We all have clutter in our lives, whether that’s physical, emotional, or digital. Too much stuff can feel overwhelming, but there is a solution. Minimalism can help reduce the unnecessary stuff and clutter you accumulate during your life. The idea is that, by removing excess stuff, you can make room for the essential things.
Whether you have too much physical clutter in your home, a closet full of clothes you never wear, or a busy life which feels oddly empty, read on. Here are 4 essential websites to help you start your minimalist journey.
1. The Minimalists
When thinking about minimalism, many people believe the goal is to simply get rid of as many material possessions as possible. Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus—The Minimalists—argue that it’s not just about removing clutter, it’s about creating space for more in your life.
“Minimalism is a tool that can assist you in finding freedom”, is their definition. For The Minimalists, it’s as much about creating space for time to do the things in your life you want to do, as it is about creating physical space in your home.
Launched in 2010, the site is a one-stop-shop of free content to help you on your minimalist journey.
The valuable content on theminimalists.com includes:
- Free essays: Sign up to the email list and the Minimalists promise to only send you free essays on minimalism—no junk, spam, or ads here. You can also access the most popular essays on the website.
- Free Ebook: The “16 Rules For Living With Less” ebook is a useful tool to get started with your minimalist lifestyle.
- The Minimalist Podcast: A wellbeing podcast on all aspects of minimalism. It comes without ads because—as The Minimalists put it—ads suck!
- The 30 Day Minimalist Game: A project for newbies to introduce minimalism to their lives with a simple and fun approach.
2. KonMari
Home of Marie Kondo—a Netflix-famous tidying expert—konmari.com introduces the world of organization and tidying through the KonMari Method.
Marie Kondo started her first tidying consultancy in Tokyo aged 19. Since then, she starred in her own Netflix show “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo”. She also released the #1 New York Times bestselling book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”.
Marie is best known for creating the KonMari Method, which is a system of decluttering a home by categories, rather than by rooms. Marie is also famous for encouraging participants to seek what “sparks joy”. If an item you own does not reward this reaction, it’s time to thank it and get rid of it.
There are plenty of useful minimalism tools on the KonMari website, including:
- The KonMari Method: Here you will find a guide and introduction to the tidying concept.
- Tidy Tips: Free practical advice on organizing your life and home.
- Interviews: Valuable insights from other tidying experts and consultants.
- Notes From Marie: Read free advice and musing from the expert herself.
- The KonMari Shop: Find and buy products to support your tidying routine.
If you'd like further minimalist support from Marie Kondo, you can sign up for her digital tidying course: KonMari Method Fundamentals of Tidying. Within 10 lessons, you'll learn Marie's nifty folding techniques, as well as other skills from her demonstrations.
3. Zero Waste
Living a zero waste existence goes hand-in-hand with a minimalist lifestyle. But what exactly does “zero waste” mean?
According to the Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA), zero waste is “The conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.”
Essentially, zero waste aims to keep waste out of landfill and encourage the economy and individuals to be less wasteful in production and consumption.
You'll find plenty of useful tips and guides on Zero Waste, including:
- The Zero Waste blog: Packed full of valuable insights, tips, and round-ups of zero-waste products.
- Zero Waste Shop: Find a collection of eco-friendly products in reusable packaging.
- City Resources: Find zero-waste friendly restaurants, grocery stores, and drop off points in major cities.
- Zero Waste for Business and Home: Connect with a “Sustainability Consultant” to help construct a zero-waste plan in both your professional and your personal life.
- Zero Waste Newsletter: Subscribe for more free zero waste content.
By adopting some zero waste principles, you can reduce the stuff you bring into your life and ultimately support a more minimalist existence.
4. Capsule Wardrobe
If your bedroom closet is full to bursting—even after attempting the KonMari Method—it might be time to consider adopting a capsule wardrobe.
The idea behind a capsule wardrobe is to have a limited number of clothes that work well together. The same selection can be worn for different occasions, such as formal or casual events.
The term “capsule wardrobe” was coined in the 1970s, when it was made popular by London boutique owner, Susie Faux, who reportedly found the fashion industry wasteful. It was further popularized by Donna Karen in the 1980s, who released a designer capsule collection in 1985.
Nowadays, having a capsule wardrobe is synonymous with minimalism. There are many “rules'' and approaches to building a capsule wardrobe, however, which can make getting started feel overwhelming.
There are plenty of capsule closet blogs to scour through online—some more accessible than others. Capsule Wardrobe is a straightforward site full of useful content to get you started on your capsule closet.
The website encourages a minimalist approach to the capsule closet concept itself. It won't tell you that you need to only own 37 pieces, as many other blogs do. Instead, all resources on the website are simple to follow and self-explanatory.
The resources on Capsule Wardrobe include:
- About Capsule Wardrobes: A simple introduction to what a capsule closet is.
- Free Capsule Downloads: Get inspiration for your workwear, seasonal, or everyday closet.
- Capsule Blog: A hub of image-based capsule ideas and advice.
You Can Also Be a Digital Minimalist
In today’s society, being a minimalist stretches into the digital world too. It's easy to accumulate too many apps on your device, or have multi-purpose apps which are more confusing than useful.
Using these tools to minimize the stuff in your life—whether it's physical, emotional, or digital—will ultimately help make room for more essential things.