5 Simple Ways to Start with Minimalist Home Decor

If you had told me two years ago that I would someday stop buying seasonal home decor, I would have said you were out of your mind! Never, in a million years, would I have imagined that I would start to lean towards minimalist home decor. I started exploring minimalist interior decor ideas just a few months ago. Not much for the looks, but for the mindset. That mindset was born in an unexpected season of stillness, grief, and healing.

If you are a long time reader, you probably know how much joy I found in switching up my home decor with each season and holiday. The fall decorations, the master bedroom spring tour, the Americana decor in July, the list goes on and on.

But when I walked through a hard season of grief, all that “stuff” felt heavy. Who am I kidding? EVERYTHING felt so heavy. I didn’t have the emotional energy to take out the baskets, and for the first time, I noticed just how much effort it took to maintain everything. All that changing, storing, and shopping began to feel like clutter: both in my home and in my mind!

That season became a turning point in my home decor journey. That’s when I slowly began embracing minimalist home decor. I am learning that minimalist interior decor doesn’t mean bare shelves and zero personality. It means choosing intentionally. It means creating a peaceful space that reflects your life, not someone else’s Instagram post.

If you’re looking to create a simpler, more intentional space, here are five gentle ways to start your minimalist home decor journey.

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1. Declutter Decor You Don’t Love

Before buying anything new, take inventory. What are you keeping out of guilt, habit, or because it was on sale? I am guilty of that last one. In fact, most of the home decor I have decluttered has come from Target’s Bullseye Playground!

Minimalist home decor starts with subtraction, not addition. Let go of decor that doesn’t spark joy or serve a purpose. I go into more detail in my recent post, Decluttering Tips for Letting Go of Stuff Without Stress. The only way to start moving towards minimalist home accessories is by holding each piece you own and asking yourself if you truly love it.

Let go especially of anything seasonal that only gets a few weeks (or days!) of use each year. I used to keep baskets of seasonal items stored in a closet, but I realized I didn’t even use half of them. Once I gave myself permission to stop rotating through trends and instead display what I truly love year-round, my home felt calmer, and I did too! That’s one good thing that came out of grief!

2. Choose a Consistent Color Palette

Minimalist home decor often relies on a soothing, neutral palette — think whites, soft grays, natural wood, and subtle earthy tones. And I will be the first one to admit: it’s not happening! I will still keep my blues and teals sprinkled throughout the house.

I used to rotate color schemes frequently, switching between different throws, pillows, and wreaths, depending on the season. It was exhausting to swap, store, and upkeep. But now? I see the power in keeping a consistent base.

I get why so many minimalist home decor ideas lean into neutral tones. They don’t scream a specific holiday or trend. They’re just… calm. They give your eyes and your mind a break. And I certainly needed that.

That said, I still use color when I truly love it. My blue pieces bring me joy, and my Christmas collection is still quite large, but those items are intentional, not impulsive.

Neutral doesn’t have to mean boring, especially when paired with a bold color that brings you happiness. I like to add interest with textures like seagrass and ceramics. My favorite minimalist home accessory (one of my keepers!) is the coral shaped bookends. I love them!

Creating a cohesive palette helped me see how little I needed to make my space feel pulled together. Even when I do decorate for a season now, I stick to a few timeless touches that blend right in with what’s already there.

3. Choose Lasting Decor That Works Year-Round

Instead of investing in items that only work for one month of the year, choose pieces that feel timeless and flexible. A neutral wreath, a warm-toned throw blanket, or a textured vase can stay out all year — maybe styled a little differently each season.

Minimalist home accessories like these go a long way without the stress of constant swapping. And they help your home feel cohesive rather than constantly shifting.

I use the same vase—a white porcelain pitcher—throughout the year. Last spring, I filled it with faux tulips and paired it with two porcelain bunnies, and the shelf instantly had a spring vibe. There is no need for pink and blue garlands or cheesy “Hoppy Easter” signs (although I once had one of those!).

I’ve decided to focus on selecting lasting favorites instead of opting for quick, inexpensive, and disposable decor.

4. Rethink Your Why

I used to decorate because I thought I was supposed to. It felt like what a “put-together home” was supposed to look like. I mean, hello? As a home and garden blogger, I am supposed to have it all together. Or am I?

A significant part of my shift was stepping away from social media, particularly Instagram. I took a long break, and during that time, I realized no one was influencing me to buy anything. And I didn’t miss that one bit.

This might sound a little ironic coming from someone who shares product links and home ideas for a living. But the truth is, I never want to pressure people into buying what’s trendy or viral. I have never aspired to be an influencer, but rather a motivator.

When I wrote my post How to Style a Bookshelf Like a Pro, I wrote it without any aspiration (or expectation) of going viral. It was a post written straight from my heart and experience. I created an idea list on my Amazon storefront, and to this date, this is my most loved and shopped list on Amazon. Again, my intention was to motivate not influence. Take a look at the difference between my bookshelf then and now.

bookshelves then (2021)

Bookshelves Now (2025)

Maybe that’s why I’ve struggled with creating “viral” reels. I don’t want to spend hours convincing people to buy more stuff. That’s just not my heart. I want to inspire you to create a home that’s clean, calm, beautiful, and true to you! Not filled with things just because someone online said they’re cute.

Minimalist interior decor doesn’t have to mean stark or cold. It can be warm, intentional, and deeply personal if you’re curating it for you, not for Instagram.

That shift is what truly transforms a space. Minimalist home decor is not merely about simplification; it’s about creating a home that prioritizes your needs and enhances your life.

5. Clear One Surface Completely

And watch what happens…

Another huge shift came when I started to notice the visual toll of clutter in my life. I just couldn’t take it anymore. So many trinkets, patterns, florals, bright colors (like the binders in my office) it felt like visual noise, and I found myself craving calm. I needed peace. I wanted a space that felt clear, light, and steady.

Just last week, I emptied out the shelves in my office, completely. I took down three frames from the walls. I donated a bag full of decor and tchotchkes I had collected over time. That visual reset gave me clarity. In fact, my newsletter The Neat Reset, was born from it.

And let me tell you, I’ve been 100% more productive ever since! I accomplished in one week what I hadn’t been able to do in an entire month. All because my desk is clean, the shelves are empty, and my mind is clear. I used to see blank walls or bare shelves as something I needed to “fix.” Now, I see them as breathing room!

Minimalist interior decor can also mean negative space (blank spaces), and I’ve found that my mind feels less cluttered when my home does too. Try it. Leave one surface empty and see how it feels.

How to Transition into Minimalist Home Decor

I wouldn’t wish grief on anyone. But I do hope everyone experiences the clarity that can follow it, the realization that life is too short to be buried under bins of impulse buys.

Maybe you don’t need a life event to spark your own shift. Maybe this post can be your quiet beginning. Your neat reset.

If you’re tired, overwhelmed, or simply craving peace, know this: you don’t have to do it all at once. You don’t have to ditch all your decor or commit to a full lifestyle overhaul. But you can let go of the pressure. You can create space.

Start small. Clear one surface. Keep what brings you joy, and leave the rest.

Whether you’re drawn to minimalist home decor ideas, simplifying your home accessories, or just wanting a space that feels calm and steady, know that your home can reflect the peace you’re craving.

Mine is on its way there, and it feels really, really good.

to fresh starts, Flavia 🌿