Extreme Minimalism Tips: Streamlining Your Space for a Serene Life
Minimalism continues to grow in popularity as more people seek freedom from clutter and overconsumption. But some take simplicity to the extreme, paring down possessions to an absolute minimum. I share my personal journey into extreme minimalism as well as tips for living with almost no stuff. Key strategies include:
- Critically evaluating if each item you own truly sparks joy or serves an essential purpose
- Setting strict limits on possessions allowed in every category
- Choosing multifunctional items that consolidate uses
Why I Embraced Extreme Minimalism
I never imagined I’d become an extreme minimalist. As a kid, I loved stuff — the more toys, clothes, and knick-knacks I had, the better. As I grew older, I eventually realized just how little I actually used or even thought about most of my belongings. So I started questioning if I really needed so much stuff.
Over time, I began dramatically downsizing my possessions. I got rid of things I didn’t absolutely love or need. I was shocked by how liberating it felt to have less stuff cluttering my life. I realized that focusing on only the essentials gave me more time, space, and mental energy for what really matters — friends, family, pursuing my passions.
Now, over a decade later, I consider myself an extreme minimalist. I own maybe 100 personal items, not counting basic furniture. And I’ve never been happier or more fulfilled. Here’s my best extreme minimalism tips for others interested in simplifying.
Pare Down Until It Hurts, Then Pare Down Some More
When I first minimized my belongings, I got rid of the obvious excess stuff. Things I didn’t wear anymore, books I’d already read, kitchen gadgets I never touched. But I eventually realized I had to take it further.
I had to critically evaluate each item I owned, even stuff I used regularly. I asked myself tough questions. Did this item serve an essential purpose in my life? Did it spark joy? Would losing it cramp my lifestyle? Would storing or maintaining it cause stress? If the answer was no, out it went.
This process was almost physically painful at first. I’d agonize over whether to keep something sentimental but functionally useless, like an old concert t-shirt. But I forced myself to stay disciplined and cut down to the bare minimum of what I required to live happily.
Trust me, the initial purging is the hardest part. But once you get past it, you’ll feel so light and free. You’ll realize you don’t miss most of that stuff at all. And editing down more gets easier over time.
Set Limits for Each Category
When you’re an extreme minimalist, you have to put strict limits on how many belongings you allow in each category. Here are the caps I follow that keep my possessions under control while still meeting all my needs:
- Clothing — 4 shirts, 2 pairs of pants, 2 pairs of shorts, 1 dress, 8 pairs underwear & socks. Seasonal outerwear doesn’t count toward the limit.
- Shoes — 1 pair functional sneakers, 1 pair dress shoes, 1 pair sandals.
- Accessories — 1 watch, 1 pair sunglasses
- Cooking & dining — 2 pots, 1 pan, 2 plates, 2 bowls, 2 cups, 2 sets utensils
- Cleaning — 3 eco-friendly all-purpose cleaners
- Tech — 1 phone, 1 laptop, 1 e-reader
- Personal care — 5 multiuse toiletry items
- Hobby supplies — Supplies for 1 hobby that sparks creativity/joy
Set your own reasonable limits tailored to your lifestyle. The caps force you to zero in on only absolutely necessary, multipurpose items.
Adopt A Capsule Wardrobe
Living as an extreme minimalist means adopting a capsule wardrobe — owning only a small collection of clothing that covers all your needs year-round.
Choose versatile, high-quality pieces in neutral solids and basic patterns. Focus on long-lasting natural fabrics that are ethically made.
Build your wardrobe around basics like jeans, t-shirts, button-downs, and solid-color dresses you can pair with different accessories for varied looks. Add a few seasonal items like shorts or sweaters that you swap in and out as needed.
With a capsule wardrobe, you’ll always have the right thing to wear without excess. Doing laundry also becomes less of a chore!
Stick to pieces in the same color palette too. That way everything matches and you get more combinations.
And don’t be afraid to wear pieces until they wear out! Mend them if possible instead of tossing for new items.
Choose Multipurpose Items
The fewer unique possessions you own, the more creative you have to get in using them. Seek out gear and gadgets that serve multiple functions whenever possible. Some of my MVPs:
- E-reader — Replaced my shelves of books, enabling minimalism. Also stores documents for easy reference.
- Laptop — Main computing/work device. Also my TV with streaming services.
- Smartphone — Primary camera, music player, reading device. Plus basic apps like e-mail, maps, weather.
- Cast iron skillet- Sear, sauté, bake, broil, fry. Goes stovetop to oven.
- Yoga mat — Exercise in my home workout space. Also a guest bed.
- Backpack — Carry gear out and about. The right size to pack as my suitcase when traveling.
Seek this kind of crossover potential from the items you own. You’ll be amazed what a few well-chosen multifunctional products can do!
