When people walk into my apartment, they look around and go:
“Wow… it’s so… empty.”
And I smile. Because that’s not an insult. That’s the point.
I own no art. No framed quotes. No seasonal garlands. No little bowls filled with decorative rocks that serve no discernible purpose except being “a vibe.” And yet, somehow, my home feels more calm, more welcoming, and—dare I say—more mine than it ever did before.
Here’s how I stopped decorating and started actually enjoying my space.
Decor: The Silent Clutter
For years, I thought I had to decorate. Bare walls were shameful. Blank shelves were a failure of effort. So I collected:
- Faux plants I never dusted
- Abstract art that meant nothing to me
- Knickknacks from stores with names like “Nest & Fern”
And none of it felt right.
Turns out, I didn’t need to fill my space. I needed to unfill my expectations.
Why I Ditched It All
1. Visual Noise Is Real
Every item on a wall or shelf takes up mental space. My brain was juggling hundreds of tiny decisions every time I entered a room: “What is that? Do I like it? Should I move it? Why do I own a ceramic llama?”
Now? I walk in and see nothing. It’s peaceful. Monastic. Slightly cultish. And I love it.
2. I’m Not a Museum
My home doesn’t need to impress guests or showcase my “aesthetic.” It needs to support my life. I don’t need visual stimulation—I have inner turmoil for that.
3. Empty Space Feels Like Freedom
Blank walls = possibility. Not absence. Not laziness. Just space to be. To rest. To think. To stare at the wall without being stared back at by a quote that says, “Live, Laugh, Love.”
What I Kept (Spoiler: Nothing)
Okay, fine. One thing: I kept a plant. It’s alive (barely) and green. That’s it. No candles. No wall hangings. No themed bookshelf displays. Just blankness and bliss.
But Doesn’t It Feel Cold?
Yes. In the same way a luxury spa feels cold. In the same way a gallery before an exhibit feels cold. It’s clean. It’s quiet. It doesn’t scream for attention. It just… exists. Like me before coffee.
How to Try It (Without Panic-Purging Your Whole Life)
- Remove everything from one room. All of it. Let it sit empty. Breathe in the nothing.
- Add back only what needs to be there. You’ll realize it’s less than you thought.
- Use space as a statement. Negative space isn’t emptiness—it’s intention.
Final Thought
Decor doesn’t make a space beautiful. Space makes a space beautiful.
So let go of the gallery wall guilt. Ditch the candles you never light. Unload the $60 “conversation piece” that just collects dust. Your home doesn’t need decor to feel full—it needs room to let you be present.
Blank walls. Full peace. Zero regrets.
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