/r/minimalism

Photograph via snooOG

For those who appreciate simplicity in any form.


For those who appreciate simplicity in any form.

Rules: (more details »)

  1. No memes
  2. Posts need to be related to minimalism
  3. Please keep things civil
  4. No self-promotion / advertising. This includes surveys of any kind (including academic).
  5. Assign a flair to your post after submitting it:
  • [lifestyle] - Decluttering of possessions & thoughts

  • [arts] - Minimal art, design and music

  • [meta] - About this community

Related multi-reddits:

/r/minimalism

2,427,056 Subscribers

2

Looking for a quality convertible sofa bed for my tiny studio apt. Any suggestions?

I love my teeny apartment, but would love it even more if I could downsize my full size platform bed to a twin size bed. However, my partner would NOT be happy with this change haha. So as a compromise, I'd like to find a sofa type futon/bed that I can use as a twin sized bed and seating area when my partner isn't over, and then convert to a full mattress when they stay the night. I've seen some options online that look promising, but when researching they all end up being scam sites.

My budget is <1,500... maybe slightly more for the right thing.

I'm not interested in Murphy beds, conventional pull out sofa beds, etc, since I'd like to be able to use it as a regular twin bed most of the time without having to reconfigure it every night.

Any leads would be really helpful! I've attached an example of the type of thing I'm looking for. Thanks :)

https://www.hernest.com/item/modern-cotton-linen-sofa-bed-with-2-pulled-out-storage-drawers-p-3364.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=feed-shopping-pc&utm_content=googleshopping&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=haosen-max-us-offline-sofabed-0903&utm_content=maybe&utm_id={{campaign.id}}&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA74G9BhAEEiwA8kNfpXMk9cBp7c0hII5ZFP_OCk_c-JI3Pi3TCRz_2polUBJqA7RuaguqvBoCLMQQAvD_BwE

1 Comment
2025/02/04
01:58 UTC

1

How do you use your phone/computer?

I want to see desktops and homepage setups. My goal is to prioritize my laptop for online learning and online communication and my phone for scheduling and calls.

Basically.

My phone will do secretarial duties (and nothing more).

  • Answering and directing phone calls ✓ (via Phone and Whatsapp)
  • Implementing administrative procedures ✓ (via Safari)
  • Coordinating with other organizations ✓ (via Calendar)
  • Supervising staff and new employees ✓ (via Zoom)
  • Assisting executives with project tasks ✓ (via Maps)
  • Scheduling meetings and conferences ✓ (via Calendar)
  • Maintaining and ordering office supplies (N/A)
  • Documenting financial information ✓ (via DropBox and Camera and Scanner)
  • Greeting business clients and guests ✓ (via Phone and Whatsapp)
  • Organizing documents and files ✓ (via DropBox and Camera and Scanner)
  • Maintaining company schedules ✓ (via Calendar)
  • Organizing and distributing messages ✓ (via Email and Messages)

My laptop will do school duties. (and nothing more). :

  • IM's (Slack, Facebook)
  • Web Conferences (Zoom)
  • Browser (Vivaldi)
  • Office Suite (OnlyOffice)
  • File Management Suite (DropBox, GoogleDrive)
  • Graphics (Canva)
  • Project Management (FIgma, Miro, etc)

Done!

0 Comments
2025/02/04
01:39 UTC

44

Just moved into my first home. What do I *not* buy?

This is my first time living somewhere without family or roommates. Now that the moving dust has settled, I am really relishing the emptiness of my new house and how spartan my set-up is and would like to preserve this feeling.

When I have moved in the past, I have always gone straight into a shopping blitz after moving in as I work to furnish the house with things I think I need. This time, I am trying to move very slowly and only buy things when I feel like I truly need them.

What household tools / kitchen gear / cleaning supplies / laundry supplies / etc. should I *not* buy? Alternatively, is there anything I can buy that would give me a lot of mileage and fulfill multiple functions? (Ex.: I use a pair of cooking chopsticks in lieu of tongs/spatula/whisk). When you were packing for your last move, what household objects made you think to yourself, Why on earth did I ever buy that?

82 Comments
2025/02/03
23:45 UTC

9

YouTube channel tips

First of all, I apologize if this is not the most appropriate topic for the subreddit. Over the past few months, I have been trying to adopt a more frugal lifestyle, but I still feel that the algorithms have not fully identified my interests and preferences.

