In our culture of consumerism, it's hard not to always want more, more, more. However, by paring down your belongings to things you actually want and will enjoy, you can get more use out of what you have and find more inner peace in your home.
In short, less will actually be more. Here's how to get started with minimalism and turn over a new leaf in the new year.
Take inventory
Start out by going through your belongings and organizing into piles of "keep," "donate/sell" and "trash." Aim to either donate/sell or trash items that you rarely use or don't need anymore.
Reduce duplicates
If you currently have 10 pairs of jeans, it may be worth looking at reducing that number, even if you still like and wear them all. Free up the space in your closet and give yourself less choices when getting dressed in the morning.
Pare down
Particularly with decor, paring down can make a world of difference. Look at shelving units, mantles or wall decor. How would it look if you removed a few items? Do you genuinely like all of your tchotchkes and display items? Chances are, removing one or two items from each shelf and streamlining your mantle will give your home a cleaner, fresher feel.
Bring less in
One of the toughest tenets of minimalism is not allowing more clutter to build up. Set a goal to reduce shopping, cut back on physical gifting (opt for experience gifts instead!) and aim to immediately sort new papers and mail right when they come through your front door.
Get a system
The most systems you can set up to keep clutter down and maintain minimalism, the more effective your efforts will be. For instance, make going through your closets and various collections a seasonal thing. Have an organization system in place that makes it clear when certain items are unneeded.
The less cluttered your home is, the more room you'll have for the items you truly love and need to shine. And one last tip: With your decor, opt for form and function. Like, you know, a really beautiful mirror, perhaps?