digg

Join DiggAbout

Discover and share the best of the web!
Learn more about Digg by taking the tour.

A Guide to Creating a Minimalist Home

zenhabits.net — Very interesting article about the benefits of a minimalist home, and how to get there.

Bury
show profanity settings
expand all
  • FatherOfAnts, on 10/10/2007, -7/+15This is a clear set of rules for creating a minimalist home. I plan on following some of the rules as I've noticed that clutter adds to the amount of work it takes to clean and can create an overwhelming feeling.
    • thcobbs, on 10/10/2007, -7/+134Creating a minimalist home:

      1.) Buy/Build a house
      2.) Don't put ***** in it
      3.) Live in it
      • andregriffin, on 10/10/2007, -1/+83Wow, you just came up with a minimalist guide to creating a minimalist home.
      • fnaqzna, on 10/10/2007, -0/+294.) Marry a minimalist. If your spouse is a packrat, you're *****.
    • hiPpymIck, on 10/10/2007, -1/+7minimalist would also make it easier to be well organized...

      less stuff = less to organize
    • Haax, on 10/10/2007, -3/+8I'm such a minimalist I settled for a ho.
      • brownspank, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8If you were a real minimalist, you'd settle for your hand.
        • Xspire, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Lulz. I dugg up Haax thinking wow that's a good one. Then read your comment and decided it was even better. I would give 2 diggs to you if that were possible.
    • that1jewishguy, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1"Easier to clean." - Well I find a house with a live in maid is the easiest to clean
  • uberneoconcert, on 10/10/2007, -19/+13not all zen articles are "very interesting"...at some point, these submissions become spam.
    • Schroderr, on 10/10/2007, -8/+4to you.
    • betterth, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7True, but I actually enjoyed this article. Gave me some great ideas on how to fix my cluttered hell hole of a room ^-^
    • resplence, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Agreed. Don't forget to tell that to the colourlovers freaks.
  • queso74, on 10/17/2007, -3/+93Basically this article says get rid of stuff. Brilliant!
    • EricAnderton, on 10/10/2007, -4/+18Pretty much. You'd be surprised what people like to hold on to.

      Step 1: Get rid of all the junk in your house
      Step 2: No, seriously, get rid of everything you don't need
      Step 3: Please complete Steps 1 and 2 first
      Step 4: Enjoy the Zen.
    • tracydanger, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4I kind of agree with that comment, but for someone really interested in minimizing things, there are some worthwhile suggestions.
      Having less stuff is great advice and this is my main reasoning:
      Anytime I go to someone's house that is 'rich' I'm always impressed with how clean everything is. Even in the closets, etc. Of course the key is to not have more stuff than your house (and storage) can handle, but you don't have to have a lot of money to live by that principle. You'll probably end of being richer if your not a pack-rat. It's kind of ironic that people with less money buy more things that they don't need (as a generalization).
    • Remu, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0All who are intrigued by minimalist living are mostly grad students.
  • Easty, on 10/10/2007, -3/+23Minimalist home? Just have thousands of rooms that look the same, but occasionally vary a bit.
    /musical joke
  • Complexium, on 10/10/2007, -8/+6Great! I love simplicity.
    • arctic, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2THIS IS NOT SIMPLICITY......

      THIS IS SPARTA!!!!!
  • givemereplay, on 10/10/2007, -6/+21There is a difference between minimalism and creating a prison like environment for yourself.
    • ewap8, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1At least you won't be very uncomfortable if u ever end up in prison!
  • wrenchone, on 10/10/2007, -9/+26These minimalist homes feel more cold, sterile and un-lived rather than calm and soothing to me.
    • betterth, on 10/10/2007, -0/+20It can feel like that, definitely, but it's a style for a certain type of individual. It may seem cold and sterile compared to a living room with a huge poofy couch, furnature made of gorgeous wood stylings, a huge decorated fireplace in the center, a rug, and every end table with an accent on it, but at the same time, these are the kinds of rooms that you can sit down, open up a book in, and just be at peace.

