Hygge and Minimalism Go Hand-in-Hand

 Welcome back to the cozy corner. While writing this post, I'm hydrating on some water. I'm thinking about making some ginger peach tea a little later, but with this dry weather, I need some plain and simple water. I suppose it's on par with today's subject, which is minimalism.

After the holidays and before spring time, it's good to start preparing for some spring cleaning. With Christmas comes with presents, which some may replace things we already have in the home. I love the saying, "one comes in, one goes out," because it helps me keep track of the things I have in my home. Decluttering helps prepare for the spring cleaning because I am reducing the amount of items I have to dust or wipe. Decluttering helps the home look more inviting and relaxing. When there are items covering the surface of furniture, it can make company feel claustrophobic and like they can't relax and put their things down when they arrive. Having an exact space for everything keeps your home and your mind clear.

Minimalism goes together with hygge because it creates more space for being comfortable. I think Signe Johansen said it best in their book How to Hygge: the Nordic Secrets to a Happy Life: "In essence, the world of Nordic hygge is about getting back to basics, about simplifying your life. After all, why over-complicate everything during your brief time on this planet when simplicity is the foundation of good living?" When there's less in the room, there is more focus on the cozy places, like the couches, beds, fireplaces, and dining areas. Minimalism doesn't mean everything has to go. Sometimes there are multiples of an item, like photo frames and trinkets, and in that case, most can be donated or sold. 

The same can be said with clothes. Many people have unnecessary clothes, leading to too many options that can be stressful when finding an outfit for the day. When you have limited yourself to few clothing items, the less difficult it'll be to put an outfit together. Not only will it give you more time to accomplish the day's tasks, but you'll spend less time getting ready. 

Having a cluttered home reflects the mind. Once you have decluttered and mastered the art of minimalism, you may find that your thought patterns have changed. Maybe you feel less stressed and overwhelmed. Your home is a space to relax and unwind from the day, a space of hygge, and having too many things in the home can counteract that intention. 

I hope you enjoyed today's post and it helped you feel motivated to start the new year refreshed. Below I have listed some tips to help you feel more hygge.

Some tips:

I love having tons of blankets, especially options for company to choose from, and wicker baskets are perfect for keeping extras. Splay one or two on a couch with some pillows, and one on a chair.

Remove most frames from tables and walls (have one or two out). Instead, place your photos in an album to be looked through later. A thin one would be nice for the coffee table.

Personally, I despise trinkets. To me, they are the epitome of clutter. If you have multiple, have a specific place for trinkets, like a shelf or cabinet, instead of spreading them around the house. 

When it comes to clothes, the best advice I got was making three separate piles; one for definitely not wearing, a second for maybe keeping (but ultimately getting rid of), and a third for definitely keeping. For the clothes you put back in your closet, have the hanger facing you so that it's difficult to remove the clothing so that you know that if you didn't reach for it in the first six months, it's time to get rid of it. I recommend this video for decluttering clothes: How to Build Your Perfect Capsule Wardrobe