The minimalist art movement dates back to the 1960s and 1970s, but people have lived minimally since the 1800s. Although minimalistic living hasn't been as popular in recent years, it is making a comeback, as evidenced by minimalist living in apartments in NJ. 

More and more apartment-living individuals are turning toward minimalism because it offers an uncluttered existence. As the new year approaches, you might want to discover how to embrace minimalism. If so, in this blog shared by Country Classics, you will learn how to simplify your apartment lifestyle in NJ with our apartment living tips for NJ residents. 

So, let's explore how to declutter, what minimalistic living means, and DIY projects you can undertake to embrace this movement. 

Why Choose Minimalism for Your Apartment?

To enjoy sustainable apartment living in New Jersey, you must choose minimalism. Nowadays, functional apartment layouts in NJ promote minimalism; you just need to know how to select and implement this way of living. 

So, to help you with this, we've detailed why you should choose minimalism when organizing your apartment for a fresh start in NJ by discussing the benefits:

• You have less clutter and more space: If you focus on owning the essentials in your apartment, you'll free up space to create a more open, inviting, and relaxing environment—one that you will want to come home to every day. 

• You'll improve your focus: We know it's hard to believe, but choosing minimalism for your apartment will reduce distractions in your home, helping you focus on what matters most to you. 

• Easier maintenance: If you have fewer items in your apartment, there is less to clean, organize, and maintain. So, living in and maintaining your home feels less like a chore and more like a simple task to enjoy a luxurious abode. 

What Are Minimalist Living Tips for Small Apartments in NJ?

Just because you've chosen to live in a smaller apartment in NJ doesn't mean you have to sacrifice style and comfort. In fact, you can continue to enjoy both if you adopt a few tips for apartment living. 

Below, we've shared our favorite apartment organization tips in NJ that will help you embrace minimalism: 

1. Declutter regularly: We know you might not want to do it, but the best tip we can give you for embracing minimalism is to declutter routinely. You'll want to start by evaluating each area of your apartment and letting go of items you no longer use or need. You can donate or sell these items.

2. Adopt the one-in, one-out rule: For every new item you bring into your apartment, commit to removing one. This simple habit prevents clutter from creeping back in.

3. Invest in convenient multi-functional furniture: Choose furniture that serves multiple purposes to save space and be more minimalistic. We always recommend sofa beds, ottomans with storage, and fold-out dining tables.

4. Use vertical space: You can quickly maximize storage by adding shelves, hooks, or hanging organizers to walls. This helps keep floors clear and creates a sense of openness in your home without damaging any part of it with permanent fixtures that could have you losing your security deposit. 

5. Stick to a neutral palette: We're not saying you can't be adventurous with your color and decor choices. However, choosing neutral colors for your decor can create a calming and cohesive look, making it feel more minimalistic. 

How to Declutter Key Areas in Your Apartment

You know that decluttering is one of the best ways to embrace minimalist living, but what are a few easy-to-follow decluttering tips for small apartments in NJ? 

You'll be surprised to learn that there are many ways you can embrace decluttering for the New Year without wasting time or energy. Below, we've shared our best small apartment decluttering tips for renters in NJ: 

• Closets: Let's face it: our closets are often the most cluttered parts of our homes. So many of us discard unwanted objects or items we don't want to see into our closets, making a cluttered mess. So, to declutter your home, you might want to start with the closets. We recommend going through clothing, accessories, and other nick-nacks to see what to keep and what should be donated. 

• Kitchens: A home's kitchen is another area that attracts clutter. Often, we put unnecessary items into kitchen cabinets or buy things we don't need, which causes clutter in a space that deserves to be less crowded. So, when decluttering, go through every cabinet and only keep the essentials. Get rid of cookware, appliances, and utensils you don't need, and dispose of expired pantry items. 

• Living rooms: Living rooms can collect an ungodly amount of clutter – trust us, we know all about it. It's so easy to place items on coffee tables, shelves, and the floor, and before you know it, the living room is more your closet than a space to sit and relax. To declutter this room, we recommend clearing surfaces and only leaving space for what matters most to you, like ornaments, books, and candles. We also recommend putting everything in its place, not the living room. 

DIY Projects for a Minimalist Makeover

Minimalism doesn't have to mean spending a lot of money. Whether you're a seasoned renter or someone starting out in life, here are some budget-friendly DIY projects to simplify and beautify your apartment. 

From storage solutions for small apartments to apartment organization hacks, we've listed the best tips for renting an apartment for the first time – or again – with minimalism in mind:

• Create a capsule wardrobe: We don't mean physically building a capsule-shaped wardrobe. We suggest you curate a small, versatile collection of clothing that fits your lifestyle and aesthetic. This is a simple DIY method to embrace to keep closets minimal. 

• Design a command center: When you hear 'command center,' you don't automatically think of apartment living. However, designing a command center using a corkboard or wall-mounted organizer to keep track of important dates, mail, and keys can help you remain a minimalist at heart.

• Make your own storage solutions: Storage is a major part of a minimalist lifestyle. One simple living tip for your apartment for the new year that can make all the difference is making your own storage solutions. You can upcycle containers or build custom shelves to suit your space.

Staying Committed to a Minimalist Lifestyle

Staying committed to a minimalist lifestyle isn't as difficult as you might believe. The first thing you need to do is set clear goals and define what minimalism means to you. Once you know what minimalism means to you, making and implementing plans in your apartment that keep your space neat, tidy, and uncluttered is easier. 

Next, consider reflecting on the benefits of a simpler lifestyle. To do this, consider how having a minimalistic home improves your life and the benefits you can expect to reap. When you know this, you'll be more motivated to adopt minimalist practices. 

Afterward, to cement a minimalist living ethos in your life, you should consider joining a community of like-minded individuals. To do this, you need only look for and join minimalist groups online on social media, as these groups can provide inspiration and support. 

Embrace Minimalism Living with Country Classics

Modern apartment layouts call for modern minimalist solutions. In our experience, embracing minimalism in your apartment is one of the best ways to create a fresh start for the New Year. 

However, we also realize that embracing minimalism is easier said than done, which is why we've shared the tips you need to consider for simple living in NJ apartments. We hope that with the information we've provided, you have a better chance of ringing in the good year with an uncluttered home. 

If you need an apartment to put these tips to good use, you might want to consider one of our residential housing communities. You can contact us at Country Classics here to learn more about them.