How To Create a Minimalist Home

I aim for perfection, yet I crave simplicity.  Now, what's the irony in that?  If you know me, you know I like things in order—clean and in order.  I rarely sit still when home, because typically there is always something needing wiped down or put back in its place.

A clean and orderly home makes me feel better, but there are days I am just too overextended to care.  And even on these days our home feels manageable, because it's free of clutter.  I intuitively purge and if it doesn't serve a purpose, it gets donated.

Tips on how to create a minimalist home:

• Clear counters.  Store the toaster oven, blender, or other appliances under the counter.  Put away dry-goods in the pantry and stack cookbooks on a shelf or in a cabinet.  
• Free up walls.  Be selective with what you hang on your walls.  Consider mirrors to fill up blank spaces, because mirrors create depth and make a room seem larger.
• Clean floors.  Don't store or stack your things on the floor.  Store stuff in its designated place out of sight.
• Solids and subtle patterns. Ornate patterns can feel busy, where solids and subtle patterns feel light and airy.
• Bright white spaces. White is crisp, cool, calm, and above all, clean.
• Quality over quantity.  Hang on to well-made furniture and purchase new pieces that fit the space.  Eliminate all the small pieces that aren't very useful.

Share more tips in a comment below.  I would love to hear from you!