Minimalism is often viewed as the pursuit of getting rid of things. But minimalism is about creating something new and improved: an environment that is most livable to you. Designing your new environment can be difficult because subtraction is emphasized. Also, it can be challenging to visualize what our new home can become. Even when visualized, it’s often focused on aesthetic components but doesn’t address all of our senses. It’s time to ask ourselves some important questions about our sensory preferences so we can create our sensory-aware, minimalist home.

Aside from the particulars of your stuff, how does your home feel? How would you like to experience it? How does it smell? What is the “view” inside your home (and out)? What do you hear versus what do you want to hear? Creating your sensory environment involves asking a lot of questions. Review the five senses and consider what will help you design your minimalist home and lifestyle.  

Touch: Are sharp edges of boxes within reach? Are chairs covered with old scratchy blankets? How about the contents of your wardrobe? Are you wearing clothes that look great but don’t feel comfortable?

Taste: What foods do you have in reach? Are you routinely drinking coffee, or tea, or flavored sparkling water? Would you like to include more easily available tastes or not search for the dopamine rush of that stimulation?

Smell: Do you clean regularly, and if so, do you use non-toxic cleaners? Do you open the windows to let in fresh air? Do you have non-toxic candles, incense, or other types of aromatherapy populating your space?

Sight: Do you enjoy seeing artwork on the walls? Do you see each piece of artwork individually or consider how they work in concert? Do they feel cluttered? Do you prefer spaciousness or coziness? What colors make you feel calm? Are your sightlines interrupted by tchotchkes or unnecessary furniture?

Hearing: Are there distracting echoes beaming off hard surfaces that could use the buffer of a rug? Do you have good speakers that allow you to play your favorite music? Are there squeaking doors that could use a dose of WD-40?

These questions are just a start. Take time with each sense, noting how you currently experience it in your space and how you’d like to experience it in your new sensory environment.

On a personal note, I have misophonia. This means certain sounds, which might merely annoy you, can trigger a fight or flight response in me. I also adore music. So, my version of minimalism and its sensory environment includes noise-canceling headphones and easy access to white noise apps on various devices. These purchases were crucial for my sensory environment. Additionally, speakers in every room and a record player are essential to my home. They not only improve my sensory environment but also bring joy to it.

Consider which senses are most … sensitive. These are the ones you notice most often and that either bring you more joy or tend to cause you stress if not in line with your preferences. We must be careful that there are no obstructions to our senses experiencing what we want them to experience. For example, there should be no obstructions to windows if you enjoy fresh air. Or we may need to purchase new items, such as non-toxic cleaners (for smell) and softer materials (for touch) to improve our experience.

When we apply minimalism to our lives, we create a new domain that allows us to be our best selves. But we tend to focus only on what we let go of or aesthetic elements individually (not how they appear as a whole). By actively addressing our senses, we explore the core components of what makes us happy, content, and feel the most like ourselves.