Forget Clutter — Embrace Blank Space
Before going minimalist, I crammed shelves, walls, counters with stuff — framed photos, decorations, trinkets. My living space was visually noisy. Now I’ve come to cherish blank space and emptiness.
Too much clutter overstimulates your senses and drains mental bandwidth you could use for things that matter. Embrace minimalism by purging almost all decor except a few beloved plants or pieces of art.
Personally, I have one photo collage of friends/family and a wall hanging my grandmother crocheted. That’s it for ornamentation in my entire apartment!
At first, the blankness felt odd. But now I prize the soothing, decluttered aesthetic. Clean lines and negative space help me think clearly and feel peaceful.
So don’t feel like you need to fill every last bit of space just so it looks “decorated.” Let objects and wall art go and see how serenely beautiful your home can feel.
Store Items Smartly After Purging The Excess
Once you’ve minimized possessions, storage becomes much easier. But you still need to be intentional.
Use modular storage cubes, shelves and hanging space to neatly contain what you own. Label clear bins so you can find things easily.
Store by category — apparel together near your closet/dresser, kitchen tools in their own cupboard, cleaning supplies under the sink.
Edit down until everything has a designated organized home. Nothing lying out anywhere to create visual clutter.
Tools like vacuum storage bags help maximize small storage spaces too. I use them for bulky items like off-season clothes. Compressing gear saves tons of room so I can access what I need easily.
Figure your unique needs, but uniform visible storage keeps clutter away and helps you stick to caps on belongings.
Cut Down Cleaning To The Essentials
Living simply with almost no stuff makes cleaning infinitely easier. With so few items and blank space, dust and grime have little surface area to collect on!
I’m able to clean my entire apartment top to bottom in under 20 minutes just twice a week. I quickly dust surfaces, sweep floors, wipe down counters and scrub the bathroom/tub.
To clean efficiently:
- Declutter completely first — then cleaning takes no time.
- Use multifunctional eco-cleaning products. I love concentrates you dilute — they replace many harsh chemicals.
- Focus on the important stuff — surfaces, floors, kitchen, bathrooms. No need to scrub underneath furniture with no clutter!
- Make your bed and tidy your closet/surfaces daily to avoid big cleaning sessions.
Deep cleaning like windows or oven is still needed a few times a year. But day to day, extreme minimalism makes cleaning painless so you gain back time.
Treat Possessions As Consumables
When you strictly minimize belongings, you have to shift perspective on ownership. No longer seeing things as permanent parts of your life. They are transitory — consumables to be used up.
I don’t form emotional attachment to stuff anymore. Everything I own has an expiration date in my mind. My sneakers will wear out in a year. My phone will be outdated in 3 years. I’ll use up that bottle of lotion in a month.
This mentality may seem odd. But it stops you accumulating more belongings than you need. And the impermanence is liberating! You can fully enjoy using an item while it lasts without pressure to keep it forever.
I’m not reckless or wasteful with possessions. But as things wear down, I’m very willing to let them go, knowing I’ll replace with one new functional item.
See your stuff as the short-term helpers they are. Then minimizing and letting go is easy.
Save On Housing/Bills
Extreme minimalism cuts your cost of living way down. You need less living space without piles of stuff. Smaller housing equals cheaper rent/mortgage.
I easily get by in a tiny studio apartment because I don’t need rooms for possessions. And having almost no appliances or gadgets slashes utility bills too.
Living minimally saves me over $12,000 a year compared to my old two-bedroom stuffed with stuff! And I bank the savings for travels or causes I care about instead of spend it on more unused possessions.
Plus simplifying makes moving easy if I transfer for work or just want a change. Everything I own packs neatly into my car in an afternoon — no need to pay movers!
While minimalism appeals most as a lifestyle, the financial benefits can motivate too. The less you spend on housing and bills, the more freedom you have.
Enjoy Experiences Over Things
When you stop finding joy in material goods, you discover deeper fulfillment. You shift focus to collecting memories from amazing experiences instead.
I’d so much rather spend money on meals out with friends, concerts, trips than random new stuff. Those immersive events spark my creativity and help me bond with loved ones.
Living simply with few possessions gives you both the time and money for remarkable experiences. I can take off work to travel the world for months thanks to my tiny expenses.
And without clutter, I have mental space to be fully present in each experience too. Not worrying about home bills or possessions I’m neglecting.
Stuff is static. It traps you. Experiences set you free. Once you realize that truth, minimalism gets even more appealing.
Those are my top extreme minimalism tips! Question if your belongings serve you. Be utterly ruthless in cutting excess. Embrace blank space and impermanence. Then find deeper meaning through experiences over objects. You may be surprised how liberated you feel!
Follow these extreme minimalism tips to embrace blank space, find deeper meaning through experiences over objects, and discover just how liberating owning less can be.
I hope these insider tips give you ideas and inspiration to question your belongings and live more freely. If you’re compelled to explore further, many resources exist to guide you on the thrilling path toward extreme minimalism and simplicity.
