Experts claim that there are many benefits to a minimalist home design. The lack of clutter helps to free the mind and relax the body. While many homeowners understand the importance of a minimalist home design, putting this design strategy in place isn’t always easy. Check out this beginner’s guide to a minimalist home design.

What Is a Minimalist Home Design?

Before offering up a few tips on achieving a minimalist home design, it’s important to discuss exactly what it is. A minimalist home design is one that prioritizes simplicity through clean lines, an open floor plan, and subtle colors. Minimalist home designs also focus on decluttering and maintaining the thought that everything has a place, which helps achieve a well-organized and tidy home.

Start With the Basics

Before focusing on the decor or furniture pieces in your home, it’s always a good idea to go back to the basics. Your home itself sets the tone for a minimalist design. For example, if you have a large, 4,000-square-foot home with two garages and multiple sheds, you’re more likely to fill it with stuff.

Many real estate professionals have today’s home buyers believing that they need as much square footage as possible when buying a new home. This isn’t the truth, and can lead to you paying too much. In fact, too much square footage in a home can make it difficult to keep everything clean and tidy. Too much space can make you feel overwhelmed as you try to furnish the whole home. 

Additionally, the more square footage you have in your home, the more spread out your family is. A smaller, closer home can actually encourage deeper family relationships. Some real estate experts claim that empty nesters, for example, will find the most happiness in a smaller, 800-square-foot home. When buying a new home or log cabin, consider the must-haves, and then decide exactly how much square footage you’ll need to achieve your design.

Focus on Materials

Even the design and materials of your home can set the tone for a minimalist design. Not only do the materials of your home affect its efficiency, but also its durability. Portable log cabins are perfect for those looking to start over and employ a minimalist design. Made with durable, real wood materials, you can expect lower maintenance and upkeep needs. The smaller design and better quality materials also mean you’ll pay less in utility costs. 100% solid log timber materials give your home a quaint and rustic appeal while also offering a durable design that will last for many years to come.

Choose Location

Of course, where your home is located also affects your lifestyle. A large home in a busy city can make it difficult to find peace and quiet when at home. A portable cabin in the woods or on top of a mountain, however, offers a quieter and slower pace of life. One of the biggest benefits of a portable cabin is that they’re already pre-assembled, meaning you can have it installed in any location. This is your opportunity to move to the woods or surround yourself in nature. If you’re not yet ready to give up city life, consider a portable log cabin in your neighborhood or even on your property as you slowly adjust to a more minimalist lifestyle.

Garden for Purpose

Intentional gardening around your portable cabin can reduce the number of trips you have to take to the grocery store. Designing a small garden around your log cabin with fresh fruits and vegetables can also help you offset the increasing costs of goods. Be intentional with the products you do buy to minimize waste. 

Living in a log cabin is one of the best ways to surround yourself and enjoy nature. Eventually, you may build a patio or deck on or next to your log cabin so you can continue enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. Designing your kitchen to prioritize healthier foods can also help promote a more sustainable lifestyle. This includes ease of storage and access to the tools you need to create refreshing recipes.

Prioritize Renewable Energy Sources

Prioritizing renewable energy sources also helps you enjoy a more minimalist lifestyle. Installing solar panels to your portable cabin’s roof allows you to source energy. Planting large trees and bushes around your property can also help you control heating and cooling costs. Investing in wind energy can also help supply you with additional power while reducing your utility costs.

A minimalist lifestyle is a possibility, even if you’re currently living in the midst of a big city busy life in Montreal. Start with the basics, which include considering where and in what type of structure you’re living. From here, you can begin making small changes to enjoy a slower, more sustainable lifestyle. By making smaller changes, you’re also more likely to adopt this new way of life.