Therefore, I would love to receive recommendations for YouTube channels—regardless of their size—that focus on minimalism or share experiences about this learning process.

My goal is to consume inspiring content and follow these channels throughout 2025. I already follow some, but I would love to discover new ones. Thank you in advance for your suggestions!

18 Comments
2025/02/03
18:14 UTC

11

Need inspiration for living well in a small apartment!

I'm looking to downsize from a 90m2 (about 970 square feet) home to a smaller one, maybe half the size.

I'd love to see how people have designed small homes that are beautiful and cozy and also accommodate guests, dinner parties, working from home, hobbies etc.

Can you recommend me anything - blogs, books, sites, YouTube/Instagram accounts? Haven't found anything I loved with just searching, so hoping you could share your favorites! Doesn't even have to be minimalism in a strict sense.

Not looking for tiny houses or van life. Thanks!

15 Comments
2025/02/03
15:16 UTC

17

Minimalist beginner

Starting my minimalist journey, although I joke that it was always a part of me.

I've been slowly decluttering clothes that I don't wear anymore. I joined a group online where you can basically put your stuff up and someone could pick it up for you.

Everybody I have an attic full of stuff, And although it's not at a hoarder level, I looked recently and thought I could easily make this attic into a second bedroom if I got rid of some of these things in storage. There was even some clothes that I wore back in my twenties, and I'm halfway through my thirties now. Don't get me wrong. It's a flex to know that I could still fit in those clothes, but there's memories attached to them that I don't think are very happy. Ironically some of those clothes I thrifted so maybe I could give it a third life with someone else.

I want to get to a point where I have a capsule wardrobe and look ageless, I want to make sure that most of my lounge clothes could also double as going out clothes if I so wanted to.

In the meantime I'm saving every penny that I can, only time I spend is when I want to go out somewhere or to pay off some debt. *(I've got 10k in debt due to 2024 having a bunch of emergencies, but by the end of this month I'll be at 9k, If I keep this up I could clear everything within 10 months.)

Does anyone have any criticisms or advice for what I'm doing or what have you?

18 Comments
2025/02/03
14:14 UTC

0

Fragrance / Cologne

Hey, I'm just curious about what kind of fragrance/cologne the male audience of this sub uses. Previously, I had multiple fragrances for any type of occasion or season—one for the gym, one for the office, one for summer, and one for winter, you get the idea. I'm curious about how you guys do it, do you not use any fragrance or have one for every occasion? If so, which one do you use?

18 Comments
2025/02/03
13:44 UTC

6

Drifted away

Hello everyone, almost 2 years ago I moved to a different country, my lifestyle of course changed and I got into a very faced paced way of living. When I first got introduced to minimalism (2021), I decluttered my routines, belongings and social circle. Maybe It has been the loneliness or the way social interactions work in the Netherlands, but for the last year I have been emotionally spending, eating unhealthy and poorly, rushing everything filling up my agenda with things at the end of the day I had no interest doing. I remember how calm and happy I was when I owned less and when I didn’t fill up my life with unnecessary stuff. So I am going back to It! Simplicity It is, got a new room so the feeling of freshness will be massive. To conclude, I share this because I’d like to hear about your experiences and what helped you “restart”. Also If someone is in Amsterdam and would like to connect feel free to reach out to me! Thank you

4 Comments
2025/02/03
11:10 UTC

43

Simplifying my shower rutine

I’ve been on a mission to minimise my bathroom products and routine for a while, and I finally found a solution that works for me.

Instead of using shampoo, conditioner, bodywash wash, scrubs, shaving cream, masks and oil ++ (insert whichever product here), I have discovered the one true bathroom MVP: A simple bar of soap, a combined shampoo and bodybar. I ditched the conditioner altogether and after a short transition period of dryness and frizz, my hair is thriving now! I mean, most guys are living fine without all of these products, so why can’t I.

Using a bar soap makes everything so much easier. It saves space, time and money, and showering is actually not something I dread anymore because the routine is so simple.

Even for travelling it is super easy. No more counting millilitres for my carry-on - I just grab my bar of soap and chuck it in! Simple as that.

Why it took me so long to figure this out is a mystery to me, but if no one has told you yet I wanted to share this little minimalist hack. To me has been an eye opener into how excessive a lot of the products we think we need/have to use are.

