The Essentialist Epiphany

You know the feeling – that constant yearning for more. More stuff, more fun, more money, more trips, more, more, more. Our society seems to be in a never-ending pursuit of accumulating more. Unfortunately, this also leads to doing more – more work, more activities, more responsibilities, more bills. All of this “more” can make us constantly busy and burnt out. It’s an unsustainable way of living, and it’s exhausting. And then we come home to a house that’s stuffed full and suffocates us. It all leads to a life that feels disconnected and unfulfilled.

Enter essentialism. About eight years ago, I was feeling the strain of doing more so I could have more. I had a big job, a big house, and yet a longing for something more meaningful. That’s when I picked up the book “Essentialism” by Greg McKeown, and it changed the way I look at things. McKeown defines essentialism as “the art of discerning between external noise and our internal voice.” He explains, “Our whole society has become consumed by the undisciplined pursuit of more. The only way to overcome this problem is to change the way we think – adopt the mindset of only doing the things that are essential.”

Wow, permission to focus on only those things that are essential to our well-being and our highest dreams? Sign me up! As I essentialized my life and my schedule and my work, this new mindset began spilling over into my life at home as well. I’ve always been organized, but I still had a lot of stuff in a home that was too big for me.

Finding the Essentialist Balance

Now, I’m not a minimalist – I like the comforts of rugs, pillows, books, and plants too much to join the true minimalist camp. I admire the principles of minimalism, to own less in order to gain the freedom to do more of the important things in life, but I think sometimes it can become an obsession in and of itself. Yet another thing to do.

So instead, I’ve adopted essentialism at home. Essentialism for your home is not about having only a certain number of things in your home or creating a capsule wardrobe. Essentialism at home is about filling your home with the things that will help you focus on and achieve your ideal lifestyle and goals – and eliminating those that don’t. It’s about intentionally designing a home that supports you and helps you thrive as an essentialist. It’s living by design, not by default.

Essentialism appeals to my sense of simplicity and functionality. Your home should always make you feel comforted and supported and at your best – without the distractions that can pull you away from the really meaningful aspects of life. Essentialism and simplicity are what I teach in my online SIMPLE courses. They include step-by-step lessons on everything from decluttering to making your home and habits simpler and easier to working more efficiently to surrounding yourself with calming and meaningful beauty and décor.

Designing Your Essentialist Oasis

So, how do you apply the principles of essentialism to your living room, the heart of your home? It all starts with designing it with your goal life in mind. Figure out the things you need help with – perhaps it’s exercising regularly, socializing, entertaining more, or leaving work behind and unwinding at night. Then set your living room up so that you can more easily do these things.

Maybe that means getting rid of the spare bed in an underused bedroom in favor of creating an exercise space, rearranging your living room to encourage conversation, not TV watching, carving out a corner to set up a meditation spot that’s all your own, or eliminating electronics from your bedroom so you’ll sleep better. Basically, you should design your living room for function, ease, and efficiency, then layer in comforts and beauty – but be careful not to add so much that it distracts you from your essential purpose and goals.

Here are some specific steps to help you declutter and create a calm oasis in your living room:

1. Eliminate Clutter

Get rid of any clutter laying around where it doesn’t belong. Everything should have a home where you can easily find it. If it doesn’t have a home, maybe you don’t really need it. Try the Declutter Dash challenge to get a jump start.

2. Create Breathing Room

Is there space in your home? On your walls? Don’t fill up every single space. Leave a little white space. Allow room for flow. It will ease your mind and allow more space in there too.

3. Organize for Function

Organize your living room for how you use it. Put all the entertainment-related items together – the TV, gaming consoles, remotes, etc. Create a convenient snack or beverage station. Designate specific spots at your entry for keys, shoes, and coats. Turn an unused corner into a cozy reading nook. Hang a valet hook in the room to hold your workout clothes, so it’s easier to get up for that run in the morning. Then when you see what you actually use, get rid of anything that you don’t.

4. Calm Your Sanctuary

Your living room needs to be a relaxing oasis that encourages rest and rejuvenation. Clear off surfaces, so they only contain the essentials – a good lamp, a tray for keys and small items, and maybe a stack of your favorite books. Banish electronics, if possible, and bring in natural elements like plants or flowers to soothe the senses.

5. Edit, Edit, Edit

I’m always taking things away from displays on shelving or tables and from groupings on the walls. Stand back and look at your vignettes with an essentialist perspective. Take a photo and look at it – then edit things down a little so only the most meaningful and inspirational pieces sing to you.

The key is to design your living room to support your essential lifestyle and goals, not to impress others or fulfill some idealized vision. When you strip away the excess and focus on what truly matters, you’ll create a calm oasis that nourishes your soul, right at the heart of your home.

Now, I’d love to hear your thoughts. What does or would your essentialist living room look like? Share your ideas in the comments below, or head over to Sofa Spectacular to explore our custom sofa options that can help you achieve your dream living room.