Life with Helen Johnson

In my recent blog ‘How to have a tidy home when you work full time‘, I spoke about the importance of having a simple clutter free home. But for many people this can result in your home not feeling like it’s yours. You don’t want to have such a minimalist home that it could be a show house. So how can you create a minimalist clutter free home that still feels like you? In this blog I will share 5 tips to help you have a simple home, but a personal home. I will share some personal examples in the hopes of you creating a practical yet personal space for you and your family.

Tip #1 – Add one bold statement piece in each room that reflects your style but is easy to maintain

Let me share a personal example – I love plants and I love the colour green. All our walls and the majority of our furniture are neutral colours. I wanted to add a pop of colour and bring a piece of nature inside my living room. As you can see in the pictures below I have a green throw blanket over my sofa, this is easy to shake off or throw in the washing machine to clean. My big plant is easy to water and doesn’t take much maintaining, but it gives people a glimpse of my style.

Tip #2 – Choose a signature scent that reflects your personality

Have you ever stepped into someone’s home and there’s a clear aroma that reminds you of them? Let’s hope it’s a good aroma! I personally love having plug in air fresheners, especially in the front porch, so when people first step into our home they don’t smell our shoes, but hopefully the air freshener! I also love having candles – I will say some candles and air fresheners can be toxic, so be mindful when buying them. I recently have really gotten into baking and so I like to hope my home at times smells like fresh homemade bread or banana bread (which are my two favourites to make!). The good thing about air fresheners and candles is that they don’t take up much space, some air fresheners can be out of sight, but yet the smell permeates the home. This is a good way of making your home unique to you without having all the clutter to deal with.

Tip #3 – Choose wall art that shows your style

My favourite colours are deep red, green and yellow/orange. I love the sunrise and nature and I like to bring a piece of it into my home. I think people are surprised that our home is so simple, but yet we have bold art work. I love it as I feel like it represents who I am.

The great thing about art work is that it doesn’t need cleaning! Occasionally I’ll get the duster and go around the edges of the frame, but it certainly isn’t a big job I need to do weekly. Another great thing about art work is that is linked to memories, which is another way to make it feel personal to you. For example the art work on the left, which is a forest at sunset was the first piece of art my husband and I bought together for our first home. I still remember ordering it and unboxing it in our living room. The piece of art on the right was a wedding present from my now brother in law. It’s these simple touches that make your house feel like a home.

Tip #4 – Choose personal items that reflect you, but keep them simple, practical, and easy to clean

Here are a few examples to get you thinking about your home:

• A blanket which looks cosy, but is used to keep you warm in winter and is easy to wash and dry
• A couple decorative pillows on your bed that you actually use and are easy to clean
• A gadget in the kitchen which you use daily that you can put in the dishwasher (for example I love my coffee machine, but all the components are dishwasher friendly – so I can make my friends a latte or cappuccino without all the washing up!)
• A decorative mirror in your bathroom that you use, but adds a pop of colour and can be wiped down in a matter of seconds

Whenever I purchase an item I always think to myself – will this add more work to my to do list, or will it help me or bring me joy? A recent example is I bought myself an electronic drumkit. It takes up space, doesn’t look aesthetically pleasing and requires frequent dusting, but it brings me great joy! Some things are just worth it – but always ask yourself those questions before adding more stuff to your home.

#5 – Buy quality, not quantity

When you have quality items they speak for themselves, even if they are simple. This doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune, but it’s worth considering if the item you’re purchasing represents you. I personally have a big list in my head of items I’d love to buy one day that represent me but that are simple and minimalist. It could be a big comfy sofa, an oak dining table, an old rocking chair – the list goes on and on! I personally always try to buy quality items for my kitchen as I do cook and bake quite a lot. I think one important thing to point out is that home does not need to be a show home to your guests, but it needs to be a home you feel comfortable in that reflects you. If you love baking then treat yourself to quality baking equipment, if you love relaxing in an arm chair reading a book, then treat yourself to a quality arm chair. And my final thing to say on this point is to keep it simple and minimalist! The point is that these items will speak volumes and make you feel at home, without needing clutter and unnecessary items.

I hope this blog helps you create the home you truly desire, that is still easy to clean and makes you feel at peace in your own space. I actually have another blog on my minimalist lifestyle which is on my old website. Click here to find out 4 tips on how to live minimalist.