31 Comments
2025/02/02
23:53 UTC

11

Where do I start?

I love cute clothes, jackets, shoes and jewelry to express myself. There aren’t really any good thrift stores around me. I have one that I frequent but the clothing section is very small. I live in a city center and driving can be a nightmare but I don’t mind ordering things if I have to. How do I start on my minimalist journey? I’m not really into gadgets but I feel like I could do better in the clothing department. Would love some tips on making things last and keeping your outfits interesting.

10 Comments
2025/02/02
22:46 UTC

361

What’s one thing you stopped buying that made your life simpler?

I’ve been trying to cut out unnecessary clutter. What’s something you used to buy regularly but realized you don’t need at all?

494 Comments
2025/02/02
21:32 UTC

6

Basic watches with Stopwatch

Hello, I'm looking for an everyday watch that just shows the time and has a stopwatch feature. I've looked a bit but there are many options and was wondering if anyone has searched already to narrow down some options. Watch has to be under £100 and I don't want to connect it to the phone. a 'dumb' watch

10 Comments
2025/02/02
14:29 UTC

21

I disembled my ikea sofa to wash the textile and decided I dislike having a traditional sofa

I have gotten to the stage where I view my sofa as visually clumpsy and heavy, and physically uncomfortable.

To be able to wash the textile I had to disemble the whole sofa. At this stage I felt like I don’t even like having that sofa. It’s ikea söderhamn.

I want a sofa that will last for at least 30 years. A qualitysofa. Something I can move around easy.

Anyone here that has the Togo sofa by Ligne Roset? People say it is really comfortable. And it can def be moved around easily. I want my next sofa to be of high quality and something that has a great second hand value. The money I bought my Ikea sofa is just waste of money.

Furnitures can really feel like it is cluttering my apartment. I maybe have gone extreme last months. But I really do not like those heavy furnitures.

26 Comments
2025/02/02
10:12 UTC

20

I like to "write" little minimalist poem for myself.

My circle is smaller, my stuff is less. I've finally reached a point, where my mind has found rest.

Minimalism has made me a genuinely happy man.

5 Comments
2025/02/02
03:51 UTC

0

Urban Minimalist Thrived at the Lion's Den

I survived, I thrived. I went, I saw, I resisted breaking my no-buy rule. Glad I am back home. Sharing my reflection with you about my trip to Las Vegas from Squamish, British Columbia.

https://www.fullnessoflife.com/blog/minimalist-monologue-in-las-vegas

1 Comment
2025/02/02
01:40 UTC

12

Minimalist house plan?

So we’re deciding on building a house, I’m having hard time finding a house plan that is designed with minimalistic thought. I like to watch tiny house projects on YouTube because I really admire the thought processes of maximizing every space for storage etc. but I don’t necessarily want a tiny home. I’d want to have bigger gathering rooms and smart storage, that doesn’t waste space. For example I don’t feel like a separate laundry room is needed, I don’t think double vanities, walk in closets and separate bath and shower is needed. Me and my husband grew up in Europe living in condos, so we have a bit different understanding and we don’t really want to have many things that come in a typical American home. We would like to have a big kitchen, living room/family rooms and dining room as we homeschool and spend a lot of time in these spaces. I like to see the examples of homes like that, collect a database and then hopefully hire an architect to help us design a space that works for us. But first I’d like to ask if anyone has a home like that? I love to see other houses and compare and hear from others in terms of their experience in living in a minimalistic (but not small) home.

28 Comments
2025/02/01
20:36 UTC

90

Anyone doing any fun decluttering or money saving challenges this year?

always looking for fun new ways to save money, declutter, and over all simplify life at the beginning of the year. Very in to MuchelleB content.

47 Comments
2025/02/01
16:28 UTC

0

Sustenance of minimalism in society

This might be construed as a view biased by correlating minimalism with not being well off. But to a good extent, many might see themselves as minimalists not by choice but by the virtue of being in particular circumstances. So, once the society starts to flourish and a lot of things are affordable to a lot of people, would minimalism still be a relevant topic of discussion?

21 Comments
2025/02/01
13:02 UTC

10

Women’s clothes

Hi everyone,

After 2 kids my body shape, size and weight has changed so much that before firstborn, in between the 2, after 2nd and couple of years after 2nd feels like a whole new person.

