How to Adapt a Minimalist Lifestyle when living with Roommates

5 Tips for wanting to be a minimalist whilst living with roommates

I got lucky but that's not always the case 

I will start this by sharing how blessed I have been to have found roommates that are wonderful, sweet, kind, organized, and clean human beings. (In case that they are reading this, I want to score some brownie points!) We are all organized. Still, we have our own way of doing things, similar to the ways in which we all make different meals. Even though we all value healthy meals, we still prepare food a certain way or love specific meals because we come from different upbringings. Still, there are people who don't value having a tidy space; I've had my own share of experience and I have also lived with boys who do the bare minimum and you find yourself cleaning up after them to keep your own OCD mind at peace.

I feel the need to reiterate that you can be a minimalist and simultaneously have roommates. You simply need to be easy going enough to compromise, which you probably are if you are living with rommmates in the first place!

Here are a few of my tips for dealing with unorganized roommates whilst trying to adapt a more minimalist lifestyle.

1. Make your space your minimalist heaven 

Make your own room and your own space your place of minimalism. Declutter, sort through, organize! Watch minimalist documentaries, read books on creating your space, learn how to let go of the excess clutter.

This space is your own, so whatever is motivating you on this minimalist journey, this is your space to express that. Here you can change the style of the room or make a vision board about what you want your minimalist life to look like, and work towards it.

Remember, minimalism does not need to be something that happens overnight. That may be the experience for some people, but there are no rules so take your time and incorporate what works for and feels right to you. I'm still learning and adapting, and my version of minimalism may look very different to what yours ultimately becomes.

Tip: Your room = your space. Make it your version of minimalism.

2. Let go of the things you can't control 

There is a plain reality of living with roommates: you can't control every part of the house. There are simply shared spaces that you need to let be. The kitchen is one of those spaces where you may have multiples of the same items because each roommate owns one. In my home, everyone brought a few plates so you can't really follow minimalism here because you are all going to move out on your own at one point and no one wants to rebuy items they already had.

Additionally, you don't want to become the person who is shoving their beliefs down other people throats. Just because you have suddenly decided that you want to start your minimalist journey, does not give you the right to go into the common areas and say that there are too many couches or spices or nicknacks, and proceed to get rid of them. (Your roommates may be getting rid of your fairly quickly following that).

You can share your beliefs, but do so by acknowledging that other people are entitled to theirs and try to respect their positions as well.

Tip: Let go of all that you cannot control. You are sharing a space with people, so do not expect everything to be perfect or to go your way. Focus on what you can control and be willing to 'go with the flow' for the rest of it.

3. Share your values with your roommates 

They might not be organized and they may have no interest whatsoever in your quest towards a more minimalist lifestyle. That is okay! Leave them be! You should not try to change their minds, but you can, however, share with them what you are doing. Let them know that you are getting rid things and tell them why. Share the values of minimalism that resonate with you, and communicate how and why you are planning to bring them into your everyday life.

Even if they are not partaking in a shift towards minimalism, sit down with your roommates and explain to them what it means to you. Share with them what some common goals of yours are or maybe what some expectations are for you. Perhaps you suggest that you all try and keep the common areas clean and that every night everyone collects their things they have left lying around throughout the day. Finding common ground in advance that will work for everyone, ultimately saves you from future fights about the order of the space.

Tip: Being open about what you are doing and how you plan on doing it will keep your roommates in the loop and they will (hopefully) be more willing to support you on your journey, even if that means keeping the common areas cleaner.

4. If they are interested, make it a family affair! 

But... maybe they are curious. Maybe they want to join you in some declutter. That's how it started for me. I was so excited about minimalism after reading and watching and hearing about it. I was telling one of my roommates about it, and then she started to get excited about it too. She started listing all the things she had lying in her room or hanging in her closet that she didn't ever use. So that night we both ended up doing a huge purge and it turned out to be an entertaining night of letting things go. It was also motivating to have someone to declutter with and we were able to help each other stay grounded in regards to what we actually needed and loved versus what we were just making excuses for.

Tip: If they are interested, invite them to join you - two is better than one!

5. Be a minimalist roommate

Minimalism is all about adding value to someones life or bringing things into your life that add value to you. Keeping that in mind, being a minimalist roommate means communicating and interacting with your roommates in a respectful way that is value-adding to both of you.

The same value-adding concept works in reverse situations as well. You can be supportive of your roommates and respect their outlook, but they might not be supportive of yours. Reaching back to those minimalist values, it may reveal something about that roommate to you if they are not accepting of who you are. Are they adding value to your life then? This is not a situation you need to be stuck in for the rest of your life, and like the state of your common areas, you cannot expect everything to be perfect. This situation may also be necessary for the time being. Still, it does not need to be forever and you can have the ability to change it.
Tip: Try and put focus towards your actions and being conscious of your relationships with your roommates, and not just the decluttering your own belongings.

Are you wanting to adapt a minimalist lifestyle or already on your journey and living with roommates? Share your tips and hacks to navigating a non-minimalist house of roommates with me in the comments below! I'd love to hear what you are doing to incorporate minimalism into your life when it does not only affect you!