      They're absolutely correct about visual clutter and a minimalist design can be incredibly soothing.
    • spudnic, on 10/10/2007, -2/+5Yup, I have stuff I like, you know, things.
      A house without all my random crap piled up all over the place wouldn't feel like my home
      • tracydanger, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2Just don't invite me over to your home.
    • bbardlbradd, on 10/10/2007, -0/+9Well, I'm definitely into minimalist styling b/c it makes life much easier... if you're someone who likes to think a lot, having a house that stays out of your mind is a real virtue.
    • gfixler, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I must agree. I can't think properly in a house /not/ full of things crowding shelves, and spilling out of drawers. When it's empty like the article shows, my mind wanders terribly, trying to add things to the emptiness, like that ringing you hear in the most silent of places. Now I admit, this makes it hard to get at things I need for all my kooky projects, but that's just a need for organization, not hiding it all. I delight in seeing all of my tools hanging on hooks, all laid out before me in categorical sections. This little old shop, which might scare most of the commenters in here, was one of the coolest places I've seen:

      http://www.flickr.com/photos/garyfixler/sets/72157594567787697/
  • silverchrysalis, on 10/10/2007, -5/+54IKEA
    • fnaqzna, on 10/10/2007, -0/+13I can spend hours sitting in the bathroom with an IKEA catalog.
      • otakugeek, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1They have cures for furniture fetishes now.
        • automan, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4i take it you haven't read fight club?
      • tracydanger, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2But can you spend hours sitting in a bathroom at IKEA?
      • vuke69, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6So YOU'RE the ***** that got all the pages stuck together.
    • StarBeamAlpha, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2FIGHT CLUB
  • mapkinase, on 10/10/2007, -7/+14Like this is going to fly in a stinking consumerist society...
    • Daedalus17, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Do you know of any OTHER type of modern society than a consumerist one?
    • dareiff, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I think that's the point of the article.. This 'idea' is absurdly different than what most other households look like. Except, of course, you can buy some very pricey 'basic' stuff...
  • Dokument, on 10/10/2007, -4/+24step 1: find big box

    step 2: live in it
    • CedEx, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Wow! Your idea is even more minimalist than the second poster!
    • RubberChicken, on 10/10/2007, -0/+11Step 2: Cut a hole in the box

      Step 3: shhhhh

  • wiirdo, on 10/10/2007, -3/+22And you use your sink as a toilet.
    • qualish, on 10/10/2007, -1/+7Umm... yeah, I've been doing that because I'm a "minimalist"... >_>
    • banmaster, on 11/11/2007, -0/+0Well what else are you supposed to do when your toilet is right down the other end of the house? Go on the floor on your new rug??
  • gtluke, on 10/10/2007, -3/+29sending this to my GF
    i'm very minimalist (wasn't always) but my girlfriend lives in what looks like that ebay house from somethingaweful
    ugggg
    its extraordinarily stressful to deal with other people's horrible useless clutter.
    i almost have OCD over clutter now, i think i got it from years of building racecars that by nature need to be insanely minimalist for ease of working on, lightweight, and less crap to catch on fire :)

    • thedragon4453, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3I feel for you. I am still battling with my wife to through out clothes from freshman year (shes 24) and get rid fo magazines from before that. Its driving me nuts.
  • fpp2002, on 10/10/2007, -2/+13The benefits of a clutter-free home are highly under rated. I keep my place as minimalist as possible, and it is SO much easier to clean. It makes moving house much easier and faster, and even if it's not particularly clean that day, people are ALWAYS saying how clean and neat the house is. The next thing they usually say is, "Wow, I wish I could keep my house like this." I usually tell them they can, they just have to maintain it and not buy junk all the time.
    • RubberChicken, on 10/10/2007, -7/+0I want to come over and leave a ton of stuff around your house. Maybe just take a big giant dump on your floor. Buried for cocky bragging about how cool your house is.
      • fpp2002, on 10/10/2007, -2/+0Cool! We can make your personal addition the center piece of the living room!
      • pallowatch, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0Apparently his house is cooler than yours. His comment has been dugg up, your comment has been dugg down for obvious jealousy.
  • Roger, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Seems easy when you have a huge house with nice floors and interesting walls (i.e. not continuous, white, concrete ones) like that guy.

