How to Be a Minimalist Without Throwing Everything Away, Per Expert Shira Gill

Most people think being a minimalist requires you to pare down how much you own and give away your belongings. But that idea is an antiquated one, at least according to home organizing expert Shira Gill.

When it comes to minimalism, Gill is challenging the throw-away-everything status quo in favor of a more balanced approach. We caught up with Gill to learn more about this new era of minimalism that she discusses in her book Organized Living: Solutions and Inspiration for Your Home, available October 3.

Make Room for What Matters

When you say no to owning excess, you're really saying yes to other things. Gill notes that owning fewer items can open you up to new opportunities. For example, slimming down your possessions can make it easier to rent out your home to guests, which may allow you the freedom to travel more.

"Minimalism isn't about depriving yourself of the things you want," Gill says. "It's about making room for the things you want most."

Getting Organized Doesn't Require Spending

We've all seen those pictures of perfectly organized closets that feature rows of matching jars with beautiful labels and sets of straw baskets that hide the more unsightly essentials.

While a closet like this can certainly make you feel a spark of happiness every time you open it, it's not wise to purchase organizing tools and containers without a strategy in place. Gill also highly recommends shopping your own home first to see if you already have what you need to corral your essential clutter.

"I think most people get excited to improve their home, and before they even look at their own inventory, they run out to the store and buy a bunch of things," Gill says. "Then they just have more things to deal with and no concrete plan."

So, before adding a new organizing system to your cart, she says to pair down your belongings and assess how many new containers you actually need and in which sizes. "I always give the advice to edit before you organize and organize before you elevate," Gill says.

Collect Essentials That Bring You Joy

Once you've done your due diligence of decluttering and checking your own inventory for storage solutions, Gill encourages you to indulge in elevating your home's everyday essentials, but only if you know these items will add value to your daily life.

Elevated essentials are small and useful items that can bring you a bit of joy every time you see them, like a set of matching wooden hangers or a beautiful glass soap dispenser. She also points out that switching to a reusable soap dispenser can be more sustainable over the long term because you can purchase your product in bulk or visit a refill shop.

Yes, You Can Still Own Colorful Decor

For some people, blank white walls are a calming and relaxing sight. But for others, they evoke a sterile, on-edge feeling.

"There's a misconception that minimalism has to look a certain way," Gill says. "I think the images of minimalism that have been popularized in mainstream media often look very stark and have a neutral color palette."

To her, minimalism is about being intentional with your decor and how much you own, and the perfect amount looks different for everyone. Additionally, you should decorate with the colors, prints, and textures that you adore most. So go ahead and feel free to collect those mementos from your travels and paint your living room your favorite non-neutral hue.

Minimalism and Maximalism Aren't Opposites

If you identify as more of a maximalist, it doesn't mean you should reject the notion of minimalism altogether. You can still benefit from condensing your belongings and being more conscientious of what you allow into your home.

And according to Gill, maximalism isn't an antonym for minimalism. "The way that I use the term minimalism also includes what other people think of as maximalism," Gill says. "People think of minimalism as this really restrictive concept and maximalism as more playful and fun. Minimalism can actually also be fun, warm, and abundant."

For Gill, maximalism isn't a prerequisite for coziness. "You don't have to be a maximalist in terms of the volume of things you own to have a home that feels cozy, layered, and personal," she says.

Read Next: 4 Tips Minimalists Stand By When It Comes to Decluttering

Read the original article on The Spruce.