Being raised in Japan, I must admit that I do like the “zen” minimalist look. However, I was never a minimalist. I just like simple, clean lines in a room and I’m not a fan of too much stuff in a room either. How much is “too much?”. I guess that’s all relative.
I’ve never shared my home before. This is a photo of our living room when we lived in Bellevue, where the boys grew up. It’s not minimalist but I don’t think I had a lot of stuff either.
After we became empty nesters, we moved to Enumclaw, my husband became a farmer, and we downsized a lot. It was a huge change in life. So, of course, our living situation changed too.
I got rid of the living room sofas and just kept our family room sofa and an armchair. Well, I got rid of a lot more stuff, but here is our living room now.
It’s a very small space but it works for us now. It has a completely different vibe right? Much more casual and simple. It’s more of a reflection of where I’m at in my life.
The funny thing is, as I get older, I don’t want to take care of so many things anymore. In feng shui, we say that all things carry energy. Therefore, it makes sense when we say more “stuff” takes up more time and energy. And Dr. Hsu says “a cluttered space is the manifestation of a cluttered mind.” I asked my feng shui Facebook group, Feng Shui for New Home Owners, and most agreed with that statement.
In my own experience, I find that to be true too. When the room is a mess room with too many things lying around, I can’t think straight. A more simple style is less stressful and easier for me because there is less to think about. Do you find that to be true for you too?
Well, now with the Covid pandemic, many people are fixing up their homes because we’re spending more time at home. Shopping for home goods is on the rise and many of the suppliers are having lots of issues with inventory and delivery. According to Jooble, many people are struggling to find a job. For my interior design jobs, we’re waiting about six months for furniture. Some appliances are out for one year! Tile inventory is unreliable, so if you see something you like, I suggest you grab it and store it for later. With all the delays, and change, I began to wonder if everyone is hoarding stuff.
That means, more people could be accumulating more things. I thought they were getting rid of stuff. Which is it?
I guess it can go both ways.
There are those who think that since we’re stuck at home, why not make it feel warm and cozy. Adding wall art, pillows, throws, lights, and ornaments can quickly warm up a space and make it homey. I’ve had clients that decided now was a good time to get rid of their old furniture and upgrade. Some just want change.
Then there are others who after spending so much time at home, realize that they have too much stuff and it feels cramped. All of a sudden we had the time to assess our lifestyle and home. That was me. I thought, “why did I buy so much stuff?”
I think I got sucked into all the advertising that told me that I needed to buy this ornament and that bag. They convinced me that my kids needed all these supplies for school and the equipment and clothes for sports. And over the years, the stuff just piled up and up.
Time to get rid of more stuff. This is a good thing. The pandemic has made me lean toward more of a minimalist than a maximalist. Which one are you?