    Just don't buy stuff.
    • siszam, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1That's how my home is. Bare and clean. When I visit homes where there are little things on all the surfaces I have to leave. It nearly gives me a panic attack. I feel trapped.
  • scottkrotdotcom, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1that house must be really expensive
  • morningmatters, on 10/10/2007, -2/+6I can see having a minimalist design for small condos because there is not a lot of space, but what's the point of getting a huge room and not use up most of that space?
    • krnldmp, on 10/10/2007, -0/+12What's the point of a huge room?
    • MiddleOfNowhere, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4"what's the point of getting a huge room and not use up most of that space?"

      Have you ever lived in such an apartment? More space than you need, just a few pieces of furniture as accents in it?
      I do. And it’s beautiful, although admittedly a bit perverse. :) Your mileage may vary, but I find it makes breathing, living, thinking much easier.
    • Haax, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8More room for wild sex.
      • Elranzer, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1True but don't forget you're on Digg.
  • TrevorBelmont, on 10/10/2007, -2/+37I wrote a very similar article once. Here it is in it's entirety.
    "Throw away all your *****."
    I hope this was helpful.
  • KDX200rider, on 10/10/2007, -2/+5I think having a minimalist home would never work if you have children.
    • salinemist, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Actually it works great. Easier to clean up and more space to play.
    • ErrorBorn, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Only let them play with household items like shoes and mops. That's how my parents raised me. ...jk.
    • siszam, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I raised three sons. We didn't believe in consuming a lot so they were taught to read or play outside and not depend on toys. They grew up to be tough, athletic and they have great imaginations. It's easy. Children don't need a lot of things. They need fresh air and wide open space.
  • chubbybubba, on 10/10/2007, -1/+20I knew a guy who had the ultimate minimalist home. His name was Henry the drunk, he peed in a bottle and could tell the funniest jokes about blonde women. Of course his house was a box but nonetheless very minimalist. (I had suggested he cut out a hole for a window but he was afraid the government would inject a mind control device in his left ear.) Rest in Peace Henry.
  • KraftDinner101, on 10/10/2007, -3/+1Anyone got a link that isn't blocked as spam?
  • jankind, on 10/10/2007, -1/+7Put your children in a bare room with a balled up paper towel to play with.
    Not only will they have hours of fun playing with it, but when they are done, you can use it to clean up any smudges they make on the floor.
  • VeganG, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6Unless step 1 is "Move out of your undersized apartment," I don't really need to go any further.
  • HencheMann, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3...yes, get rid of the crap! Too much energy is put into "stuff management". It's a sickness. People and their anxieties about getting rid of old musty socks that they have not worn for 5 years.
  • aggrogeek, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8The key to being a minimalist is not being afraid to sell or throw away the things that you don't absolutely need. It can be really tough for pack rat type people, but it is certainly a lot cheaper to own less items. An added benefit is that if you ever have to move, it's a lot easier/quicker to load all of your stuff onto a moving truck.
  • nicolaihel, on 10/10/2007, -3/+49How to mock any article:

    Step 1: condense it into a few steps to make it look like the author wasted his time writing an entire article, even though those few steps would be completely useless to anyone trying to implement them
    Step 2: there's no other steps
    • jestrella, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1"minimalist" word lost it's meaning
  • hotsake, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5To those of you who think you have to throw away all of your belongings, have you never seen a traditional Japanese house? This guy isn't suggesting you throw away all your possessions and live with nothing. Rather, try to live with only what you need. Don't keep stuff for the hell of it. Cleaning up and moving are far easier when you pare down to essentials. And even here "essentials" remains a broad term. I won't buy something if I won't use it in 6 months.
    • superkendall, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3Who is moving all the time anyway? That seems like a pointless benefit to me, if I am happy living where I am.
  • gregmetro, on 10/10/2007, -3/+4good read.. thanks
  • spoulson, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4The provided example 'minimalist' home is merely contemporary and really pricey looking. Minimalism should apply to the cost and resourcefulness, too, not just decluttering.
    • iradik, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Minimalism is an artistic expression which seeks to strip the unnecessary elements of design. Being clever about cost being resourceful is different. If we defined minimalism as being clever or cost-effective, we would need to find a new word for whatever minimalism is. Seems like of a waste of words and effort to me.
  • mbelleghem, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3...you forgot 'play lots of Trentemøller and Steve Bug records'
  • Piedramente, on 10/10/2007, -8/+1You need a guide for this?

