Moving is never easy and can be overwhelming sometimes; especially, when changing regions. My husband and I currently live in a furnished rental apartment with our baby hamster Ella. The few furniture pieces that we own include: Ella’s 43 by 163cm detolf cage, a shoe cabinet, a mirror, a TV, and a clothing stand. It is safe to say that we don’t own much and need to start from scratch.
Before going on a shopping spree though, we decided to list down all the furniture pieces that were essential to the space, such as: a fridge, a washing machine, a stove, an oven, a vacuum cleaner, a dining table set, and a bed.
Other items include: utensils, trash cans, and linens.
We decided not to buy anymore items before having lived in the new apartment in order to properly identify functional pieces that adapted to the space.
Minimalism doesn’t mean discomfort; it simply means being thoughtful about each item and avoiding compulsive shopping. It means being comfortable in an empty space without having the urge to fill it up. It means appreciating every single item that you own.
Your look, your atmosphere
After assessing your space and listing down your essential items; the next thing to do is to define your look. Deciding on a color palette and an interior design style is essential in order to avoid buying the wrong items.
For instance, the feel and look that my husband and I are going for is a mixture of minimal, clean, and Scandinavian. We would like our home to reflect my appreciation for nature and my husband’s desire for a clean and modern look.
With that into account, we decided to integrate wood (bamboo or plywood) and plants into our space and have modern furniture pieces. In addition, all of the items that we’re going to buy will have a neutral color palette, be flexible, and preferably, serve more than one purpose.
The message I’m trying to send is: have a clear idea of what you want first, then shop.
Yours truly, Yasmin 