Until last year I donated a lot of clothes, really good clothes. Primary reason being , I had no time communicating on fb marketplace. Some of the decisions were not so right. I had some really good office clothes (Oxford and different brands) which might have been useful.

Even after reducing , I still have a big collection in my opinion. I can fit all the clothes (irrespective of the reason) in the wardrobe which is currently being shared. But I still feel there is a possibility to reduce. Which can create space (right now it’s fully packed) and also easier to find options when getting ready.

What do you think is the ideal way on reducing without feeling guilty about what-ifs they become useful in the future, depending on different seasons and laundry and everything what should be min no of clothes (I go to office once a week)

Any ideas, suggestions are welcomed ❤️

13 Comments
2025/02/01
11:57 UTC

3

Let's talk about hobbies

In the past year I have let go of some of my hobbies that were less valuable to me than the space they took up.

Motorcycling, snowboarding and RC planes seem to be in a middle grey area where they are beneficial to my mental health, but also take up more space in my life than I'd like them to.

I've reduced my snowboarding gear to just a board and one big bag with the essentials, but I need a whole garage for my bike, and the gear takes up a lot more space. Keeping it on the street just felt wrong, and I was constantly worried about it.

I guess I either have to accept my hobbies the way they are or do something about them. Right now I'm in-between and I need some clarity to know what I want.

How do you guys keep your hobbies minimalistic? I'd like to hear your perspectives :)

12 Comments
2025/02/01
07:39 UTC

0

Got gifted a kettle - not to my taste, help

Hi y'all,

Ok so I received (unasked) an electric "stainless steel" kettle. I'm very health-conscious and wouldn't have bought a metal kettle from China made with God knows what metal. The Amazon listing says it's 304 grade stainless steel, but it doesn't say so on the kettle or its packaging so I'm skeptical. It's a very delicate situation because the people around me will get mad at me for not liking/using it. But we had gift lists and the person who picked me decided my list was "lame" (their word--thanks) and that they would find something better instead, and came up with this idea. I'm posting this here because I strive for a minimalistic environment and while I could keep it for when this person comes home, I'd rather not.

I can't openly say I dislike it or that I find it "not healthy enough". So what pretext could I use to justify why I gave it away? It will 100% come up.

97 Comments
2025/02/01
03:02 UTC

137

How do you respond to people asking where your stuff is when they come over?

I recently got divorced, left almost everything and bought a new house. It is very bare but it makes me so happy and less anxious having very little in my house. Literally everyone who has come over has remarked on how bare it is and offers to give me things that they have and aren’t using. Almost insisting on giving me things and I have to explain over and over that I don’t want it.

61 Comments
2025/01/31
23:08 UTC

641

My Amazon account got hacked and it’s been the best thing ever

I don’t know if this belongs here, but I thought this community would appreciate it.

I used to use Amazon like a personal assistant. Anytime I needed anything, I just hit up Bezos. It was bad. I had so much pointless junk. I gave him SO MUCH MONEY… for junk.

About 6 months ago my Amazon account got hacked. (That’s a whole ‘nother story for a different day.) At first I thought my life was going to end. But luckily I only had my debit card linked and an employer card. I quickly deleted both and asked for new cards. I filed claims and did the whole nine yards.

The hacker got to keep my account tho. Amazon could not retrieve it for me.

I haven’t used Amazon since. I don’t need anything. I already bought everything I could ever need during the years when I had my account. Now I just buy replacements as I need them during my monthly Target or Costco trips. I have saved SO MUCH MONEY by not having an Amazon account.

It’s wildly obvious. My wallet is significantly fatter.

51 Comments
2025/01/31
18:30 UTC

42

Subs with images of lived in minimalistic homes/spaces?

I’d love to scroll and see this community and their version of minimal spaces or minimized collections? I like seeing OneBag for this reason and the occasional minimal space that comes up in DesignMyRoom or malelivingspace ahah. But looking for a dedicated minimalistic spaces one.

I can google image minimalistic homes but it’s often staged interiors, not lived in, or luxurious spaces with lots of space and hidden storage which isn’t the case/accesible for everyone who enjoys minimalism.

Even less aesthetically pleasing minimal spaces give me a sense of peace.

