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Archives for December 2009

The Barest Essential

Think about the place you call home…it may be be a city studio, a suburban rancher, or a farmhouse in the countryside. It may be big, small, old, or new. You may rent it or own it, or share it with others. Whatever the case may be, it’s there…it’s yours…it keeps you safe, warm, and dry.

We’re the fortunate ones—we can talk about decluttering, decorating, and organizing our homes. We can wax poetic on paring down to the bare essentials. Meanwhile, too many people are lacking the most essential thing of all: basic shelter. While we settle into our cozy beds tonight, they’ll sleep on steam grates or cold sidewalks, in doorways or under bus shelters.… {Read more}

Minimalist Office: Downsizing Supplies

Back in our former house, we had a plastic bin filled with office supplies. I can’t begin to recount all the contents, but know it included more envelopes, rubber bands, paperclips, staples, pens, pencils, markers, and sticky notes than we would ever use or need.

The cache had slowly accumulated since our college days. And, as is often the case with office supplies, we were hesitant to declutter them–because we were sure we’d find a need for the neon highlighters or A-7 envelopes the day after we threw them away.

The main problem: it’s difficult to purchase most supplies in small quantities.… {Read more}

Minimalist Strategy: Don’t Organize Your Clutter

I used to be a big fan of organizational items. Although I wasn’t much of a shopper, a trip to The Container Store or Organized Living never failed to excite me.

The idea of corralling hundreds of loose bits and bobs into sleek, perfectly-matched containers had great appeal.  I truly thought that by putting all my stuff into various bins, I could maintain a sense of order in my life.

But while the containers made my house look shelter magazine-tidy, they didn’t bring me the serenity I’d hoped for. Even though everything was arranged neatly in pretty boxes (cloth-covered, wooden, wicker, plastic, etc.), it was still there.… {Read more}

Minimalist Confession: I’m an Empty Space Junkie

This week the New York Post ran an article about a couple that lives in the city’s smallest apartment. Their “microstudio” measures a wee 175 square feet—only 10 feet wide, and just under 15 feet long. The kitchen is equipped with a mini-fridge and hot plate, but the couple never cooks; they use their cupboards for clothes storage instead of pots and pans. [See the photo gallery of the couple’s apartment here.]

Of course, such an extreme example of minimalism made me wonder if my husband and I could do the same. My first reaction was to laugh at the thought.… {Read more}

Minimalist Wardrobe: How Many Shoes are Enough?

Every once in awhile, I like to analyze a category of my possessions. I list what I own, and the reasons I own it. This exercise helps me gain perspective on exactly what I have—and more importantly, why I have it.

This week, I decided to take a look at my shoe wardrobe. Years ago, I determined that the best way to minimize my shoes would be to stick to a solid color. I chose black—so out went the brown loafers, the navy blue pumps, the bronze kitten heels, the silver flats, etc. (The base colors of my clothing are black and gray, so I knew black shoes would match everything.)

The grand total: six pairs of shoes, which I think seems like a lot for a minimalist.… {Read more}

Top Ten Gifts for a Minimalist

Ask any minimalist what they want for Christmas, and I guarantee they’ll say “nothing.” However, if you’re set on buying something anyway, I’ve compiled a list of gift ideas in keeping with their lifestyle.

(If you’re the minimalist, you may want to pass this post along to friends and family!)

So here it is—the Top Ten Gifts for a Minimalist (or What to Give Someone Who Doesn’t Want Stuff):

1. Amazon Kindle. Yes, the Amazon Kindle is another gadget—but it can replace entire shelves of books! Personally, I love the information in books but hate the physical format; they take up too much space, they’re bulky to carry, and they’re heavy to ship.… {Read more}