Minimalist Home to Live More Sustainably

How a Minimalist Home Can Help You Live More Sustainably

By Cora Gold

 

When people think of a minimalist home, they often picture neutral-colored walls and a pared-down bedroom. However, they may not realize a simple home can significantly contribute to environmental sustainability, too.

Whether you’re aware of it or not, living in a minimalist home encourages mindful consumption. Understand how a minimalist home can help you live a more sustainable life.

  • You Buy Less

Living in a minimalist home means buying less. It doesn’t necessarily mean depriving yourself of material possessions. Instead, it teaches you to only spend money on things that provide lasting value.

When you are more selective about what you invest in, you help protect the environment by reducing demand for fast consumer products, leading to less trash in landfills. 

  • You Use Less Energy

Embracing a minimalist approach to your home can help you save energy, which lessens your environmental footprint and costs. One crucial aspect of living in a minimalist house is natural sunlight, a free and renewable energy source. It’s a great way to bring life and warmth to your space, so consider installing large windows to flood your home with free light. 

Take advantage of sunlight as much as possible. You can use lower-wattage bulbs to create a cozy atmosphere at night and opt for simple fixtures that match your decor.

You could also include adding greenery at home. It creates a soothing atmosphere, naturally purifies indoor air, and boosts productivity. It could also make your house more eco-friendly to live in.

  • You Invest in a Minimalist Wardrobe

Navigating life within a minimalist home usually translates to a curated capsule wardrobe, which consists of a few valuable items that are easily paired together, resulting in various outfits. Having limited space for clothing prompts eliminating items that no longer spark joy.

Instead of following new trends and indulging in fast fashion, pick a few high-quality clothing pieces that will last you a long time or do a clothing swap with your family and friends.

  • You Reduce Waste 

The average individual in the U.S. produces around 4.9 pounds of waste daily. To help reduce waste, ditch single-use plastics and start using reusable bottles and bags. Take your own water jug or bottle with you wherever you go to reduce your chances of purchasing expensive beverages. Avoid buying disposable items that give you the convenience to skip dishwashing.

When grocery shopping, remember to always bring reusable bags with you. Also try to buy food with minimal packaging. For example, some stores may sell fruit or vegetables in plastic wrap, when that’s just not necessary. Packaging not only creates trash, but it can contain PFAS chemicals, known as “forever chemicals,” that can cause health problems and contaminate the environment.  

  • You Make Cleaning Easier for You

A minimalist home means surrounding yourself with bare essentials to create an uncluttered, uncomplicated space. A major advantage of living in a minimalist area is that you almost always look forward to cleaning the house because your house is orderly in the first place.

However, this doesn’t mean you won’t put effort into cleaning daily. Remember that germs spread and transfer on surfaces such as countertops and tables. Cleaning surfaces daily is essential to eliminate bacteria and viruses and make your house a healthier living space.

  • You Learn How to Repurpose

After decluttering, you may come across items that can make incredible decorations. Reusing and repurposing what’s already in your home can help cultivate a zero-waste lifestyle. For instance, you can use clear shoe boxes as dividers for smaller items or transform old clothes into cloth rags. 

As you declutter at home, find a place to store items for recycling. Encourage your family and housemates to check whether things can be repurposed or recycled before throwing them away.

Embrace a Minimal and Sustainable Lifestyle

Minimalism isn’t about depriving yourself of things you enjoy — it’s about finding contentment in simplicity. Living in a minimalist home helps you focus on essential matters, reduce waste and consumption, and make mindful decisions that positively affect your life and the environment.

About the author: Cora Gold is a sustainability writer who aims to live a healthy, low-waste lifestyle. Read more from Cora in Revivalist magazine, LinkedIn, and Twitter.