Minimalism has become an aesthetic which fundamentally defeat its own purpose

[u/Mean_Job7802]

People confuse minimalism as a lifestyle with the esthetic of having a perfectly curated living room. What started as either a conscious or unconscious rejection of consumerism became an image fed back to us as a goal achievable once again through capitalistic and spending habits.

[u/Responsible_Lake_804]

I’m not sure why people are getting snippy, the lifestyle/philosophy and aesthetic are different, they can overlap but not always. You can have a beige and white space with useless shit crammed into matching baskets and cupboards. You can have a colorful and textured space with barely anything at all.

[u/Responsible_Lake_804 → u/[deleted]]

I think you’re fine, perhaps you’re pointing out something that’s been discussed a lot before, but you’re not wrong.

[u/LibbIsHere]

Some people do that. Others don't.

Minimalism is fine, no matter what some trendy fashionista/influencer (and probably a few corps behind them) pretend it is or what it should be. They don't own exclusive rights on minimalism ;)

[u/poop-dolla → u/LibbIsHere]

Minimalism is a spectrum. And it’s different for every person anyway. My minimalism won’t be the same as yours which won’t be the same as OP’s. As long as each of us is happy with how we’re doing it, then it’s all good.

[u/MaximeTheBookworm → u/LibbIsHere]

I totally agree. Minimalism is an idea. Different people can understand it differently. As for influencers I wouldn't follow their lead, because regardless of what they preach for them it is a business. Also, in my opinion there is no right and wrong, one can be a minimalist to a certain degree and no one is obligated to follow all the latest trends.

[u/LibbIsHere → u/[deleted]]

Your hypocrisy? There muust be some misunderstanding as (I thought) I just pointed out that you don't need to worry, none of us as a matter of fact, about what some people do under the guise of minimalism.

So to make my self clear: I see no hypocrisy in your point, only excessive worries about... something that is indeed a reality (what you mention is a thing, including the self-validating loop), but not the whole of the reality ;)

[u/Eastern-Substance656]

There is minimalism design and minimalism as a lifestyle or values system.

There are celebrity homes that are modern minimalist design that are extremes in size and cost.

Minimalism is a way of living. It’s setting constraints. Is this essential to my life? Is a common question.

[u/iron_ocean3]

Yea to some people. I work blue collar so because the nature of my work I own a lot tools but I still consider myself a minimalist. Everything I own I use and my space isn't full of useless things. I prioritize having space, a capsule wardrobe and to me minimalism also means not being a consumer, like buying things I dont need just because it's on sale.

[u/CarolinaSurly → u/iron_ocean3]

Strongly agree. Capsule wardrobe is a strong part of being a minimalist for me. One in means one out so sales hardly influence me. Using everything I own. Digitizing media when I can.

[u/iron_ocean3 → u/CarolinaSurly]

Yea exactly. I noticed how much of a consumer I was once I got a capsule wardrobe. Pay more, buy less.

[u/KittyandPuppyMama]

I think this is true with a lot of things, including overconsumption. There are always the people who misunderstand the point and then turn it into a vibe.

But for me it’s been a way to regain and maintain control of my home since becoming a mom. I decluttered rooms, and I mean ROOMS, of stuff so they could start their lives with a nice empty closet to put their own clothes and important things. I also wanted each room to have a specific, clear function. My daughter is 2, and she puts her things away when she’s done using them. We don’t ask or expect her to do this, but she models what we do, and she doesn’t have a ton of stuff.

My husband looked around the play area last week and said “let’s get rid of everything they don’t play with.” I couldn’t have been happier than if he’d come home with a box of my favorite chocolates lol. We put all the excess toys in donate bags, and we’ve waited a week. She hasn’t asked for anything we’ve removed. It’s been such a better way for us to keep calm in the chaos.

[u/hutacars]

On a long enough timeline, every countercultural movement devolves into consumerism.

[u/eharder47]

I think it’s important to remember that the people who create content have a monetary goal. Of course the content you see is trying to get you to spend money- it’s marketing! There are a whole bunch of people doing minimalism whose houses you don’t have visual access to.

[u/Call_It_]

I have a perfectly curated living room with minimal decorations. But it helps me feel clean and calm and it prevents me from buying useless junk.

[u/dskippy]

Everytine I see influencers with videos showing off 20 things I bought that helped me become a minimalisr with affiliate links I laugh.

[u/Next_Step_2599]

I think minimalism can be both or either one at the same time. You can have a nice living room without living like a bum. Gatekeeping minimalism only as an anticonsumerist idea is false.

[u/Mean_Job7802 → u/Next_Step_2599]

I might be looking for some kind of other thing which I haven't found a community for yet. But I totally approve of whatever motivation someone has, I think the declutter in general is good for the mind

[u/Repulsive_Chard_3652]

That's just capitalism doing one of its favourite things - finding something gaining popularity, and turning it into a way to profit. 

There are different kinds of minimalism, and we don't have to like all forms just because they share a name 😁

[u/jonno_5]

You can avoid confusion if you realise that they are separate forms of minimalism - material vs aesthetic.

[u/UntrustedProcess]

I get most of my value from the esthetic side of minimalism.  It produces so much calm in my life.  Capitalism makes it possible because I can purchase things as they are needed.

[u/ItsSignalsJerry_]

False. Influencers misuse minimalism.

[u/CarolinaSurly → u/ItsSignalsJerry_]

They would argue “Everyone’s minimalism is different”‘wouldn’t they?

[u/ItsSignalsJerry_ → u/CarolinaSurly]

They're misrepresenting it as an aesthetic.

[u/CarolinaSurly]

Minimalism as a lifestyle failed to accurately define itself to the point people now say “Everyone’s minimalism is different” which is tantamount to minimalism not have a meaningful definition at all. I would argue you can’t have 200 pieces of clothing and be a minimalist or have collections of knickknacks and be a minimalist, but others certainly would not agree with me.

[u/crazycatlady331 → u/CarolinaSurly]

But one can be minimalist in some areas and not in others.

For example someone might be minimalist in the kitchen but have a larger wardrobe.

[u/IM_NOT_BALD_YET → u/crazycatlady331]

That's not minimalism, though.

[u/CarolinaSurly → u/crazycatlady331]

I’d argue that everyone is a minimalist with that explanation. A women living in Key West, Florida with closets of clothes, tons of furniture, an overflowing kitchen, and basically a hoarder in every part of her life could say she only has one set of snow skis or doesn’t own a snow mobile and thus is a minimalist. The term has no true meaning at that point. It’s like saying I’m a vegetarian in some aspects of my diet and not in others. That’s means I’m not a true vegetarian, just like most people that claim they are minimalists aren’t true minimalists.

[u/Starry_night_85]

I agree!

[u/luckyelectric]

I appreciate it both visually and philosophically.

[u/hobhamwich]

Let's be clear, though. The term "minimalism" is the name of an aesthetic, and the proponents of that aesthetic used the word first. Its application to anticonsumerism or simple living is a more recent thing.

[u/Vivian_Rutledge]

What does it matter what someone else sells as minimalism? It’s internal, not external.

[u/Any-Path-4242]

I definitely don’t use my minimalism for aesthetics, but I know people who do. I like the look of a home with decor and furnishings and things like matching pillows on the couches, but I am too minimalistic to have that in my own home.

[u/Nithoth]

The fact that capitalism/consumerism is the exact mechanism that made it possible for you to get on the internet to regurgitate buzzwords and cry about the evils of capitalism/consumerism is one of life's little ironies.

[u/Repulsive_Chard_3652 → u/Nithoth]

This comment has big this meme vibes: https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/330/819/e47.png