22 Comments
2025/01/31
15:57 UTC

6

What aspects of smartphone usage feel overwhelming or unnecessary in your daily life?

Sometimes I get stuck to my phone either because I'm still working answering emails and Slack messages even though I'm out of the office. (This is the overwhelming part).
And sometimes, more frequently than I would like, I find myself (after 8 hours of being in front of my computer working) scrolling for long periods on social media. (This ofc is the unnecessary).
Do you feel yourself sometimes overwhelmed by your phone?

9 Comments
2025/01/31
15:48 UTC

20

One News Source

My news source for the past 10+ years was NYT. I got a subscription as a gift back in 2014 and have kept it ever since. I grew up in a family that subscribed to multiple newspapers and supporting news and reading it from a reputable source matters to me.

Now I'm rethinking where I get my news in this new era in the US. I've started reading a bunch of places and now I think it's time to minimize for emotional health.

Thoughts on

  • NYT
  • Reuters
  • AP
  • ProPublica

I am willing to transfer the money I spent on NYT to one of these other organizations, even if the news itself is free, just to continue to support good, unbiased news especially in these times.

65 Comments
2025/01/31
13:52 UTC

20

Is this a minimalism or decluttering sub reddit?

I'm just more at peace when everything in my life has a purpose. So I'm very intentional with what I have in it.

26 Comments
2025/01/31
10:22 UTC

24

Allergic reaction = forced declutter

I had an allergic reaction to something and I have no idea what it could have been from. I had hives all over my face and hands so I assume it was something in my skincare routine. (I’ve been tested for food allergies and nothing came back). Only issue, nothing I use has been changed in months. I’m a creature of habit and if I like something i continue to use it and then rebuy it when it’s out.

My dermatologist confirmed it was an allergic reaction and I have a prescribed routine to help the rash and block all the histamines. Luckily that is working wonderfully because I was about to scratch my face off.

She suggested, though she is not an allergist, that I stop using anything that touches my skin and slowly reintroduce things one by one.

So I started with body wash and deodorant. Those are hygiene my non-negotiables. Luckily those didn’t irritate my skin. But as soon as I was ready to get to my skincare (moisturizers, serums, etc), I freaked out. I don’t trust any of it anymore. I hate to throw it all away, but this whole ordeal has put into perspective how little I need. I’m now down to only a cleanser, spf, and moisturizer. And I actually use them each and every day!

We really don’t need that much :)

4 Comments
2025/01/31
06:00 UTC

38

Does anyone else sit and sleep on the floor?

Ive been sleeping on the floor for years now. Just a yoga mat and falling asleep on my back. It's amazing.

Now I'm starting to pretty much do all of my work on the floor:

https://ibb.co/1Ggq9ZgG

I'm not gonna lie, my legs are kind of sore, but this also happened when I started sleeping on my back 5+ years ago. Lasted about 1-2 weeks and then afterwards it was so amazing, getting the best sleep ive ever gotten in my life.

Wondering if im going to get productivity or general health results by doing everything on the floor too. I'm a couple weeks in now but its been on and off, making the move to full floor work now though.

36 Comments
2025/01/31
05:40 UTC

6

Decluttering Storage Unit

Hey there,

Brief history: Lived in a house for 10 years, father passed away unexpectedly, mother moved in with my sibling in another state and I decided to live abroad with my husband and our animals for 2 years. In the span of 6 months I both removed all the unnecessary items unrelated to our new life from my own home and took in family heirlooms and memorabilia from my deceased parent and the other who was downsizing.

We packed ourselves into 4 checked luggage, 2 carryons and 2 personal items (read: our dog and cat), everything else was placed into a 10'x10' storage unit near the in-laws.

It's been 2 years and we've moved back to a different state and have collected all of the storage unit items and everything we own into our new rental. I'm severely overwhelmed with boxes upon boxes of memorabilia from my childhood, my deceased family members (my dad had a lot of his parents things), and more.

Can someone please explain or provide guidance as to how one's supposed to move through these items and get control back of their things? We have shoved most of the memorabilia and heirlooms into a room dubbed "the room of requirement" and I'm not sure where to start. Without divulging too much, we have quite a lot of family history we need to preserve for legal reasons, so I'm just not sure how to proceed.

I checked the sub to see if there were situations similar and didn't source up any. Thanks in advance.

4 Comments
2025/01/31
03:37 UTC

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