The pursuit of excess is something that is ingrained in every human being. From the moment we are born, advertisements from all over the media bombard us with the idea that more is better. This results in consumers spending their disposable income on things that they don’t really need, from purchasing the fanciest cars, clothing from designer labels, luxurious homes and of course, the coolest tech. So to counter this, the idea of minimal living sounds pleasing.

 

An idea exists that happiness does not lie in the exchange of cash for material goods; more is not necessarily better. However, living a minimal lifestyle does not mean that you must give up on everything and go back to the Stone Age. In contemporary society, where technology and objects are fundamental to our lives, it is challenging to be a complete minimalist, but increasingly important to understand the role of simplicity.

 

So how do you start living with less? Well a good way to start is by your appearance and the clothes you wear. If one really gives it a thought, you probably only wear 20% of your clothes 80% of the time. A lighter closet leaves your mornings less stressful and your wardrobe full of the attire you love. Swapping out those bold colors for clean and simple whites, light blues, and grays are a good place to start.

 

Then there are the decorations. Sri Lankan homes are rather synonymous for having many decorations that really hold no personal value to our lives. The usual story is either they were on sale or they just happened to match the color of the carpet in the living room. So, take a moment and stroll through your home; leave only the decorations that are the most meaningful and the most beautiful.

 

If you have minimal décor, nothing will complement this more elegantly than minimal furniture, get rid of rarely used furniture, and swap out heavy beds and intricate woodwork for simple designs with clean lines and light colors. In addition to saving space, you have more airflow around your home and a general feeling of spaciousness.

 

To end, we hope you ponder among the thoughts in your mind about how you can start living a minimal lifestyle and of course, the words of Richard Bach. “The simplest things are often the truest.”

 

*insert*

 

If you’re looking for inspiration;

Dave Bruno wrote a book titled, “The 100 Thing Challenge”. He relates how he remade his life and regained his soul by getting rid of almost everything he didn’t need by reducing his life’s possessions down to 100 things in one year.   If you’re one that wants to unhook yourself from consumerism, consider this a must read as it is an inspiring and invigorating guide on how you can begin to live a more simple and meaningful life.

Then there is the case of Tammy Strobel, a photographer, writer, teacher, and founder of RowdyKittens.com (A very popular blog among minimalists). Inspired by the minimalism movement, she was able to water down her belongings to just 69 items. Not only that, she was even able to move her family into a tiny 150 square foot apartment.