    Minimalist home = cardboard box. DONE
  • jabberwolf, on 10/10/2007, -0/+12Live in a van , down by the river !!!
  • michaelbolton, on 10/10/2007, -1/+15as an architect I offer you this advice for creating a minimalist home.

    don't have kids.
    • rawheadrex, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Or rather, that would be the precondition to having a minimalist home. I.e., there's no way you can be minimalist if you have kids, and if you do, your kids will hate you for it, and probably have developmental issues, later turning into psychos and *****.
  • vonskippy, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5They forgot the number one rule of being "minimalist" - that's to have lots and lots and lots of friends that aren't.

    That way you can borrow all the stuff you threw out when you need it to do a household task. Otherwise you just end up buying all the stuff you threw out (which only works if you're wealthy).
  • parax, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5I think this guide was a bit vague on what makes for a good minimalist home. Definitely a different approach than I'd take. I prefer a practical home. To me, decorative vases, lamps, etc. don't really work towards a minimalist environment. I like to find things that can replace 2 or more other objects or appliances. Wall sconces or a more advanced lighting setup that does a better job of lighting but takes up less space. I like the idea, I just think this article misses the mark.
  • FelixdaaHack, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1~ bookmark ~
  • Gneisbaard, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8When people start doing heroin, their houses tend to become very minimalist over time too.
  • hiPpymIck, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3anyone from Japan got any tips why minimalism?
  • ryancalderoni, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2poor person home
  • iradik, on 10/10/2007, -2/+11Three easy steps to be minimalist: 1. Rent a storage locker. 2. Put everything in it. 3. Visit your storage locker every time you need something, return when done.
  • Hunterville, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Jewish Lightning can help you too
  • du4l1ty, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4#1 stop buying *****.
  • Lara1985, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2This article is fabulous - I sent it to my boyfriend. I like to refer to him as a scavenger cause he collects lots of computer bits and other bits that he doesn't need in the house (and has plenty of garage space for but doesn't want to change). I've been working on the place but it's still really cluttered! Hopefully this will help him see thel ight!
    • minigamer1896, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Heh, I have the same problem as your BF. What I've been trying to do is sort the misc. whatnot's such as screws, cables, and small pieces that are reusable for generations to come into containers so I can find them easily. The cases that can't or won't be used due to age of architecture, I strip and put into a box for the local computer recycle shop. The same goes for motherboards, CPU's, RAM, PSU's, monitors, etc. Tis a slow process, but has removed the many 386's - PIII era computers that were laying around.
      Now for the CD's worth of floppies laying around waiting for backup and recycling, that's another story...
  • DaleoftheUK, on 10/10/2007, -3/+1Remove all things from house, apply IKEA furnishings. done.
  • digitallysick, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I love it, but i have no place to put all my stuff. I have alot of stuff =(
  • DefaultGen, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Being a game collector... this is pretty much impossible. I need more shelves full of stuff and more places to put my things :-(
    • otros, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0the thing is not keeping stuff where your eyes can see it, not "not having any stuff you could use"
  • fitzsimj, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Step 1: Buy an exotic-looking home so expensive that you can't afford clutter.
    Step 2: Brag it up like you meant to do it.
    Step 3: Get a photo of your home used in a blog post.
  • sirius2k3, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1Omg!
    My perfect home.
    I didn't even know I was a minimalist!

    DUGG!
  • Corbet, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I should do this, I'm way too materialistic though, I have tons of crap in my room, video games, CDs, DVDs, Comics.
    • dotdan, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Just organize it. Rows of videogames and CDs look really impressive if organized neatly.
  • MoFoKeR, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1my type of home, but can this be achieved with out any woman coming in and adding stuff to turn it into a bulge o crap of stuff? oh my the horror
  • sigginike90, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Seems more like a house than a home...
  • Fetching more discussions...
    Show 51 - 58 of 58 discussions
  •  

    Login or register to add a comment

    Create a new account or login to join in the conversation on Digg. You'll also be able to Digg stories to help promote things you like.


© Digg Inc. 2008 — Content posted by Digg users is dedicated to the public domain.
DIGG, DIGG IT, DUGG, DIGG THIS, Digg graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, scripts, and other service names are the trademarks of Digg Inc.