Do you think this statement rings true? Well minimalist lovers certainly don’t agree with it. But is it worth embracing the minimalist style with so many other distractions for the modern day woman?
Like me, I’m sure that many of you have dreamt of clear surfaces, floors, light bright space and everything stored in it’s rightful place in shiny fitted cupboards.
However, with children, pets and men, it is hard to keep your home looking spotless, no matter how often you clean and tidy.
For example, when I’m home from uni, my mum, like any other I’m sure, likes the place looking nice for my arrival. This of course lasts for all of half an hour, until my brother comes home from school and his coat and bag are dumped on the kitchen table and shoes flung across the living room floor. Then my dad comes home from work, muddy builders boots are strewn in the hall, and keys are thrown on the sideboard. (Mum then of course puts them on the key rack where they belong, as she does every day). Then, as bad luck apparently comes in threes, my brother decides to make toast (without using a plate of course), and leaves the worktop covered in crumbs.
So this prompts the question, is it really worth trying to embrace the minimalist approach? Or should we all be more easy going and accept that when we have a family life will of course be chaotic?
Of course, I’m not saying there is anything wrong with being tidy. What I’m getting at is, we shouldn’t be obsessed with white walls, worktops and furniture. Because, lets face it, white isn’t very practical with children around. Shouldn’t a home be personal to the family living in it? Otherwise they might as well be living in a show room.
This video shows the ‘perfect’ features of a minimalist home:
Is it only me who thinks it doesn’t exactly look very homely?
- It's all about white white white for the minimalist style! Would you prefer a splash of colour?
- Although this is still too minimalist and not personal enough for me. The pink throw and accessories like the lamp and books make the theme slightly less harsh and more homely
- - to me, this room is the perfect balance. It is light and spacious and tidy looking, but still has personal touches that make it cosy and give it a lived in look
Click here to see ‘Your Decorating Hotline’ showing the pros and cons, and successes and failures of minimalism.
In my opinion, having a clean and tidy house is fine, in fact encouraged, but minimalist looks too clinical for me. At the end of the day, you want a space that your family is able to relax in.
What do you think? Is the minimalist look one you’d like to embrace? Or do you prefer your home to look more lived in and personal to your family?
Thanks for an interesting article, I couldn’t agree more and as a housewife and mother can really understand the pros and cons. As much as I would like a minimalist home it just isn’t going to work. This type of home and lifestyle is better suited to young professionals that are pet and child free. I imagine that once married and having produced offspring they would want to swap their beautiful apartment for outside space and washable surfaces. Besides stairgates, buggies and all the parenting parafanalia would simply not go alongside a “minimalist” clutter free home! Karen
I love my family home, my creature comforts and my kids. You can’t have a show house and happy kids. if I had a minimalistic home my kids would just sit infront of the TV or be round my feet all the time saying ‘I’m bored’. I try to have a place for everything and like your family Jess they don’t put things back where they are suppose to belong. Unfortunatley I have to follow them around and do it !! but sometimes I just say’thats it I’ve had enought’ and leave it for another day. I like people to take me as they find me. One day when the kids have left home I am sure I will have a much tidier place but til then ‘Hey ho’ I’ve live with the clutter.
I agree that the minimalist look can be too clinical. While it’s nice to have rooms looking clean and tidy, they can lack personality if they don’t have any real features. And anyway, I bet they’re really annoying to keep clean!
AAhhhhhh now this is something I can relate to. I have 5 children and the rooms above although beautiful to look at would last in that condition about 32 seconds with my clan. being able to kick my shoes off at the end of the day drop into my sofa watch a bit of tele whilst the kids tell me about their day would not be possible if I was forever hoovering, polishing and fluffing pillows and chasatising my kids for merely daring to sit on my pristene cushions. I buy things to be used not to be stared at longingly so my house has the “lived in” look and always will, at least until the kids leave hee hee.
mmm now this is more like it. i would love this house and style and work very hard to keep toys hidden and try to give everything an out of sight home. However it is extremely hard to achieve so can only be semi minimilistic
when i come and see what you’ve posted i notice that they are always so good.http://www.cartaodebanco.com