Start here! Not just a name; what puts the joyful in minimalism?

When I started using “joyful minimalism” it was because I wanted to have an Instagram feed that was just for calm, white images that were mainly negative space. I had a few accounts that I followed and liked, but the restful nature of their photos got lost among the rainbows and visual volume of the rest of my feed. So I created a space just for them. 

In minimalism, I’d found a tool that helped me de-programme my brain which was wired to hoard. This, to me, was a cause of deep joy and celebration. But I started to be aware that a lot of the minimalism content at that time went beyond clean and simple and veered into ascetic. There was a competitive element to have the least things, or the lowest level of comfort to prove what you could do without. That didn’t align with me at all; my house might look empty to some, but we have a cutlery service that serves 6, and at least a dozen beloved mugs. 

So I thought deeply about what I felt was missing in those kinds of minimalism. The people doing this obviously take pride in it and are happy with this lifestyle. But I realised it’s ok for me to think differently. For me personally, that kind of minimalism would be joyless. I like having comfort and choices! And so, my tagline was born along with the name; minimalism, but joyful. 

In the many years since, joyful minimalism has been joined by dozens of other shades of minimalism; soft minimalism, cosy minimalism, extreme minimalism and perhaps my second favourite, rainbow minimalism. Each one has its own place, its own flavour and its own devotees. There’s no single right way to “do minimalism”. It’s a tool or a skill, rather than an end result. 

Ultimately, joyful minimalism doesn’t focus on what you get rid of, it focussed on what you keep. 

Visualise a cupboard where every mug is your favourite, a wardrobe where every dress is your favourite, or a bookshelf where every cookbook is your favourite. Visualise a home that’s easy to keep clean and tidy, or visualise a life where you can travel lightly, carrying just your favourite things as you enjoy your location-independent life. 

Don’t worry if that seems hard to imagine, or seems like a huge job to action; I can teach you the skills, methods and mindset you need to create your own joyful minimalism.