Think about every hotel room you’ve ever stayed in- what do they all have in common whether they are five or one star? They are minimal.
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It may sound silly, but hotel rooms hold a lot of the answers when it comes to living a simple life so if you adopt some of the same principles that you see when you are travelling away from home, you are bound to enjoy a more minimal space when you return. Here are just a few reasons why they are an excellent template for living with less.
Hotel rooms only display what you need: Hotel cleaning staff only leave out what you are going to need in the near future- refreshments, snacks, a menu and toiletries. And what is the first thing you do once you dump your bags? Have a brew, a biscuit, order some dinner and take a shower if it’s been a long trip. They know what people want from their space and they cater accordingly by leaving the necessaries in easy reach.
That’s it- everything else is tucked away in a drawer or wardrobe because you will only seek them out if you need these other items- or call for room service.
This is a good habit to get into at home- keep out the things you use often throughout the day- such as your kettle and put away the things you only use once- your toaster for example. This will pave the way for…
Clear countertops: Nothing makes a room look more cluttered than countertops that are drowning under stuff. Hotels keep it simple with a lamp or a phone (also things you might need) but they don’t provide much more than this. Why? Because it looks cluttered, which is off putting- so hair dryers, Bibles, hangers and dressing gowns are usually placed inside the furniture to prevent an assault on your eyes when you enter. If you keep your countertops clear they are so...
Easy to clean: Hotel rooms are minimal for quick and easy cleaning as a fast turnaround between guests is essential to the business.
Another perk of keeping your space simple- while you may not be expecting visitors every day at home, it’s nice to be able to get the cleaning over and done with in a pinch so you’re not spending hours with a duster and hoover in your hand.
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A made bed: Hotel staff pride themselves on making their beds as crease free and tucked as they possibly can because one thing that instantly makes a room look cluttered is an unmade bed. The eye is drawn to the mess of covers and misplaced pillows and a relaxing atmosphere it does not make.
The take-away? Even if you don’t have the time for anything else in your day- make your bed. It transforms your room from one that is messy and cluttered to one that is minimal and simple- an easy yet effective fix.
Beautiful accents: Hotels tend to use art on the walls to give a room a focal point rather than ornaments. Pictures don’t create clutter, yet they serve a purpose all the same as they tie in all the other colours of the room and provide something beautiful to look at during your stay. There is never too much art on the walls- however- usually a single piece- which is something you can emulate at home. Have one thing on the wall in each room that is beautiful and that draws the eye up. This will make even the most minimal of rooms look bigger. Always opt for wall art as opposed to ornaments as this will reduce your cleaning right down.
Meaningful items: Most hotels aim to bring a piece of the surrounding area into their rooms whether this be in the form of locally made toiletries, a locally sourced menu or a piece of local artwork on the wall. What does this mean in terms of minimalism you ask? Meaningful should always take priority over generic. Whatever you choose to decorate your home should mean something to you. Signs with generic words on them, chain-store bought items and things that have a tedious link to you and the people who live with you are a waste of money. Minimalism is about living simply, yes, but it is also about treasuring the things that are left and you are more likely to take pride in the remaining items if they have some sort of connection to you.
Everything in moderation: Hotels provide the consumable things we need such as snacks, drinks, toiletries, toilet rolls, tissues etc. but never to the excess. Minimalism can also extend to the things we use too. At home you might eat an entire packet of biscuits because you can. In a hotel there is often only two per guest. If you want to consume more, you have to pay for it, which makes you sit back and ask the question - ‘do I really need this?’
Too often at home we don’t think about our usage, but when there is a smaller amount, we might pour out less shampoo or have just one coffee instead of several. Hotels teach us to slow down and to use things in moderation, which is good for the individual but also for the planet.
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I am not saying that all minimalists live by these rules, nor am I saying that you need to, however if you are looking to have a more minimal Christmas this year, here are just a few of the guidelines I have come across that might be a good fit for you. Some minimalist YouTubers and authors use these as tools to keep their spending in check at this time of year, so they may well help with yours too... to read more click HERE
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