Sometimes, it feels as if you’ll never manage to nail the necessary habits for a minimalist home. However, the start of a new year is the perfect time to set your intentions, reset your home, and assess your space.
As the festive season comes to an end, it can leave your home feeling like a small whirlwind has ripped through it and left debris behind! Christmas gifts without a place to live, bags of random stuff you cleared off surfaces when preparing for guests and decorations needing organised and packed away. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the amount of “stuff” in your home, you’ll know how difficult it can be to get it back under control.
Moving forward into the new year, you need strategies that are quick and easy to implement to help you build long-term, clutter-free habits. When you’re struggling to keep on top of your home, the answer is almost always less. Less stuff to manage, tidy and care for makes everything easier.
“Owning less is better than organising more. Don’t just declutter, de-own. There is more joy to be found in owning less than can ever be found in organising more.”
Joshua Becker
This powerful insight sets the stage for focusing on intentional living over simply managing belongings and moving clutter from one place to another. Adopting minimalist, clutter-free habits can help you break the clutter cycle for good and create a calmer, more organised life for the long term. The beauty of these habits is that they’re simple, practical, and easy to maintain, even for busy schedules.
How long does it take to build a new habit?
James Clear, in his book Atomic Habits, explains that the time it takes for a habit to become automatic varies depending on the complexity of the habit and individual circumstances. Clear explains that the consistency of practice matters more than the number of days. He encourages focusing on repetition rather than perfection, as habits are formed through consistent action over time. So keep it going and you’ll get there!
With all that said, here are five of my favourite minimalist habits you can try to help you regain control of your space and invite a sense of calm.
5 Habits for a minimalist home
Habit 1: The one-in, one-out rule
When bringing a new item into the home, commit to letting go of one that’s no longer serving you. Whether it’s clothing, kitchen gadgets, or toys, this habit will keep your possessions in check and prevent clutter from accumulating.
Think of it as maintaining balance in your space – an effortless way to keep everything manageable and intentional.
Habit 2: The 15-minute declutter
Decluttering doesn’t have to mean hours of effort and toil. Start small. Set aside just 15 minutes a day to tackle a small area, such as a drawer, shelf, or part of a wardrobe. Over time, these small, consistent efforts lead to big results and it’s actually quite addictive!
Once you start to see and feel the benefits, you’ll feel so good you’ll want to do more.
Habit 3: The 90/10 rule
Many people have an all or nothing approach to decluttering, which can hinder their progress. They are either 100% in or nothing. Don’t aim for perfection. Instead, try to stick to your decluttering and organising habits 90% of the time. Don’t feel bad because you didn’t get something done one day. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed or that it’s not worth doing.
Allow life to happen, and be okay about missing a day – just make sure you get back on track the next day to keep your progress going.
Habit 4: Limit ‘just-in-case’ items
Challenge yourself to let go of items you’re holding onto ‘just in case’. If you haven’t used something in a long time, it’s more than likely you don’t need it. Trust that if the need ever arises, you’ll find a solution. These items often create unnecessary clutter and rarely end up being needed.
I don’t agree with ruthless decluttering rules such as “If you haven’t used something in the last 6 months or a year, get rid of it”. This is exactly the kind of rule that puts fear in people and discourages them from decluttering at all. Or worse, makes them part with something they truly love!
Decluttering should be more about how you feel about an item, not how long you’ve had it. Just-in-case items are simply that. Things you no longer have a need for that you keep because it’s easier than making the decision to let it go.
Habit 5: The one-minute rule
This is the ultimate secret to a tidy house – a super simple habit, but not easy to remember if you’re used to leaving things until later, that is!
Here’s how simple it is…
If a task takes less than a minute (like putting away shoes, hanging up keys, or filing a piece of paper), do it immediately. That’s it! This prevents small tasks from piling up and creating unnecessary clutter. Next time you find yourself sitting a cup near the dishwasher, stop, and just put it straight in.
The important thing to remember is that habits for a minimalist home aren’t about living with nothing; they’re about self-awareness, letting go of excess, making space for what truly matters and being intentional about your actions.
By incorporating these five habits into your life, you’ll create a home that feels lighter, calmer, and more in tune with how you want to live. Start small, stay consistent, and watch how these changes transform your space – and your mindset – throughout the year.