in life? How can you help yourself focus? Come up with a minimalist lifestyle that is sustainable and achievable for you.

Use it, or lose it

When you declutter your home to prepare for the minimalist lifestyle, you will definitely come across items that you haven’t used recently.

If you haven’t used something at least twice in the past six months, then you likely don’t need the item. If it’s a seasonal item (like a winter coat or a swimsuit), only keep the ones you’ve used frequently in the last season. The key is to keep what you need now, not what you think you would need in the future. For anything you decide you don’t need, do your best to give it a new home, either by offering it to a friend, selling it online or donating to a charity.

Organise

When you are done decluttering your space, organise. This will help you achieve more with less time and effort. There are lots of online resources on organising effectively, including a Netflix series featuring organising specialist, Marie Kondo.

Credit: konmari.com

Minimalism is a repeated choice

Decluttering and organising would be pointless if you go back to your old habits of making unnecessary purchases that will clutter up your space and waste your time. Focus on buying only what you need and pay attention to what you allow into your life.

Need more inspiration on curating a minimalist, aesthetic space? Read on to find out how we conceived our beautiful Roastery, Mercury and Whampoa stores.